Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud was grandson of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi

Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud was grandson of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud was appointed as governor of Multan his uncle Sultan Masud. Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud wanted to conquer and establish his kingdom in northern India. In the year 1031, with an army of over one hundred thousand troops, Salar Masud crossed the Hindu Kush ranges and entered the Punjab plains. The king of Lahore Anand Pal Shahi made an unsuccessful attempt to check Masud's advance. Anand Pal was helped by Rai Arjun the king of Sialkot. After defeating Anand Pal, Masud moved towards Rajputana and Malwa, where he defeated king Mahipal Tomar.

Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud's invading army was much larger and was fully equipped with and provided by the imperial strength of Afghanistan. The aim of Salar Masud's invasion was to establish the rule of Ghaznavid Empire over northern India. After their victories across the Indo-gangetic plains, the Sultan Saiyyad Salar Masud, established his court at Bahraich near Ayodhya. They made their camp into a makeshift headquarters with the aim of eventually making it their permanent capital.

At this juncture a rare event took place. For the first time a major pan-Indian alliance of seventeen kings of North India was formed. This coalition force which far outnumbered the large army of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud laid siege to the camp. We have an account of this war from an Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdur Rehman Chishti who in his book Meer-ul-Masuri has given a vivid description of this exceptional war. He writes that Salar Masud reached Baharaich in 1033. By then the united Indian kings had gathered a massive force to face Salar Masud. As was their practice, before the beginning of hostilities, the Indian kings sent a messenger to Salar Masud that this land belongs to their people and he should retun back to their kingdom. Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud sent a reply that all land belonged to God and he could settle wherever he pleased.

Consequently, Masud's huge army was besieged by the even greater Indian army and no side gave the other any quarter. Gradually through the hostilities, Salar Masud saw the unsuccessful end of his expedition. This bitter and bloody war was fought in the month of June 1033. In this furious war, no side took any prisoners and it ended only with the martyrs from both sides. Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud body was taken and then beheaded. Later his body was allowed to be buried at Bahraich.

The battle of Bahraich ended on 14 June 1034. At the gory end, nearly entire army of Salar Masud along with their commander lay dead. The survivors of Salar Masud's army were allowed to settle in Bahraich. During his military career and his many campaigns his strong religious and warrior code of ethics, exemplary character and deep seated and uncompromising spiritual values directed him to offer protection to non-combatants, women and children. Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud's Mausoleum is located at Bahraich and a yearly Urs is celebrated.