The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was the first powerful dynasty to rise during the Early Medieval period of India. It was founded by Nagabhata I in the 8th century CE and went on to create a vast empire across North India with Kannauj as its center of power. Key rulers like Mihira Bhoja consolidated and expanded the empire, defeating rivals like the Palas and Rashtrakutas. The dynasty reached its peak under Mihira Bhoja's rule, controlling large parts of North and Central India. It declined thereafter with weakening of control over peripheral areas, though it continued to be an important power until the late 10th century CE.

1. BA II Sem
Unit 1 :Gurjar Pratihar
By
Prachi Virag Sontakke

3. Introduction
• Early Medieval period: period of rise
of several strong powers in north &
south India.
• Intertwined detailed history of their
conquests & conflicts.
• Gurjar Pratihara = first powerful
dynasty of aforesaid period.
• Created a vast empire covering
whole of north India with Kannauj as
center of power.
• A period of cultural prosperity.
• Gave befitting response Arab attack.

4. Sources
• Gwalior Prashasti of Mihirbhoja
• Jodhpur inscription of Bauka.
• Ghatiyal inscription of Kakka.
• Daulatpur inscription
• Peheov inscription
• Una inscriptionof Avantivarman II
• Chatsu inscription of Guhil king Baladitya
• Badal inscription of Narayan Pala
• Baghumra inscription of Dhruva II
• Sanjan copper plate of Amoghvarsha
• Radhanpur inscription
• Prithviraj Raso by Chandrabardai.
• Kavyamimansa by Rajshekhar.
• Jain Harivamsa.
• Kuvalaymala
• Rajatarangini by Kalhana
• Accounts of Suleiman
• Coins
• Archaeological remains

8. Origin: Theory 1 : Foreign Origin
• Theory 1A : Word Gurjar = foreign
• Propounded by : Campbell, Jackson, Bhandarkar.
• View : Along with Hunas , a foreign tribe Khajar also came to India. Gurjar Pratihar were
descendants of this Khajar tribe.
• Basis : 1. Emerged suddenly in political scenario of 6th cent CE : Time of Hunas.
2. Banabhatta mentions Huna’s & Gurjars in same verse.
• Analysis:
• Una inscription: Samant of Gurjar Pratihar prides himself on ending rule of Hunas
• Banabhatta describes several other kingdoms in the same sentence.
• Authenticity: Unacceptable. Merely phonetic similarity. No proof

9. Origin: Theory 1 : Foreign Origin
• Theory 1B : Agnikula theory
• Propounded by : Col. James Todd
• Basis : Prithvirajraso by Chandrabardai.
• Foreign tribes Chahman, Parmar, Chaulukya & Pratihar sanctified in sacrificial fire
at Mount Abu & inducted into Hinduism.
• Analysis : 1. Not found in original copy of Prithvirajraso.
2. Even after sacrificial cleansing, foreigners couldn’t be ascribed
Brahman status.
• Authenticity: Mythical. Factless.

10. Origin: Theory 2 : Indian Origin
• Theory : Word Gurjar = Indian tribe name (R.S.Tripathi)/ Indian place name
(D.C.Ganguli, R.C.Majumdar)
• Propounded by : C.V.Vaidya, G.H.Ojha, D.C.Ganguli, B.N.Puri, V.S.Pathak.
R.S.Tripathi, R.C.Majumdar.
• Basis : 1. No indication of them being foreign tribe.
2. Gurjar Prathar inscriptions : were originally Brahmans
• View : Gurjar Pratihara = protectors of Gurjar kingdom
• Authenticity: accepatable

11. Caste of Gurjar Pratiharas
Kshatriyas
• Rajshekhar: Mahendrapala was
‘Raghukultilak’; Mahipala was
‘Raghuvamshamuktamani’
• Gwalior Prashasti: Kshtriyas related to
King Laxman of Ishkwaku family.
• Jodhpur inscription: Because king Ram’s
brother acted as a Pratihara (=gate
guarder) while fighting enemies, this
family was known as Pratihara.
Brahmans
• Ghatiyala inscription: Mulapurush
of Pratiharas was a Brahman whose
Kshatriya wife gave birth to
Pratihara lineage.
• V.S.Pathak: Gurjar Pratiharas related
to Yagyik ‘Pratihaartu’ who were
Brahmans
Inference: Brahm-kshtra?

12. Branches of Gurjar Pratihar
Ujjain
Bhrigukachchh
Mandavyapuri

13. Rise of Gurjar Pratiharas of
Ujjain/Kannauj
Nagabhatta I
Kakustha
Devaraja

14. Rise of Gurjar Pratiharas: Nagbhatta I
• First king = Nagabhatta I (c. 730-760 CE)
• Gwalior Prashasti : Nagabhatta I defeated ‘Malechchhadhipa’.
• Malechchhadhipa = Arabs under officers of Junaid, the general of Khalifa Hasham.
• Al Biladuri : Arabs who were successful elsewhere could only make incursions in Ujjain
• Hansoth inscription: Nagabhatta I defeated Arabs & appointed his Chahman Samanta in
Bharocha
• Acclaimed hero in hour of Arab crisis.
• Took advantage of Arab retreat and integrated small kingdoms over run by Arab invaders.
• Sanjan copper plate: Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga defeated Nagabhatta I & captured
Ujjaini.
• Empire extended from Ujjaini to Arabian sea.
• Died in glory leaving a stable kingdom & reputation to uphold

15. Kakustha & Devaraja
• Nagabhatta I succeeded by his nephews- Kakustha & Devaraj
• Both ruled during c.760-780 CE.
• B.N.Puri : Kakustha, a nonentity who ruled for a short time.
• Succeeded by his brother Devaraja.
• Gwalior Prashasti: He curbed the power of multitude of kings & their powerful allies.
• Exaggeration
• Threat: Rashtrakutas rising in south
• Succeeded by his son Vatsaraja.

16. Consolidation of Empire
Vatsaraj I
Nagbhatta II
Rambhadra
Mihirbhoja
Mahendrapal I
Bhoja II
Mahipal I

17. Consolidation of empire : Vatsaraj (c.774 – 800 CE)
• Jain Harivamsha: Was one of the 4 important rulers of his times.
• Initial kingdom included Jodhpur & Rajputana.
• Gwalior Prashasti: Forcefully wrested the kingdom of Bhandi.
• R.D.Bererji: Bhandi = cousin of Harshavardhana.
• Radhanpur inscription + Wani Didori inscription + Baroda inscription: Vatsaraj
defeated Gaud king & took from him 2 royal parasols (=Ganga-Yamuna doab).
• Prithvirajvijaya: Vatsaraj helped by his Chahman feudatory Durlabhraja.
• Established Indrayuddha on Kannauj throne.
• Radhanpur inscription + Wani Didori inscription + Baroda inscription:
Rashtrakuta king Dhruva defeated Vatsaraja & took 2 royal parasols from him.
• Vatsaraja took shelter in Rajputana.
• Khalimpur inscription: King of Avanti (= Vatsaraj) was forced to attend the
coronation darbar in Kannauj organised by Pala king Dharampala.

18. Nagabhatta II (c. 800-833 CE)
• Establisher of Gurjar Pratihar power in Kannauj.
• Stage 1 : Conquests
• Gwalior Prashasti: Andhra, Sindh, Vidarbha, Kalinga submitted to him as
moths to fire.
• Probably they were afraid of Rashtrakutas in south & Palas in north.
• Accompanied by his feudatories Kakka and Vahukadhawal in his conquests.

19. Stage II : Clash with Rashtrakutas
• Sanjan copper Plate + Radhanpur inscription + Pathari pillar
inscription: Rashtrakuta king Govind III defeated Nagabhatta II
• A.S.Alketar: This battle was fought in Bundelkhand.
• Nagabhatta II fled.
• Govind III left for south India.
• Nagabhatta II recovered and came back to reclaim lost areas.

20. Stage III : Victory over Palas
• Gwalior Prashasti + Buchkala inscription: Nagabhatta II defeated king Chakrayuddha of
Kannauj.
• Acquired throne of Kannauj & took the title ‘Parambhattaraka Maharajadhiraja
Parmeshwar’.
• Gwalior Prashasti: Nagabhatta II defeated Pala king of Gaud, Dharampala.
• Jodhpur inscription: This battle was fought in Munger.
• Baroda inscription + Chatsu inscription + Jodhpur Inscription: Helped by his samantas
Kakka, Bahukdhawal & Shankargana.
• Gwalior Prashasti: Annexed hilly forts of Aanarta, Malwa, Kirat, Turushq, Vatsa & Matsya.
• Khalimpur inscription: These areas were formerly under Pala king Dharampala.

21. Extent
• Extent:
• North: Himalaya
• South: Narmada
• East: Bengal
• Area of influence: Chahman Guvaka, Chalukya Bahukadhawal, Guhila
Shankargana
• Prithvirajvijay: Matrimonial relations with Chahmana. Sister of King
Guvak was married to Nagabhatta II.

22. Rambhadra (c. 833-836 CE)
• Prabhavakcharita: Nagbhatta II committed reliogios suicide in pious Ganga
• Had appointed his son Rambhadra as his successor.
• Contemporary Pala king = Devapala.
• Munger Inscription: Credits Devapala to be conqueror of Bharatvarsha.
• Badal Inscription: Devapala shattered the pride of Gurjar king.
• Probably Rambhadra lost some areas to Palas.
• Gwalior Prashasti: He tied his powerful enemies by the help of his samantas.
• R.C.Majumdar: Enemies = Palas.

23. Mihirbhoja (c.836-885 CE)
• B.N.Puri: Mihirbhoja = Greatest emperor of Early Medieval India in
northern India.
• Titles: Bhoja, Prabhas, Adivaraha, Mihir, Parmeshwar.
• Started his career as king of Kannauj.
• Regained lost prestige and territories of Pratiharas.
• Aim: to tighten the loose ends of his kingdom
• Plan: Safeguarding his boundaries & strengthening administration

24. Strengthening of Administration
• Daulatpur inscription: Restarted the grant in Gurjartrabhoomi (Jodhpur) that stopped during
the time of his father.
• His first inscription: Restarted grant in Kalanjar mandal that stopped during the time of his
father.
• Some scholars: These areas were lost during reign of Rambhadra & Mihibhoja reacquired
them.
• D.Sharma : Unacceptable.
• Probably these grants were stopped due to inefficiency of Vyavharin (judicial officer) in these
areas.
• Mihirbhoja merely rescantioned them.
• Prabhaskhanda of Skandapurana: Mihirbhoja appointed his forest officer in Girnar.

25. Imperialistic campaigns
• Difficult to ascertain sequence of his conquests.
• Gwalior Prashasti : He attacked and ruled over many kings.
• Pehava inscription: Haryana was included in Mihirbhoja’s kingdom.
• Fragmentary inscription form Purana Qila: Control over Delhi.
• Rajatarangini: He took some lands from a king of Thakkiya family which were later
reacquired by Shankarvarama.
• Prabhaskhanda of Skandapurana: Mihirbhoja appointed his forest officer in Girnar.
• Chatsu inscription: His Guhil samant Harshraj assisted him in his north Indian
victories.

26. Pratihara- Pala struggle
• Contemporary Pala king = Devalapala = Powerful
• Both dynasties assert their victory.
• Gwalior inscription: Rajlaxmi of Devapal went to Bhoja.
• Badal pillar inscription of Narayan Pala: Devapal crushed the pride of
Gurjarnatha.
• Devapala = contemporary of Nagabhatta II,Rambhadra, Mihirbhoja
• R.S.Tripathi + R.C.Majumdar: Gurjarnath = Mihirbhoja
• Devalpala victorious in early days of Mihirbhoja.
• Mihirbhoja victorious in later phase
• Chatsu inscription: His Guhil samant Harshraj assisted him in his north Indian
victories.
• Kahla inscription: His Kalchuri samant Gunambodhideva accompanied him in
his conquest against Palas

27. Pratihara- Rashtrakuta struggle
• Contemporary Rashtrakuta king = Amoghvarsha and Krishna II
• Amoghvarsha busy in subduing internal conflicts in his own empire.
• Sirur inscription of Amoghvarsha: Kings of Anga, Vanga, Magadh, Malwa,Vengi worshipped
him ??
• Mihirbhoja took advantage: became overlord of north & central India
• Struggle to get control of Avanti-Ujjain.
• Baghumra inscription of Dhruv II (Rashtrakuta of Gujrat): Dhruv II defeated powerful
armies of eager Gurjar.
• Gurjar = Mihirbhoja
• Not a defensive defeat but defeat met while attacking.
• Barton museum inscription: Bhoja forced Rashtrakuta Krishna II to retreat.
• Devali inscription of Krishna III: Krishna II scared off Gurjarnath?
• Helped by Chahman samantas in Rashtrakuta campaign.

28. Mihirbhoja & Arab inavaders
• Sadly Indian literature makes no mention of Mihirbhoja’s efforts
against Arabas.
• Suleiman : This king has a huge army. No other king has a cavalry like
his. There is no greater threat to Islam than him. He is the enemy of
Arabs.
• Praise from enemy camp : Able administration, prosperous economy,
powerful army.
• Coins : Title “Adivarah”
• Related to successful disposition of Arab threat?
• H.C.Raichaudhary: He proved his name meaning Pratihara

29. Extent
• NE: Gorakhpur, Bihar
• NW: Punjab
• W: Rajputana
• SW: Kathiawad
• S: Bundelkhand Malva
• Area of influence: NE- till Himalayan foothills.
• Guhil samanat (Jaipur), Kalchuri samant Gunambodhideva (Gorakhpur),
Alkhaan (Gurjar king of western Punjab)

30. Mahendrapala I (c.885-915 CE)
• S/O Mihirbhoja.
• Kannauj : Became Centre of Cultural activities
• Balramayan: Directions of country measured from Kannauj, Kannauj as fashion
capital of India, luxurious-prosperous life in Kannauj.
• Special patronage to language and literature.
• Court poet : Rajshekhar
• Rajshekhar: Karpoormanjari, Vidshaalbhanjika, Baalramayan

31. Victory over Palas
• Defeated the traditional enemies of Gurjar Pratiharas in their own
home.
• Successful in keeping control of won over territories till his lifetime.
• His inscriptions from Patna, Gaya, Hazaribag, northern Bengal.
• Acquired them from Palas.
• Pala king = Narayanpala = weak + facing Utkal –Rashtrakuta threat.
• Taranath: Mahendrapal I was kiing of Bengal.

32. Conflict with Rashtrakutas
• Brigukuchchh under Pratiharas since Nagbhatta I’s time.
• Rashtrakuta inscription: Krishna II won over Khetakmandal.
• Khetakmandal = in Gujrat.
• Probably taken from Mahendrapala I.
• V.S.Pathak: Could not save it due to long distance.

33. Feudatories
• Balvarma & Avantivarma II : Chalukyas of Kathiawad
• Dharanivarah of Chaap dynasty.
• Vakpati I of Parmara dynasty.

34. Bhoja II (c.910-992CE)
• S/O Mahendrapala I
• Bhoja II’s identification: Conflict in opinion
• H.C.Raichaudhary: Bhoja II = Mahipal I
• V.S.Pathak: 2 different rulers.
• Asni inscription of Mahipal I : Doesn’t mention Bhoja II’s name.
• Probably he had a small reign.
• Probably Mahipal dethroned him

35. Mahipala (c.992-943 CE)
• S/O Mahendrapala I
• Initial days: peaceful.
• Al-Masoodi: He had a huge army & his enemies includes Arabs &
Rashtrakutas.
• Rajshekar : calls him ‘Raghukulmuktamani’.
• Last influencial king of Gurjar Pratihara dynasty.

36. Rashtrakuta attack
• Khambhat inscription of Rashtrakutas: Indra III’s army elephants incurred damage to Mahakaal
temple’s mandapa and then moved on to completely destroy Mahodayanagar (Kannauj).
• Attack on Kannauj by way of Avanti/Kalpi?.
• Pampbharata text: Indra III was helped by his Chalukya samant Arikeshirin. Mahipal fled
Kannauj.
• For some time, Mahipal I lost control of his own kingdom.
• Khajuraho inscription of Dhanga Chandella: Mahipal I had to seek help of his own Chandela
samant Harshadeva to reacquire Kannauj
• Indra III had to go back to address issues in his own kingdom.

37. Aftermaths of Rashtrakuta attack
• Mahipala’s defeat = Opportunity for Palas.
• Pala inscriptions from Patna, Gaya.
• Palas reacquired their territories which were earlier conquered by Mahendrapal I
• Indra III’s retreat to Rashtrakuta kingdom = Mahipal’s opportunity
• Successors of Indra III = weak, busy in their own problems.
• Asni inscription: Regain of control of Asni (Fatehpur).
• Mahipala I’s inscriptions: control of Varanasi, Gwalior.
• Chatsu inscription: Under the command of his overlord,Guhil samant defeated armies of
southern enemy.
• R.C.Majumdar: Southern enemy = Rashtrakutas
• Kahla inscription: Kalchuri samant of Mahipal I won city of Dhara.

38. Other victories: As per Rajshekhar
Place Identification
Kalinga Gajam, Odisa.
Keralendu Kerala
Kulut Kangda in Punjab
Ramath Further away from Punjab
Mural Area near Narmada
Mekal Area near Narmada
Kuntal Hilly region in western Dakshinapath

39. Second Rashtrakuta attack
• Second attack during later days of Mahipal’s reign.
• Devali inscription of Krishna III Rashtrakuta + Karhat inscription : Upon
hearing that Krishna III has conquered all the forts in south India, Gurjar
king lost the hope of reacquiring Kalanjar and Chitradurga forts.
• Gurjar king = Mahipal I.
• Not clear if Kalanjar & Chitrakoot forts were under Rashtrakuta control.

40. Feudatories
• Dharinivarah of Chap dynasty in Kathiawad.
• Bhaman of Kalchuri dynasty in Gorakhpur.
• Baladitya of Guhil dynasty in Rajputana.
• Chahmanas of Shakambhari.
• Harsha of Chandella dynasty

41. Decline of Gurjar Pratihar
Mahendrapal II
Devapal
Few others
Rajyapal

42. Fall of Gurjar Pratiharas: Role of Rashtrakutas
• Decline started with the attack of Rashtrakuta Indra III in reign of Mahipal I
• Karhaat inscription: Krishna III + his samant Gang king Maarsingh took areas
near Ahmedabad & Maihar in M.P.
• H.C.Raichaudhary: Krishna III raided eastern & southwestern areas of
Pratihar kingdom.
• Kark II also attacked Pratihara kingdom in 972 CE

43. Fall of Gurjar Pratiharas: Role of Feudatories
Chandellas
Parmaras
Gujrat
Chalukyas
Kalchuris
Shahis of
Kabul
Chauhans
Guhils

44. Pratihara decline: Rise of Chandellas
• Khajuraho inscription: Vinayakpala = Overlord of Prithvi.
• Khajuraho inscription: Extent of Dhanga’s kingdom = Kalanjar to Malwa, Yamuna to
Chedi and Gopa mountain.
• Accepted Prahihara sovereignty as namesake.
• Acquring and bringing Pratihara areas under Chandellas.
• Mau inscription: Dhanga defeated ‘Kanyakubjanarendra’
• Attack after 954 CE.
• Kachchhwahas who accepted Prahitara sovereignty, now became samantas of
Chandellas & attacked Pratiharas.
• Saasbahu inscription: Vajradaman Kachchhwaha = conqueror of Gwalior fort.
• Probably won it while fighting for Dhanga against Pratiharas.
• By the end of his reing, Dhanga had snatched areas upto Varanasi from Pratiharas.

45. Pratihara decline: Rise of Gujrat Chaulukyas
• Kaadi inscription: Moolraj won Saraswat mandal which was earlier under
Pratiharas.
• He uprooted Chap dynasty and established his independent kingdom.
• Kings of Chap dynasty were samantas of Pratiharas since time of Mahipal I.
• Baroda inscription: whole of Gujrat-Kathiawad under Chaulukyas.

46. Pratihara decline: Rise of Parmaras
• Indore inscriptions: Krishnaraj, Vairisingh, Siyaka I taking title Prambhattaraka
Maharajadhirajparmeshwar = independent rulers?
• Buhler: Vairisingh took Dhara from Vinakpala.
• But Kalchuri samant of Mahipal-Vinayakpal reacquired it.
• Siyak I again occupied Dhara.
• Dharmpuri copper plate of Vakpati II: issued from Ujjain.
• Parmara control of Ujjain.

47. Pratihara decline: Rise of Kalchuris
• Gorakhpur branch of Chedis accepted Pratihara soverignity from the
time of Mihirbhoja.
• Goharwa inscription: Conquests of Chedi king Lakshmanraj.
• H.C.Raichaudhary: Lakshmanraj defeated some Gurjar king in 10th
cent CE.

48. Pratihara decline: Rise of Chauhans
• Haras inscription: Vigrahraj II’s father Singhraja was an independent king no longer
accepting Pratihara sovereignity.
• Guvak I, ancestor of Singhraja was a samant of Nagabhatta II
• Haras inscription: ‘Raghukulbhuchakravarti’ himself arrived to free the kings defeated by
Singhraja.
• Defeated kings = Samantas of Gurjar Pratiharas.
• Bhandarkar: Raghukulbhuchakravarti = Gurjar Pratihar king
• Some: Raghukulbhuchakravarti = Vijaypala.
• Another branch of Chauhans established their kingdom in Nadol, Rajputanain 967 CE

49. Pratihara decline: Rise of Guhils
• Guhils/Guhilotas earlier samantas of Pratiharas.
• Later they established matrimonial alliance with Rashtrakutas who
were enemies of Pratiharas.
• Guhil king Allata killed Pratihara king Devapala.

50. Pratihara decline: Rise of Shahis of Kabul
• Took Punjab from Pratiharas.
• Somewhere during the reign of Devapala-Rajyapala.
• Shahis of Kabhul now ruling from Bhatinda.

51. Final blow : Mehmood of Gaznavi
• 11th cent CE : Only Ganga-Yamuna doab under Pratiharas.
• A period of gloom and doom in Indian history.
• Rajyapala = Pratihara king at this time.
• Ferishta: A federation of kings including King of Kannauj sent help when
Shahi king Jaipala and Mehmood fought.
• Ferishta: A federation of kings including King of Kannauj sent help when
Anandpal, S/O Jaipala and Mehmood fought.
• Unacceptable: Utbi, Tabkaat-e-Akbari do not mention it.

52. Mehmood’s first attack on Kannauj
• Alberuni: 20.12.1018: Mehmood attacked Kannauj.
• Rajyapala fled Kannauj and sought shelter in Baari.
• Turks looted, plundered, massacared Kannauj.
• Muslim writers: Vidyadhar was unhappy with this cowardly act of Rajyapala
• Doobkund inscription: Kachchhwaha Arjun on orders frm Vidyadhar killed Rajyapala for his
cowardice.
• Mahoba inscription: Vidyadhar killed Kanyakubjabhupal.
• Established son of Rajyapala, Trilochanpal as his samant in Kannauj.
• If Vidyadhar was so upset with Rajyapal fleeing and leaving his subjects to be massacared by
turks, why didn’t he offered help?
• Mehmood attacked Kannauj again in 1019-20 CE: Then also Vidyadhar didn’t help.
• He was an opportunist: pretext of cowardice
• Aim: to acquire Pratihara kingdom.

53. Mehmood’s second attack on Kannauj
• 1019-20 CE: Mehmood reattacked Kannauj
• Pretext: To punish Vidyadhar for killing Rajyapal
• Aim: To crush the growing power of Vidyadhar
• Pratihara king: Trilochanpal
• Sudden attack on Bari: Pratihara army taken by surprize.
• Turks took Bari in their control.

54. Aftermath of Turk attack
• Even after defeat at the hands of Mehmood, names of prtihara kings
Trilochanpal and Yashahpal encountered
• Inscriptional evidence of their ruling in Prayag and Baari.
• Alberuni: now the capital of Trilochanpal was not Kannauj but Baari.
• Trilochanpal lived for at least 8 years after the second attack.

55. Conclusion
• Gave political stability to north India.
• Able to hold ground for a long time in time of imminent powerful threats: Palas,
Rashtrakutas.
• A treat not even accomplished by Mauryas, Guptas, Mughals.
• Arabs stationed in Sindh-Multan in 8th cent CE.
• Could not move toward north India for a period of 300 years.
• Powerful and well administered Pratihara empire
• Period of cultural prosperity.
• Decline: Rise of many powers at the same time.