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The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was founded by:
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Answer: Option A ā Nagabhata I
Detailed Solution
The Gurjara-Pratiharas were a powerful dynasty that ruled large parts of northern and western India from the mid-8th to the 11th century. Nagabhata I (ruled about 730-760 CE) founded the dynasty, with its early centre at Avanti (Ujjain) or in Rajasthan (Bhinmal). He is famous for defeating the Arab armies that advanced from Sindh into India in the 730s, which helped to check Arab expansion into the interior of India. The Gwalior inscription of Mihira Bhoja describes him as the protector against the "mlechchhas" (foreigners).
After the decline of Harsha's empire, Kannauj (in present-day Uttar Pradesh) became the symbol of imperial power in North India. Three dynasties fought for control of Kannauj for about two centuries (8th-10th centuries). This is known as the Tripartite Struggle. The three powers were:
The Gurjara-Pratiharas of western India.
The Palas of Bengal, founded by Gopala.
The Rashtrakutas of the Deccan, founded by Dantidurga.
Nagabhata II captured Kannauj around 816 CE and made it the Pratihara capital. Mihira Bhoja (ruled about 836-885 CE) was the greatest Pratihara ruler; he took the title of "Adivaraha". The Arab traveller Sulaiman, who visited India in 851 CE, described the Pratihara kingdom as having the finest cavalry and as the strongest enemy of the Arabs. Mahendrapala I was another powerful king, and the poet Rajashekhara, author of "Karpuramanjari" and "Kavyamimamsa", lived at his court.
The Pratihara power declined in the 10th century, and Kannauj was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018. Several Rajput clans later claimed descent from the Pratiharas.
Why not the other options?
- āMihira Bhoja was the greatest Pratihara ruler, not the founder.
- āDantidurga founded the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
- āGopala founded the Pala dynasty of Bengal around 750 CE.
Quick tip
Remember: Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj = Pratiharas (founder Nagabhata I), Palas (Gopala) and Rashtrakutas (Dantidurga); greatest Pratihara = Mihira Bhoja.
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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms ā Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.