Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/381

 THE CHANDELLA DYNASTY 336 connected by marriage, and constantly were in contact whether as friends or as enemies, are conspicuous. The Chandellas, like several other dynasties, first come into notice early in the ninth century, when Nan- nuka Chandella, about 831 A. D., overthrew a Parihar chieftain, and became lord of Jejakabhukti. The Pari- har capital had been at Mau-Sahaniya between Now- gong (Naugaon) and Chhatarpur. The predecessors of the Parihars were Gaharwar Rajas, members of the clan which afterward gave Kanauj the line of kings commonly miscalled Rathors. The Chandella princes were great builders, and beautified their chief towns, Mahoba, Kalinjar, and Khajuraho, with many magnificent temples and lovely lakes, formed by throwing massive dams across the openings between the hills. In this practice of building embankments and constructing lakes the Chandellas were imitators of the Gaharwars, who are credited with the formation of some of the most charming lakes in Bundelkhand. King Dhanga (950-99 A. D.), who lived to an age of more than a hundred years, was the most notable of his family. Some of the grandest temples at Khajuraho are due to his munificence, and he took an active part in the politics of his time. In 978 A. D. he joined the league formed by Jaipal to resist Sabuktigin, and shared with the Rajas of Ajmir and Kanauj in the disastrous defeat which the allies suffered from the invaders at Lamghan on the Kabul River. When Mahmud of Ghazni threatened to overrun