Gaudapedia

We all are aware of the story of the conquest of Sri Lanka and the establishment of the Sinhalese kingdom with the 700 boats of prince Vijaya Singha of the Simhapura kingdom of Bengal. Especially in several countries of South and Southeast Asia, there are many traces of the ancient Bengali raids and colonization or establishment of independent kingdoms. In fact, Aryanism and Hindu civilization entered countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia through the arrival and colonization of the Bengalis. The influence of which can be seen in the continuous influence of Gaudiya style in the temple-architecture of the respective countries.  Bengali architects are the builders of several large temples like Onkarnath (Ankorvat), the world's largest temple, or Barbudhar (Borobudur) temple. So the poet Satyendranath Dutta proudly said - “শ্যাম কম্বোজে ওঁঙ্কারধাম মোদেরই প্রাচীন কীর্ত্তি।”. Vijaya Singha established a kingdom in Sri Lanka, while Lak-Lam (Lakshmanam), the ruler of the Na...

Dakat Benimadhav Ray - Pandit who offered Bali of Pathans in front of Yavanamardini Kali Dakat Benimadhav Ray, portrait by Sumanto Pal In the 16th century, in Bengal Dakat Benimadhav Ray and his bandit gang stood as a terror for the Afghans in eastern India. Pandit Dakat's army used to capture the Pathans on the night of Amavasya and offer narabali in front of Maa Yavanmardini Kali. Pandit Dakat Benimadhav Ray offering sacrificed head of Pathans to his ishtadevi Maa Yavanamardini Kali, Chalanbeel, Bengal, 16th Century.  Pandit Benimadhav Ray was a resident of Tarash Chalan-Bil in the Rajshahi kingdom of Bengal. In his early life, he was a scholar Varendra Brahmin Pandit and Sanskrit Acharya. In that era Pathans used to demolish temples & murtis and forced to stop puja of Hindus. In view of the chaotic situation in society, Banimadhav decided to sharpen his sword to protect Dharma. He was a skilled swordsman possessing a unique Khadga, and he used to off...

Arjuna battles Tamradhvaja, Folio via Razmnama. ca. 1616-17 During the Mahabharata era, in the south-western region of Bengal there existed a wealthy powerful kingdom named Tamralipta , whose capital was Ratnanagar . The kingdom was ruled a great and pious Mahishya-Kshatriya king called Mayuradhwaja . The king was indeed a great warrior. He had a valiant son called prince Tamradhwaja . The king was also performing a horse sacrifice and Tamradhwaja was guarding the horse. Arjuna's horse happened to stray into the kingdom. Tamradhwaja saw the new horse and caught it. He asked his warriors to capture the horse and then he would face the son of Pandu. Arjuna hearing this got ready for a fight. Vrishaketu entered the battlefield. He said This horse belongs to Yudhistira and has the blessing of Krishna. Who dared to capture this? Tamradhwaja said Krishna blesses all who seek his protection. My father Maharaja Sri Mayurdhwaja is performing the horse sacrifice and I have come t...

Maharaja Sri Bir Hambir Malla Deva  [1565-1620], the 49th Monarch of Mallabhum kingdom & the greatest ruler of the Malla dynasty of Bengal Official portrait of Maharaja Sri Bir Hambir Malla Deva of Mallabhoom,  Portrait - Arghyadeep Sardar, c. Gaudiya Warriors  The Mallabhum kingdom under the rule of Maharaja Bir Hambir Malla was spread upto the Santhal Pargana's Damin-i-Koh in the north, Midnapore in the south, Bardhaman in the east & Chotanagpore in the west.   Bir Hambir Malla's ruling period is regarded as the golden era of Mallabhum. Being a wise, brave & expert king he constructed several forts, organized the Malla army & dug seven deep trench encircling the capital city of Bishnupur.   Being a pious Gaudiya Vaishnava ruler he patronized Padavali poets & kirttaniyas, constructed 108 temples & defeated Pathans to protect Dharma. In his era Bishnupur became second Vrindavan named 'Gupto Brindabon' ....

⚜️】 Description of Rayashrestha Maharaja Pratapaditya and Jashōr Rāj-dôrbar in Jesuit Missionary Chronicles 【⚜️ At the end of 16th century several Jesuit missionaries from Portugal visited the Kingdom of Jashōr (m. Chandecaen) to establish trade with Bengal. In 1598, Father Franciseus Fernandez from Porto de Grandé sent Dommicus Sosa in Chandecan who narrated the Chronica primária.  On 20 November 1599, two Jesuit missionaries Melchiorem Fonsecom and Andreãm Boues arrived in Jessore. On Monday they were allowed to visit the Raj-dôrbar of Jashor and to meet the coveted ruler Maharaja Pratapaditya. 📜 The missionary chronicles mentions that, Rayashrestha Pratapaditya, the King of Chandecan (Jessore) was tall, broad shouldered and of strong build with well developed muscles. He was of fair complexion, with a broad thick moustache and a scar on the right side of his forehead. 📜 India Orientalis mentions the missionaries gifted  offe...