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Book No. – 8 (Medieval History of India)
Book Name – Political Structure and State Formation in Early Medieval India
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. Introduction
2. Emergence of Rajput
2.1. Descendants of the Kshatriyas
2.2. Foreign Origin
2.3. Agnikula Theory
3. The Gurjara-Pratihara
3.1. Origin of the Pratiharas
3.2. Political History of the Dynasty
3.3. Decline of Pratihara Dynasty
3.4. Administration of the Pratihara
3.5. Social Condition
3.6. Economy in Pratihara Empire
3.7. Religion in India during the Pratihara Period
3.8. Legacy
3.9. Conclusion
4. Proliferation of Rajput Clans
5. Political and Military System of the Rajputs
6. Cholas Dynasty
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Early History of the Chola
6.3. Rise of the Imperial Chola
6.4. Rajaraja Chola ‘the Great’ (c.985-1014 C.E).
6.5. Rajendra Chola I (c. 1014-1044 C.E)
6.6. Cholas after Rajendra I
6.7. The Later Cholas
6.8. Administration
6.9. Socio-Economic Life
6.10. Education and Literature
6.11. Art and Architecture
7. Conclusion
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Evolution of Political structures: Rajputs and Cholas
Chapter – 2
Introduction
The period between 750 and 1200 CE is referred to as the early medieval period of Indian history.
India was politically divided into numerous regional states that were often engaged in conflicts.
Despite political division, this period saw the growth of new and rich cultural activities in art, literature, and language.
The post-Harshavardhana period witnessed the rise of three important political powers in India:
Gurjara Pratiharas in north India
Palas in eastern India
Rashtrakutas in south India
These powers were in constant conflict, aiming to control the Gangetic region in northern India.
This armed conflict among the three powers is referred to as the ‘Tripartite struggle’.
The chapter will discuss the emergence of the Rajput clan with a special focus on the Gurjara Pratihara and their contributions to various fields of Indian history.
Emergence of Rajput
The anarchy and confusion following Harsha’s death marks the transitional period of Indian history.
This period saw the rise of the Rajput clans, who began to play a significant role in the history of northern and western India from the 8th century CE onwards.
The term Rajput refers to a tribe or clan whose members claimed to be Kshatriyas, belonging to either the ‘solar’ or ‘lunar’ dynasties.
There is considerable controversy among scholars regarding the origin of the Rajputs.
Despite extensive research on the topic, the origin of the Rajputs remains unclear.
Due to the lack of a definitive theory on their origin, historians have proposed various views on this aspect of Indian history.
Descendants of the Kshatriyas
Various suppositions regarding the origin of the Rajputs have been proposed.
The term Rajput is believed to be a corrupted form of “Rajaputra”.
One theory suggests that Rajputs are the descendants of Brahmin or Kshatriya families.
Ancient inscriptions reject the theory of a sacrificial-fire pit and the view of a foreign origin for the Rajputs.
The founders of clans like the Chauhans, Gehlots, Pallavas, Kadambas, Pratiharas, and Parmaras were believed to be Brahmins.
Bana and the Indian Puranas mention Rajaputra as a highborn Kshatriya.
According to contemporary literary sources, the Rajputs originated from highborn Kshatriyas.
The period between Harsha’s death and the Turkish conquest was marked by the ascendancy of the Rajputs.
Northern India disintegrated and came under the sway of different Rajput houses.
The Rajputs were the dominant martial and land-owning community in northern India and Gujarat.
This period is often referred to as the Rajput period in Indian history.
Foreign Origin
Many historians believe that the Rajputs are the descendants of distant invaders like the Sakas, Kushanas, and Huns, who were later Hinduized.
The upper ranks of these invaders came to be known as Rajputs.
Some scholars suggest that the Gurjaras entered India through Afghanistan, settled in different parts of India, and became the ancestors of the Rajputs.
This theory of the Gurjara origin has less acceptability among historians.
Other hypotheses ascribe a Scythian origin to the Rajputs.
The invasions of the Huns impacted Indian society socially and culturally, establishing many new ruling empires.
Over time, these invaders mixed with Indian society and nearly lost their individuality.
Certain customs like the status of women in society and horse worship were similar to those of the Shakas, Huns, and Kushanas, supporting the theory of their foreign origin.
Agnikula Theory
Chand Bardai, the court poet of Prithviraja Chauhan, states that the Rajput’s origin lies in a sacrificial fire pit.
According to the story, Sage Parasuram destroyed all the Kshatriyas, and then the ancient sages performed a yajna on Mount Abu to protect the Vedic religion.
From the yajna, four heroes were born, and their progeny became the Chauhans, Solanki, Parmara, and Pratihara. This is believed to be the origin of Agnivanshi Rajputs.
Suryavanshi Rajputs trace their ancestry to the Sun and ruled Mewar, Marwar, and Amber.
Chandravanshi Rajputs are descended from the Moon and ruled Gujarat and Jaisalmer.
Despite the various theories of origin, the Rajputs are believed to be one of the most warrior-like tribes ever to rule India.
The Rajputs did not originate as a single tribe or community but were a collection of clans ruling different regions.
The term Rajput refers to the set of intermarrying royal clans.
The war-like occupation and aristocratic rank of Rajputs gave them a distinctive common feature, which led Brahmins to recognize them as Kshatriyas.
No single origin-theory can be considered authoritative in a broad sense.