Gurjara-Pratihara facts for kids

The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty (also called the Pratihara Empire) was a very strong kingdom in ancient India. They ruled over much of northern India from the 7th to the 11th century. Their first capital city was Ujjain, and later they moved it to Kannauj.

Important Rulers of the Pratihara Dynasty

Here are some of the main rulers who led the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty:

• Nagabhata I (730–760)
• Kakustha and Devaraja (760–780)
• Vatsaraja (780–800)
• Nagabhata II (800–833)
• Ramabhadra (833–836)
• Mihira Bhoja or Bhoja I (836–885)
• Mahendrapala I (885–910)
• Bhoja II (910–913)
• Mahipala I (913–944)
• Mahendrapala II (944–948)
• Devapala (948–954)
• Vinayakapala (954–955)
• Mahipala II (955–956)
• Vijayapala II (956–960)
• Rajahpala (960–1018)
• Trilochanapala (1018–1027)
• Yasahpala (1024–1036)

History of the Pratihara Empire

Nagabhata I (730–756) was the first important ruler of this dynasty. He expanded his control from Mandor towards the east and south. He took over areas like Malwa, reaching as far as Gwalior. He also captured the port of Bharuch in Gujarat.

Nagabhata I made Avanti in Malwa his capital. He is famous for defeating the Arab army. This army was led by Junaid and Tamin from the Ummayyad Caliphates. After Nagabhata I, two weaker rulers, Kakushta and Devaraja, took the throne.

The Fight for Kannauj

The city of Kannauj was very important. After the death of Harshavardhana, its kingdom became weak. Three powerful empires wanted to control Kannauj: the Pratiharas, the Palas, and the Rashtrakutas. This struggle is sometimes called the "Tripartite Struggle."

Vatsaraja (775–805) was the next strong Pratihara ruler. He managed to defeat both the Palas and the Rashtrakutas. However, around 786, the Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruva (780–793) crossed the Narmada River. He then defeated Vatsaraja and tried to capture Kannauj.

Nagabhata II (805–833) became ruler after Vatsaraja. At first, he was defeated by the Rashtrakuta ruler Govinda III (793–814). But Nagabhata II soon recovered Malwa from the Rashtrakutas. He then conquered Kannauj. He also took control of the Indo-Gangetic Plain as far as Bihar from the Palas.

Nagabhata II rebuilt the famous Shiva temple at Somnath in Gujarat. Kannauj then became the main center of the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom. At this time, the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty ruled over a large part of northern India.

Rambhadra (833-c. 836) ruled for a short time after Nagabhata II. Then, Mihira Bhoja (c. 836–886) greatly expanded the Pratihara dynasty. His empire stretched west to the border of Sindh, east to Bengal, and south to the Narmada River. His son, Mahendrapala I (890–910), expanded the empire even further east into Magadha, Bengal, and Assam.

Decline of the Empire

Bhoja II (910–912) took over after Mahendrapala I. But he was soon overthrown by Mahipala I (912–944). During this time, the Pratihara empire started to weaken. Many smaller kingdoms began to become independent.

The south Indian Emperor Indra III (c. 914–928) of the Rashtrakuta dynasty even captured Kannauj for a short time in 916. The Pratihara rulers later regained control of Kannauj. However, the dynasty continued to get weaker. They faced attacks from the Turks, the Rashtrakutas, and other kingdoms.

In 1018, Mahmud of Ghazni captured Kannauj. The Pratihara ruler Rajapala fled (escaped). Rajapala was later caught and killed by a Chandela ruler named Vidhyadhara. The Chandela ruler then placed Rajapala's son, Trilochanpala, on the throne. Yasahpala, the last Gurjara-Pratihara ruler, died in 1036.

Images for kids

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  Yaksha Gomukha and his beloved. Gurjara-Pratihara, eighth century CE.

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  Teli ka Mandir is a Hindu Temple built by Mihira Bhoja.

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  Mahishasuramardini, Madhya Pradesh, Gurjara-Pratihara, ninth century.

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  The Nilgund inscription (866) of Amoghavarsha mentions that his father Govinda III subjugated the Gurjaras of Chitrakuta

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  One of the four entrances of the Teli ka Mandir. This Hindu temple was built by the Pratihara emperor Mihira Bhoja.

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  Jainism-related cave monuments and statues carved into the rock face inside Siddhachal Caves, Gwalior Fort.

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  Ghateshwara Mahadeva temple at Baroli Temples complex. The complex of eight temples, built by the Gurjara-Pratiharas, is situated within a walled enclosure.

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  Bateshwar Hindu temples in Madhya Pradesh was built by the Gurjara-Pratiharas.

See also

In Spanish: Gurjara-Pratihara para niños