Gour Govinda
Govinda was known to be disrespectful and intolerant of other faiths practised in Srihatta, such as Islam, Buddhism and certain Hindu denominations, often getting into war with neighbouring states such as Laur, Jaintia and the Khasis.
However, he is also noted as one of the strongest rulers of medieval Sylhet, and during his reign, Gour was described to be "free of enemies" due to other states fearing Govinda.
[2] After the arrival of Shah Jalal and the Conquest of Sylhet in 1303, Govinda left Gour and the area came under the rule of Wazir Sikandar Khan Ghazi.
Srinanda suffered from chronic rheumatism and so his younger brother, Upananda, took advantage of this by succeeding his father in the throne with the acceptance of the royal officers.
He studied alongside Hiravati and Achak Narayan, the orphaned children of a dead Jalpaiguri chief and his captive wife, brought to Kamrup by their nurse Mandavi and her son Jhantu.
[5] পুনির বিল ছাড়িয়া রাজা ছিলটেতে গেল, Punir bil chhariya Raja Silot-ete gelo, From the beel of Puni, the King went to Sylhet অট্টনাথের পূজা দিয়া ঠাকুরালি পাইল। Ottonath-er pooja diya thakurali pailo Giving Puja to Hattanath, he gained mastery After successfully completing his education, Govinda and his twelve associates were guided by Giridhari back to Sylhet, through Puni beel, in 1260.
Govinda and his accompanying sannyasis went to the temple of Hattanath (tutelary deity of Gour) before launching a surprise attack on the rebels causing them to retreat.
The Muslim rule led to large numbers of Bengali Hindus to migrate to Gour, which was considered a Hindu stronghold.
[5] There was also a minority of Muslim families who migrated to Gour and Tungachal, following the short-lived Azmardan Expedition in 1254 led by the Governor of Bengal, Malik Ikhtiyaruddin Iuzbak.
[12] Govinda, in a fury for what he saw as sacrilege due to his Hindu beliefs, had the newborn, Gulzar Alam, killed, as well as having Burhanuddin's right hand cut off.
[13] Shortly after this incident, Qazi Nuruddin of Taraf, a rich cultivator, celebrated his son's marriage ceremony by slaughtering a cow for them to eat.
This initiated the Muslim Conquest of Gour, consisting of two unsuccessful expeditions led by Syed Nasiruddin and Sikandar Khan Ghazi respectively.
[7] Govinda's family rejoiced and his aunt Apurna, the queen-mother and wife of the deceased Raja Govardhan, celebrated building a large 20-acre water tank in Bara Bazar, Ambarkhana which was known as Rajar Mar Dighi.
[5][14] Govinda's defeat was in the third battle by the joint force of Sultan's commander-in-chief Sikandar Khan Ghazi's army as well as Shah Jalal and his companions.
The boatmen, however, continued taking Garuda's mother and wife to Tungachal, eventually finding refuge with Raja Achak Narayan.
[5] শ্রীহট্টের পূর্বদেশ নাম গোয়ার, একখানি দেশ সেই বড়ই বিস্তার Srihotter purbodesh naam Guar, ek-khani desh shei boroi bistar একদিকে জৈন্তা, হেড়ম্ব একদিকে, মধ্যদেশে মুকুন্দ আকাক্সক্ষা কৈলা তাকে। Ekdike Jointa, Herombo ekdike, modhyodeshe mukundo akaksokka koila take সমুদ্র তনয় গৌড় গোবিন্দ নামেতে, শ্রীহট্ট দেশের রাজা ছিলেন পর্বতে। Shomudro tonoy Gour Gobind naamete, Srihotto desher raja chhilen porbote গড়–ল রাজার কথা শুন মন দিয়া, সিংহের লগে যুদ্ধ করে তলোয়ার লইয়া। Gorol Rajar kotha shun mon diya, shingher loge juddho kore tolwar loiya বিদেশিয়া রাজার যত লোক লস্কর ছিল, পুনি বিলের মধ্যে গড়–ল সবই ডুবাইল। Bideshiya rajar joto lok-loshkor chhilo, Puni beel-er modhye Gorol shobi dubailo যুদ্ধ করি খাই (খাসিয়া) রাজারে বান্ধিয়া আনিল, পণ দিয়া খাই রাজা ফিরিয়া দেশে গেল। Juddho kori Khai (Khasia) Raja-re bandhiya anilo, pono diya Khai Raja phiriya deshe gelo জৈন্তা আর লাউড় গেলা আগে আগে ভাগি, শত্রু শূন্য হৈল দেশ ডরাইব কার লাগি। Jointa ar Laur gela aage aage bhagi, shotru shunno hoilo desh doraibo kar lagi
