GURJARA-PRATIHARA EMPIRE (WESTERN INDIA): 730-1036
Revision Notes
For
UPSC PSC RO/ARO
Known as Gurjara - Pratihara, as they originated from Gurjaras, who were primarily pastoralists and fighters.
Dynasty was founded by Harichandra, in and around jodhpur, south western Rajasthan.
Pratihara were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River.
Gurjara-Pratihara are known for their sculptures, carved panels and open pavilion style temples. The greatest development of their style of temple building was at Khajuraho, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sanskrit Poet & Dramatist Rajasekhara lived in the court of Mahendrapala I – son of Mihir bhoja
.
Mahipala is Pala king. It has to be replaced by Mahendrapala-I (885–910) was a ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.
Foreign traveller Al-Masudi had visited Pratihara empire.
IMPORTANT RULERS:
▪️Nagabhatta I (730-760)
Most famous Pratiharas kings, known for containing Arab armies
Defeated by Rashtrakuta king Dhruva.
▪️Vatsaraja (780-800)
Made Kannauj in western U.P as his capital.
Expansionist policy brought him into conflict with Dharmapala, the Pala king and Rashtrakuta king Dhruv, thus began “tripartite struggle” and continued for about another 350 years.
Vatsraja defeated the Pala ruler Dharmapala and Dantidurga, the Rashtrakuta king, for control of Kannauj.
▪️Nagabhata II (805–833)
He conquered Kannauj and the Indo-Gangetic Plain as far as Bihar from the Palas, and again checked the Muslims in the west.
He rebuilt the Shiva temple at Somnath in Gujarat, which had been demolished in an Arab raid from Sindh.
▪️Bhoja I/ Mihir Bhoja (836-885)
Greatest ruler of Pratiharas, got victories over Palas and Rashtrakutas.
Capital at Kannauj, which also known as Mahodaya.
Devotee of Vishnu, adopted title ‘Adivaraha’.
Pratiharas were wiped out from political scenario by Ghaznavids and their rule was succeeded Chauhan in Rajputana, Chalukyas or Solanki in Gujarat and Paramara in Malwa.
#revision_notes
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#medieval_history
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