English
Ir 7 50 of the country of Bengal was Rajih Bhigirat, 1 of the Sbatri tribe For a long period lie held the sovereignty of Bengal. At length he went to Delhi and was killed with Darjudha^ * in the wars of the Mahabbarat. His period of rule was 250 years. After this, 23 persons amongst his descendants, one after another, ruled for a period of nearly 2,200 years. 3 After that, the sovereignty passed that year, Nawib Jafar Khan (Mnrshid Quli Khin) prepared his 'Kamil Jams’ Taman’ or ‘ perfeot rent-roll,’ in which Bengal was divided into 34 S&rkars, forming 13 chaklahs, and subdivided into 1,660 perganas, with a revenue of Rs. 1,42,88,186. After the rule of Nawab Jafar Khin, ^6u?ab revenue (imposts as fees, Ac.), appeared in the books. In the time of Shnja Khan, Nawab Jafar’s sncoessor, the Abicabs (see Bloohmann’s Contributions and Grant’s report) amounted to Rs. 21,72,952, and they rapidly increased under Nawaba Ali Vardi Khan and Kasim Khan, so that when the E.I. Company in 1765 aoqnired the Deuani from Emperor Shah Alam, the net amount of all revenne collected in Bengal Proper was (see Grant’s report) Rs. 2,56,24,223. I respectfully differ, however, from Professor Blochmann’s conclusions on one point. He would seem to suggest that the above extent of territory with the above Revenue, as gathered from Todar Mai’s rent-roll pri rared in 1682 and also from the Ain-i-Akbari, Iolalnamah, P<idshahnamah and Alamgimamah, might be taken to represent the territorial and fiscal strength of the Mosalman Bengal kingdom of pre-Mughal times —(J.A.S , 1873, p. 214). This inference is vitiated, in view of the fact that the Musalman Bengal kingdom in pre-Mughal times included for the most part the ichole of north Behar, and, under several Mnsalmnn Bengal rulers, also south Behar ns fur westward ns Sarkars Mungber and Behar, besides Orissa. This consideration would indicate that the territorial and financial strength of the Mnsalman Bengal kingdom in pre-Moghul times was greater than what is arrived at in Professor Bloch- iniinii’s conclusions. In the Ain-i-Akbari, Orissa is included in the $ubah of Bengal, Orissa consisting of 5 Sarkars. Thus, the Subah of Bengal is described as consisting of 24 Sarkars (that is, including 5 Sarkars of Orissa), nnd 787 mahals, aud the revenue is stated to be Rs. 1,49,61,482-16-7. (fee Ain, Vol. II, p 129). Mutamad Khan who was attached to Emperor Juhnngusis Court, in hie account of the seventh year of Jahangir’s reign, states A revenue of Bengal was one Kror and fifty labs in rupees.— (Vide Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, p. 60). I Rajah Bhagirath or Bhagdat, son of Narak, had his Capital at the city of Pragjatespnr (identified with the modern Ganhati), is described in the Mahabbarat as espousing the cause of Darjudban, and as being slain by the victorious Arjun. According to the Ain-i-Akbari, p. 144, Vol. 2, Bliagirat or Bhagdat had twenty-three successors in hie dyuasty. 4 According to the Ain, p. 147, Jarjudhan. 8 This is the period daring which his dynntty ruled. In the Ain, p. 2418 years. 51 from his family to Noj Gouriah,* who belonged to the Kyesth tribe, and for 250* years he and his eight descendants ruled. The fortune of sovereignty passed from his family also to Adisar, 8 who was also a Kyesth, and eleven persons, including himself and his descendants, ascending the throne, ruled for 714 years over the Kingdom of Bengal. And afterwards tho sovereignty passing from his family to Bhupftl Kyesth, the latter with his descendants, forming ten persons, ruled over this kingdom for a period of 698 years. When their fortune decayed, Sukh Sen Kyesth with his descendants, numbering seven persons, ruled over the Kingdom of Bengal (Bangalah) for 160 * years. And these sixty-one persons ruled absolutely over this kingdom for u period of 4,240 6 years. And when the period of their fortano was over, their fortune ended. Sukh Sen,® of tho Boido caste, became ruler, and after ruling for three years over this kingdom, died. After this, Ballal Sen, who built the fort of Gaur, occupied the throne of sovereignty for fifty years, and died. After this, Lakhman Sen for seven years, after him Madhu Sen for ten years, after him Kaisfi Sen for fifteen years, after him Sada Sen for eighteen years, and after him Nauj 7 for three years ruled. When the turns of these were over, Rajah Lakhman ia, 8 son of Lakhman, sat ou the throne. At that time, the seat of government of the Rais of Bengal was Nadiah, 9 and this Nadiah ia a well-known city, and a seat of Hindi! learning. At present, though compared with the past, it is dilapidated and in ruin, still it is famous for its learning. The astrologers of that place, who were known over the world for their proficiency in astrology and soothsayings, unitedly L In the Ain, p. 145, “ Bhoj Gauriah.” * In the Ain, p. 145, “ 620 years.” 8 In the Ain, ** Adsur." * In the Ain, p. 146, " 106 years.’' 1 In the Ain, “ 45 44” years. 8 In the Ain, “ Sukh Sin.” Tie is not described as a Boido. . 7 In the Ain, “ Naugah.” • ; 8 In Ferishta “ Lakhraanah ”; in Tabaqat-i-Nnjiri 11 Lakhmaniah.’’* 9 In Tabaqat-i<Na?iri, “ Naadiah ” or “ new isle.” According to carrent legends, it was founded in 1063 A.C. by Lakhman S8n, eon of Ballal Sen, who resided partly at Ganr, and principally Rt Bikrampnr, in Daoca distriot. Mohammad Bakhtiir Khllji in 594 A. H. or 1198 A.C. stormed the fort of Nadiah, and conquered Bengal with eighteen troopers—a sad commentary on the feebleness of the Hindu Rajah ! 52 nt the time of delivery, informed Lakhmania’s mother, that at this hour, an unlucky child would be born, who would bring about bad luck and misfortune, and that if it be born after two hours, it would succeed to the throne. This heroine ordered that both her legs should be bound together, and she should be suspended with her head downwards ; and after two hours she came down, and the child was brought forth at the auspicious moment, but its mother died. Rajah Lakhmania for eighty years occupied the throne. In justice, he had no equal, and in liberality he had no match. 1 It is said that his gifts amounted to no less than one hundred thousand. Towards 8 the end of his life, when the perfection of the period of his sovereignty approached decay, the astrologers of that place said to Rajah Lakhmauia: “ From our knowledge of astrology, we have come to know, that shortly your sovereignty would come to an end, and that your religion would cease to be current in this kingdom. ” Rai Lakhmania, not regarding this prediction as truthful, put the cotton of neglect and ignorance in his ear, but many of the elite of that city secretly moved away to different places. And this prediction was fulfilled by the invasion of Malik Ikhtiaru-d-diu Muhammad Bakhtiar Kbilji, as will be soon related hereafter. AN ACCOUNT OF THE DOMINATION OF CERTAIN HINDU RAIS OVER THE KINGDOM OF BENGAL, AND OF THE CAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF IDOL-WORSHIP IN HINDUSTAN. Be it not hidden that, in ancient times, the Rais of the Kingdom of Bengal (Bangalab) were powerful, and of high rank and dignity, and did not owe allegiance to the Maharajah of Hindu¬ stan, who ruled over the throne at Delhi. For instance, Suroj, 8 l This account is repeated in several Mnsalman histones, such as Tabaqat- i.Nai*ri, Ferishta, Ain-i-Akbari. The Tabaqat, p. 151, being the nearest con- temporary record, may be specially referred to, especially as its author, Minhajo-s-Siraj, shortly after, in 641 A.R. visited Lakhnanti. One Ink cowne is meant. 9 Minhaju-s-Siraj in the Tabaqat, pp. 150 and 151, pays a high eulogium to this Rajah, and extols his virtues and liberality, and winds up by saying. "May God lessen his punishment in the next world ! ” Verily, Minhaj was himself liberal in his views! 8 In Ferishta (Per. text), Vol. 1, p. 121, Bahdaj, father of Suraj, is described as descended from Noah. It is worthy of note, that in the distriot of Mong yr, 53 who was a powerful Rajali, subjugated the Kingdom of Dakhin (Daki\i). At that time, his deputies commenced grasping and usurping; and in the Kingdom of Hindustan, idol-worship dates from his time. It is said that, in the beginning, Hind, having seen and heard from his father Ham, son of Noah (peace be on him ! ) devoted himself to the worship of God ; and that his children also, in the same manner, worshipped God, until, in the time of Rai Maharaj, 1 a person coming from Persia perverted the people of Hindustan to sun-worship. I ffluxen of time, some became star- worshippers, and others fire-worshippers. In the time of Rai Suraj, a Brahmin, coming from the mountains of Jharkand, * entered his service, and taught the Hindus idol-worship, and preached that everyone preparing a gold or silver or stone imngo of bis father and grandfather, should devote himself to its wor¬ ship; and this practice became more common than other practices. And at the present day in the religious practice of Hindus, tho worship of idols, and of the sun, and of fire is very common. Some saj that fire-worship was introduced by Ibrahim Zardasht 3 in on the southern bank of tho Ganges, near Maulanagar, there is a town called ‘ Siirajgarh, ” or “ fort of Siiraj.” Might not this place have been the birthplace or seat of government of Rijih Suraj in the text ? The locality 19 one which would facilitate his excursion into tho Dakhin through tho defiles of the Vindhya rango, of which the text speaks. 1 This is apparently a mistake in the text for " Rni Bahdnj, ” who is men¬ tioned in Ferishta as the father of Rai Siiraj, and as a descendant of Noah. 3 We meet with the name of “Jharkand” in the “ Akbarnamah” j it was thp Musalman appellation of “Chutia Nagpur” just as Bharkund was tho Mksalman appellation of “ Sonthal Parganna.