Kannauj

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This article is about the municipality in Uttar Pradesh, India. For its namesake district, see Kannauj district.
Kannauj
City
Annapurna Temple in Tirwa, Kannauj
Annapurna Temple in Tirwa, Kannauj
Nickname: 
Perfume Capital of India
Kannauj is located in India
Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj is located in Uttar Pradesh
Kannauj
Kannauj
Coordinates: 27°04′N 79°55′E / 27.07°N 79.92°E / 27.07; 79.92Coordinates: 27°04′N 79°55′E / 27.07°N 79.92°E / 27.07; 79.92
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictKannauj
Elevation
139 m (456 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total84,862
Demonym(s)Kannauji, Kannaujwale
Languages
 • OfficialHindi, Urdu
 • RegionalKannauji
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationUP-74
Websitewww.kannauj.nic.in

Kannauj (Hindustani pronunciation: [kənːɔːd͡ʒ]) 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 a corrupted form of the classical name Kanyakubja.[1] It was also known as Mahodaya during the time of Mihira Bhoja.[2] It is situated 123 kilometres west of the state capital, Lucknow.

Kannauj is an ancient city. It is said that the Kanyakubja Brahmins who included Shandilya (teacher of Rishi Bharadwaja) were held one of the three prominent families originally from Kannauj.[3]

In Classical India, it served as the center of imperial Indian dynasties. The earliest of these was the Maukhari dynasty, and later, Emperor Harsha of the Vardhana dynasty.[4] The city later came under the Gahadavala dynasty, and under the rule of Govindachandra, the city reached "unprecedented glory". Kannauj was also the main place of war in the Tripartite struggle between the Gurjara-Pratihara, the Palas and the Rashtrakutas.

However, the "glory of Imperial Kannauj" ended with conquests of the Delhi Sultanate.[5]

Kannauj is famous for distilling of scents. It is known as "India's perfume capital" and is famous for its traditional Kannauj Perfume, a government protected entity,[6]

Kannauj itself has more than 200 perfume distilleries and is a market center for perfume, tobacco and rose water.[6] It has given its name to a distinct dialect of the Hindustani known as Kannauji, which has two different codes or registers.

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

Archaeological discoveries show that Kannauj was inhabited by the Painted Grey Ware and Northern Black Polished Ware cultures,[7] c. 1200-600 BCE and c. 700-200 BCE, respectively. Under the names of Kuśasthala and Kanyakubja, it is mentioned as a well-known town in the Hindu Epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and by the grammarian Patanjali (c. 150 BCE).[8] The early Buddhist literature mentions Kannauj as Kannakujja, and refers to its location on the trade route from Mathura to Varanasi and Rajgir.[9]

Kannauj may have been known to the Greco-Roman civilization under the name of Kanagora or Kanogiza, which appears in Geography by Ptolemy (c. 140 CE), but this identification is not confirmed. It was also visited by the Chinese Buddhist travellers Faxian and Xuanzang in the fifth and seventh centuries CE, respectively.[10]

Coin of the Maukharis of Kannauj under Maharaja Isanavarman, circa 535-553 CE
Coin of Emperor Harsha of the Vardhana dynasty, circa 606–647 CE[11]

Kannauj formed part of the Gupta Empire. During the decline of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century, the Maukhari dynasty of Kannauj - who had served as vassal rulers under the Guptas - took advantage of the weakening of central authority, broke away and established control over large areas of northern India.[12]

Under the Maukharis, Kannauj continued to grow in importance and prosperity. It became the greatest city of Northern India under Emperor Harsha (r. 606 to 647 CE) of the Vardhana dynasty, who conquered it and made it his capital.[13][14] Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited India during the reign of Harsha, and described Kannauj as a large, prosperous city with many Buddhist monasteries.[15] Harsha died with no heir, resulting in a power vacuum until Maharaja Yashovarman seized power as the ruler of Kannauj.[4]

The Kannauj Triangle[edit]

See also: Raja Jasdhaval at Roopkund

Kannauj became a focal point for three powerful dynasties, namely the Gurjara Pratiharas (r. 730-1036 CE), Palas (r. 750-1162 CE) and Rashtrakutas (r. 753-982 CE), between the 8th and 10th centuries. The conflict between the three dynasties has been referred to as the Tripartite struggle by many historians.[16][17]

The Kannauj was the focal point of three empires: the Rashtrakutas of Deccan, the Gurjara Pratiharas of Malwa, and the Palas of Bengal.

There were initial struggles but ultimately the Gurjara Pratiharas succeeded in retaining the city.[16] The Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled Avanti (based at Ujjain), which was bounded to the South by the Rashtrakuta Empire, and the Pala Empire to the East. The Tripartite struggle began with the defeat of Indrayudh at the hands of Gurjara-Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja (r. 780-800 CE).[16] The Pala ruler Dharampala (~770-821 CE) was also keen to establish his authority at Kannauj, giving rise to a struggle between Vatsaraja and Dharmapala, in which Dharmapala was defeated.[18] Taking advantage of the chaos, the Rastrakuta ruler Dhruva Dharavarsha (r. 780–793 CE) surged northwards, defeated Vatsaraja, and took Kannauj for himself, completing the furthest northern expansion by a South Indian ruler.[17][19]

When the Rashtrakuta ruler Dhruva Dharavarsha advanced back to the south, Dharampala was left in control of Kannauj for some time. The struggle between the two northern dynasties of Palas and Gurjara Pratiharas continued: the Pala's vassal Chakrayudha (Dharmapala's nominee for Ujjain) was defeated by the Pratihara Nagabhata II (r. 805–833 CE), and Kannauj was again occupied by the Gurjara Pratiharas. Dharmapala tried to take control of Kannauj but was defeated badly at Moongher by the Gurjara Pratiharas.[16] However, Nagabhata II was in turn soon defeated by the Rashtrakuta Govinda III (r. 793–814 CE), who had initiated a second northern surge. An inscription states that Chakrayudha and Dharmapala invited Govinda III to war against the Gurjara Pratiharas, but Dharmapala and Chakrayudh both submitted to the Govinda III, in order to win his sympathy. After this defeat, Pratihara power degenerated 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 Pala Empire, did not contest this.[16] Thus Gurjara Pratiharas became the greatest power in Northern India after occupying Kannauj (9th century CE).[16]

Medieval times[edit]

Famous Pir-e-Kamil, Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna Al-Naqvi Al-Bokhari was also born in Kannauj in 1493 in the reign of King Sikandar Lodi. He was a descendant of Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari and his father Syed Sadar-ud-din Shah Kabeer Naqvi Al Bukhari was a great saint and was also among the advisors of King Sikandar Lodhi. Shah Jewna migrated to Shah Jeewna (a town named after him) now in Pakistan. Shah Jewna’s colonized towns in Kannauj :- Siray-e-Miran, Bibiyan Jalalpur, Makhdumpur, Lal Pur (associated with the name of Saint Sayyed Jalaluddin Haider Surkh Posh Bukhari or Lal Bukhari). His descendants still present in various parts of India and Pakistan.[20][21][22][23]

Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni captured Kanauj in 1018. Chandradeva founded the Gahadvala dynasty with its capital at Kannauj around 1090. His grandson Govindachandra "raised Kannauj to unprecedented glory." Muhammad Ghori advanced against the city, and in the Battle of Chandwar of 1193 killed Jayachandra.

Alberuni has referred to "Kannoj" as the key geographical point to explain marching distances to other Indian cities.[24] The "glory of Imperial Kannauj" ended with Iltutmish's conquest.[5]:21,32–33

Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at the Battle of Kannauj on 17 May 1540.

Colonial period[edit]

Ruins at Cannouge, an engraving by Thomas Daniell from 1802

During early English rule in India, the city was spelled Cannodge by them.[25] The Nawab Hakim Mehndi Ali Khan has been constantly associated with the development of city of Kannauj by the travellers and writers of the period. A ghat (Mehndighat), a Sarai (for the free stay of travellers and merchants) and various metalled roads were built by the Nawab which also bear his name.

Different spellings that are used to refer to Kannauj, apart from the official Kannauj, are: Cannodge, Kannauj, Kannoj, Kinnouge, Qannauj and Qannawj. The British who visited Kannauj in the later part of 19th century mostly referred to it as Kanauj (notice the single "n"). George Forster spells it Kinnouge. Alexander Cunnigham wrote its spelling as Kanoj.

Geography[edit]

Kannauj is located at 27°04′N 79°55′E / 27.07°N 79.92°E / 27.07; 79.92.[26] It has an average elevation of 139 metres (456 feet).

Demographics[edit]

As of 2001 India census,[27] Kannauj had a population of 71,530. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Kannauj has an average literacy rate of 58%: male literacy is 64%, and female literacy is 52%. In Kannauj, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Colleges[edit]

Medical College[edit]

Government Medical College, Kannauj is a government medical college located in Tirwa of Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is affiliated to King George's Medical University, Lucknow.

Engineering College[edit]

Government Engineering College, Kannauj is a government engineering college located at Kannauj. It is a constituent college of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (formerly Uttar Pradesh Technical University) in Lucknow. The college is situated at Aher, Tirwa.

Transportation[edit]

The city is served by two major railway station Kannauj railway station and Kannauj City railway station. The nearest airport is Kanpur Airport situated about 2 hours drive from the town.

It is situated on GT road(Delhi to Kanpur). It has road transportation Kannauj Depo. under the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation(UPSRTC).

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Rama Shankar Tripathi (1989). History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 2. ISBN 978-81-208-0404-3.
  2. ↑ "Why Gurjara is not Gujjar: A historical perspective". The Times of India. 7 August 2021.
  3. ↑ Upinder Singh (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India. Pearson Education India. p. 575. ISBN 9788131711200.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tripathi, History of Kanauj, p. 192
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sen, S.N., 2013, A Textbook of Medieval Indian History, Delhi: Primus Books, ISBN 9789380607344
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Life: India's perfume capital threatened by scent of modernity". The Taipei Times. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  7. ↑ Dilip K. Chakrabarti (2007), Archaeological geography of the Ganga plain: the upper Ganga (Oudh, Rohilkhand, and the Doab), p.47
  8. ↑ Rama S. Tripathi, History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest (Motilal Banarsidass, 1964), pp.2,15-16
  9. ↑ Moti Chandra (1977), Trade Routes in Ancient India pp.16-18
  10. ↑ Tripathi, History of Kanauj, pp. 17-19
  11. ↑ "CNG: eAuction 329. INDIA, Post-Gupta (Ganges Valley). Vardhanas of Thanesar and Kanauj. Harshavardhana. Circa AD 606-647. AR Drachm (13mm, 2.28 g, 1h)". www.cngcoins.com.
  12. ↑ Tripathi, History of Kanauj, pp. 22-24
  13. ↑ Tripathi, History of Kanauj, p. 147
  14. ↑ James Heitzman, The City in South Asia (Routledge, 2008), p.36
  15. ↑ Heizman, The City in South Asia, pp.36-37
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Pratiyogita Darpan. Upkar Prakashan. p. 9.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 R.C. Majumdar (1994). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 282–285. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.
  18. ↑ Kumar Sundram (2007). Compendium General Knowledge. Upkar Prakashan. p. 195. ISBN 978-81-7482-181-2.
  19. ↑ Pratiyogita Darpan. Upkar Prakashan.
  20. ↑ "Pir-e-Kamil Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna Al-Naqvi Al-Bokhari". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA)". The Nation. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  22. ↑ "Indian Journal Of Archaeology". ijarch.org. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  23. ↑ "Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust". nazariapak.info. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  24. ↑ (India, Vol 1, from p 199 onwards, Translated by Dr Edward C. Sachau, London 1910).
  25. ↑ Mrs. Meer Hassan Ali (1832). "Letter Nineteen". Observations on the Mussalmauns of India.
  26. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Kannauj
  27. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

Further reading[edit]

  • Majumdar, R. C., In Pusalker, A. D., In Majumdar, A. K., & Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,. (1993). The age of imperial Kanauj.
  • Kishori Lal, Munshi, Guldasta e Qannauj (1871)

External links[edit]

Template:Historical places of Rashtrakuta

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