By the 10th Century Muslims had overrun entire Persian civilization, taken over half of the erstwhile Roman empire, reached all the way to the borders of France and raiding Rome itself. Meanwhile in India they never managed to penetrate beyond Sindh. Ever wondered why?
The answer lies in the formidable empire of Rajput Pratīhāras dynasty in Northern India who hold the Jihadis at the border of India for more than 300 years while half of the world was overrun by Arabs.
The Pratīhāra empire, which continued in full glory for nearly a century, was the last great empire in Northern India before the Muslim conquest. The great Rajput king of Pratiharas clan saved India from the Arab aggression. Rajput Pratiharas were called the Gurjara Naresh. The word Gurjar used to denote the geographic area consisted of current day southern Rajasthan and northern Gujarat. The Rajput Pratihara dynasty traced their origin to the Bhagavān Lakshmana of the Ramayana of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
The ascendancy of the Pratihara power began with Nagabhatta I. The greatest achievement of Nagabhatta was his victory against the Arabs. Nagabhata I defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin during the Caliphate campaigns in India. Under Nagabhata II, the Rajput Pratiharas became the most powerful dynasty in northern India. He is best known for rebuilding the Somnath Temple in 815 AD. The temple was destroyed by Arab Armies of Junayad in 725 AD. He was succeeded by his son Ramabhadra, who ruled briefly before being succeeded by his son, Mihira Bhoja. He was a great empire builder. He annexed the territories of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after fighting a series of victorious battles. He assumed the title of Adivaraha and built the Teli Mandir at the Gwalior. Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala I, the Pratihara Empire reached its peak of prosperity and power.
During this period, Imperial Pratīhāras took the title of Maharajadhiraja of Āryāvarta (Great King of Kings of India).
Source :- The Age Of Imperial Kanauj by Dr. K. M. Munshi, Page No. 39
