Originally named Gangadhar Thakur, he was the eldest son of Maharaja Dharma Manikya II.
During Dharma's reign, both Gangadhar and his younger brother Gadadhar Thakur were passed over for the naming of Yuvraj (crown prince), possibly due to a quarrel, with the title instead falling to their uncle Chandramani, who later ascended the throne under the name Mukunda Manikya.
[1] When the latter was deposed by the Mughals in 1739, Gangadhar was captured alongside Mukunda's sons Bhadramani and Krishnamani.
Taking advantage of the situation, Gangadhar bribed the Mughal Naib Nazim of Dhaka, Nawazish Muhammad Khan, and secured a fatwa in his favour.
[4] His rule was short however,[5] as Joy's army gave a strong resistance against the invasion, forcing him into submission and driving him out.