Gurjaradesha

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Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Gurjaradesha (गुर्जर देश) is a historical region in India comprising the eastern Rajasthan and northern Gujarat during the period of 6th-12th century CE.

Variants

Jat clans

History

The predominant power of the region, the Gurjara-Pratiharas eventually controlled a major part of North India centered at Kannauj. The modern state of "Gujarat" derives its name from the ancient Gurjaratra.

Gurjaradēśa, or Gurjara country, is first attested in Bana's Harshacharita (7th century CE). Its king is said to have been subdued by Harsha's father Prabhakaravardhana (died c. 605 CE).[1] The bracketing of the country with Sindha (Sindh), Lāta (southern Gujarat) and Malava (western Malwa) indicates that the region including the northern Gujarat and Rajasthan is meant.[2]

Hieun Tsang, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India between 631-645 CE during Harsha's reign, mentioned the Gurjara country (Kiu-che-lo) with its capital at Bhinmal (Pi-lo-mo-lo) as the second largest kingdom of Western India. He distinguished it from the neighbouring kingdoms of Bharukaccha (Bharuch), Ujjayini (Ujjain), Malava (Malwa), Valabhi and Surashtra.[3] The Gurjara kingdom was said to have measured 833 miles in circuit and its ruler was a 20-year old kshatriya, who was distinguished for his wisdom and courage.[4]

It is known that, in 628 CE, the kingdom at Bhinmal was ruled by a Chapa dynasty ruler Vyāgrahamukha, under whose reign the mathematician-astronomer Brahmagupta wrote his famous treatise. It is believed that the young ruler mentioned by Hieun Tsang must have been his immediate successor.[5] It appears that the Gurjara country at that time comprised modern Rajasthan.[6] Following the death of Harsha, his empire split up into small kingdoms. Gurjaradesa is believed to have become independent.

The Arab chroniclers of Sindh (an Arab province from 712 CE onward), narrated the campaigns of Arab governors on Jurz, the Arabic term for Gurjara. They mentioned it jointly with Mermad (Marumāda, in Western Rajasthan) and Al Baylaman (Bhinmal).[7] The country was first conquered by Mohammad bin Qasim (712-715) and, for a second time, by Junayd (723-726).[8] Upon bin Qasim's victory, Al-Baladhuri mentioned that the Indian rulers, including that of Bhinmal, accepted Islam and paid tribute.[9] They presumably recanted after bin Qasim's departure, which made Junayd's attack necessary. After Junayd's reconquest, the kingdom at Bhinmal appears to have been annexed by the Arabs.[10]

Successor Gurjara kingdoms

A Gurjara kingdom was founded by Harichandra Rohilladhi at Mandore (Mandavyapura) in about 600 CE. This is expected to have been a small kingdom.[11] His descendant, Nagabhata, shifted the capital to Merta (Medāntakapura) in about 680 CE.[12] Eventually, this dynasty adopted the designation of "Pratihara" in line with the Imperial Pratiharas, to whom it became feudatory.[13][14] They are often referred to as Mandore Pratiharas by historians.

The Bharuch line of Gurjaras (Gurjaras of Lata) was founded by Dadda I, who is identified with Harichandra's youngest son of the same name by many historians. These Gurjaras were always recognized as vassals (sāmanthas) though their allegiance might have varied over time. They are believed to have wrested a fair portion of the Lata province of the Chaulukyas and their kingdom also came to be regarded as part of Gurjaradesa.[15]

A final line of Gurjaras was founded by Nagabhata I at Jalore, in the vicinity of Bhinmal, in about 730 CE, soon after Junayd's end of term in Sindh. Nagabhata is said to have defeated the "invincible Gurjaras," presumably those of Bhinmal.[16] Another account credits him for having defeated a "Muslim ruler."[17] Nagabhata is also known to have repelled the Arabs during a later raid.[18] His dynasty later expanded to Ujjain and called itself Pratihara. The rival kingdoms of Pratiharas, the Rashtrakutas and Palas, however continued to call them Gurjaras or kings of Gurjaras (Gurjaresa). The Pratiharas became the dominant force of the entire Rajasthan and Gujarat regions, establishing a powerful empire centered at Kannauj, the former capital of Harshavardhana.[19]

Later references

Udyotana Suri's Kuvalayamala composed in Jalore in 778 CE describes in detail the Gurjara country as a beautiful country, whose residents are also referred to as Gurjaras.[20] They were differentiated from the Saindhavas (people of Sindh), Latas (in southern Gujarat), Malavas (people of Malwa) and Meravas. They were mentioned to be devotees of dharma and clever in matters of peace as well as war.[21]

The term Gurjaratra is first mentioned in the Ghatiyala inscription of Kakkuka (Mandore Pratihara) in 861 CE. Kakkuka is said to have won the love of the people of Gurjaratra along with those Marumada, Valla and Travani.[22] Later records suggest that this Gurjaratra mandala was in the region of Didwana in the old Jodhpur State.[23]

In later times, the term Gurjaratra is used to connote the present day Gujarat. Jinadatta Suri (1075-1154 CE) mentions a country of Gujaratta with its capital at Anahilapataka (Patan) in northern Gujarat. The Chaulukyas (Solankis) are also referred to as Gurjaras in inscriptions and their country as Gurjaradesa.[24]

Ghatiyala Inscriptions of Kakkua S.V. 918 (861 AD)

Reference - Epigraphic India Vol.IX, p. 198-200, D.R. Bhandarkar, M.A.,Poona, pp.277-280

L-12,13: प्राप्ता महाख्यातिस्त्रवण्यां वल्लमाडयो: । आर्येषु गुर्ज्जरत्रायां लाटदेशे च पर्व्वते

It says that Kakkuka obtained great renown in the countries of Travani (त्रवणी), Valla (वल्ल) and Mada (माड़), amongst (the people known as) Arya, in Gurjjarattra, and in Parvata in the Lata country.

Arya is unidentifiable but is perhaps the same as that mentioned in Varahamihira's Brihat-samhita, Cap. V, v. 42. Gurjaratra, as has been shown by me elsewhere, comprised the districts of Didwana and Parbatsar of the Jodhpur State.

भिन्नमाल =भिलमाल = श्रीमाल

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[25] ने लेख किया है ...भिन्नमाल = भिलमाल = श्रीमाल (AS, p.667), जिला जालोर, राजस्थान में आबू पहाड़ से 50 मील उत्तर-पश्चिम में स्थित है। चीनी यात्री युवानच्वांग ने भिन्नमाल को सम्भवतः पिलोमोलो नाम से अभिहित किया है और इस नगर को गुर्जर देश की राजधानी बताया है। भिन्नमाल गुर्जरों के साम्राज्य की प्रथम राजधानी थी। भिन्नमाल के अन्य नाम श्रीमाल और भिलमाल भी प्रचलित है। 12वीं-13वीं शती में रचित प्रभावकचरित नामक ग्रंथ में प्रभाचंद्र ने श्रीमाल को गुर्जर देश का प्रमुख नगर कहा है- 'अस्ति-गुर्जरदेशोऽन्यसज्जराजन्यदुर्जरः तत्र श्रीमालमित्यस्ति पुरं मुखमिव क्षितेः'. इस ग्रंथ में यहाँ के तत्कालीन राजा श्रीवर्मल का उल्लेख है।

सातवीं सदी में गुर्जर-प्रतिहार राजपूतों की शक्ति का विकास दक्षिणी मारवाड़ में प्रारंभ हुआ था. इन्होंने अपने राजधानी भिन्नमाल में बनाई। ये राजपूत स्वयं को विशुद्ध क्षत्रिय और श्रीराम के प्रतिहार लक्ष्मण का वंशज मानते थे। भिन्नमाल और कन्नौज के गुर्जर-प्रतिहार राजा बहुत प्रतापी और यशस्वी हुए हैं। भिन्नमाल के राजाओं में वत्सराज (775-800 ई.) पहला प्रतापी राजा था। इसने बंगाल तक अपनी विजय पताका फहराई और वहाँ के पालवंशीय राजा धर्मपाल को युद्ध में पराजित किया। मालवा पर भी इसका शासन स्थापित हो गया था। वत्सराज को राष्ट्रकूट नरेश राजध्रुव से पराजित होना पड़ा, अतः उसका

[p.668]: महाराष्ट्र-विजय का स्वप्न साकार न हो सका। वत्सराज के पुत्र नागभट्ट द्वितीय ने धर्मपाल को मुंगेर की लड़ाई में हराया और उसके द्वारा नियुक्त कन्नौज के शासक चक्रायुध से कन्नौज को छीन लिया। उसके प्रभुत्व का विस्तार काठियावाड़ से बंगाल तक और कन्नौज से आन्ध्र प्रदेश तक स्थापित था। उसने सिंध के अरबों को भी पश्चिमी भारत में अग्रसर होने से रोका। किन्तु अपने पिता की भाँति नागभट्ट को भी राष्ट्रकूट नरेश से हार माननी पड़ी। इस समय राष्ट्रकूट का शासक गोविन्द तृतीय था। नागभट्ट के पौत्र मिहिरभोज (836-890 ई.) ने उत्तर भारत में गुर्जर-प्रतिहारों के समाप्त होते हुए प्रभुत्व को सम्भाला। इसने अपने विस्तृत राज्य का भली-भाँति शासन प्रबन्ध करने के लिए, अपनी राजधानी भिन्नमाल से हटाकर कन्नौज में स्थापित की। इस प्रकार भिन्नमाल को लगभग 100 वर्षों तक प्रतापी गुर्जर-प्रतिहारों की राजधानी बने रहने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ। भिन्नमाल में इनके शासनकाल के अनेक ऐतिहासिक अवशेष स्थित हैं। अनुमान है कि इनका समय 7वीं शती का उत्तरार्घ और 8वीं शती का पूर्वार्ध था।

संस्कृत के विख्यात कवि माघ का यह कार्यक्षेत्र रहा है। शिशुपाल वध की कई प्राचीन हस्तलिपियों में महाकवि माघ का भिन्नमाल या भिन्नमालव से सम्बन्ध इस प्रकार बताया गया है- 'इति श्री भिन्नमालववास्तव्यदत्तकसूनोर्महावैयाकरणस्य माघस्य कृतो शिशुपालवधे महाकाव्ये'.

माघ के पितामह सुप्रभदेव श्रीमालनरेश वर्मलात या वर्मल के महामात्य थे। ऐतिहासिक किंवदन्तियों से भी यही सूचित होता है कि संस्कृत के महाकवि माघ भिन्नमाल के ही निवासी थे। भिन्नमाल का रूपान्तर भिलमाल भी प्रचलित है।

External links

References

  1. ↑ Puri, Baij Nath (1986). The History of the Gurjara-Pratiharas. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.p.9
  2. ↑ Goyal, Shankar (1991), "Recent Historiography of the Age of Harṣa", Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 72/73 (1/4): 331–361, JSTOR 41694902
  3. ↑ Puri 1986, p. 9.
  4. ↑ Puri 1986, p. 35.
  5. ↑ Smith, Vincent A. (October 1907). "`White Hun' Coin of Vyagrahamukha of the Chapa (Gurjara) Dynasty of Bhinmal" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland: 923–928.
  6. ↑ Puri 1986, p. 9.
  7. ↑ Bhandarkar 1929, pp. 29–30; Wink 2002, p. 208; Blankinship 1994, pp. 132–133
  8. ↑ Blankinship, Khalid Yahya (1994). The End of the Jihad State: The Reign of Hisham Ibn 'Abd al-Malik and the Collapse of the Umayyads. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-1827-7. p. 133.
  9. ↑ Blankinship 1994, p. 319.
  10. ↑ Blankinship 1994, p. 133.
  11. ↑ Puri 1986, p. 34.
  12. ↑ Puri 1986, p. 35.
  13. ↑ Puri 1986, pp. 37-39.
  14. ↑ Sharma, Sanjay (2006). "Negotiating Identity and Status Legitimation and Patronage under the Gurjara-Pratīhāras of Kanauj". Studies in History. 22 (22): 181–220. doi:10.1177/025764300602200202. p. 191.
  15. ↑ Puri 1986, p. 41.
  16. ↑ Sharma, Shanta Rani (2012). "Exploding the Myth of the Gūjara Identity of the Imperial Pratihāras". Indian Historical Review. 39 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1177/0376983612449525.p.8
  17. ↑ Sanjay Sharma 2006, p. 204.
  18. ↑ Blankinship 1994, p. 188.
  19. ↑ Puri 1986, chapters 3–4.
  20. ↑ Mishra, V. B. (1954). "Who were the Gurjara-Pratīhāras?". Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. 35 (1/4): 42–53. JSTOR 41784918.pp.50-51
  21. ↑ Manglani, J. J. (March 2012), "Kuvalayamala - A source of Social and Cultural History of Rajasthan" (PDF), International Journal of Recent Research and Review, 1
  22. ↑ Puri (1986, p. 8); Krishna Gopal Sharma (1993, p. 15)
  23. ↑ Puri 1986, p. 8.
  24. ↑ Puri 1986, pp. 8-9.
  25. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.667
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