tripartite struggle - ramakrishna mission...

Tripartite Struggle(Pala, Pratihara and Rashtrakutas)(Pala, Pratihara and Rashtrakutas)

Prepared by Gautam Mukhopadhyay,

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur

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Importance of Kanauj

Kanauj, situated in the Farrukhabad district

of Uttar Pradesh



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Importance

• The importance of that city in ancient times

was probably due to its strategic advantages.

• The city stood on a cliff on the right bank of

the Gangesthe Ganges

• This part was actually then the highway of

commerce and communication

• Kanauj – a convenient centre for river traffic in

the upper Doab



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Observation by Alexander Cunningham

• Reference – “Ancient Geography of India”,

• The situation is a commanding one, and before • The situation is a commanding one, and before

the use of the cannon the height alone must

have made Kanauj a strong and important

position.



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R.S. Tripathi’s view

• Reference – “History of Kanauj”

• Kanauj was the witness of the rise and fall of

mighty empires, the appearance and

disappearance of successive dynastiesdisappearance of successive dynasties

• Although this fascinating panorama of events

chiefly unfolds itself during the centuries that

intervene between the decline of the Guptas

and the Muslim conquest.



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With the passing away of Yasovarmanand Lolitaditya, no great power or politicalpersonality arose in Northern India and fornearly half a century it offered a mosttempting field to every ambitious politicaladventurer. In that context in the eighthtempting field to every ambitious politicaladventurer. In that context in the eighthcentury the main political powers like thePalas of Bengal, the Rashtrakutas of Southand the Gurjara Pratiharas of the Westinvolved into a conflict.



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The Rashtrakutas

The Rashtrakutas had wrested the political

power from the Chalukyas, and established

themselves as the ruling dynasty in 753 A.D.

Two powerful rulers of this dynasty DhruvaTwo powerful rulers of this dynasty Dhruva

and his son Govinda III sent strong military

expeditions to extent their powers in Northern

India, and brilliant, though temporary

successes attended their efforts.



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The Pratiharas and the Palas• Their chief adversaries in the North were the

Pratiharas.

• On the other hand, in Bengal Gopala wassucceeded by his son, Dharmapala, who ruled forabout 40 years. He was a man of dynamicpersonality and really achieved a lot in hislifetime. As the work of consolidation in Bengallifetime. As the work of consolidation in Bengalhad already been done by his father, Gopala,Dharmapala found himself in a position toundertake foreign expedition.

• Shortly after the accession to the throne,Dharmapala was involved in a tripartite strugglebetween the three chief ruling powers of India.



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Problem of discussion about

the Struggle(R.C. Majumdar’s view)

• Reference – “History of Bengal, Vol. I”

• It is difficult to follow the exact course of • It is difficult to follow the exact course of

this struggle in strict chronological order, as

the few isolated facts, known to us from the

inscriptions of the three dynasties, are

capable of different interpretations.



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View of D.C. Sircar

• Reference – “Kanyakubja-Gauda Struggle”

• It was actually a quadruple struggle.

• Ayudha dynasty of Kanauj was one of the

important powers of contemporary India.important powers of contemporary India.

• Sircar shows that Indrayudha of Kanauj was a

powerful king.



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Sources1. Pala inscriptions

Copper plate inscriptions:

• Khalimpur

• Munger

•• Bhagalpur

• Jagajjivanpura

Pillar inscription:

• Badal prasasti (an eulogistic inscription)



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2. Pratihara inscriptions

• Daulatpur

• Barā

3. Rashtrakuta inscriptions

• Sanjān

• Sirpur• Sirpur

Literary source

• Ramacharita by Sandhyakar Nandi



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The Struggle

(Phase – I)

• The fight between the Palas and the Pratiharas

was the natural consequence of the imperial

design of both these powers.

• Dharmapala inherited a consolidated and• Dharmapala inherited a consolidated and

powerful kingdom and began to expand his

dominions towards the West, where the

political situation was admirably suited to his

ambition.



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• Vatsaraja, the king of the Pratiharas, also felled

the same urge of imperial ambitions and utilizes

the same opportunity by pushing his conquest

towards the North and East.

• In the light of subsequent events, one might safely

conclude that the possession of the imperial cityconclude that the possession of the imperial city

of Kanauj was the common objective of both, and

the contending parties probably came into clash

somewhere in the Doab.

• Vatsaraja defeated Dharmapala in a battle

somewhere in the Gangetic Doab.



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Rashtrakuta intervention

• Intervention of the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva

• He inflicted a disastrous defeat upon Vatsaraja.

• After defeating him, Dhruva evidentlymarched through his dominions right up to themarched through his dominions right up to theDoab.

• Here he met Dharmapala and defeated him.

• Dhruva was too far away from his base tofollow up his victory and there were probablyother causes to induce him to turn back.



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Result(a favourable situation for the Palas)

• It is rightly contended by R. C. Majumdar thatDharmapala had gained more than he had lost.

• While the Pratihara dynasty lost heavily, Dharmapaladid not lose much.

• The Rashtrakutas not only crushed the Pratiharas who• The Rashtrakutas not only crushed the Pratiharas whowere the rivals of the Palas but also offered a goldenopportunity to the Palas to add to their strength by theirquick withdrawal from Northern India.

• Dharmapala took full advantage of the situation and bya series of victorious campaigns, made himself the lordof practically the whole of Northern India.



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(Phase – II)

• In the second chance Dharmapala defeated Indraraja

or Indrayudha, the ruler of Kanauj, deposed him and

in his place put Chakrayudha on the throne of Kanauj.

• We get the information about the victory from• We get the information about the victory from

Bhagalpur inscription, Munger inscription and

Jagajjivanpura copper inscription.



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The Royal durbar at Kanauj(Description from Khalimpur inscription)

• After this victory, Dharmapala held a Durbar at

Kanauj.

• This Durbar was attended by a large number of

vassal chiefs and the names of the rulers of Bhoja,vassal chiefs and the names of the rulers of Bhoja,

Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Yadu, Avanti, Gandhar and

Kira are mentioned in this connection.

• We are told that these chiefs not only approved of

the action of Dharmapala but also “bowed down

respectfully with their diadems trembling”.



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Geographical situation of these powers

• Gandhara represents the Western Punjab andlower Kabul Valley.

• Madra was in Central Punjab.

• Kira, Kuru and Matsya represented Kangra,Thaneswar and Jaipur regions respectively.

• Avanti represents the whole or a part of Malava.• Avanti represents the whole or a part of Malava.

• Yavana represented some Muslim territory in theSindhu Valley.

• The Yadu or Yadava had settlements inSimhapura, Mathura and Dwarka.

• Probably Berar or a part of it was ruled by Bhojas.Prepared by Gautam Mukhopadhyay,


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Significance of this victory

• It cannot be contended that these states wereannexed by Dharmapala.

• It only means this that they accepted hissuzerainty and were left undisturbed in theirinternal affairs as long as they paid homage andfulfilled the other conditions.fulfilled the other conditions.

• Dharmapala became the paramount lord innorthern India and no wonder he is calledUttarapathasvamin or lord of Northern India.

• But it was temporary; Dharmapala had to meetanother challenge



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(Phase – III)

• Nagabhatta II, the Pratihara ruler, conquered

Kanauj and drove away its ruler, Chakrayudha.

• As Chakrayudha was a protégé of Dharmapala, a

war between Nagabhatta II and Dharmapala

became inevitable.

• A pitched battle was fought probably near Munger

in which Ngabhatta defeated Dharmapala.

• Nagabhatta II was not destined to enjoy the fruits

of his victory for a long time. He was himself

defeated by Govinda III, the Rashtrakuta ruler.



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Significance

• Soon after this victory, Govinda III left for the

Deccan and thus Northern India became a free

field for the military ambitions of Dharmapala.

• The success of Nagabhatta II was merely a• The success of Nagabhatta II was merely a

passing phase and Dharmapala remained a

mighty king till the end of his life.



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Devapala

Source

• Badal inscription

• Composed by Darbhapani and Kedar Mishra



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Description of Badal inscription

• Devapala got tributes from the rulers of the wholeof Northern India from the Himalaya to theVindhyas and from the Eastern to Western ocean.

• His campaigns took him to Kamboja in the Westand the Vindhyas in the South.and the Vindhyas in the South.

• Exterminated the Utkalas

• Conquered Pragjyotisha

• Curbed the pride of the Hunas

• Humbled the rulers of the Gurjaras and Dravidas



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Opinion of Abdul Momin Chowdhuri

• Reference – Dynastic History of Bengal

• The description of Badal inscription is actuallyrelated and similar to a traditional idea of Indianempire and an idea of ‘uttarapathasvamin’.

But it is also true that Huna kingdom,But it is also true that Huna kingdom,Pragjyotisha, Kamboja, Utkala were situated inthe boarder area of the empire formed byDharmapala. So devapala could try to conquerthose regions. He himself stated about Kambojaand Vindhya expeditions in one of his copperplate inscriptions.



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• We are told that as soon as the armies of Devapala under Jayapala reached near, the king of Pragjyotisha made surrender without fighting against the invader.

• Likewise, the king of Utkala left his capital and ran away.

• Some scholars argue that the Utkalas were • Some scholars argue that the Utkalas were defeated by a combined force of Kamarupa and Gauda.

• The Hunas had many principalities and one of them was in Uttarapatha near the Himalayas. That was conquered by Devapala.



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• From there, Devapala proceeded to the Kamboja territory.

• But according to Abdul Momin Chowdhury, if we remember about the Shahi rulers of Punjab, then we can say that it is impossible for Devapala to conquer Kamboja region.

• The kingdom of Ramabhadra, the Pratihara king who was son of Nagabhatta II, was invaded by Devapala and he was defeated.

• King Bhoja also was defeated by Devapala. But in the Gwalior inscription it is stated that Devapala was defeated Gwalior inscription it is stated that Devapala was defeated by Bhoja.

• Chowdhury argued that in the initial stage Devapala was defeated but later Bhoja was defeated by Devapala.

• Devapala had to fight against three generations of the Pratihara rulers and in spite of difficulties, he was able to maintain his supremacy in Northern India.



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• In general it is said that the Dravidas stated in Badalinscription were actually the Rashtrakutas.

• It is also said in Munger copper inscription that the territory of Devapala was extended up to Rameswar.

• But in an inscription of Rashtrakuta king Amoghvarshait is stated that the Rashtrakuta king conquered Bengal. But it is difficult to accept that Devapala was defeated by the Rashtrakutas.

• R.C. Majumdar argued that the ‘Dravidanath’ stated • R.C. Majumdar argued that the ‘Dravidanath’ stated there, was actually Pandya king Srimar Sriballava. But Niharranjan Ray opposed him.

• This he probably did in alliance with all those sates who regarded the Rashtrakutas as their common enemy.

• It is actually difficult to reach in a decision about that matter.



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Devapala – patron of Buddhism• Devapala was a great patron of Buddhism.

• He gave 5 villages for “various comforts” of the

Bhikshus as well as for writing the

“Dharmaratnas” and for the upkeep of a Buddhist

monastery built there by Balaputrdeva, king of

Suvarnadvipa or Sumatra or Yavabhumi or Java. Suvarnadvipa or Sumatra or Yavabhumi or Java.

• Devapala constructed many temples like

Traikutak temple and monasteries like Sompur.

Art and architecture received a fresh impetus.

• Nalanda continued to flourish as the chief seat of

Buddhist learning.



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Evaluation of Devapala

• Sometime after 860 A.D., the Rashtrakutas defeated the Palas.

• The Pratiharas took advantage of this and extended their power to the

East.

• The Palas lost Magadha or South Bihar. For some time, even North

Bengal came into the hands of Pratiharas.

• The subordinate chiefs under the Palas revolted. The Sailodbhavas

established themselves in Orissa.established themselves in Orissa.

• So it can be said that Devapala became successful as a conqueror but

he failed to consolidate his empire and as result of that the empire

started to be declined after his death.

• Contemporary feudal nature and decentralizing factors were also

responsible for the decline of the empire.

• But yet we can agree with R.C. Majumdar’s view that the reigns of

Dharmapala and Devapala constitute the most brilliant chapter in the

history of Bengal.Prepared by Gautam Mukhopadhyay,


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Tripartite Struggle after Devapala

• Devapala was succeeded by Vigrahapala.

• Some scholars regard him as his nephew and other regard him as his son. He ruled for about 3 or 4 years.

• After that, he abdicated and began to live the life of an ascetic.

• Vigrahapala was succeeded by Narayanapala. He ruled for more than half a century.

• He was a man of pacific and religious disposition. Sometime after 860 A.D., the Rashtrakutas defeated the Palas.A.D., the Rashtrakutas defeated the Palas.

• The Pratiharas took advantage of this and extended their power to the East.

• The Palas lost Magadha or South Bihar. For some time, even North Bengal came into the hands of Pratiharas.

• The success of Pratiharas weakened all the more the Palas. The subordinate chiefs under the pals revolted. King Harjara of Assam took up imperial titles.

• The Sailodbhavas established themselves in Orissa.

• It is stated that for a time the rule of Narayanapala was confined to a part of Bengal alone.



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• However, he is stated to have recovered North

Bengal and South Bihar from the Pratiharas

about the year 908 A.D. this was done after

the defeat of the Pratiharas by the

Rashtrakutas under their king Krishna II.

• It is also possible that Narayanapala was

defeated by Krishna II.

• Before his death in about 908 A.D.,

Narayanapala was able to establish his

supremacy in Bengal and Bihar.



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Analysis• After that all the three powers became weak and then

declined. We can see some features of the tripartite

struggle.

• All the powers were not local and they fought against

each other to establish supremacy over Kanauj.

• Finally the Pratiharas became partly successful. But

after the long term war all the powers lost their after the long term war all the powers lost their

potentiality to survive.

• So there was no final result. But the political and

economic significance of tripartite struggle was very

important.

• For the continuous war they had to maintain big army

and so that the tax was very high. We can easily trace

some rebellions against the rulers.Prepared by Gautam Mukhopadhyay,


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• Some scholars like R.S. Sharma identified the Kaibartya

rebellions during the Pala period as a peasant revolt.

• All the contemporary powers became dependable on

the samantas that was their weakness.

• After sometime the samanta kings became powerful

and caused the downfall of the big powers.

• On the other hand the unnecessary war weakened the • On the other hand the unnecessary war weakened the

dynasties so that in North India we do not see any

powerful empire in the later period.

• At the time of Muslim invasion North Indian powers

became unable to protect themselves.

• So in conclusion we can say that tripartite struggle was

a war without gain for the powers.



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