Nagabhata I
Topic: Early Medieval North India: Harsha to the Rajputs · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 3 "Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries"
Meaning
Nagabhata I (mid-8th century) is seen as the founder of Gurjara-Pratihara power. The Pratiharas first ruled from Bhillamala (Bhinmal) and later from Ujjayini. He is famous for stopping the Arabs after they conquered Sindh and tried to move into Rajputana and Malwa. Because of this, the Pratiharas gained a lasting name as defenders of India's western frontier.
Example
A Gwalior inscription says Nagabhata I "crushed the large army of the powerful Mlechchha king". Mlechchha means "foreigner", and here it refers to the Arab rulers of Sindh.
Don't confuse with
- Nagabhata II: a later Pratihara king (early 9th century) who took Kannauj. Nagabhata I did not rule from Kannauj.
Related concepts
- Tripartite struggle
- Matsyanyaya
- Gopala
- Pala dynasty
- Dharmapala
- Devapala
- Vikramashila
- Odantapuri
- Somapura Mahavihara
- Atisha Dipankara