After the decline of Ilyas Shahi Dynasty, a vacuum of power was created in Bengal. King Ganesha was a local Hindu zamindar ruler in Bengal that time. Taking advantage of this situation of political instability in Bengal, Ganasha established an influential Hindu dynasty – the Ganesha Dynasty.
Raja Ganesha [1414-1418 AD]
- 1415: King Ganesh dethroned Alauddin Firoz Shah of Ilyas Shahi and sat on the throne of Bengal (in Pandua).
- He assumed the title ‘Danujmardandev’.
- He introduced Hindu customs at his court.
- He abolished many Islamic practices.
- Ganesha was an orthodox Hindu.
- His capital city was Gaur.
- Enraged by his behavior, Muslim fakirs and dervish communities plotted against him.
- The dervish community appealed to Sultan Ibrahim Sharqi of Jaunpur to evict the pagan Ganesha.
- Ibrahim Sharqi, the ruler of Jaunpur, attacked Bengal in response to the call of the dervishes.
- Defeated King Ganesha made an agreement with Sharqi and converted his son Yadu to Islam.
- Yadu assumed the name ‘Jalaluddin Muhammad’ and sat on the throne.
- When Sharqi left Bengal, Ganesh retook the throne and reconverted Yadu into Hinduism.
- He built Fateh Khan’s mausoleum at Gaur, Eklakhi Palace at Pandua and renovated the Adina Mosque.
Jalaluddin Muhammad [1418-1431 AD]
- Coins of a king named ‘Mahendradeva’ are found in the later period of King Panesa.
- According to many historians, this Mahendradeva was actually Ganesha’s son Jalaluddin or Yadu.
- Again, according to many historians, Jalaluddin’s anti-Hindu attitude and adherence to Islam are inconsistent with his adoption of the title ‘Mahendradev’. They identified Mahendradev as Jalaluddin’s younger brother.
- After he ascended the throne, he started persecuting Hindu Brahmins and forcibly converted many Hindus to Islam.
- His commander was a Hindu named Rajyadhar.
- Bengal, Arakan, South Bihar belonged to Jalaluddin’s empire.
- Sanskrit scholar Brihaspati Misra received his patronage.
- He temporarily shifted the capital of Bengal from Pandua to Gaur.
Info: Jalaluddin Muhammad issued coins in his name in the Persianate style
Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah [1432-1442 AD]
- 1432: After Jalaluddin’s death, his son Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah ascended the throne.
- He was an oppressor.
- During his reign there was great disorder in various parts of the kingdom.
- 1442: When he was killed, Ganesh’s rule in Bengal came to an end.