Gurjar - Pratihara Period and Tomar Dynasty | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Haryana and Gurjar-Pratihara

Period of Pratiharas in Haryana:

• An inscription from Jodhaka in Sirsa district of Haryana reveals that the Pratiharas occupied Haryana.
• Vatsaraja, a Pratihara ruler, appointed Tomar Sardar Galla as the special administrator in Haryana.
• Due to the rising influence of Rashtrakuta rulers, Vatsaraja was expelled from power.
• Tomar rulers had a chance to increase their power, but Pala Dynasty ruler Dharmapala defeated and subjugated them.
• Haryana and Kannauj were later restored under Vatsaraja's son Nagabhatta after the death of Nagabhatta in 833 AD.

Rule of Pratiharas in Haryana:

• Rambhadra, Nagabhatta's son, ruled ineffectively from 833 to 836 AD, causing a period of chaos.
• Mihirbhoja, Rambhadra's son, became a capable ruler, establishing a strong Pratihara Empire.
• Pehowa was developed as a trading center, and Kannauj became the capital under Mihirbhoja's rule (836-885 AD).
• After Mihirbhoja's death in 885 AD, his son Mahendrapala took over but proved to be an unworthy ruler.

Tomar Chieftain Dominance:

• During Mahendrapala's rule, a Tomar chieftain named Jaul increased his power, leading to a vast area of Haryana breaking free.
• Jaul's eldest son, Vajrat, continued to maintain peace and stability in Haryana.
• Vajrat's son, Jajjuk, also proved to be a worthy chieftain.

Establishment of Tomar Rule:

• In 910 AD, after Mahendrapala's death, political instability allowed Jajjuk's sons (Goga, Purnaraj, and Devaraja) to establish Tomar rule in adjoining areas of Haryana independently.

Haryana and Tomar Dynasty

Origins of Tomar Dynasty:

• Various historians have differing opinions on the origin of the Tomar dynasty.
• Mughal historian Khadgaram suggests the Tomars were Somvanshi Kshatriyas, descended from Pandavas, as per the 1631 AD inscription.

Tomar Dynasty in Haryana:

• The Pehowa inscription attributes the origin of the Tomar dynasty to Jaul, who was from the fifth generation of Tomar ruler Anangpala.
• Anangpala laid the foundation of the Tomar kingdom with Dhillika (Delhi) as its capital.

Leadership and Independence of Tomar Dynasty:

• Jaul, though initially under Pratihara subordination, popularized his currency.
• Aprichhdev, also known as Gogg, succeeded Jaul as the ruler of the Tomar Dynasty.
• Pipalraj Dev, the successor of Aprichhdev, issued currencies indicating his independence.
• Subsequent rulers of the Tomar Dynasty included Raghupala, Vilhanpala, and Gopala.