The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c10.12.2

v1.c10.12.2

It is not exactly known when they first captured Kanauj; but they must have done it some time before 836 A.D., the date of the Barah inscription of Bhoja I, which was issued from Mahodaya itself. The capture of this city gradually led to the foundation of a Gurjara-Pratīhāra empire which rivalled that of the Guptas, and was more extensive than that of the Puṣpabhūtis. Even if we omit the somewhat doubtful passage in the *Rājataraṅgiṇī* which refers to the dominion in the Punjab of an *Adhirāja* Bhoja, the power of the Bhoja I in the Punjab is unquestionably demonstrated by the discovery of his Pehowa inscriptions in the district of Karnal. The Una grants of Balavarman and Avanivarman show that the Saurāṣṭra-*Maṇḍala* (Kathiawar) was within the dominions of Mahendrapāla I. As the Khajuraho inscription of the Candellas, dated in V. S. 1101 (A.D. 954) still acknowledges the sovereignty of Vināyakapāla, it is reasonable to conclude that the Candellas were also feudatories of the Pratīhāras from an earlier period. The Dighwa Dubauli plates of Mahendrapāla I, show that Śrāvastī-*Viṣaya* in the U. P. was in his dominions. The writings of the Arab geographers seem to indicate that the Gurjara empire touched the borders of Sind in the extreme west, while the Ramgaya, Guneria and Itkhori inscriptions in the East show Pratīhāra power in Bihar.