MPPSC 2021 Prelims Paper-I · Question 100 of 100

Correct — C, Vidyadhar (Vidyadhara). The Chandela king Vidyadhara was ruling Bundelkhand (Jejakabhukti) when Mahmud of Ghazni marched on the Chandela stronghold of Kalinjar in 1019 CE during his invasions of North India. Contemporary and near-contemporary accounts describe Vidyadhara as a powerful ruler who avoided a decisive defeat, making him the Chandela king remembered for standing up to the Ghaznavid invasion.

• (a)Kumarpal — Kumarapala was a 12th-century king of the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty of Gujarat, a noted Jain patron — not a Chandela, and from a later era than Mahmud Ghaznavi's raids.
• (b)Bhim II — Bhima II was also a Chaulukya (Solanki) king of Gujarat, who later faced Muhammad of Ghor's forces — a different dynasty, different invader, and a later period.
• (d)Arunoraja — Arnoraja was a Chahamana (Chauhan) king of Sakambhari — not a Chandela, and not the ruler associated with defending Kalinjar.

The Chandela dynasty ruled Bundelkhand (Jejakabhukti) from a base around Khajuraho, Mahoba, and Kalinjar, and are best remembered for the Khajuraho temple complex. During Mahmud of Ghazni's raids into North India in the early 11th century, the Chandela king Vidyadhara was one of the few rulers to mount effective resistance, centred on the formidable hill-fort of Kalinjar.

Exams often list near-contemporary rulers from DIFFERENT dynasties (Chandela, Chaulukya/Solanki, Chahamana/Chauhan) as options, to test whether the student can correctly pair the invader (Mahmud Ghaznavi vs. Muhammad Ghori) with the right dynasty and era. The trap is picking a king from the right general 'medieval resistance' theme but the wrong invader/century.

• Vidyadhara — Chandela king of Jejakabhukti (Bundelkhand), faced Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasion of Kalinjar (1019 CE)
• Chandelas ruled from the Khajuraho/Mahoba/Kalinjar region
• Kalinjar fort was the Chandela stronghold targeted by Mahmud
• Not to be confused with later rulers (Kumarapala, Bhima II — Chaulukyas of Gujarat) who faced Muhammad of Ghor, a different invader roughly a century later

• Confusing Mahmud Ghaznavi (early 11th century) with Muhammad of Ghor (late 12th century) — different invaders, different rival kings
• Picking a Chaulukya/Solanki or Chahamana king because they also fought 'medieval invaders', but from the wrong century

Usually direct ('which king/dynasty faced invader X'), sometimes embedded in a chronology or matching question with other medieval resistances.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Mahmud of Ghazni's 1019 CE invasion of the Chandela fort of Kalinjar was resisted by which king?

  • (a)Vidyadhara
  • (b)Kumarapala
  • (c)Prithviraj Chauhan
  • (d)Jayapala

  Answer(a) Vidyadhara — the Chandela ruler of Jejakabhukti at the time.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Muhammad of Ghor, roughly a century after Mahmud Ghaznavi, primarily clashed with which North Indian dynasties?

  • (a)Chandelas and Palas only
  • (b)Chaulukyas (Solankis) and Chahamanas (Chauhans), among others
  • (c)Mauryas and Guptas
  • (d)Rashtrakutas and Pallavas

  Answer(b) — rulers such as Bhima II (Chaulukya) and Prithviraj III (Chahamana) were among those who confronted Muhammad of Ghor.