HEAD OF HOUSE:

the Head of the Parihar Clan in the North-West Provinces, is the Raja Saheb of Malhájini in the Etawah district.

STATES AND ESTATES:

Ayodhya, Kurukshetra to Banaras, Bundelkhand, up to Himachal, Nagod, Alipura, Miyagam, Ambotah, Damoh, Gwalior to 950, Jabalpur, Kannauj, Mandore, Khaneti, Malhajini, Sarausi, Lilera, etc.

BRANCHES:

This vansha has 16 branches which follow:- Budhkhelya, Chandrawat (Kilolya, Chandrayana, Chohanna are subclans), Dhandhila (from Dhondil, son of Dhar), Dhorana I (from Mahap, son of Maldeva), Dhorana II (from Dungar), Indha (descended from Rao Indha, son of Sodhak) (Lakhanya subclan), Keshavot, Khakkhra (from Khokkar), Lullra, Minas (from Gujar Mal), Ramla, Sanpolat, Sindhoka (from Sindhu, son of Khir), Surawat, Suvarna, Sundhia.

Subclans include: Gajkeshar, Badkeshar, Gorana, Kalhans, Chopra, Pokawat etc.

SHORT HISTORY:

They were the main Kshatriyas out of four Agnikula kshtriyas created on Mount Abu. The Sanskrit equivalent of Parihar is Pratihara, which means keeper or protector, and was used by the Gurjara-Pratihara rulers as a self-designation. They claim descent from the Hindu mythological character, Lord Lakshmana, who had performed the duty of a door-keeper (pratihara) for his elder brother Lord Rama. The Pratiharas ruled a large kingdom in northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries, and are generally thought to be descended from the Gurjara clan, who appeared in northern India in the aftermath of the Hephthalite or Huna invasion at the end of the fifth century. They established the state of Marwar, based at Mandore near modern Jodhpur, which grew to dominate Rajasthan. Afterwards, Kannauj became the centre of the Pratihara state, which covered much of northern India during the peak of their power, from 836 to 910, after which their position started to weaken, and continued throughout the 10th century, partly as a result of the drain of simultaneously fighting off Turkic attacks from the west and the Pala advances in the east. The Pratiharas lost control of Rajasthan to other Rajput clans, and the Chandelas captured the strategic fortress of Gwalior in central India, ca 950. By the end of the tenth century the Pratihara domains had dwindled to a small kingdom centered on Kannauj. Mahmud of Ghazni sacked Kannauj in 1018, and the Pratihara king Rajapala fled. The Chandela ruler Ganda captured and killed Rajapala, placing Rajapala's son Trilochanpala on the throne as a proxy. Jasapala, the last Pratihara Raja of Kanauj, died in 1036. The Pariharas of Marwar lost control of the region in the 13th century to the Rathore clan of Rajputs.

There were three branches of Pratihara rulers. One branch of this dynasty ruled in Rajasthan at Mandore. Raja Nagabhata of Mandore made his capital at Merta. One branch from Mandore moved to Jalore, where Raja Nagabhatta I 730/756, made his capital at Bhinmal. Second branch ruled in the east at Kannauj and the third branch ruled in the south at Broach.

• Raja Harichandra Rohilladdhi [Harshvardhana], he is said to have laid the foundation of this dynasty in the 6th century and also built the temple-city of Osian, crowned with the title of 'Rajaputra Siladitya' in 550; married 1stly, a Brahmin wife, married 2nd Rani Bhadra Devi, and had issue. He lived around 550AD.

  • "Pratihara Brahmins" by the first wife.

  • Rao Bhogabhata, with his brothers, he conquered Mandavyapura (Mandore) and built a fortress there.

  • Rao Kakka

  • Rao Rajilla (by Rani Bhadra Devi), married and had issue.

    • Rao Narabhata Pellapelli, Raja of Kannauj 600/625, married and had issue.

      • Rao Nagabhata, Raja of Kannauj 625/650, he fixed his capital at the large city of Medantaka (Merta); he divided the state between his two sons, Rajni Jajjika Devi, and had issue, two sons.

        • Rao Tata, he received Mandor as his share of the patrimony, he gave up his worldy possessions, abdicated in davour of his brother and spent the rest of his life in Mandavya Ashram, married and had issue.

          • Rao Yasovardhana, Pratihara Raja of Mandore 690/740, he may have been attacked by Prithuvardhana of Sailvansa, and the Gurjara country was overcome, however Yasovardhana is credited with rooting out all enemies; married and had issue.

            • Rao Chanduka, he was known for his military prowess and charitable disposition; married and had issue.

              • Rao Shiluka, Raja of Kannauj 725/730, he defeated Bhattika Devaraja of Balladesha, and obtained from him the umbrella of the state; he had a tank excavated and a temple of Siddhesvara Mahadeva constructed at the holy place called Treta; he is thought to have bought peace to the country after multiple Arab invasions; he abdicated the administration in favour of his son; married and had issue. He died after 750.

                • Rao Jhota, married and had issue.

                • >> Rao Bhilladitya, he abdicated in favour of his sons and went to Gangadvara, where he remained for 18 years when he fasted to death; married and had issue.

                • >> >> Rao Kakka, a great warrior, he briefly revived his family's glory, he also was a man of learning, and was adept in Logic, Grammar, Astronomy, Arts and Poetry; married 1stly, Maharajni Padmini Devi of the Bhati clan, married 2ndly, Rani Durlabha Devi, and had issue.

                • >> >> >> Rao Bauka (by Rani Padmini Devi), he succeeded at a time of discord:- his ministers had deserted him, the army was seized with terror, and his feudatories threw off their allegiance to him; he challenged the authority of the Pratihara rulers at Kannauj by declaring his independence, which appears to have been shortlived. He lived adround 837.

                • >> >> >> Rao Kakkuka (by Rani Durlabha Devi), he was modest, civil and philanthropic, he lived around fl.861

        • Rao Bhoja, Raja of Kannauj 650/675, he received Merta as his share of the patrimony; married and had issue.

  • Raja Dadda I, youngest son (see below)

BROACH (Brigukaccha)

• Raja Dadda I, 1st Pratihara Raja at Nandol ca580/605, he was appointed as samanta of Broach to protect it from the attacks from Vallabhi and Chalukyas; he established his rule for a time at Nandipur (Nandol or Nandod); married and had issue. He lived around 599AD.

  • Raja Jayabhata I (qv)

• Raja Sri Vitaraga Jayabhata I, 2nd Pratihara Raja at Nandol 605/629; mahasamanta; he obtained a sweeping victory over his enemies (possibly the Vallabhis) and later the Kalachuris; married and had issue.

  • Maharajadhiraja Prasantaraga Dadda II (qv)

  • Raja Ranagraha

• Maharajadhiraja Prasantaraga Dadda II, 3rd Pratihara Raja at Nandol before 629/654, he was most likely worsted in a battle with Chalukya ruler, Pulakesin II; he gave shelter of Dhruvasena II or Dharasena IV, the Raja of Vallabhi; married and had issue. He died aft 641.

  • Raja Jayabhata II (qv)

• Raja Jayabhata II, 4th Pratihara Raja at Nandol 654/679, he was described as a war-like prince, but seems to have come off second-best in battles with the Chalukya ruler; married and had issue.

  • Raja Bahusahaya Dadda III (qv)

• Raja Bahusahaya Dadda III, 5th Pratihara Raja at Nandol then Broach 679/after 704, he captured Broach from the Maitrakas of Gujarat; he also waged war against the Chalukyas of Badami and the Raja of Valabhi; married and had issue. He lived around 706.

  • Raja Samantadhipati Jayabhata III (qv)

• Raja Samantadhipati Jayabhata III, 6th Pratihara Raja at Broach, he succeeded in a battle with the Raja of Valabhi and seized some districts; he was a patron of arts and of Pandits; his kingdom was invaded by an Arab (Tajika) army under General Junaid and his reign came to an end, and he died after 736 and possibly before 738.

KANNAUJ

• Rao Lakshmana of Avanti in Western Malwa, married and had issue. It is not definitely known in what relation the new dynasty stood to the old one.

  • Raja Nagabata I (qv)

  • Rao (name unknown), married and had issue.

    • Raja Kakkuka [aka Kakustha] (qv)

    • Raja Devaraja [aka Devasakti] (qv)

• Raja Nagabata I, 1st Pratihara Raja at Avanti 730/756, he extended his control east and south from Mandor, conquering Malwa as far as Gwalior and the port of Bharoach in Gujarat, he established his capital at Ujjayaini in Avanti, and checked the expansion of the Arabs, who had established themselves in Sind; he tried to capture Kannauj, which had been the capital of the seventh-century empire of Harsha. He may have died shortly after 760.

• Raja Kakkuka, 2nd Pratihara Raja at Avanti 756/-, a weak ruler and ruled for a short time only.

• Raja Devaraja, 3rd Pratihara Raja at Avanti -/775, also a weak ruler like his brother, though he man aged to retain the boundaries of his country intact; married Rani Bhuyikadevi, and had issue.

  • Raja Vatsaraja (qv)

• Maharajadhiraja Parmeshwara Vatsaraja, 4th Pratihara Raja at Avanti 775/805 or 780/800 or 783/815, his ambitions brought the Pratiharas into conflict with the Pala dynasty of Bengal and the Rashtrakutas of the northern Deccan, with whom they would contest for primacy in northern India for the next two centuries, he unsuccessfully challenged the Pala ruler Dharmapala of Bengal (ruled 775/810) for control of Kannauj; he was attacked and defeated by Rashtrakuta Raja Dhruva around 800, though he remained in possession of Kanauj and placed Indrayudha as governor there while he remained at Jhalore; married Rani Sundaradevi, and had issue. He died about 805 or as late as 808.

  • Raja Nagabata II (by Rani Sundaradevi) (qv)

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parmeshwara Nagabhata II [TITLES - The title of Parama Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameswara is attributable to the rulers from Nagabhata II onwards to Mahipaladeva. Thereafter the rulers bear differing titles.] (^#2 p.69 Note 5), 5th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 805/833, he was initially defeated in 807/808 by the Rashtrakuta Raja Govinda III (ruled 793/814), but later recovered Malwa from the Rashtrakutas, he conquered Kannauj and the Ganges plain as far as Bihar from the Palas, and again checked the Muslims in the west; he rebuilt the great Shiva temple at Somnath in Gujarat, which had been demolished in an Arab raid from Sind; married (amongst others) (a), Rani Kalavati Devi, sister of Raja Guvaka I, Raja of Sambhar, married (b), Rani Isattadevi, and had issue. He died in 833 (Bhadrapada, Samvat 890).

  • Raja Ramabhadradeva (by Rani Isattadevi)(qv)

• Raja Ramabhadradeva, 6th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 833/ca836, a dissolute and immoral king who lost his life and his throne as a result of his moral laxity; married Rani Appadevi, and had issue. He may have been killed by his own son.

  • Raja Bhojadeva [aka Samrat Mihir Bhoja Mahan] (by Rani Appadevi)(qv)

• P.M.P. Raja Bhojadeva, 7th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj ca836/886 or 843/882 or 835/890, he suffered some initial defeats by the Pala king Devapala (ruled 810/850), but recovered to expand the Pratihara dominions west to the border of Sind, east to Magadha, and south to the Narmada; patron of arts and literature, he built Bhojpal (now Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh); married (amongst others), Rani Kalavati, sister of Raja Guvaka II, 3rd Raja of Sambhar (see Chauhan dynasty), married (b), Rani Chandrabhattarikadevi, and had issue. He died about 890 (after 884 and before 893),

  • Raja Mahendrapala I (by Rani Chandrabhattarikadevi)(qv)

• P.M.P. Raja Mahendrapala Nirbhayanarendra I, 8th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj bef 893/914 or 885/910, he expanded further eastwards in Magadha, Bengal, and Assam; married (amongst others) (a), Rani Dehanaga Devi, married 2ndly, Rani Mahidevi Devi, and had issue. He died about 910.

  • Raja Bhojadeva II (by Dehanaga Devi) (qv)

  • Rajadhiraja Mahipaladeva [aka Kshitipaladeva] (qv)

  • Raja Vinayakapaladeva [aka Herambapala] (by Rani Mahidevi) (qv)

• Raja Bhojadeva II, 9th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 910/912-913, he was deposed by his brother after a short reign.

• Rajadhiraja Paramesvara Sri Raja Mahipaladeva, 10th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 913/914 or 931, later titled as P.M.P.; probably the same as the following, though scholars disagree.

  • Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Vijayapaladeva (qv)

  • Maharaja Devapaladeva (qv)

  • Rani (name unknown), married (as his 3rd wife), Maharajadhiraj Raji Solanki, he lived around 942.

• Raja Vinayakapaladeva I, 11th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj before 931 or 914/944, the weakness of his reign saw the Paramaras of Malwa, the Chandelas of Bundelkhand, and the Kalachuris of Mahakoshal, declare their independence, and Kannauj, the Rashtrakuta Raja Indra III (ruled 914/928) briefly captured Kannauj in 916, and although the Pratiharas regained the city, their position continued to weaken; married Rani Prasadhan Devi of Devathaddhi family, and had issue.

  • Paramabhattaraka-Maharajadhiraja-Parameshvara Mahendrapala II (by Rani Prasadhana Devi) (qv)

  • generations

    • Raja Veer Raj Ju Deo, 1st Raja of Unchahara 1344/1357 (the Parihar Raja, Dhara Singh established the state of Nagod in 1344)

• Maharaja Mahendrapalaedeva II, 11th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 944/948, married and had issue.

  • Raja Vinayakapaladeva II (qv)

• Maharaja Devapaladeva, 12th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 948/950 or 954 or 959

• Maharajadhiraja Vinayakapaladeva II, Pratihara Raja of Kannauj ca950/before 959, existence is assumed from a single inscription

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Vijayapaladeva, 13th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj before 956/960 or 959/984, married and had issue.

  • Raja Rajyapaladeva (qv)

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Rajyapaladeva, 14th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 960/1018, married and had issue. He was killed in 1018 by Raja Ganda Chandela.

  • Raja Trilochanapaladeva (qv)

  • Raja Mahichandra, his relationship with the predecessors, if any, is unknown (qv)

• Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Trilochanapaladeva, 15th Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 1018/1027, married and had issue.

  • Maharajadhiraja Jasapaladeva [aka Yashpaladeva], his relationship with the predecessors, if any, is unknown (qv)

• Maharajadhiraja Jasapaladeva, 16th and last Pratihara Raja of Kannauj 1027/1036. He died 1036.

• Raja Mahichandradeva, Raja of Kannauj

GWALIOR

The founder of Gwalior was said to Raja Suraj Sen, who became the first Raja in Gwalior in either legendary antiquity or the 8th century C.E. Around 300, Raja Nal lost Gwalior and moved to Naisadha, where he founded the Narwar Fort. The forts of Gwalior and Narwar both fell at the same time to the Kachhawa Rajputs around 933, who were expelled by the Parihar Rajputs in 1129, Gwalior was captured by Qutbuddin Aibak in 1196 and he held it till his death in 1210, after which it reverted to the Parihar Raja, who then held Gwalior till 1232, when they moved to Narwar; next mention is 1251 when it was held by Raja Chahadadeva, who surrendered it to Emperor Nasiruddin. It isn't known whether he was a Parihar Rajput or not. After the invasion of Timur, Narwar fell to the Tomar Rajputs who held it till 1506 when it was taken by Sikander Lodi who held it till December 1508 when he gave it to Raj Singh Kachhawa.

• Raja Parmaladeva, 1st Pratihara Raja of Gwalior 1129/- , he was placed in charge of Gwalior, while his uncle went to Dausa for his marriage, but refused to hand over Gwalior on his uncle's return; married and had issue.

• 2nd Pratihara Raja of Gwalior

• 3rd Pratihara Raja of Gwalior

• 4th Pratihara Raja of Gwalior

• Raja Vyagraha Pratihara, (5th) Pratihara Raja of Gwalior, married Rani Alhana Devi, daughter of Mahararadhiraja Paramesvara Kelhana, Raja of Naddul fl.1165-1193 (see Chauhan Dynasty)

• Raja Solankhi Pal [aka Lohanj Deo], 6th Pratihara Raja of Gwalior -/1196

INTERREGNUM 1196/1210 Gwalior Fort taken by Sultan Qutbuddin Aibak, which he held till his death.

• Raja Mahipaksha Deo, 7th and last Parihara Raja of Gwalior 1210/1232, he was known by a number of names including:- Milakdeo, Mapal, Mahipaldeo, Deobal, Deo Mal and Sarang Deo, married and had issue.

  • Raja Jhujhar Singh, 2nd son, married and had issue, the later Raos of Alipura.

MANDORE (Mandavyapura)

Mandore was ruled by the Indha branch of the Pratihara dynasty till about 1133 to 1144, when they were overthrown by the Chauhan Raja Rayapala, whose son Sahajapala ruled at Mandore about 1144, as appears from his inscription found at Mandore.. The Chauhan rulers were themselves overthrown some time after 1231 by the Parihar rulers. Mandore was then capital of Marwar and was again overthrown, this time by the Rathore Rajputs in 1395.

• Rana Mansi, Rao of Mandore, he lived around 1060 or 1212

• ......

• Rana Mokal Parihara, Rao of Mandore, he was defeated in battle against Rana Rahap of Sisoda, sometime after 1168

• Rana Dhoukal Parihara, Rao of Mandore, he too was subdued by Rana Rahap

• Rao Nahad Parihara, Rao of Mandore, married and had issue.

  • Maharani (name unknown) Kanwar, she married Maharajadhiraja Prithviraja III, Maharaja of Ajmer and Delhi (see Chauhan Dynasty), and had issue.

• Rana Duda Parihar, Rao of Mandore, married and had issue.(fl.1230)

  • Rani Man Kanwar, married (as his 2nd wife), Raja Ranakdev, Raja of Ranakpur 1276/1307, founder of the Rajawat branch of the Solanki dynasty, died 1307, and had issue.

• ......

• Rana Patal Parihar, Rao of Mandore, married and had issue. He lived around 1290.

  • Rani Suraj Kanwar, married Rawal Mulraj I, 11th Rawal of Jaisalmer.

UNDER MUSLIM GOVERNORS Khilji Sultans of Delhi 1292/1395

• Rana Rupra Parihar [aka Rapada or Rupsi], Rao of Mandore, he was granted the estate of Baru as a residence, by the Rawal of Jaisalmer; married and had issue. He lived around 1310.

  • Rani Parihariji, married Rao Deoraj [aka Devraj] of Jaisalmer, he died vp in 1311.

• ......

• Rao Vishal Dev, Rao of Mandore -/1395, he managed to regain Mandore from the Sultans of Delhi, but realised that he would not be able to hold it and therefore offered the hand of his daughter in marriage to Rao Chandaji of Marwar as well as Mandore in dowry; married Rani Popan Bai, and had issue. He died (after?) 1395.

  • Rani (name unknown) Devi, married Rao Chandaji of Marwar.

JALORE (Jabalipura)

In ancient times Jalore was known as Jabalipura - named after a saint. The town was also known as Suvarngiri or Songir, the Golden Mount, on which the fort stands. According to some historical sources, in 8th-9th centuries, one branch of the Gurjara Pratiharas was ruling at Jablipur (Jalore). It was a flourishing town in the 8th century. The precise year of its construction is not known, however it is believed to have been built between the 8th and 10th centuries. Thereafter it was ruled by the Paramara Rajputs in the 10th century.

TREES:

1. Senior Branch of Pratihara Kings at Broach (fl.736) and Kannauj (fl. 861) (Dynastic Tree I)

2. Junior Branch of Pratihara Kings at Avanti and Kannauj till 1036 (Dynastic Tree II)