History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c16.s1.t1.20

c16.s1.t1.20

i.e., “Inasmuch as the very brother of Rāmabhadra performed the duty of door-keeper (pratīhāra), this illustrious clan came to be known as Pratīhāra.”³ Thus in both the records although the name Pratīhāra is derived from different memorable events in the life of Lakṣamaṇa, the point common to both is that the clan is said to be descended from the same epic hero, and thereby held as a genuine indigenous one. It may be added that in the Gwalior *praśasti* Vatsarāja, father of Nāgabhaṭa, is definitely represented as “foremost among the most distinguished Kṣatriyas” and as one who “stamped the noble race of Ikṣvāku with his own name by virtue of his blameless conduct.”¹ This proud claim is further strengthened by Rājaśekhara, the dramatist at the Pratīhāra court, who calls his patron Mahendrapāla “Raghu-kulatilaka” i.e., ornament of the race of Raghu in the *Viddhaśālabhañjikā*,² and “Raghugrāmaṇi” or leader of Raghu’s family in the *Bālabhārata*.³ Similarly the poet uses the expression “Raghuvamśamuktāmaṇi” or pearl-jewel of Raghu’s line for Mahīpāla in the last named work.⁴ But we need not attach any special significance to the above traditions, for such legendary origins are often ascribed to ruling families to give them a noble and well-known pedigree. The alleged connection with Lakṣamaṇa is clearly mythical; and it was perhaps fabricated by *praśastikaras* when the barbarian hordes had gained power and were thoroughly Hinduised, adopting Sanskritic names and Brahmanical forms of worship, and stood in dire need of carrying back their genealogy to find a respectable place in Hindu social polity.⁵