2017-03-15 Wed

Have you ever thought that a Hindu ruler would have ruled on a Muslim throne?
Yes… In the year SE 1339 which is corresponding to AH 819 and AD 1416, Hindu ruler Raja Ganesha sat on the throne of Bengal Sultanate. He established Hindu rule in Bengal and assumed the title ‘Danujamarddana Deva’. He took advantage of the weakness of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, which ruled before him, to come to the power.

Raja Ganesha was a Hindu landlord of Bhaturia in North Bengal. He came to serve in Ilyas’ court at the time of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah. He continued to serve the succeeding Sultans of Bengal and later seized control over Bengal soon after the death of Sultan Bayazid.

Following many controversies and oppositions, Raja Ganesha sat on the throne.

Raja Ganesha used to workship Hindu god ‘Sri Chandi’ therefore the name of Hindu god ‘Sri Chandi’ appears on his coins.

One of his silver tanka was sold for INR 2, 45,000 at Oswal Auction. The coin has the legends written in Bengali script and the obverse reads as ‘Sri Sri Danuja Marddana Deva’ in within the circle and the reverse of the coin reads as ‘Sri Chandi Charana Parayana’ meaning ‘The disciple at the feet of Chandi’, within the square.

Similar coin is there on our site.