Gurjara Pratihara Dynasty [8th-11th century]

Table of Contents

Introduction: Gurjara Pratihara

The Gurjara Pratihara dynasty was a dynasty that ruled much of northern and western India from the mid-8th to the 11th century.
The Gurjara-Pratiharas resisted Arab invaders from moving beyond the Indus River.
During this period, Imperial Pratihara took the title of Maharajadhiraja of Aryavarta (Great King of Kings of Aryan Lands).
Gurjara-Pratihara is known for its open pavilion-style temples.
The most significant development of their temple building style was at Khajuraho, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Tripartite Struggle was a series of battles fought among the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire, the Pala Empire, and the Rashtrakuta Empire for control of north India, especially Kannauj.

Nagabhata I was the founder of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. He ruled the Avanti (Malwa) region in present-day Madhya Pradesh, from his capital at Ujjain.
Nagabhata I defended the Arab invasion, led by Junayd ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Murri (governor of Sindh under the Umayyad caliphate).

Vatsaraja was the grand-nephew of Nagabhata I.
Vatsaraja took the titles of Ranahastin, Maharajadhiraja, and Parmeshwara.
The Mahavira Jain temple of Osian (Jodhpur District, Rajasthan) was built during the reign of Vatsaraja. The temple is an important pilgrimage of the Oswal Jain community.

He took the titles of Paramabhattaraka, Maharajadhiraja, and Paramesvara after the conquest of Kannauj.
He was later defeated by the Rashtrakuta ruler Govinda III and lost Malwa and Gujarat.

Mihir Bhoja was a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
He took the title of Adivaraha which is inscribed on some of his coins.
Bhoja extended his empire to the Narmada River in the South, the Sutlej River in the northwest, and Bengal in the east.
Teli ka Mandir, located within the Gwalior Fort is believed to have been built by Mihira Bhoja.
Kalhana’s Rajatarangini states that the territories of Bhoja extended up to Kashmir in the north.

Yasahpala (1024–1036 CE) was the last king of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty.
The Pratihara empire had shrunk only to the city of Kannauj and the surrounding region.

* Rajashekhara was a court poet of the Gurjara Pratiharas. He wrote the Kavyamimamsa.

Gurjara Pratiharas developed a different style of architecture known as Maru-Gurjara architecture.
This style is seen mainly in Jain Temples.

Mahavira Jain temple Location – Osian, (in Jodhpur District)	The temple was built during the reign of Vatsaraja. This temple is the oldest surviving Jain temple in Western India. It is an important pilgrimage of the Oswal Jain community.
Bateshwar temples Location – Madhya Pradesh (35 km north of Gwalior)	nearly 200 in number.
Baroli Temples Complex	It is located in Baroli village in Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. Eight temples are situated in this complex. The Ghateshwara Mahadeva temple is the largest in this complex.

The Tripartite Struggle (The Kannauj Triangle Wars) was a series of conflicts between three major Indian empires for control of the Kannauj state in the 9th century.
The struggle was primarily centered around the city of Kannauj, a strategic location due to its economic and political significance.
The Tripartite Struggle began in the late 8th century CE and continued till the early 10th century.
Empires Involved:
- Gurjara-Pratiharas.
- Rashtrakutas.
- Palas.
The Tripartite Struggle ended with the decline of the Gurjara-Pratiharas and the rise of regional powers in North India. The Chandelas, Chahamanas (Chauhans), and other Rajput clans emerged as significant players in the post-Tripartite Struggle period.