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The Gurjara Pratihara Empire (Hindi गुर्जर प्रतिहार Gurjara Pratihâra), also known as Gurjar Parihars, formed an Indian dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. At its peak of prosperity and power (c. 836–910), it rivaled the Gupta Empire in the extent of its territory.

Picture: Varaha (the boar-headed Vishnu avatar), on a Pratihara coin. 850-900 CE. British Museum

The Pratiharas are associated with the Gujjars and were granted the status of Agnivanshi Rajputs after they were Indianised by assimilating in Indian culture. In one late inscription the word Gurjar Pratihar has been found to be mentioned, therefore, they are also considered Gurjar Pratiharas. Gurjars were also Scythians therefore the roots were same.

Dr. K. Jamanadas also states that the Pratihara clan of Rajputs descended from the Gurjars, and this "raises a strong presumption that the other Rajput clans also are the descendants from the Gurjaras or the allied foreign immigrants". D. B. Bhandarkar also believed that Pratiharas were a clan of Gujjars. In his book The Glory that was Gujardesh (1943), historian K. M. Munshi stated that the Pratiharas and some other Rajput clans were of Gurjar origin. There was certainly a vast Gurjar empire in Northern India.Therefor, some other historians believe that although some sections of the Pratiharas (eg. the one to which Mathanadeva belonged) were Gurjar by clan. Kannauj was capital of imperial Gurjara Pratiharas.

Vincent Smith believed that the ruling clans of Pratiharas were certainly of Gurjar origin, and stated that there is possibility of other Agnikula Rajput clans being of same origin. The Pratiharas belonged to the same clan that of Gurjaras was proved by the "Rajor inscription". From the phrase "Gurjara Pratiharanvayah" inscribed in the "Rajor inscription". It is known that the Pratiharas belonged to the Gurjara clan. The Rashtrakuta records and the Arabian chronicles also identify the Pariharas with Gurjaras.

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