Kannauj

Kannauj
—  city  —
Kannauj Location of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh and India
Coordinates
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
District(s)	Kannauj
Population	71,530 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 139 metres (456 ft)

Kannauj (Hindi: कन्नौज, Urdu: کنوج), also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarter 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 womb). Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital of a great Hindu kingdom. 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.

The Kannauj Triangle

The Kanauj Triangle was the focal point of empires - the Rashtrakutas of Deccan, the Gurjara Pratiharas of Malwa, and the Palas of Bengal.

Kannuaj remained a focal point for the three powerful dynasties namely Gurjara Pratiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas during 8th to 10th centuries.the Conflicts between these three dynasties called as Tripartite Struggle by many historians.^[2][3]

There were initial struggles but ultimately Gurjar pratihars succeded to gain hold over Kannauj.^[2]Kannauj had an importance place in Harsha's time as well as Gupta period.The location of kannauj made it focal point of ruling dynasties.As Malva was under the rule of Gurjar pratihars.Southern part of it touched the Rashtrakuta kingdom.Thus Rashtrakutas were also restless to replace Gurjar Pratihars from Kannauj.The tripartite conflict 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 which gave rise to struggle between Vatsaraja and Dharampala but Dharampala of Bengal was defeated by Vatsraja.^[4]Taking advantage of the time, Rastrakuta ruler Dhruva invaded upon Vatsraja and defeated him.^[5][3].

When the Rashtrakuta ruler advanced back to south, Dharampala believed to get hold on kannauj for some time.Gurjar pratihars couldn't bear it and this time Chakrayudh defeated by Nagabhata II and Kannauj again occupied by the Gurjaras.Dharampala tried to keep hold on kanuaj but deafted badly at Moongher by Gurjar pratihars.^[2]However, Nagabhata II soon defteated by Rashtrakuta Govinda III .An inscription tells that Chakrayudh and Dharampala invited Govinda III aginst Gurjar pratihars and later on Dharampala as well as Chakrayudh both submitted to the Govinda III to win sympathy.After this defeat Pratihara power degenaradted for some time.After death of Dharampala, Nagabhata II regained hold over kannuaj and made it capital of Gurjara pratihara Empire.During this period of time Rashtrakutas were facing some internal conflicts and also Palas were no more in to the struggle.^[2]Thus Gurjar pratihars became super power of North India after occupying Kannauj.^[2]

Gahrwar Rajputs and Kannauj

After the dismemberment of the 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 Gahadavala 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 Jaichandra, 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 Prathviraja III. 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 Gohori. Actually Prithiviraj and Jaichandra were maternal brothers. But their maternal uncle (Nana) preferred Prithiviraj and gave his kingdom, Delhi, to him. This was the main cause of contention between them. The story of Swayamvara of his daughter, Sanyogita, is fabricated. It was done to lower the prestige of Jaichandra in Prithwiraj-Raso that was written by his courtier Chandrbardai. Actually, Sanyogita was Prithviraj's maternal niece, and the age difference between them was huge.

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 out of the remains of demolished Hindu temples, is still known to Hindus as "Sita's Kitchen". Brahmins in Orissa, Bengal and Assam trace their origin to a migration southwards from this city in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Geography

Kannauj is located at ^[6]. It has an average elevation of 139 metres (456 feet).

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.

References

External links

• District Kannauj Website.
• History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest By Rama Shankar Tripathi

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.