Gurjar /Gujjar :The Royal Aryan, The

descendents of Ancient Yuezhi

By: Adesh Katariyaplast.adesh@gmail.com

+91 9411976062

Gurjar/Gujjar

• The Vedic Vayupurana describes a battle waged among the ancient Aryans. It was as a result of this war that Anavs part of the Chandravanshi clan and Gurtar ( Guzar ) of suryabanshi had to immigrate to wester Aryabart area of modern Iran (Iran means "land of Aryans") to Tarim basin.

•• It was in these regions, where the fertile soil of the mountainous

country is surrounded by the Turanian desert, that the prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) was said to have been born and gained his first adherents. Avestan, the language of the oldest portions of the Zoroastrian Avesta, was once called "old-iranic" which is related to Sanskrit.

• Chandravansi known as Sythians and Suryabanshi known as Guzar/Gusur by Tibbetian , Yuezhi by Chineese , Tocharian by Romans and Tushara by Poranic Indians.

Migration of Gujjars (Yuezhi )from Tarim Besin

• In 176 BC, the Yuezhi were driven from Tarim Besin to westward by the Xiongnu, a fierce people of Magnolia.

• The Yuezhi under the leadership of the Kushanas came down from Central Asia and swept away all earlier dynasties of the Northwest in a great campaign of conquest. They established an empire which extended from Central Asia right down to the eastern Gangetic basin.

• In Bactria, they conquered the Scythians and the local Indo-Greek kingdoms, the last remnants of Alexander the Great'sinvasion force that had failed to take India.

• From this central location, the Kushan Empire became a wealthy trading hub between the peoples of Han China, Sassanid Persia and the Roman Empire. Roman gold and Chinese silk changed hands in the Kushan Empire, at a very tidy profit for the middle-men.

Migration from Tarim Besin

Ban Gujjars still live like Yuezhi of ancient central Asia

The Van Gujjars ("forest Gujjars") are found in the Shivalik hills area of North India.

The Van Gujjars follow Islam, and they have their own clans, similar to the Hindu gotras.

They are a pastoral semi-nomadic community, practising transhumance.

In the winter season, the Van Gujjars migrate with their herds to the Shiwalik foothills, and in summer, they migrate to pastures high up in the mountains.

Walking through different landscapes, such as towns, villages and dense forests, for almost three weeks, they finally reach their summer home – lush alpine meadows laced with gurgling streams. Leaving their cattle to graze, the nomads rest, sing, play, and relax for the season.

• Due to their deep bond with their animals, Van Gujjars never eat their buffaloes or sell them for slaughter. The traditionally vegetarian tribe doesn’t hunt, and even though they share the Shivaliks with tigers, leopards and bears, it’s very rare for the tribe to kill wild animals out of fear for their own safety.

First Gurjar Kingdom : Kushana Empire

• After Migration from Taerim Besin , the Yuezhi Gurjar defeatedthe Shakas and the Pahlavas/Parthinians and went on to createa big empire in Afganistan, Pakistan and Northern parts of India,Known as Kushana Empire.

• The first important ruler of the Kushana dynasty was ‘KujulaKadphises’ or Kadphises I. He occupied the valley of Kabul andhad also issued coins in his name. He was then succeded by hisson, Wima Kadphises or Kadphises II. He had conquered theareas of Northern india till Mathura. He had issued coinsproclaiming himself as a Shiva devotee and as the ruler ofwhole world.

• There after the Kushana empire was ruled by Kanishka. He isconsidered the most important ruler of the Kushana dynasty.

• Under Kaniska I (flourished 1st century CE) andhis successors, the Kushan kingdom reached itsheight. It was acknowledged as one of the fourgreat Eurasian powers of its time (the othersbeing China, Rome, and Parthia).

• The Kushans were instrumental inspreading Buddhism in Central Asia and Chinaand in developing Mahayana Buddhism andthe Gandhara and Mathura schools of art.

• The Kushans became affluent through trade, particularly with Rome, as their large issues of gold coins show.

• These coins, which exhibit the figures of Greek, Roman, Iranian, Hindu, and Buddhist deities and bear inscriptions in adapted Greek letters, are witness to the toleration and to the syncretism in religion and art that prevailed in the Kushan empire.

• After the rise of the Sāsānian dynasty in Iran and of local powers in northern India, Kushan rule declined.

Kushana Polity and Administration• Nothing much is known about the administrative machinery of

the Kushana.

• Perhaps the whole empire was divided into provinces, eachruled by a mahakshatrapa ( a military governor), who wasassisted by a kshatrapa; but how many provinces were there inthe empire, is not known.

• Sources indicate that Kushana horsemen wore trousers whileriding. A headless statue of Kanishka found at Mathura reflectsthe same.

• A prominent feature of Kushana polity was the titleof devaputra , i.e., son of God, used by the Kushana kings. Itindicates the claim to divinity by the Kushana kings.

The Contributions of Kushana Gurjars• The Kushanas occupy a special place in the ancient Indian

history because of their contribution to various aspects of life. • Their vast empire helped in the growth of internal and external

trade. It resulted in the rise of new urban centres. • The rich state of economy under the Kushanas is also

evidenced by the large number of gold and copper coins that they struck.

• Even in literature and medicine, India made progress. Charaka, known as father of Ayurveda, wrote a book on medicine called Charaksamhita whereas Asvaghosha, a Buddhist scholar, wrote Buddhacharita, a full length biography of the Buddha. Both these scholars were believed to be the contemporaries of king Kanishka.

• The Kushanas patronized the Gandhara and the Mathura schools of sculptural art which are known for producing the earliest images of Buddha and Buddhisattavas.

• The successors of Kanishka had ruled for another one hundred and fifty years. His son Huvishkakept the empire intact. While Mathura became an important city under his rule, like his father Kanishka he was also a patron of Buddhism religion.

• The last significant Kushana ruler was Vasudeva. The Kushana empire got much reduced in his rule. Various inscription with his name are found in and around Mathura. He was a worshipper of Siva.

• And after Vasudeva, petty Kushan princes ruled for sometime in northwestern India after which the empire faded away.

Kushan art• The art and culture of Gandhara, at the crossroads of the

Kushan hegemony, constitute the best known expressions of Kushan influences to Westerners.

• Several direct depictions of Kushans from Gandhara have been discovered, represented with a tunic, belt and trousers and play the role of devotees to the Buddha, as well as the Bodhisattva and future Buddha Maitreya.

• In the iconography, they have never been associated with the Hellenistic "Standing Buddha" statues of an earlier historical period. The style of these friezes incorporating Kushan devotees, already strongly Indianized, are quite remote from earlier Hellenistic depictions of the Buddha.

Kushan king or prince, Greco-

Buddhist art of Gandhar

(2nd-3rd century CE)

A Buddhist devotee in Kushan dress, Mathura, 2nd century. The Kushan

dress is generally depicted as quite stiff, and it is thought it was often made of leather

(Francine Tissot, "Gandhara").

King Kanishka,Mathura art,

Mathura Museum.

Kumara/ Kartikeyawith

a Kushana devotee, 2nd century CE

Kushan prince making a donation to a Boddhisattva.

Standing Female, 1st century CE Terracotta. This lively female figure comes from an area of Pakistan where merchants from around the Mediterranean had long maintained trading posts.

The area, known in antiquity as Gandhara, developed an unusual hybrid style of art and culture that was at once Hellenic and Indic. Brooklyn Museum

• Ek Mukhi Siva Linga, Kushana period (Government

Museum, Lucknow). • The Siva Linga is

one of the most profound symbols of humankind.

• It is the “mark” of the unmanifest eternal manifesting itself in innumerable forms of the world.

Kushan Dynastic Ring.....Gold finger ring

Huna Gurjar Kingdom

Gurjar of Huna gotr ( subtribe) have established two kingdoms in Central Asia ,

1. Bectrian Kungdom of Hepthelites2. Aryabart(Indian) Kingdom of Hepthelites.

Bectrian Kungdom of HepthelitesProcopius claims that the Hephthalites live in a prosperous territory, are the only Huns with fair complexions, do not live as nomads, acknowledge a single king, observe a well-regulated constitution, and behave justly towards neighboring states.

At the summit of their power around 550 AD, the Hephthalites ruled a roughly triangular empire extending over most of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, and Uzbekistan.

They soon built up a considerable empire extending from the Caspian to the Indus, including Chorasmia, Sogdiana, and part of north-western India.

The Huna Kings of Central Asia

• Akshunwar• Napki Malka

First major invasion of India by the Hunas: 458 AD

The Gupta Empire in India reigned in the Ganges basin during the 5th century, and the Kushan dynasty occupied the area along the Indus. After defeating the Kushanas, the Hunas entered the subcontinent from the Kabul valley.

They entered Punjab and the Gupta Empire failed to protect the northeast frontier of the empire and this made easier for the Huns to enter an unguarded entrance in the Gangetic valley, just into the heart of the Gupta Empire. This was in 458 AD.

The Hephthalites, known as the Hunas in India kept on invading India until the Gupta ruler Skandagupta repulsed them. The Hunas, under the leadership of Toramana, suffered a crushing defeat by the Gupta emperor Skandagupta.

Second invasion of India by the Hunas: About 470 AD

The Hunas waited till 470 AD, till the death of the Gupta ruler Skandagupta to invade India again in a proper manner.During this time, the Guptas had been ruling over a greater part of India. This time Hunas were under the leadership of Mihirkula (also known, as Mihirgula or the “Indian Attila”). He was the successor and son of Toramana, and known as a very tyrant ruler and a destroyer. This time, the Hunas were successful in their invasion of India. They temporarily overthrew the Gupta Empire. Mihirkula ruled from his capital at Sakal, which is today the modern Sialkot. The Huna power in India collapsed after the defeat of Mihirkula. Mihirkula was defeated successively by two Indian rulers, Yasodharman of Malwa and Narasimhagupta Baladitya of the later Gupta dynasty.

Aftermath of the battles: Winner and Loser

• Before the defeat of the Hunas by Skandagupta, the first invasions of the Hunas displaced the Gupta Empire rule from the North Western part of India.

• This invasion also influenced the chieftains and regional kings to become more ambitious and rebel against the Gupta Empire.

• The Hunas ruled over Gandhar and central Punjab and also controlled the Kushans. The first Hun king Toramana ruled northern India as far as Malwa in central India.

• After his death, his son Mihirkula, who destroyed the Gupta Empire, ruled over North Western India for thirty years.

• However, Mihirakula was driven out of the plains and into Kashmir and died in about 542 A.D. After his death, the political power of the Hunas declined.

Huna Kingdom of India

• The first king of the White huns in India is known by the name Tunjina or Khingila . However this name comes with a title of “Tegin” as well.

• This title denotes governor or warlord. However there is an entirely other title of the Kagan that is given to the overlord of the White Huns,whoseseat is told to be near Bukhara.

List of Huna Rulers in India

The rulers concerned with here are those of the Indo-Hunas, as they are most closely related to ourmain subject of the Gandhara region. Various lineages are given in places, but most scholars seem toagree on the following chronology:

• Tunjina: The first to initiate Indian invasions. 455-484 CE• Toramana: Son of Tunjina. 484-515 CE• Mihirakula: Son of Toramana. 515-533 CE• Pravarasena: Youngest half-brother of Mihirakula. 537-597 CE• Gokarna:; Son of Pravarasena• Khinkhila:Son of Gokarna• Yudhishthira/Judhishthira: Son of Khinkhila• Lakhana:Grandson of Yudhishthira

Huna coin of King Lakhana of Udyana, legend "RAJA LAKHANA (UDAYA) DITYA ".

The "Hephthalite bowl", NFP Pakistan, 5th or 6th century CE. British Museum.

Victory pillar of Yashodharman at Sondani, Mandsaur claiming victory over the Huns.

Huns silver coin copying Gupta horse type 5th century CE

Migration of Huna to West• In spite of the fact that the first historically recorded Turkish state is that of

the Asian Huns in the third century B.C., it is highly probable that many centuries earlier major part of Yuezhi Gurjar peoples migrated from tochristan to the south and west. These earlier migrations were due to several motives.

• European Hunas subjugated Tibet, the Tunghuzs, the Small Yuechis, and some other tribes. Some went as far as Scythia, where they were able to conquer a number of less fearsome tribes. Combined, these peoples became the Huns.

• During the last two centuries scholars in different disciplines of the social sciences have advanced various theories about the origins of the Western Huns.

• Recent cultural and ethnographic sources have made it clear that the Western Huns were of the yuezhi origin, and that they were the descendents of the Asian Huns.

• The northern Huns began to migrate towards the west at the beginning of the second century, where they re-united with the tribes of Chi-chi. Due to the pressure of nomadic tribes in the middle of the fourth century, the Huns began a massive migration westwards .

Western Huna before Attila• By 432 C.E., the Huns were united under Rugila, whose

death in 434 left his nephews Attila and Bleda (the sons of Rugila's brother Mundzuk) in control over all the united Hun tribes.

• At the time of their accession, the Huns were bargaining with Byzantine emperor Theodosius II's envoys over the return of several renegade tribes who had taken refuge within the Byzantine Empire.

• The following year Attila and Bleda met with the imperial legation at Margus (present day Požarevac) and, seated on horseback in the Hunnic manner, negotiated a successful treaty.

• As the sole King of the Huns, Attila invaded the Eastern Roman Empire, seizing the Balkans, and threatening earthquake-ravaged Constantinople in 447.

• The Roman Emperor sued for peace, handing over 6,000 pounds of gold in back-tribute, agreeing to pay 2,100 pounds annually, and returning fugitive Huns who had fled to Constantinople.

• These refugee Huns were probably the sons or nephews of the kings killed by Rua. Attila had them impaled.

Battle of the Catalaunian PlainsThe Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (or Fields), also called the Battle of Châlons or the Battle of Maurica, took place in AD 451 between a coalition led by the Roman general Flavius Aëtiusand the Visigothic king Theodoric I against the Huns and their allies commanded by their leader Attila. It was one of the last major military operations of the Western Roman Empire though Visigothicsoldiers also formed the core of the allied Roman army. The battle was a strategic victory for the Romans, stopping the Huns' attempt to conquer Roman Gaul.

A depiction of Attila in the Badisches Landes museum, Karlsruhe, Germany

Hunnic Descendants in West Asia and Europe

• Bulgars : Many now accept that the Bulgars are the descendants of the Huns. The ancestor of the Bulgars is Kobrat Han, who was the son of Irnek. Irnek was the son or grandson of Attila. So the Bulgars are directly descended from the Huns.

• Magyars (Hungarians) : The Magyars (Hungarians) are also the descendants of the Huns (a false assumption, although Hungary itself did contain some Huns, plus Avars and many others - Ed). The dynasty of Arpad, which founded the present-day Hungary, is descended from the dynasty of Attila.

The Khazars Kingdom• Khazar is Turkish pronounce of Gurjar, after the death of

Huna king Attila , Hunnish Gurjar kingdom collapsed and remaining Huna soldiers established another kingdom to fill the vacuum created in Eurasia after Hunnic Empire.

• Actually, Khazar established one of the largest polities of medieval Eurasia, with the capital of Attila and territory comprising much of modern-day European Russia, western Kazakhstan, eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, large portions of the northern Caucasus (Circassia, Dagestan), parts of Georgia, the Crimea, and northeastern Turkey.

• Before their migration to the west, the Khazars were one of the Turkish tribes living under the rule of the Asian Huns.

• The Khazars originally were part of Great Yuezhi tribe , who did not assiciated with Kushana kingdoms. From time immemorial the homeland of the Khazars was in the heart of Asia. It was a very hostile nation, constantly at war with its neighbours. The Khazars were finally driven out of Asia by neighbouring countries in Asia with whom they were continually at war. The Khazars fled their Asian homeland and invaded eastern Europe to escape further defeats in Asia.

• The very hostile Khazars did not find it difficult to subdue and conquer the 25 peaceful agricultural nations occupying approximately 1,000,000 square miles in eastern Europe. In a comparatively short period the Khazars established the largest and most powerful kingdom in Europe, and probably the wealthiest also.

• Between 100 and 800AD an incredibly evil society evolved in Khazaria. During this time, Like Gujjar of Asia ,Khazars become known to surrounding countries as thieves, murderers, road bandits, and for assuming the identities of those travellersthey murdered as a normal occupational practice and way of life.

• Khazaria was the first feudal state to be establishedin Eastern Europe.

• During the 9th and 10th centuries, Khazaria was one of themajor arteries of commerce between northern Europeand southwestern Asia, as well as a connection to the SilkRoad.

• Khazars played a role in the balance of powers and destinyof world civilization.

• After Kubrat's Great Bulgara was destroyed by the Khazars,some of the Bulgars fled to the west and founded anew Bulgar state (present day Bulgaria) near the DanubianPlain, under the command of Khan Asparukh. Rest of theBulgars fled to the north of the Volga River region andfounded another state there called Volga Bulgaria (presentdayChuvashia).

By serving as a buffer state between Christians and Muslims, Khazars blocked the western spread of Islam in Europe.

It was the military might of the Khazars that made it impossible for armies of Islam to roll west into eastern Europe and possibly even into Scandinavia.

Scholars say that only one tribe Gurjar/Gujjar /khazar was the tribe , who counter the Islamic attacks : In east at Indian border and in West in turkey .

Scholars Also say that if Arabs had occupied what is now Ukraine and Russia, the Rus would never have been able to push south and east from the Baltic to establish Russia

Khavars in HungaryThe Khavars (called often Kabars) who settled in Hungary in the late 9th and early 10th centuries may have included Khazars among their number. According to the archaeologist-historian GáborVékony, the native language of the Khavars was Khazar.

According to the Turkologist Prof. András Róna-Tas part of the Khazars - who rebelled but then were subverted by the Khazar Khagane - joined with the Magyars and then took part with them in the Settlement of Hungary at the end of the 9th century CE.

Khazar place names today• Today, various place names invoking Khazar persist.

Indeed, the Caspian Sea, traditionally known as the Hyrcanian Sea and Mazandaran Sea in Persian, came to be known to Iranians as the Khazar Sea as an alternative name.

• Many other cultures still call the Caspian Sea "Khazar Sea"; e.g. "Xəzər dənizi" in Azerbaijani, "Hazar Denizi" in Turkish, "Bahr ul-Khazar" in Arabic (although "Bahr Qazween" is becoming more popular now), "Darya-ye Khazar" in Persian. In Hungary, there are villages (and people with family names) called Kozár and Kazár.

Maitrik Gurjar King• Maitrik Dynasty was established at VallabhiPura by Senapati

Bhattarak in around 470 CE. There is a strong possibility that Maitrikas, who were ruling as feudatories to Guptas and later to Yasodharman were of Saka (Kshatrapa) origin. The territory they ruled and their names also support this fact very much.

• Bhattarak was the army chieftain of Yashodharman.• This Maitrik dynasty was the branch of Kushans only.• Maitrikas made their capital at Ballabhi or VallabhiPura.• Bhattaraka was succeeded by his son Dharasena (I),both of

them called themselves Senapatis. Then came Dharasena’syounger brother Dronasimha, the first of maitrikas to use the title Maharaja or KING. His younger brother was Dhruvsena(I), who in turn was followed by his younger brother Dharapatta.

• These five kings ruled for a short span of time (hardly 30 years).• Next Maitrik ruler, Dharapatta’s son, namely Guhasena ruled till

524 AD.

• King Nasirban of Persia (Full name was Naushervan-E-Adil) invaded Gujarat in 524 AD, Guhasena Died during war, his pregnant queen, Pushpavati, was on a pilgrimage to northern parts (Idar district, better known as Mewar). On receiving the news, Pushpavatiwent into hiding in the wilderness of the idar district. There she was said to have given birth to a son Guhil or Guhaditya (named after his father) who founded the Royal Guhilot family in 569 AD.

• However VallabhiPura was later recovered by Dharasena-II (571-572).

• Dharasena-II was succeeded by his son Siladitya-I Dharmaditya. He ruled between 606 AD and 612 AD, covered an extensive territory. His was the most powerful kingdom in Western India. Siladitya was succeeded by his younger Brother Kharagrha-I, Kharagraha was succededby his son Dharasena-III who annexed Gujarat to his territory.

• A successor of hasty temper, Dhruvasena-II Baladitya, the younger brother of Dharasena-III ruled till 641 AD. Second somnath temple was built by next ruler Dharasena-IV in 649 AD, Who used the titles like Paramabhattâraka, Mahârâjâdhirâja, Paramêshvara, and Chakravarti. There was a lot of trouble after the death of Dharasena-IV, but was only restored during the next ruler Dêrabhata who was the son’s son of the illustrious Shîlâditya (I.), who was the (elder) brother of his father’s father (Kharagraha I.).

Gurjara-Pratihara Empire• The Gurjara-Pratihara, often simply called Pratihara

(Parihara) Empire, was an imperial dynasty of Gurjar tribe that ruled much of Northern India from the mid-7th to the 11th century.

• Its territories were greater in extent than those of the Gupta empire when at its peak and it began to decline in the early 10th century when it faced several invasions by the south Indian Rashtrakuta dynasty.

• Kannauj became the capital of the imperial Gurjara-Pratiharas, who in the tenth century were titled as Maharajadhiraja of Āryāvarta ("Great King over Kings of the abode of the Aryans". i.e. Lords of Northern India).

Origin of Gurjara Pratiharas.• The Pratihara dynasty is referred to as Gurjara Pratiharanvayah, i.e.,

Pratihara clan of the Gurjaras, in line 4 of the Rajor inscription (Alwar). • The historian Ramashankar Tripathi says that the inscription confirms the

Gurjara origin of the Pratiharas. In line 12 of this inscription, occur words which have been translated as "together with all the neighbouring fields cultivated by the Gurjaras".

• Here, the cultivators themselves are clearly called Gurjaras and therefore it is reasonable to presume that, in line four too, the term bears a racial signification.

• The Rashtrakuta dynasty records, as well as the Arab writers like Abu Zaidand Al-Masudi (who allude their fights with the Juzr or Gurjara of the north), indicate the Gurjara origin of the Pratiharas.

• The Kanarese poet Pampa expressly calls Mahipala Ghurjararaja. • This epithet could hardly be applied to him, if the term Ghurjararaja bore a

geographical sense denoting what after all was only a small portion of Mahipala's vast territories. Tripathi believes that all these evidences point to the Gurjara ancestry of the Pratiharas.

•

Rulers of Gurjara Pratiharas – 650 to 1036 AD.

1. Dadda I-II-III 650 – 750 AD2. Nagabhata I 750 – 780 AD3. Vatsaraja 780 – 800 AD4. Nagabhata II 800 – 833 AD5. Ramabhadra 833 – 836 AD6. Mihira Bhoja I 836 – 890 AD7. Mahendrapala I 890 – 910 AD8. Bhoj II 910 – 913 AD9. Mahipala I 913 – 944 AD10. Mahendrapala II 944 – 948 AD11. Devpala 948 – 954 AD12. Vinaykpala 954 – 955 AD13. Mahipala II 955 – 956 AD14. Vijaypala II 956 – 960 AD15. Rajapala 960 – 1018 AD16. Trilochanpala 1018 – 1027 AD17. Jasapala (Yashpala) 1024 – 1036 AD

Coinage of Gurjara Pratihara Dynasty

• Coins of Pratihara Dynasty display several stages of evolution and reveal that, they have been issued over a long period, possibly 50 to 100 years. Gurjara Government had a stable currency system dependent on the Agricultural Revenue system and the military department, matched by the concurrent needs of both local and export traders for a medium of exchange.

Gurjar Emperor Mihir Bhoj

Anhaneri Babdi , made by King Bhoj

Battle of Rajasthan• The Battle of Rajasthan is a battle (or series of battles)

where the Gurjar Hindu alliance defeated the Arab invaders in 738 CE and removed the Arab invaders and pillagers from the area east of the Indus River and protected whole India.

• The final battle took place somewhere on the borders of modern Sindh-Rajasthan. Following their defeat the remnants of the Arab army fled to the other bank of the River Indus.

• The main Indian kings who contributed to the victory over the Arabs were the north Indian Gurjar Emperor Nagabhata I of the Pratihara Dynasty and the south Indian Gurjar Emperor Vikramaditya II of the Chalukyadynasty in the 8th century.

• The Muslim conquest of Persia by Arab forces in a short space of time contrasts sharply to the defeat of the Arab armies by the Hindus.

• Junayd ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Murri, the successor of Muhammad ibn Qasim, finally subdued the Hindu resistance within Sindh.

• Taking advantage of the conditions in Western India, which at that time was covered with several small states, Junaid led a large army into the region in early 730 CE.

• Dividing this force into two he plundered several cities in southern Rajasthan, western Malwa, and Gujarat.

• The battle was fought between 5,000-6,000 Gurjar Infantry and cavalry facing more than 30,000 Arabs.

• The Gurjar fought bravely and managed to kill the Arab leader Emir Junaid during the war.

• This enhanced the morale of the Gurjar hindu forces while the Arabs disorganized and demoralized due to their leaders death retreated and were frequently attacked by local forces until they reached the indusriver taking great casualties.

• In the Gwalior inscription, it is recorded that Gurjara-Pratihara emperor Nagabhata "crushed the large army of the powerful Mlechcha king." This large army consisted of cavalry, infantry, siege artillery, and probably a force of camels.

Aftermath of Rajasthan Battle• Junayd's successor Tamim ibn Zaid al-Utbi organized a fresh campaigns

against Rajasthan but failed to hold any territories there.

• He would be further pushed across River Indus by the combined forces of the King of Kannauj, Nagabhata C.E. thus limiting the Arabs to the territory of Sindh across River Indus.

• The Arab chronicler Sulaiman describes the army of the Pratiharas as it stood in 851 CE,

"The ruler of Gurjars maintains numerous forces and no other Indian prince has so fine a cavalry. He is unfriendly to the Arabs, still he

acknowledges that the king of the Arabs is the greatest of rulers. Among the princes of India there is no greater foe of the Islamic faith than he. He

has got riches, and his camels and horses are numerous.

Later events of Rajasthan Battle• The Arabs in Sindh took a long time to recover from their

defeat. In the early 9th Century the governor Basharattempted an invasion of India but was defeated.

• Even a naval expedition sent by the Caliphs was defeated by the Saindhava clan of Kathiawar.

• After this the Arab chroniclers admit that the Caliph Mahdi,gave up the project of conquering any part of India'.

• The Arabs in Sindh lost all power and broke up into two warring Shia states of Mansurah and Multan, both of which paid tribute to the Gurjara Pratiharas.

• The local resistance in Sindh, which had not yet died out and was inspired by the victories of their Indian neighbors manifested itself when the foreign rulers were overthrown and Sindh came under its own dynasties like the Soomras and Sammas.

Symbolism of Wild Boar

• The Boar is an immensely courageous and fearless animal. Its ferocity and tenacity in battle is well known. It protects its loved ones and defends its territory vigorously. It roams in the wild doing what it pleases at a place and time of his choosing. It is carefree and has a devil may care attitude.

• The boar is known to hold its ground and charge even Lions when threatened. Its thick skull, snout and sharp 'tusks' (teeth) are ideal to head-butt and ram an opponent and gore it to death. In certain ancient cultures, the boar is a symbol of fertility, virility and strength.

• All these endearing qualities makes this animal a popular symbol of many kings, rulers and dynasties. Wild boar's meaning is most profound when it comes to defense.

• Indeed, many indigenous cultures adopted the boar as a symbol of war, warriors and mighty courage. It is what also gives the South Indian gold coins its popular name, the 'Varaha', also known as Gadyana and Pagoda

Gurjara Pratihara art

• The Gurjara-Pratihara rulers great patrons of arts, architecture and literature. Mihir Bhoj, was the most outstanding ruler of the dynasty.

• Notable sculptures of this period, include Viswaroopa form of Vishnu and Marriage of Siva and Parvati from Kannauj. Beautifully carved panels are also seen on the walls of temples standing at Osian, Abhaneri and Kotah.

• The female figure named as Sursundari exhibited in Gwalior Museum is one of the most charming sculptures of the Gurjara-Pratihara art.

• The image of standing Laksmi Narayana (Plate 42) from Agroha, now preserved in the Chandigarh museum, is also a fine piece of art of the Gurjara-Pratihara period.

• They are known for their open pavilion temples. The gretatestdevelopment of Gurjar Pratihara style of temple building took place at Khajuraho.

• Gurjar Pratihar rulers also built many Jain temples.

Sun Temple, Bharoli

Sun Temple, Sesai, (Shivpuri)

Sun Temple, Madhkhera

Mala devi temple, gyaraspur

Group of Temples, Naresar

The Bateshwar Group of Temples

Chausath Yogini Temple Mitavali

Chaulukya Gurjar Kingdom• The Chaulukyas were dominant power in the Deccan during

6th to 8th century AD. And again during 10th century AD, they regained their power and ruled till 12 century.

• The Chaulukyas who ruled from Badami were theWesternChaulukyas.

• The one who ruled from Kalyani are referred as Later Western Chaulukyas and the Chaulukyas of Vengi are known to the historians as the Eastern Chaulukyas.

• The legendary history of the Chaulukyas makes their origin very controversial. But the use of the word GurjarNath and Gurjeshwar by later chaulukya rulers made it very much clear that they were Gurjars by origin.

• Earlier they were feudatories to Maitrik Gurjars but later claimed independence.

• Pulakesin-IWith the modest beginning under Jayasimha and his son Ranaraga, Chaulukyas ruled from about 535 to 566 AD. But the real dynasty is known to be founded by the Maharaja Pulakesin-I. Pulakesi-I took up many titles such as Satyasraya and was a scholar too. Though not any conquests are credited to him, he is stated to have ruled from Badami, the present day Bijapur.

• Kritivirman - IPulakesin - I was succeeded by his son Kritivirman - I. He constructed several temples and buildings in the town of Vatapi. The political influence of Chaulukyas spread over a wider region embracing southern part of Maharastra, Mysore and Tamilnadu. He defeated the rulers of Vanga, Anga, Kalinga, Vattura, Magadha ....... He is also stated to have broken up the confederacy of Kadambas.

• MangalesaMangalesa, the brother of Kritivirman-I ascended the throne in 598 AD. The Kalachuris were conquered by Mangalesa and the whole of central and northern maratha country was brought into the territory. The eventual civil was between Mangalesa and his nephew Pulakesi-II cost Mangalesa his own life.

• Pulakesi-IIPulakesi ascended the throne in 610 AD and ruled till 642 AD. The reign was not a bed of roses for him, various parts of Chaulukyas assumed independence. The internal rebellion and the frequent invasion by Appayika and Govinda were eventually subdued.

• Vikramaditya - IAfter the death of Pulakesi-II, Badami and some of the southern districts remained in the hand of Pallavas. Though Chaulukyas throne remained vacant from 642 AD - 655 AD, Vikramaditya-I managed to ascend the throne in 655 AD. He recovered Badami and brought the whole kingdom under his control.

• VinayadityaThe next successor Vinayaditya ruled from 681 to 696 AD and carried on campaigns against Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, Aluvas. By defeating the Lord of the entire Uttarapatha, he acquired the banner Palidhvaja.

• Vikramaditya - IIVikaramaditya-II was a son of Vijayaditya. He ruled from 734 AD -745 AD. He defeated the Pallava king thus putting off the continuing hostilities. With this conquest, he took possession of musical instruments, banner, elephants, rubies which belonged to the Pallavas. He destroyed the power of the Chola, Kerala, Pandya.

• Kritivarman - IIThe son of Vikramaditya-II, Kritivarman - II succeeded to reign for the next eleven years. He was the last and glorious ruler of Chaulukyas. For the next fifty years, the Chaulukya power was totally eclipsed by the Rashtrakutas. Dantidurga defeated Kritivarman-II to gain the control of Chaulukyas once for all. The subsequent attempt by Kritivarman-II to regain the control was futile.

Solanki Gurjar Kingdom• The Solanki dynasty ruled parts of what are

now Gujarat and Kathiawar in India between 950-1300 CE. • The kings of the dynasty used the self-

designation Chaulukya.• The dynasty ended when Alauddin Khalji conquered Gujarat.• In 1026, Gujarat was raided by Mahmud of Ghazni, including

the Somnath temple.• After 1243, the Solankis lost control of Gujarat to their

feudatories, of whom the Vaghela dynasty of Dholka came to dominate.

• After 1292, the Vaghelas became tributaries of the Seuna(Yadava) dynasty of Devagiri in the Deccan Plateau.

• In support of their Gurjar-origin theory, Bhandarkarand Hoernle cited the name change of "Lata" province to "Gurjaratra" during the Solanki reign. Bhandarkar explained that if the Solankis had not been Gurjars, it is inconceivable how that province could have named "Gurjaratra" (country ruled or protected by Gurjars) when it was up-till their advent known as "Lata".

• Asoke Majumdar criticized Bhandarkar's theory, pointing out that the term "Lata" was never used to describe the whole of Gujarat, and that the Gurjara kings had ruled the region before the Solankis. These included the Gurjara-Pratiharas, as well as the Gurjaras of Nandipuri.

• D. P. Dikshit also criticised Bhandarkar's theory, arguing that there is no evidence that the area came to be known as "Gurjaratra" or Gujarat during the Solanki reign.

• Majumdar argues that the Solanki rulers were referred to as the kings of the Gurjaras, because they ruled the country that was already known as Gurjara by their time. He points out that even the Ganga chief Marasimha II assumed the title "king of Gurjaras" after defeating a northern king on behalf of the Rashtrakutas.

Solanki Kings (941 CE – 1172 CE)• Mularaja (941–996 CE)• Chamundaraja (996–1008 CE)• Vallabharaja (1008 CE)• Durlabharaja (1008–1022 CE)• Bhima I (1022–1064 CE)• Karna (1064–1092 CE)• Jayasimha Siddharaja (1094–1143 CE)• Kumarapala (1143–1172 CE)• Ajayapala (1172–1174 CE)• Mularaja II (1174–1177 CE)• Bhima II (1177–1240 CE)• Tribhuvanapala (1240–1244 CE)

Sun Temple Sabha Mandap

Tarangaji Jain temple