Pratihar Gurjars
Pratihar (Sanskrit: प्रतिहार, IAST: Pratihara) is a clan of the Gurjar ethnic community.[1][2][3][4][5] Those are predominantly residing in north Indian states, including Rajasthan, Delhi,Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand.
| Pratihara | |
|---|---|
| Pratihar | |
| Jāti | Gurjar |
| Religions | Predominantly  Hinduism |
| Languages | Hindi |
| Country |  India |
| Region | Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh |
Notably, in the Saharanpur district of western Uttar Pradesh, the Pratihar Gujjars have a significant presence, inhabiting twenty-four villages with a substantial population of their clan. Additionally, there are numerous villages of Pratihar Gujjars in Uttarakhand, northern Himachal Pradesh, and several districts of Rajasthan. They ruled in Gurjara Pratihara dynasty[6][7] of the Kannauj and Mandore regions of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.[8]
Origin
[edit]The Pratihar Gujjars, claim descent from the Suryavamshi Kshatriyas, a ancient Indian lineage.[1] According to their tradition, they trace their ancestry back to the solar dynasty of Kshatriyas, which is said to have originated from the legendary hero Lord Rama, also known as Ram Chandra ji one of the major deity in Hinduism.[1]
History
[edit]Pratihara is a Sanskrit term that means "doorkeeper."[8][9]
Following with the downfall of the Chavada Gurjars of Gujarat state, the Pratihar Gurjars seized the opportunity to establish their rule and claim the throne.[3]
Mihir Bhoj was a prominent ruler of the Gurjar Pratihar dynasty and the son of Ramabhadra Pratihara. He successfully expanded the dynasty's territories during his reign, which lasted from 840 CE to 890 CE, spanning over five decades. As a member of the Pratihara clan of the Gurjars,[5][10] Mihir Bhoj played a significant role in shaping the dynasty's legacy.[5]
The Gurjara Pratihara dynasty, also known as the Gurjar Pratihara dynasty, was a significant royal Hindu dynasty descended from the powerful Gujjar Pratihar clan.[11] Pratihara Gurjars ruled northern India for nearly 350 years, from 700 CE to 1050 CE,[9][12] making an indelible mark on the region's history.[13][14][6]
During the reign of Gurjar Pratihar, the provinces that make up modern-day Rajasthan and Gujarat came under their control, and these areas were known as Gurjaratra,[15][16] which translates to "the land ruled and protected by the Gurjars."[8][17] This name recognizes the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty's tremendous impact on the region's geographical and cultural landscape, which was formed by their government and patronage.[18][15]
The Bargujar Gujjars, a sub-clan of the Pratihar division of the Gurjars, held significant influence in the Deoti and Dholpur regions, where they served as feudatories to the Gurjar Pratihara dynasty of Kanauj. As vassals to the Pratiharas, the Bargujar Gujjars played a crucial role in the regional administration and military campaigns, contributing to the expansion and consolidation of the Gurjar Pratihar dynasty.[19]
Ralan Singh, his father-in-law, counseled him to launch a campaign to conquer Dausa, a region that was partially dominated by the rival Badgujar Gujjar chiefs, who were a splinter group of the Gurjar-Pratihara dynasty and held sway over Deoti. This advice was likely motivated by a desire to expand territorial control and neutralize the influence of the hostile Badgujar Gujjar chiefs, who posed a challenge to their authority in the region.[20]
The Gujjar Pratihara kings initially established their capital in Bhinmal, but later expanded their territory by capturing Kannauj (also known as Qanauj) and designating it as their new capital. From approximately 600 CE to 1050 CE, the Gujjar Pratihara dynasty emerged as a dominant power in northern India.[4][21]
During the third year of his reign, Devaraja Pratihar, son of Nagabhata Pratihar, oversaw a significant transition in the Gujjar-Pratihar empire, relocating its capital from the Mandore to Avanti.[13] This move left Mandore under the control of Ravindra-Raja, the son of his third wife, marking a notable shift in the empire's power dynamics.[13]
During the mid nine century , some Arab travelers, geographers, and scholars visited India. Among them was the merchant Suleiman of Basra, who arrived in Thana in 851 CE. In his accounts, Suleiman observed that the ruler of the Gujjar Pratihara kingdom, referred to as Jurz (Al-Juzar), was hostile towards Arabs, whereas the Rashtrakuta ruler, known as the Balhara, who governed a neighboring region to the south, was more receptive to them.[22]
Sub-clans
[edit]Bhumla, Bokkan, and Badhgujar[23] are branches of the Pratihar subdivision of Gurjars.[24]
See also
[edit]Refrence
[edit]- ^ a b c Sharma, Kamal Prashad; Sethi, Surinder Mohan (1997). Costumes and Ornaments of Chamba. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-067-5.
- ^ Nijjar, Bakhshish Singh (2008). Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India: 900 B.C.-1947 A.D. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 218. ISBN 978-81-269-0908-7.
The Gujjars founded a group of dynasties that controlled areas of Rajasthan, Central India, and Gujarat from 7th to 11th century A.D. The most powerful branch of the Gujjars was the Pratihara, whose power was centered in the Jodhpur region of Rajasthan. The Pratiharas contended with the Rashtrakuta of the Deccan and the Palas of Bengal for imperial hegemony during the 9th century and controlled the great cities of Kanauj and Ujjain. The greatest Pratihara ruler was Bhoja I, reigned about 836-882 A.D., whose wealth and military might greatly impressed the Arabs.
- ^ a b Warikoo, Kulbhushan; Som, Sujit (2000). Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. p. 27.
- ^ a b Hasan, Amir (1986). A Tribe in Turmoil: A Socio-economic Study of Jammu Gujars of Uttar Pradesh. Uppal Publishing House.
We find mention of a Gujar Kingdom in Rajasthan with Bhilmal or Srimal as capital. The Gujjar Pratihara kings of Bhilmal later conquered Qanauj and became the paramount power in north India
- ^ a b c Magray, Mohammed Bashir (2003). Tribal Geography of India Jammu and Kashmir. Oberoi Book Service. p. 49.
Gujjars they might have come India with the 'hyun' (Hun) tribe. Latter the Gujjars might have established their own settlements. It was proved latter that Bhojas' ( AD 840-90 ) predecessors and successor belonged to the pratiharas (parihar) clan of the Gujjars tribe.
- ^ a b Sarban, Singh (2001). Haryana State Gazetteer. Haryana Gazetteers Organisation, Revenue Department. p. 511.
Gujjars (Gurjara-Pratiharas) were once the rulers of this country. The story goes like this, "After the dissolution of Harsha's empire, Haryana continued to flourish The Pratihara empire was followed by the Tomar ruler's son of whom, Anangpala founded the city of Delhi. Haryana formed a part of his empire.
- ^ Rahi, Dr Javaid (2017-01-01). The Gujjars Vol: 06. Jammu and Kashmir Acacademy of Art, Culture , Languages , Jammu. p. 2.
- ^ a b c رانا علی, حسن چوھان (1998). تاریخ گجر: ماضی اور حال. چوھان پبلشرز. p. 180. ISBN 9789698419004.
- ^ a b Karve, Irawati Karmarkar; Dandekar, Vishnu Mahadeo (1951). Anthropometric Measurements of Mahārāṣhṭra. S. M. Katre. p. 27.
Gujjars: Gujar is a great historical caste which has given its name to the Gujarat district and the town of Gujaranwala in the Panjab, the province of Gujarat and the tract known as Gujargarh in Gwalior. One such name of Gujar clan was Padhyār (Pratihar) an obvious derivation from the Sanskrit Pratihāra which establishes their kinship with the great Gurjara Pratihara clan which ruled Central India during the 9th and 10th.
- ^ Warikoo, Kulbhushan; Som, Sujit (2000). Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. p. 3.
"the ruler of the territory is Raja Mathan Deva Gurjar Pratihar who is a vassal of Maharaja Mahi Pal of Kanauj. The fields are cultivated by Sri Gurjars."4 This emperor of Kanauj Mahipal, grandson of Mihir Bhoj was also a Gurjar.
- ^ Hāṇḍā, Omacanda (2001). Temple Architecture of the Western Himalaya: Wooden Temples. Indus Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-81-7387-115-3.
During the middle of 7th century, one of the Gurjjara clans, the Pratiharas emerged dominant, followed by Parmars and Chauhans, and the imperial Pratihara-Gurjjaras of Kanauj around the middle of 8th century. In the mid 9th century, the Gurjars rose to the imperial heights in the north and western India under their patriarch Bhoja I. However, after his demise, the empire could not be held together for long. His son Mahendrapala-I could maintain his father's empire. He is known to have enlarged it towards the east, and his son Mahipala extended the realm deeper in the Western Himalayan interiors. The Imperial Gurjjaras ruled uninterruptedly for about four centuries since their rise in the 6th century, until Kanauj fell under the attack of Mahmud of Ghazni. During that period, not only they held their realm together, but also buttressed it up against the foreign attacks and aggressions.
- ^ Rawal, Manoshi Sinha (2015-05-16). The Eighth Avatar. Notion Press. ISBN 978-93-84878-47-4.
- ^ a b c Hair, David (May 2011). Pyre of Queens. Penguin Books India. pp. 4 and 5. ISBN 978-0-14-333142-1.
It certainly hasn't been a good year. The third year of the reign of Devaraja Pratihar, son of Nagabhata, had seen his capital, the heart of the Gujjar-Pratihar empire, shift to Avanti, leaving the old capital of Mandore in the hands of his third wife's son Ravindra-Raj. The desert folk said the gods were displeased at this turn of events and had cursed Mandore.
- ^ Barrett, Sonam Bhardwaj (2021-10-15). A Journey Beyond Measure. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-63997-680-5.
Gujranwala had a history of being colonised since ancient times. It is believed that Gujranwala was founded by 'Gujjars' and the place was named after them. They ruled the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty in the 7th century, during the late classical period. Gujjars were mainly agricultural communities who also founded some villages in the nearby areas.
- ^ a b Kallidaikurichi Aiyah, Nilakanta Sastri (1981). A Comprehensive History of India: pt. 1-2. A.D. 300-985. Orient Longmans. p. 236.
- ^ Joshi, Om Prakash (2006). Art and Aesthetics in Tribes of Gujarat. RBSA Publishers. pp. 1_2. ISBN 978-81-7611-333-5.
- ^ Shah, Popatlal Govindlal (1958). The Dublas of Gujarat. Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangh. p. 5.
- ^ Warikoo, Kulbhushan; Som, Sujit (2000). Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. p. 19.
- ^ Khatana, Ram Parshad (1992). Tribal Migration in Himalayan Frontiers: Study of Gujjar Bakarwal Transhumance Economy (1st ed.). India: South Asia Books. p. 103. ISBN 9788185326467.
- ^ Tikkiwal, Harish Chandra (1974). Jaipur and the Later Mughals (1707-1803 A.D.): A Study in Political Relations. Printed at Hema Printers. pp. 1_12.
Ralan Singh, his father-in-law, advised him to conquer Dausa, half of which was under the sway of the hostile Badgujar Gujjar chiefs (offshoot of Gurjar-Pratihars) of Deoti.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Indica: Ancient Gujarat. Anmol Publications. 2000. p. 143. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.
There was a Gurjar Pratihar Dynasty of Bhinnamal in Rajasthan. These Gurjars called themselves of the family of the king of Gurjar (Gurjara Nrupativamsha) i.e. Gurjar Country, while some interpret it as' the king of the tribe of the Gurjars.'
- ^ Yājñika, Acyuta; Sheth, Suchitra (2005). The Shaping of Modern Gujarat: Plurality, Hindutva, and Beyond. Penguin Books India. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-14-400038-8.
- ^ Tikkiwal, Harish Chandra (1974). Jaipur and the Later Mughals (1707-1803 A.D.): A Study in Political Relations. Printed at Hema Printers. pp. 1 & 12.
- ^ Ram Parshad, Khatan (1992). Tribal Migration in Himalayan Frontiers: Study of Gujjar Bakarwal Transhumance Economy. South Asia Books. p. 29. ISBN 9788185326467.