The Pratihar/parihar Kshatriya Rajputs and their kingdom

The Pratihar/Parihar Dynasty, also known as the Pratihara Empire, was an Indian imperial power that ruled much of Northern India from the mid-7th to the 11th century. It is named after its ruling dynasty, whose rulers were members of kshatriya Rajput clans; and were followers of Hinduism. They ruled first at Mandore and later at Kannauj.

The Pratiharas were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River. Nagabhatt Pratihar defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin in the Battle of Rajasthan. Under Nagabhata II, the Pratiharas became the most powerful dynasty in northern India. Nagabhata II was succeeded by his son Ramabhadra, who ruled briefly, and was succeeded by his son Mihira Bhoja Pratihar. Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala I, the Pratihara Empire reached its peak of prosperity and power. The extent of its territory rivaled that of the Gupta Empire, by the time of Mahendrapala, the empire reached west to the border of Sindh, east to Bengal, north to the Himalayas, and south past the Narmada. The expansion once again triggered the power struggle for the control of the Indian Subcontinent, known as the Tripartite Struggle, with the Rashtrakuta Empire and Pala Empire. During this period, Imperial Pratihara took the title Maharajadhiraja of Āryāvarta (Great King of Kings of Northern India).

Pratihara are known for their sculptures, carved panels and open pavilion style temples. The greatest development of Pratihara style of temple building took place at Khajuraho (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)

The power of the Pratiharas was weakened by dynastic strife. It was further diminished as a result of a great raid from the Deccan, led by the Rashtrakuta ruler Indra III, who about 916 sacked Kannauj. Under a succession of rather obscure rulers, the Pratiharas never regained their former influence. Their feudatories became more and more powerful, one by one throwing off their allegiance until by the end of the 10th century the Pratiharas controlled little more than the Gangetic Doab. Their last important king, Rajyapala, was driven from Kannauj by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018.

Pratihara / Pratihar / Parihar Rulers of india
Jai ma chamunda
Jai kshatra Dharm