294

History o Ancient indio pnastes

of,South India

Tughluq and Muhammad bin-Tughluq decided to be more 295

Sultanate.aggressivthee They
passingthrough a great crisis, While the civil war
conquered them and made them a part of the Delhi Thus,
Indian dynasties met with the same fate as their counterparts in the
M2s
ephey, had disruptedand divided the between the
souh ki ngdom internally, it was alsouncle and the
existence North. Theyof
attacks of the neighbouring
succumbed to the invasions of the Muslims and lost their rulers, Appayika and
Govinda. Butendangered
the
tr cqualto the occasion. He
course, it happened when the Muslims had completed
conquest of the North. consolidationthough,
of
their
nrOved
sabyigatedthe disaffected befri
subordinates. e nded
After Govi nda, defeat ed AppayiPulkaakesiandn
Pulakesinpursued policy of conquest,
a
to
consolidating position at home.
his
the Chalukyas. He extended the territories of his kingdoms
1. THE CHALUKYAS brought glory
and
Konkanand forced the
Gangas
of
defeated the Kadambas, the Maury as of
his suzerainty. Mysore, the Latas, the Malavas
and the
The foundation of the imperial dynasty of the Chalukyas was Gurjaras to accept He attacked
Kalinga, occupied its capital
Chalukyas of Badami or Vatapi (District Bijapur). They are also knownlaid by the Pishtapura and handed over its rule to his brother,
western Chalukyas. There were other branches also of the as early aterwards, established the independent kingdom of Vishnu Vardhana who
that of the castern Chalukyas who established an independentChalukyas. One
the Eastern Chalukyas.
However, his greatest success was against emperor Harsha
or Pishtapura in the first half of the seventh century A.D., kingdom at Vengi Vardhan of
Harsha, probably, was defeated by Pulakesin and therefore, his advanceKannau).
another was that o
the Chalukyas of Vemulavada whowere the feudatories of the
Rashtrakutae a the South was checked. Pulakesin also fought against the Pallavas ofthe fartowards
South
yet another was that of the later Western Chalukyas of Kalyani who ovenhr hich resulted in hereditary enmity between the Pallavas and the
the Rashtrakutas in the second half of the tenth century Chalukyas
A.D. and established once Dalakesin attacked the territories of Pallava king Mahendra Varman I. defeated
more the lost glory of the Chalukyas. him and occupied part of his northern territories. He befriended the Cholas, the
Pandyas and the Keralas so that they might be helpful to him against the Pallavas
1. The Chalukyas of Badami But the Pallavas took their revenge under the leadership of Narasinha Varman
The Chalukyas of Badami ruled over
Mt Vindhya and the river Krishna whichDakshinapatha (the territories between I, the successor of Mahendra Varman. Narasinha Varman I repeatedly attacked
included Maharashtra in the west and the kingdom of the Chalukyas, defeated them and even occupied their capital
the territories of Telugu speaking people in the east) from the middle of the eighth Badami. Pulakesin was killed in one of these battles against the Pallavas near
century. They ruled it for nearly the next two hundred years. about 642 A.D. Of course, Pulakesin ended his life with defeat against the
described the Chalukyas as of foreign origin and related them to theDr V.A. Smith Pallavas. yet he has bcen regarded as the greatest king of the Chalukyas. Even
modern historians neither accept the Gurjaras. But
origin. According to Dr D.C. Ganguly,Gurjaras
the
nor the Chalukyas as of foreign his death couldnot put an end tothe glory of the Chalukyas which was brought
about by him. The Chalukyas continued their fight against the Pallavas and
indigenous Kanarese family that claimed theChalukyas
status
of Badami represented an
of Kshatriyas. It appears that Tevived the glory of their dynasty after Pulakesin.
Chalukyas,the name of the dynasty,was derived from that of an VIkramaditya I (655-681 A.D.), When Pulakesin I died. Badami and the
Chalka, Chalika or Chaluka. ancestor, called of the
The first ruler of this dynasty, about UuMern part of the kingdom of the Chalukyas was under occupation Chalukyas
feudatory chiefs of the
Jayasinha. He was followed by his son Ranaraga. whom something is known, was Pallavas. It encouraged the governors and thesuccessors of Pulakesin, probably.
Both flourished in the Badanu assert their independence. The sons and
region of Bijapur district in the first half of the sixth against each other and
first independent ruler of this dynasty century A.D. However, lie Temained Occupied in Suppressingthese revolts or fighting
period of 642-655 A.D.
was Pulakesin king during the
during 535-566 A.D., made Badami his I, son of Ranaraga. he u UbiO name of any Chalukya Pulakesin II, succeeded in these
was succeeded by his son Kirti
the title of Maharaja. He Varman
capital and constructed la fort there.
I(566-67 to 587-98 A.D.) who and.
He
assumed Ultimately, Vikramaditya I, the younger son of turnedthe Pallavas
wars and ascended the throne. He also captured Badami and a worthy son of his
Out of the territories of the Chalukyas. VikramadityaI proved fromthe Pallavas.
defeated the Nalas, the Mauryas
thereby, extended his kingdom. and the Kadambas s of his father
the kingdom on behalf of his After his death, his brother Mangalesa ruleu father..He took revenge for the defeat and disgrace
Varman Il and Paramesvar course.
Varman

Pulakesin II (610 or 611-642son, A.D.).

Pulakesin II. fought
1, against the Pallava nulers Mahendra though, of
their capital Kanchi, his capital but all
claimed the throne for himself which was When Pulakesin II became an adult,Thishe defeated them and once even capturedand recovered not only
led to a civil war resisted by his uncle Mangalesa.
his uncle and between the two in which Pulakesin emerged victoriou, killed
ascended the throne. Pulakesin started his
Parmesvara
hus territories.Idefeated him afterwards
ulers of this dynasty
were Vinayaditya
Vinayadityafought against
rule when his
kingdom After Vikramadity a 1, the important
(733-744 A.D.).
(681-696 Vikramaditya II
A.D) and
Ind

ascendedthe throne. He ruled during 848-892 A.D. and proved

296 History of Ancient Ind..
attacks in the North, while
Sl
as the direction,
of
greatest king the eastern Chalukyas. He undertook wars of
succeeded in all and revived the glory of the
the Pallavas and also made successful in every
defeatedthe Pallavas, the Pandyas, the Gangas, the Kosalas, the
II succeeded in defcating the Pallava king Parmesvar the
Kirti Varman II (743-753 AD) was the last ruler of
Varman

The constant fighting of the Chalukyas against the Pallavas had

ofChalukyas VikramBadaadtya Chalukvas He

lahuris,
the ruler of

ChalukyaBhima
Kalinga and his hereditary enemies, the Rashtrakutas.
I (892-922
Rashtrakuta ruler
AD)succeeded Vijayaditya II. He constantly
Krishna II, was defeated several times but,
strength Kirti Varman could not pay attention to his governors sapped thet
of againstthe
Fught succeeded in turning the Rashtrakutas out of his territories. But, the
provinces Among them, one Rashtrakuta governor
Dantidurga, assenorrtehdernhu,
independence, occupied large portionssof the kingdom of Kirti
gtimatety.
antinuousstruggle
ofthe Chalukyas weaknedthem very much and their empire
the foundation of the empire of the Rashtrakutas. Kirti Varman Varman and laig towards disintegration. Chalukya Bhima I was saceeded by Vijayaditya
the lost part of his kingdom after the death of Dantidurga buttried to nOved Amma I (922-929 AD), and Vijayaditya V, respectively.
Knshna 1. the successor of Dantidurga, snatched away even the recapt Insteuadre
failed. V(922 A.D.),
for fifteen days and was deposed from the throne by
rest of Vijaraditya ruled only Vardhana V. Fromthat time onwards, the rival princes
kingdom from him and, thus, destroyed the empire of the Chalukyas of Badamh, grandsonof Vishnu throne. Tala was
forever Tala,
Chalukyas fought against each other to capture theVwho himself ruled
ofthe just after a month by Vikramaditya throne, could rule
2 The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi deposeddfrom thethrone lI, who deposed him from the
Pulakesin Ihad appointed his brother, Vishnu Vardhana, the r ontyabout 10 months. Bhima out of power by Yuddhamalla II who ruled
was sent
Pishtapura There he declared his independence, established the empire governorof thof for only eight months andthis time, the Rashtrakutas had become very powerful
castern Chalukyas and ruled between By
during 930-935 A.D.Yuddhamalla who ruled for
615-633 A.D. The first capital of the Pradesh. II was deposed by Bhima II,Badapa Tala II,
Eastern Chalukyas was Pishtapura. Then, it was transferred to the ancient cit in Andhra
followed Amma II (946-956
A.D.),
of Vengi and lastly to
Rajamahendri. Vishnu nearly twelve years. Then Choda-Bhima, respectively. Sakti
Varman,
Jayasinha I (633-663 AD.), Indra Varman (663 Vardhana was succeeded hy
A.D.), Vishnu Vardhana I Amma II once more, Danarnava and
in
Choda-Bhima and captured VengiChalukyas
999 A.D. with the
their
Sarvalokasraya (672-696 A.D.), son of Danarnava, killed
after, the lost
(709 AD.), Vishnuvardhana IIIJayasinha II (696-709 A.D.), Kokuli Vikramadita Rajaraja I. Soon conflict
help of the Chola king the feudatory chiefs of the Cholas. Thus, the brought
AD) respectively. By this time, the(709-746 A.D.), and Vijayaditya I (746-764 independence and became princes
fratricidal wars among the royalthe tenth century
the Chalukyas of Badami. Rashtrakutas had destroyed the kingdom of against the Rashtrakutas and the
by the end of
During the reign of Vijayditya I, the the eastern Chalukyas
about the destruction of
destroy the kingdom of the Rashtrakutas
eastern Chalukyas started their attempts to
as well. It led to constant A.D.
between the Rashtrakutas and the fighting
Vijayaditya Iwas succeeded by hisEastern
son, Chalukyas.
Vishnu Vardhana IV who ruled during 3. The Later Chalukyas of Kalyan feudatories ofthe Rashtrakutas. During the
were the revolted, defeated
764-799 AD. In 769 A.D., the Kalyan
The Chalukyasof Karkka I,his Chalukya noble, Taila II,ofthe descendants
nowledge their suzerainty. In 799 Rashtrakutas defeated and
A.D., there ensued a struggleforced him to ack one
reign of Rashtrakuta kingdom ofthe Rashtrakutas. Indra,ancestors
I and his younger with the help
brother, for the throne of the between Govinda occupied the throne of his
Chalukyas supported the causeDhruva, Nim andRashtrakutas.attempted to
recover the Chalukaya
Gangas, but failed. Thus,remnants of
IIRashtrakutas.
of Govinda II but The of the ruler of the
Dhruva When Dhruva captured his Govinda was defeated by Singh, the
of his uncle Mara the rule ofthe later Chalukyas of
Kalyan on the
brother, including the Chalukyas. throne, he decided to punish the allies of his Taila IIestablished
the Chedis
suzerainty of Dhruva. Vijyaditya IIVishnu Vardhana IV was forced to accept e the Rashtrakuta empire. commander. He defeated
and continued to rule up to 847 succeeded Vishnu Vardhana IV in 799 A.D. A.D) was a capable Parmara of Malwa
Taila II(993-997 and Orissa, the Chalukyas of Gujarat,Panchal Pradesh. He
kingdom was snatched away byA.D.hisexcept for a few years in between when ns the rulers of
Kuntala
Cholas. He conquered Lata
and
of
Rashtrakuta kingas Govinda I. Vijayaditya brother, Bhima, with the help of tne and king Uttam of the claimed to be the descendant of the Chalukyas
Rashtrakutas well for continuously JI fought against the Gangas and extended his
kingdom,
more revVIved
their glory.
A.D.) who, too, fought
succeeded too, but, in the end., the twelve years. In the he Badami, and onceof Taila Il was Satyasraya (997-1008
to accept his
suzerainty. Rashtrakuta ruler
Amoghavarshabeginning,
I forced hin The
Successor
Parmara Sindhuraja attacked
his kingdom and recovered the
for Vijayaditya
II was succecded byhis The
son manybattles.
18 to 20 months and
died about 848 A.D.Vishnu Vardhana Vbut he only
Then Vijayaditya IIl, son ruled
of Vishnu
India
298
History of Ancient lndio ofSouth
Masttes
299

territories which were wrested by Taila II from Munja. The first under the Chalukyas of Badami for nearly two hundred
theirlamily, nearlythe same period of time, under the Chalukyas of
IIalso defeated him. But, he defeated the Silaharas of northernKalachuri
Kokal a
lo,

andthen, for
probably, Chalukya Chammundaraja of Gujarat. However, his Konkan and AS,
Thus.the dynasty
ruled over an extensive area of south India for quite
grcatesttosucccss
was against Chola Rajaraja who attacked his kingdom. He was able Kahan
time. It produced many capable rulers both as military commanders and
Rajaraja and forced him to return to his country. Satyasraya was defcaby s administrators
long Many rulers ofthissdynasty fought against the mighty rulers
Vikramaditya V(1008-1014 A.D) and Ayyana Il (1014-1015, succecded
A.D)respectively,
Nothing important could be achieved during their reigns. Then,
d
the
dfboth
southand north India and succeeded many times.
Parameswara,
They assumed high
Paramabhattaraka, etc., and governed their empire
Chalukyas atJayasi nha l|
ascended the throne in 1015 A.D. The Cholas and the like
uidles played animportant part in the politics of south
India
this dynasty
conquer the kingdom of the Chalukyas uring his time. Kalachuri tempted to uell.Thus,
Paramara Bhoja and Rajendra Chola formed a confederacy
simultaneous attacks on the Chalukya kingdom. But Jayasinha IIandsuccessfl
launchedGangayadeva, The
time.
a long
forquiteChalukyas also helped
Chalukyas was
in the progress of south
Indian culture. The
economically prosperous andit had several
big
repulsed their attackS and kept intact the territories of his kingdom. kingdom of the external trade even with
the centres of internal and
Javasinha was succeeded by his son SomesvaraIwho ruled during 1043 ies and ports which were Chalukyasutilised this prosperity for
the
1068 AD. Somesvara Iconquered Konkan and
attacked Gujarat, south Kosala ountries outside India. Thefine arts.
and Kerala He also fought against the
Kalachuri development of literature and Hinduism. The Chalukyas performed
enemy was Chola Rajadhiraj. Rajadhiraj once ruler Karna. But his greatest
The Chalukyas were the followers of
texts were written or
rites and many religious in honour of Siva
capital, KaByan, but, ultimately, succeeded in conquering even his according to Vedic
temples also
many yajnas
the Cholas repulsed the attacks ofSomesvara killed Rajadhiraj in a battle. But. They constructed many They showed respect to other
I
Somesvara under the leadership of their new compiled during their rule. rulers.
Chalukyas were tolerant Maharashtra and Lerefore, the
king Rajendra II and finally,
succeeded in giving a crushing defeat to Somesvara and Vishnu. But the
Iin 1063 AD. Somesvara Iwas popular faith in south was given
religions. Jainism was a respect. The famous Jain scholar Ravikirti
and Vikramaditya VI (1076-1125succeeded Somesvara II (1068-1076 A.D)
by with Vikramaditya
Chalukyas treated it Vijayaditya and
A.D.)
Cholas continued during their time as well.respectively. The struggle with the in the court of
Pulakesin II.
was certainly on the
acapable commander, fought However, Vikramaditya VI proved ie highest honour villages to Jain scholars. Buddhism tolerance. The Chinese
many battles against his foes and also donated many the Chalukvas treated it with monasteries
kingdom. His empire extended from the extended his
river Narmada in the north ucCline in India but well established
iharas and
allowed
were
in the south He was
succeeded by Somesvara II (1126-1138to Mysore traveller, Hiuen Tsangkingdomfound many
of the Chalukvas. Even the Parsces
interference by others, in the
Jagadekamalla (1138-1151 AD.) and Taila II (1151-1156 A.D.) A.D.), uing his visit to the faith, without any
The kingdom of the Chalukyas was respectively. to settle down and practise this that flourished
primarily ue to internal revolts. Tailadestroved
IIl
during the reign of Taila ll Thana district of Bombay. painting and architecturecaves of Ajanta
the Chalukya Kumarapala and the succeeded in repelling the attacks O1 Among fine arts, primarily,
it was frescoes of thefresco-paintings
Chola Kulottunga IIbut failed tosuppress Some of the these
revolt of the KaB uyas of the under the patronage of
Chalukyas.
Chalukyas. One of court of
Telingana. Taila !!I was imprisoned by the
though, afterwa ts. released reign ofthe ambassador of Persia at the
from the prison. But the Kakatiyas, Were prepared during the
to the during the
temples constructed werebuilt under
rule
prestige of the Chal kyas and
In 1156 A.D. the fev tatory encouraged other feudatory incident
chiefs
destroyed he
to rise in revOt
exhibits the scene of welcome architecture. the temples
Pulakesin II. In the field ofthe progress oftheart. Manyofthistemple architecture
chief, Bijala of the Kalachuri dynasty
capturing the kingiom of the Chalukyas feature
after the death of Taila II.succeeded of the Chalukyas helped in
Chalukyas. One
important Many cave-temples
successors ruled over the He and hS the patronage ofthealltemples werecarvedout of mountains. found at
have been Badami
of the Chalukyas wer. Deccan for nearly a quater of a century till the practically
rule,
duringtheir constructed at
once
the success of Somesvara again revived by Somesvara IV. son of Taila IlI. bu
fortune was that were
constructed was
and Chaitya halls, which of Vishnu Prasasti of king
of his kingdom by the lV(1181-1189 A.D) was cave-templein honourMeguti, which has the
He was driven out temple of Vishnu
the last ruler of the Yadava Bhillamain or before temporary.
1189 A.D.
different places. TheThetemple of Siva at
builtin 634 A.D. The II, has been
his feudatory chicfs,Chalukyas, then, passed his life under the Somesvara l king Mangalesh. by Ravikirti, was
byPulakesin inscription of
king Vikramaditya
the Chalukyas.
the Kadamba shclter of one o Il prepared has an temple-architecture of the age of
Jayakesin I||of Goa,. also
at Aihole, which Specimen of in the di_trict of
of Vijayeswara A sister of king
4. The regarded as a fineconstructed the Siva templeSangameswara.
Importance of the Chalukyas King V÷ayaditya the temple of
The Chalukyas now is called
established an extensive empirc in the Deccan. They broug Bijapur which
300 History of Ancient India
Vyzyaditaconstruted a Jaina tenple at Laksharneswara, while the wife of king
Vikramaditya comstruced another ternple in honour of Siva in the Bijapur district
calledthe Lokeswara temple. Now this termple iscalled the ternple of Virapaksya.
Mr Hzvell has praised the ar of this termple very much. Another wife of king
Vikramaditya built the temple of Trilokeswaranear this temple. Al these ternples
hzve been regardet as fine specimens of south Indian architecture.
Tus,the Chalukyas contributednot only to the politics of the DeCcan but also
10 the eonomic and cultural progress of south India.

2. THE RASHTRAKUTAS