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From the preface: The excavation at Jagivanpur has led this non-descript village at the eastern fringe of Malda District in West Bengal, adjacent to Indo-Bangladesh border, to find an important place on the archaeological map of both Bengal and India. The archaeological activities at Jagivanpur began under the aegis of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. of West Bengal followed by the chance discovery of an extremely important copper plate charter in 1987, which not only revealed the name of a hitherto unknown ruler Mahendrapaladeva a scion of the imperial Pala dynasty ruled over Bengal and Bihar during circa 8th to 12th century A.D. but also helped historians to rewrite the political history of Bengal and of North India. King Mahendrapala (c. A.D. 845-860) who is described as the son and successor of Devapala (c. A.D. 810-845), granted a piece of land in Nandadirghik-udrange in favour of Mahasenapati Vajradeva, who has caused to be built a monastery at that place for increase of religious merits of his parents, of himself and of all beings.