Kannauj
| Kannauj | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | 27°04′N 79°55′E / 27.07°N 79.92°ECoordinates: 27°04′N 79°55′E / 27.07°N 79.92°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District(s) | Kannauj |
| Population | 71,530 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 139 metres (456 ft) |
| Website | www.kannauj.nic.in |
Kannauj (Hindi: क़न्नौज, Urdu: قنوج), also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja[1] (maiden's hunchback). Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital of Emperor Harshavardhan. It is said that Kanyakubja Brahmin's are originally from Kannauj. Kannauj is known for the distilling of scents and is a market center for tobacco, perfume, and rose water. It has given its name to a distinct dialect of the Hindi language known as Kanauji.
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[edit] The Kannauj Triangle
Kannuaj remained a focal point for the three powerful dynasties, namely the Gurjara Pratiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas, between the 8th and 10th centuries. The conflict between the three dynasties has been referred to as the Tripartite Struggle by many historians.[2][3]
There were initial struggles but ultimately the Gurjar Pratihars succeeded in retaining the city.[2] The Gurjar Pratihars ruled Malwa, which was bounded to the South by the Rashtrakuta Empire, and the Pala dynasty to the East. The Tripartite Struggle began with the defeat of Indrayudh at the hands of Gurjar Pratihar ruler Vatsaraja.[2] Pala ruler Dharampala was also keen to establish his authority at Kannauj, giving rise to a struggle between Vatsaraja and Dharampala. Dharampala was however defeated.[4] Taking advantage of the chaos, the Rastrakuta ruler Dhruva surged northwards, defeated Vatsaraja, and took Kannauj for himself, completing the furthest northern expansion by a South Indian ruler.[3][5]
When the Rashtrakuta ruler advanced back to south, Dharampala was left in control of Kannauj for some time. The struggle between the two northern dynasties continued: the Pala Chakrayudh was defeated by the Pratihara Nagabhata II, and Kannauj was again occupied by the Gurjar Pratihars. Dharampala tried to take control of Kannauj but was defeated badly at Moongher by the Gurjar Pratihars.[2] However, Nagabhata II was in turn soon defeated by the Rashtrakuta Govinda III, who had initiated a second northern surge. An inscription states that Chakrayudh and Dharampala invited Govinda III to war against the Gurjar Pratihars, but Dharampala and Chakrayudh both submitted to the Govinda III, in order to win his sympathy. After this defeat Pratihara power degenarated for some time. After the death of Dharampala, Nagabhata II regained hold over Kannuaj and made it the capital of the Gurjara Pratihara Empire. During this period the Rashtrakutas were facing some internal conflicts, and so they, as well as the Palas, did not contest this.[2] Thus Gurjar Pratihars became the greatest power in Northern India after occupying Kannauj.[2]
[edit] Gahrwar Rajputs and Kannauj
After the dismemberment of the Gurjara Pratihara Empire, there were repeated incursions in this region. When the "earth" was thus badly disturbed by political upheavals and destructive raids, a bold adventurer of the Gahadvala sept named Chandradeva, arose into this region and by his "noble prowess" put an end to "all distress of the people". The rule of Gahadavala dynasty over the district is incontestably proved by the discovery at Kudarkot of a copper plate grant dated in the reign of Chandradeva. Chandradova founded the Gahadavala dynasty at Kanyakubja after defeating a chief named Gopala. His jurisdiction extended almost over the whole of the present Uttar Pradesh including this district. Chandradeva was succeeded by Madanpala. However, he ruled for a very short period. Madanapala was succeeded by hit son Govindachandra. Two copper plate grants of Govindachandra, dated respectively Samvat 1161, or A. D. 1104, and Samvat 1174 or 1117 A. D. have been found in village Bisahi, two miles north-east of tahsil Bidhuna of the district. Another copper plate grant of this king dated Samvat 1166 or A. D. 1109 has been found at Rahan in the district. Govindachandra seems to have wielded substantial power in the state while he was only a "juvaraja" or crown prince. He defeated the invading bands of Muslims sometimes before 1109 A. D., for the Rahan plate records that he "again and again by the play of his matchless fighting" compelled the Hammira (i e. Amir) to "lay aside his enmity". The Rahan plate further described Govindachandra as "terrific" in cleaving the frontal gloves of arrays of irresistible mighty large elephants from Gauda", which shows that Govindachandra must have made some encroachments in Magadha. In short, Govindachandra made himself a considerable power and under him the glories of this region revised.
Govindachandra was succeeded by his son Vijayachandra sometime in 1155 A. D. Like his father, Vijayachandra also successfully faced Muslim aggressions. By the very beginning of the reign of Vijayachandra an unmistakable symptom of decline of the Gahadavala power manifested itself in the loss of Delhi. The full significance of this loss was realised when, about a generation later, the Muslims attacked Delhi region and occupied it, rendering the Gahadavala frontier practically defenceless. Vijayachandra was succeeded by his son Jaichandra in 1170 A. D. He may be described as the last great king of the Gahadavala dynasty, whose power and extensive jurisdiction struck even Muslim historians. During the reign of Jaichand of Kannauj, the Chauhans, who starting from their territories in Ajmer had annexed Delhi and were at this time bidding for supremacy in the North under the vigorous rule of Prithviraj Chauhan. Towards the south there were the Chandellas whose power at this time was at its height. Apart from this, there were repeated Muslim invasions in North-western India which had already threatened the unity of India The most important event of his region was the celebration of the Swayamvara of his daughter Sanyogita, who was however, carried away by force, in the midst of the ceremonies by Prithviraja. Perhaps, this was the cause which sowed the seed of enemity between these two northern monarrmes. Though there is no reliable evidence of conflict between these two kings, it is quite probable that they were positively hostile to each other; lack of sympathy between these two kings is shown by their mutual non-cooperation on the eve of the final conquest of India by the Muslims, led by Mohammad Ghori.
[edit] Monuments
The size and scale of the ancient town can be gauged from the fact that existing ruins extend over the lands of five villages, occupying a semicircle fully 4 miles in diameter. While no historic Hindu structures remain intact, the "great mosque", constructed by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur in 1406 still remains. Some Brahmins in Assam, Bengal, Bihar and Orissa trace their origin as Kanyakubja Brahmins to a migration eastwards from this city in the 9th and 10th centuries. There are also eight to nine sacred temples of Hindu goddess.These include the seven temples of seven sisters,the Singhavahini temple and the Kalika Devi temple. Gauri Shanker Mandir, dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort,Gauri, is the greatest of all temples. Its name is recorded in the holy Ramayana and later on followed in the records of the tour of Xuanzang.
[edit] Geography
Kannauj is located at 27°04′N 79°55′E / 27.07°N 79.92°E.[6] It has an average elevation of 139 metres (456 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[7] Kannauj had a population of 71,530. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Kannauj has an average literacy rate of 58%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 64%, and female literacy is 52%. In Kannauj, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ Rama Shankar Tripathi (1989). History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 2. ISBN 978-81-208-0404-3, ISBN 978-81-208-0404-3. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=2Tnh2QjGhMQC&pg=PA2&dq.
- ^ a b c d e f Pratiyogita Darpan. Upkar Prakashan. p. 9. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=K7ZZzk8cXh8C&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq.
- ^ a b R.C. Majumdar (1994). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. pp. 282–285. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4, ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=XNxiN5tzKOgC&pg=PA282&dq.
- ^ Kumar Sundram (2007). Compendium General Knowledge. Upkar Prakashan. p. 195. ISBN 978-81-7482-181-2, ISBN 978-81-7482-181-2. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=7XliTyOXI5kC&pg=PA195&dq.
- ^ Pratiyogita Darpan. Upkar Prakashan. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=K7ZZzk8cXh8C&pg=PA7&dq=.
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kannauj
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
[edit] External links
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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