Maharaja Bhudev Ray - the Hindu King of Bengal who defeated & beheaded Delhi invader Zafar Khan Ghazi

|| 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗷𝗮 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘃 𝗥𝗮𝘆  - the Hindu King of Bardhaman in Bengal who defeated & beheaded Delhi invader Zafar Khan Ghazi ||

Maharaja Bhudev Ray was the King of Vedbhum (Bhediya) in the Bardhamana-bhukti region of Bengal. He defeated the Sipahsalar of Delhi Sultanate Zafar Khan Ghazi in the Battle of Mahanad (1305) & beheaded the Ghazi in the banks of Bhagirathi. He restored the holy shaiva shrine of Tribeni & the famous port of Saptagram & restarted the auspicious Tribeni Kumbha Mela of Bengal.

In 1292, Triveni was attacked by Baharam Aitigin Zafar Khan Ghazi, the General of the Delhi Sultanate. At the behest of Zafar Khan, the Turkic army carried out a large massacres in Triveni, disrupted Hindu religious processions and destroyed many Hindu temples. A Vishnu temple and Vishnu stambha of Tribeni built in the Pala era, the magnificent Krishna temple, the Mata Ganga temple and the Srinkhala Devi Shaktipeeth had been destroyed. Zafar Khan banned the gathering of Hindus at the holy shrine of Tribeni dham and restricted the Kumbha Mela in Ganga.

∆ 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝 (𝟏𝟑𝟎𝟓 𝐀𝐃) :

At that time Maharaja Bhudev Ray, the mighty Hindu ruler of Bardhamanbhukti Vedbhum, started a military campaign to revive Tribeni and re-establish Hindu rule at the holy shrine. On Maghi Purnima in 1305 CE, an Bengal army of 15,000 Bardhamans led by Raja Bhudev Ray attacked the Turkic base in Tribeni. Raja Bhudev Ray and Zafar Khan Ghazi met in the field of Mahanad near Itachuna. A fierce battle began between the Delhi Sultanate army and the Bardhaman army in the plains of the Mahanad field. 

After a long devastating war, Maharaja Bhudev Ray defeated the Delhi army, beheaded Zafar Khan Ghazi and threw his head in the river Bhagirathi. The Hindu forces of Bardhaman conquered Tribeni shrine and Saptagram port, Hindu rule was re-established in Tribenidham and the Kumbh Mela resumed at 712 Bangabda.

∆ 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐲𝐚 : 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐲 :

Maharaja Bhudev Ray was a great friend & relative of the King of Southern Bengal Maharaja Dakshin Ray, the Lord of 18 Bhati kingdoms. While Raja Dakshin Ray alone was fighting against Ghazis at that time, Raja Bhudev Ray joined the war planning both of them to usurp that invading Ghazis. According to the plan Maharaja Bhudev Ray attacked Zafar Khan Ghazi in Triveni with his strong cavalry, at this time Maharaja Dakshin Ray was fighting Zafar's son Bara Khan Ghazi in Khenia. 

After killing Zafar Khan Ghazi in Mahanad, Maharaja Bhudev Ray marched towards Khenia with his 15000 strong cavalry. Hearing the death news of his father and about the fact that Raja Bhudev Ray marching towards his army Bara Khan Ghazi acted an immediate surrender to Raja Dakshin Ray.

📜 ● Sources : 

1) History of Bengal, RC Majumdar, Volume ll

2. History of Bengal Vol ll, Jadunath Sarkar pp 77-78 

3. History of Hooghly District and Bangasamaj ( জেলার ইতিহাস ও বঙ্গসমাজ সুধীর কুমার মিত্র ) Vol2, pp- 877

4.History of Gauda (গৌড়ের ইতিহাস)- Rajanikanta Chakraborty pp- 191

5. Culture of West Bengal (পশ্চিমবঙ্গের সংস্কৃতি) Binoy Ghosh pp-491,686-691.

6. History of Bardhaman Vol2 - Yageswar Chowdhury

7. Raymangal (রায়মঙ্গল) Madhavacharya Krishnaram Das,Haridatta, Rudradeva.

8. History of Bengal, Prabhas Charan Sen.