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Question 69 of 94 · Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms
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Which Chandela king of Khajuraho resisted Mahmud of Ghazni in the early 11th century?

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Answer: Option B — Vidyadhara

Detailed Solution

Vidyadhara, the powerful Chandela king of Jejakabhukti (Bundelkhand), faced Mahmud of Ghazni in the early 11th century.

About Vidyadhara:

  • He ruled from about 1003 to 1035 CE.
  • He was one of the most powerful rulers of north India in his time.
  • He is said to have punished the Pratihara king Rajyapala of Kannauj, for surrendering to Mahmud without a fight in 1018-19; according to some accounts, Rajyapala was killed by Vidyadhara's allies.

His conflict with Mahmud:

  • Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the Chandela kingdom twice, in about 1019 and in 1022.
  • In the first campaign (1019), Vidyadhara gathered a large army, but withdrew from the battlefield at night, and Mahmud's army plundered the abandoned camp.
  • In the second campaign (1022), Mahmud besieged the fort of Gwalior and then the fort of Kalinjar.
  • Instead of a decisive battle, Vidyadhara made peace with Mahmud by offering gifts and tribute; in return, Mahmud gave him the charge of several forts.
  • Muslim historians mention him as "Nanda" or "Bida".

His temple:

  • The famous Kandariya Mahadeva temple at Khajuraho, the largest and finest temple there, is generally attributed to Vidyadhara (built around 1030 CE).
  • It is dedicated to Shiva, and has an elaborate shikhara with 84 smaller towers (urushringas).

About the Chandelas:

  • They ruled Bundelkhand (in present-day Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh) from the 9th to the 13th century.
  • Their capitals included Khajuraho, Mahoba and Kalinjar.
  • Yashovarman built the Lakshmana temple at Khajuraho.
  • Dhanga built the Vishvanatha temple.
  • Paramardi (Parmal) was defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan and later by Qutbuddin Aibak (1202-03); his generals Alha and Udal are heroes of folk ballads.
  • The Khajuraho temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1986).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Yashovarman, Dhanga and Paramardi were other Chandela kings.

Quick tip

Remember: Vidyadhara (Chandela) = faced Mahmud of Ghazni (1019 and 1022; Kalinjar); built the Kandariya Mahadeva temple; Lakshmana temple = Yashovarman.

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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — 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.

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