Caṇḍeśvara Thakkura was a
Maithili-language political theorist and warrior during the 14th century. He served as minister for peace and war and chief judge in the court of
Harisimhadeva
Harisimhadeva (also called Hari Singh Deva) was a King of the Karnat dynasty who ruled the Mithila region of modern-day North Bihar in India and parts of South Nepal.
He reigned from 1304 to 1325. He was the last king to belong to the Karnata dy ...
who was the last King of the
Karnat dynasty of
Mithila Mithila may refer to:
Places
* Mithilā, a synonym for the ancient Videha state
** Mithilā (ancient city), the ancient capital city of Videha
* Mithila (region), a cultural region (historical and contemporary), now divided between India and Nepal ...
in modern-day northern
Bihar
Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West ...
of
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
and parts of Southern
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
.
His family had their origins in the village of Bisfi in
Madhubani district
Madhubani district is one of the thirty-eight List of districts of Bihar, districts of Bihar, India, and is a part of Darbhanga division. Its administrative headquarters are located in Madhubani, India, Madhubani. The district has an area of ...
of
Bihar
Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West ...
.
Among his most notable works was the ''Rājanītiratnākara'', a treatise on organising the state.
Further to this, he also wrote a set of seven books that dealt with issues relating to the law among other themes. These were titled the ''Krityaratnākara, Dānaratnākara, Vyavahāraratnākara, Śuddhiratnākara, Pūjāratnākara, Vivādaratnākara, and Gṛihastharatnākara''. Together, these books are referred to as ''Saptaratnākara''.
Primary sources from the time describe him as a great diplomat and a successful minister cum commander who participated in battles against ''
mlecchas
Mleccha (from Vedic Sanskrit ', meaning "non-Vedic", "foreigner" or " barbarian") is a Sanskrit term, initially referring to those of an incomprehensible speech, later foreign or barbarous invaders as contra-distinguished from elite groups.
The ...
'' (possibly referring to Muslim invasions) as well as leading a successful military expedition to Nepal where he is said to have distributed gold equal in weight to himself on the banks of the
Bagmati River
, "Tiger Gate")
, source1_location = Shivapuri, Sundarijal, Kathmandu, Nepal
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, mouth = Confluence with Kamala River
, mouth_location = Jagmohra, Bihar, India
, mouth_coo ...
in 1314.
Family
Chandeshvar was born in a family of
Maithil Brahmins
Maithil Brahmins are a Hindu Brahmin community from the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent that comprises Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia, Munger, Bhagalpur; Bokaro in Jharkhand and Santhal Pargana divisions of India and some adj ...
who were also learned scholars who worked in the Karnat court.
He was the cousin of Jayadatta who was the grandfather of the famous
Vidyapati who worked in the court of the
Oiniwar dynasty a century after Candesvara's time. Candesvara was also the grandson of another famous scholar, Devāditya Ṭhakkura who was described as a "minister for War and Peace" in the court of the
Karnat dynasty.
Candesvara most likely became a minister for peace and war for
Harisimhadeva
Harisimhadeva (also called Hari Singh Deva) was a King of the Karnat dynasty who ruled the Mithila region of modern-day North Bihar in India and parts of South Nepal.
He reigned from 1304 to 1325. He was the last king to belong to the Karnata dy ...
in 1310 C.E.
Karnat invasion of Nepal
Under Caṇḍeśvara's leadership and with the support of the King Harisimhadeva, the Karnatas of Mithila made an attack on Nepal in 1314. The Karnats made the city of
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
their focus and plundered the city. After this, they targeted
Lalitpur and continued looting and plundering the region.
References
{{reflist
Scholars from Bihar
Mithila