Pratihara Art In India (An Old and Rare Book)

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The Pratiharas were a great power to be reckoned with in North India before the Muslim conquest. "From the days of Jumaid (e. A.D 725) to those of Mahmud Ghazni, the Pratiharas stood as the bulwark of India's defence against the Muslim aggressions." Vatsaraja. Nagabhatta II. Mihira Bhoja and Mahendrapala, the four great rulers of this time held sway over their kingdom for nearly hundred and fifty years, practically without any interruption; this was the zenith of Pratihara power. The eloquent tribute by their arch enemies, the Arabs, speak volumes of their glory and power in North and Central India.

The Pratiharas were great patrons of art and literature; the numerous temples with exquisite sculpture and their innovative style of architecture bear witness to the zeal of their artistic pursuit. Temples at Naresar, Batesar, Amrol. Teli-ka-mandir, etc. are some of the landmarks in the history of Pratihara art and architecture. The creative record of the rulers of this house can be judged by their prolific output of sculpture throughout North and Central India.

The present book is the outcome of an innate urge for an exhaustive study of regional monuments involving field survey of nearly forty temples situated all over the nooks and corners of Central India. Every detail viz., the various components of the temple, decorative motifs, icons etc. have been catalogued and are being studied.

The book has six chapters, the first giving the historical background. The second chapter presents a detailed analysis of the temples bearing in mind the stipulations, textual canons of architecture and incorporates the artistic characteristics of the period.

Iconography of images is dealt in a most exhaustive and comprehensive manner, whether they be Hindu, Buddhist or Jain. A comparative study of minor deities with those housed in the various museums in a unique feature bringing to light some rare specimens.

The study has led to interesting conclusions: (1) that the Pratihara style was perhaps inspired by the later Gupta traditions; (2) though a synthesis of Gupta art is seen in plan, decorative motifs etc. an underlying indigenous Pratihara strain is visible; and (3) apart from religious architecture the Pratriharas engaged themselves in the general well-being of their subjects in the socio-economic field by constructing tanks, baolis, canals, etc.

The book is well illustrated with many line drawings, and photographs besides a map of the period.

Dr. Rahman Ali was born in 1943 in a village Chanakapur, District Gorakhpur (U.P.). He obtained his Post-graduate degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Gorakhpur University in 1965. Later on, he joined Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Poona and obtained his Ph.D. under the guidance of Prof. H.D. Sankalia (Emeritus Professor), in 1972 from Poona University, Poona.

Dr. Ali participated in the scheme of village to village survey sponsored by Uttar Pradesh Government, and he received first prize for his unique discoveries in the field. While his stay at Deccan College Dr. Ali underwent training in archaeological excavations and explorations of Pre- Proto and Historic sites of India under Prof. H.D. Sankalia for a period of about 8 years.

In the capacity of a senior Research Associate at the Deccan College, Poona, he surveyed the Islamic monuments of Maharashtra and Deccan. Later on, Dr. Ali was selected under National Associateship Scheme of University Grants Commission, New Delhi. A monograph on Islamic Art in Vidarbha is likely to appear soon.

The present monograph is an outcome of Dr. Ali's observations in the field which was conducted under the University Grants Commission's Short Term Project Scheme granted to him.

Apart from the study of monuments Dr. Ali has excavated jointly with Prof. R.K. Sharma, R D. University, Jabalpur, a Chalcolithic site of Gilaulikhera (Distt. Morena, M P.). He has also participated the archaeological excavations at Inamgaon (Maharashtra), Bhimbetka, Tumain, Dangawada (Madhya Pradesh) etc.

Dr. Ali has written nearly half-a-dozen books such as the 'Art and Architecture of the Kalacuris, Archaeology of Bhopal Region, Islamic Art in Vidarbha, etc. He has also published more than two dozens of research papers in various reputed journals of the country.

Recently, Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi, has granted him a project to carry on research on the Bhumija Temples of Malwa.

Besides his academic zeal Dr. Ali is associated with different associations of India and at present he is the Reader in School of Studies in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Vikram University, Ujjain.

**Contents and Sample Pages**