Ch 13 – Early Medieval Period

Kashmir source: Rajatarangini (Kalhana, c. 1148–1150 CE)

Pala founder: Gopala (750 CE)

Sena ruler facing Nadia attack: Lakshmana Sena

Rajput origin legend: Agnikula (Mount Abu)

Tarain I: 1191 CE (Prithviraj wins)

Tarain II: 1192 CE (Prithviraj loses)

📅 Dynasty Quick Summary ▼

Dynasty	Region	Period	Founder	Key Ruler
Karkota	Kashmir	625 CE+	Durlabhavardhana	Lalitaditya Muktapida
Utpal	Kashmir	855 CE+	Avantivarman	Queen Didda
Lohar	Kashmir	1003 CE+	Sangramaraja	Harsha (served by Kalhana’s father Champaka)
Pala	Bengal/Bihar	Eighth–twelfth centuries CE; exact endpoints depend on classification	Gopala	Dharmapala, Devapala
Sena	Bengal	1070 CE+	Samanta Sena	Lakshmana Sena (successors continued in parts of Bengal)
Gurjara-Pratihara	Rajasthan/UP	~730 CE+	Harishchandra	Mihira Bhoja
Chauhan (Shakambhari)	Rajasthan	Earlier dynasty; Harsha inscription dated 973 CE	Vasudeva	Prithviraj III
Paramara	Malwa	Ninth-century early line; later independent rise	Krishnaraja (Upendra)	Raja Bhoja
Gahadavala	Varanasi/UP	Late eleventh century CE	Chandradeva	Govindachandra, Jayachandra
Chalukya (Solanki)	Gujarat	~10th C+	—	Bhimraj I (Somnath), Bhima II

📖 Source — Rajatarangini ▼

Author: Kalhana · Year: c. 1148–1150 CE
Style: Like Mahabharata (composition)
Kalhana wrote under Jayasimha; his father Champaka served Harsha
Rajatarangini's description ends with Jayasimha (1128–1155 CE)
Muslim rule established in Kashmir: Shah Mir (1339 CE)

👑 Karkota Dynasty Rulers ▼

Chandrapida (713 CE): Faced Arab invasion

Lalitaditya Muktapida (724–760 CE)

Most famous Karkota ruler

Defeated Kambojas and Turks
Victories described in Rajatarangini
Constructed Martand Sun Temple

👑 Utpal Dynasty Rulers ▼

Avantivarman: Established city of Avantipura · Officer Suya constructed canals
Sugandha: Famous female ruler
Queen Didda (980 CE): Established peace · Took tough decisions · Died 1003 CE

👑 Lohar Dynasty Rulers ▼

Harsh (1089–1101 CE): Kalhana’s father Champaka served him as minister
Jayasimha (1128–1155 CE): Last ruler described in Rajatarangini

👑 Pala Dynasty — Key Rulers Tripartite Struggle: Pala vs Pratihara vs Rashtrakuta ▼

Gopala (750–770 CE)

Founder · Buddhist · People's choice

Source: Khalimpur inscription of Dharmapala
People of Bengal made him ruler
Established Odantapuri (in Bihar)

Dharmapala (770–810 CE)

Major Pala ruler; participant in the tripartite struggle

Titles: Samrat, Paramasaugata, Parameshwara, Lord of Uttarapatha; Vikramashila is an institution, not an established title
Established Vikramashila University (Buddhist learning centre)
Defeated by Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja and Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruva

Devapala (810–850 CE)

Most powerful Pala ruler

Defeated Pratihara ruler Mihir Bhoja
Sailendra ruler Balaputradeva of Java → requested 5 villages for Buddhist monastery at Nalanda
Arab traveler Sulaiman referred to Pala empire as 'Ruhma'

Mahipala I (from 980 CE)

Attacked and defeated by Chola ruler Rajendra I during Bengal campaign

Madanapala: son of Ramapala and Madanadevi; endpoints of the line vary by classification (1144–1162 CE) · Kaivarta revolt began under Mahipala II; Ramapala later suppressed it

👑 Sena Dynasty — Key Rulers ▼

Ballala Sena

Learned ruler · Title: Gaudeshwara

Composed: Danasagara and Adbhutasagara (on astronomy)

Lakshmana Sena

Sena ruler whose Nadia capital was attacked; successors continued

Longest royal title in ancient India (Paramabhagavata, Arirajamardana Shankara)
Bhakhtiyar Khilji attacked Early thirteenth century CE (exact chronology varies) · captured Nabadwip
Established victory pillars in Puri, Kashi and Prayag
Court poet: Jayadeva (Gita Govinda poet; Piyushavarsha belongs to a distinct author attribution)
Jayadeva’s secure famous work: Gita Govinda; Prasannaraghava belongs to another Jayadeva attribution
Five jewels: Jayadeva, Dhoyi, Govardhan, Umapati, Sharana

🔥 Rajput Origin — Agnikula Theory Agnikula origin legend: fire sacrifice by Vashishtha at Mount Abu; not proven genealogy ▼

Branch 1

Gurjara-Pratihara

Branch 2

Chalukya

(Solanki)

Branch 3

Paramara

(Parmar)

Branch 4

Chahmana

(Chauhana)

⚔ Battles of Tarain — Most Important for Exam ▼

✅ First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE)

Between: Muhammad Ghori vs Prithviraj Chauhan

Winner: Prithviraj Chauhan

❌ Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE)

Between: Muhammad Ghori vs Prithviraj Chauhan

Winner: Muhammad Ghori

Result: Prithviraj Chauhan defeated & killed

Also: Battle of Chandawar (1194 CE) — Muhammad Ghori defeated Jayachandra (Gahadavala)

👑 Gurjara-Pratihara Rulers ▼

Ruler	Key Facts
Nagabhata I	Sources: Jain texts — Kuvalayamala, Harivamshapurana
Mihira Bhoja (836–885 CE)	Titles: Adivaraha (Vishnu’s Varaha association) Inscriptions: Varaha copperplate, Gwalior, Daulatpur, Pehowa (Haryana)
Yashapala	Last Gurjara ruler

Flow: Nagabhata I → Mihira Bhoja (836–885 CE) → Yashapala (last)

👑 Chalukya (Solanki) Rulers ▼

Ruler	Key Facts
Moolraja I	First powerful ruler
Bhimraj I	Faced invasion of Mahmud Ghaznavi → Somnath temple (1025 CE)
Bhima I (Feudal)	His feudal lord Vimal Shah built Vimal Vasahi temple in the Dilwara complex on Mount Abu
Bhima II	Solanki ruler; not simply the dynasty’s last ruler · Attack by Qutbuddin Aibak on Anhilawada (1197 CE)

👑 Chauhan Dynasty Rulers ▼

Vigraharaja IV / Bisaladeva (1150–64 CE)

Composed the play Harikeli, parts of which are engraved on the walls of Adhai Din ka Jhonpra.
Expanded Chauhan territories · Captured Delhi from Tomaras

Prithviraj III (1178–1192 CE)

Greatest Chauhan ruler · Called Rai Pithora

Source: Prithviraj Raso — Author: Chand Bardai
Won First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE) against Muhammad Ghori
Lost and was killed in Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE)
Later Prithviraj Raso tradition: Prithviraj III took away Jayachandra’s daughter Sanyogita

👑 Gahadavala Rulers ▼

Ruler	Key Facts
Govindachandra (1114–55 CE)	Krityakalpataru: composed by Lakshmidhara at Govindachandra’s court
Jayachandra (1170–1194 CE)	Battle of Chandawar (1194 CE) → Muhammad Ghori defeated Jayachandra · Daughter Sanyogita taken away by Prithviraj III in later Raso tradition

👑 Paramara Rulers ▼

Vakpati Munja (972–998 CE)

Built Munja Sagar Lake (in Dhar)
Victory over the Huns
Titles: Shrivallabha, Amoghavarsha, Prithvivallabha

Raja Bhoja (c. 1010–1055 CE)

Most famous Paramara ruler

Titles: Navavikramaditya; Navasahasanka belongs to Sindhuraja
Established Sanskrit university in Dharanagari
Constructed idol of Vagdevi (Saraswati)
Founded Bhojpur town
Books composed: Saraswati Kanthabharana, Siddhanta Sangraha, Vidyavinoda

⚠ TRAP 01 — Tarain Battles Result

First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE) = Prithviraj won
Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE) = Prithviraj lost
Identify the winner by the year; this is commonly asked directly.

⚠ TRAP 02 — Vikramashila vs Odantapuri Founder

Vikramashila University = Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty
Odantapuri = Gopala, founder of the Pala dynasty
Both were Pala rulers, but they founded different universities.

⚠ TRAP 03 — Rajatarangini Author & Patron

Rajatarangini = Kalhana, composed c. 1148–1150 CE under Jayasimha. Kalhana’s father Champaka served Harsha; Kalhana was not Harsha’s contemporary court poet.

⚠ TRAP 04 — Gita Govinda Author

Gita Govinda = Jayadeva (court poet of Lakshmana Sena)
Piyushavarsha attribution requires distinguishing authors named Jayadeva
Sena's "5 jewels": Jayadeva, Dhoyi, Govardhan, Umapati, Sharana

⚠ TRAP 05 — Dilwara Temple Builder

Vimal Vasahi Temple (Dilwara complex) (Mount Abu) = Vimal Shah
Vimal Shah was feudal lord of Chalukya (Solanki) ruler Bhima I
NOT built by the king directly — built by his feudal lord!

⚠ TRAP 06 — Tripartite Struggle

Pala, Gurjara-Pratihara and Rashtrakuta competed over Kannauj. Dharmapala participated and faced Vatsaraja and Dhruva; an unqualified first-entrant claim is not established.

⚠ TRAP 07 — Martand vs Kailasanatha Temple

Martand Sun Temple = Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty in Kashmir
Kailasanatha Temple = Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty at Kanchipuram
Remember the dynasty associated with each temple.

⚠ TRAP 08 — Raja Bhoja (Paramara) — NOT Bhoja Pala

Raja Bhoja (c. 1010–1055 CE) = Paramara dynasty (Malwa)
Founded Bhojpur town · Sanskrit university at Dharanagari
Do NOT confuse with Bhoja (Pratihara) = Mihira Bhoja (Gurjara-Pratihara)!

Rajatarangini author?

Kalhana (c. 1148–1150 CE)

Karkota founder?

Durlabhavardhana (625 CE)

Martand Sun Temple built by?

Lalitaditya Muktapida

Karkota dynasty, Kashmir

Utpal dynasty founder?

Avantivarman (855 CE)

Famous female ruler of Kashmir?

Sugandha (Utpal) + Queen Didda (980 CE)

Muslim rule in Kashmir — who?

Shah Mir (1339 CE)

Pala founder?

Gopala (750–770 CE)

Gopala established?

Odantapuri (Bihar)

Vikramashila University founded by?

Dharmapala (Pala)

Most glorious Pala ruler?

Dharmapala

Most powerful Pala ruler?

Devapala

Pala empire called by Arab Sulaiman?

Ruhma

Balaputradeva's request to Devapala?

5 villages for monastery at Nalanda

Tripartite Struggle — 3 parties?

Pala + Pratihara + Rashtrakuta

Sena dynasty founder?

Samanta Sena (from Karnataka)

Gita Govinda author?

Jayadeva

Court of Lakshmana Sena · Piyushavarsha attribution requires distinguishing authors named Jayadeva

Sena ruler whose Nadia capital was attacked; successors continued?

Lakshmana Sena

Attacked by Bhakhtiyar Khilji (Early thirteenth century CE (exact chronology varies))

Rajput Agnikula — 4 branches?

Pratihara, Chalukya, Paramara, Chahamana

Gurjara-Pratihara real founder?

Nagabhata I

Mihira Bhoja title?

Adivaraha (Vishnu’s Varaha association)

Solanki capital?

Anahilawada (Gujarat)

Vimal Vasahi at Dilwara — built by?

Vimal Shah (feudal of Bhima I, Solanki; Vimal Vasahi temple)

Somnath temple looted by?

Mahmud Ghaznavi (1025 CE)

Prithviraj Raso — author?

Chand Bardai

First Battle of Tarain (1191) — winner?

Prithviraj Chauhan

Second Battle of Tarain (1192) — winner?

Muhammad Ghori

Battle of Chandawar (1194) — result?

Ghori defeated Jayachandra (Gahadavala)

Which play is engraved at Adhai Din ka Jhonpra?

Harikeli (by Vigraharaja IV)

Raja Bhoja — dynasty?

Paramara (Malwa)

c. 1010–1055 CE

Raja Bhoja's titles?

Navavikramaditya; Navasahasanka belongs to Sindhuraja

Bhojpur town founded by?

Raja Bhoja (Paramara)

Paramara capital?

Ujjain → Dhar

Krityakalpataru — author/patron?

Lakshmidhara, at Govindachandra’s court

Avantipura city — founded by?

Avantivarman (Utpal, Kashmir)

Kaivarta rebellion began under which ruler?

Mahipala II; Ramapala later suppressed it