Rudranarayan
| Rudranarayan | |
|---|---|
| Maharaja of Bhurishrestha | |
| Predecessor | Shivanarayan |
| Successor | Bhavashankari |
| Spouse | Bhavashankari |
Maharaja Rudranarayan (Bengali: মহারাজা রুদ্রনারায়ণ) was the ruler of Bhurishrestha, who consolidated and expanded the kingdom and converted it into one of the most powerful Hindu kingdoms of the time. He broke the traditional alliance with the Pathan sultans of Gaur and struck new alliance with the Hindu kingdom of Odisha and accounted for the downfall of the Pathan regime in Bengal.
Rudranaryan born the only child of Maharaja Shivanarayan. Rudranarayan was a supremely skilled swordsman. While a prince, he used to assist his father in managing the affairs of the State. Maharaja Shivanarayan entrusted the royal duties to his able successor and engaged himself in spiritual activities.
After his father died, he acceded the throne of Bhurishrestha. As a ruler he first united the two houses of Pendo and Dogachhia. After that Rudranarayan concentrated on consolidating his control over south western Bengal and large parts of it were brought under the flag of Bhurishrestha. The domain of the kingdom included the present districts of Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, major part of West Midnapore and south western part of Burdwan. He organised the navy. Several men-of-war were stationed in Damodar and Ron. He had garrisoned troops at Tamluk, Amta, Uluberia, Khanakul, Chhaunapur and Naskardanga.
After consolidating his position, he concentrated on consolidating a Hindu confederacy to counter the rising Pathan sultanate of Gaur and approached the Hindu kingdoms of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha then under Gajapati Mukundadeva. He struck an alliance with Gajapati Mukunda Deva, the ruler of Kalinga (Odisha, Andhra, Bihar and southern Bengal). In 1565, Mukunda Deva accepted the suzerainty of Akbar and agreed to attack Sulaiman Karrani, the Pathanler of Gaur, in case he revolted against the Mughal emperor. The combined forces of Bhurishrestha and Odisha, met the Pathan forces at Tribeni. A heavy battle ensued and the Pathan forces were completely routed. Rajiv Lochan Ray, the general of Gajapati Mukundadeva and the commander-in-chief, of the combined forces showed remarkable valour and bravery. He had literally annihilated the Moslem army. Owing to this victory Gajapati Mukundadeva wrested the control of Saptagram. He built a temple at Tribeni at a ghat at Gajagiri on the banks of Ganga.
...
Wikipedia