Chalukyas of Vemulavada | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7th century–10th century | |||||||||
Capital | Vemulavada | ||||||||
Official languages | Telugu Sanskrit Kannada | ||||||||
Religion | Jainism Hinduism | ||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Established | 7th century | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 10th century | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Today part of | Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra |
The Chalukyas of Vemulavada were an Indian dynasty that ruled in and around the present-day Telangana between 7th and 10th centuries. Their capital was located at Vemulavada, and they were vassals of the Rashtrakutas.
The 966 CE Parabhani copper-plate inscription of king Arikesari III of Vemulavada claims that his dynasty descended from the Chalukyas of solar dynasty. [1] Not much is known about the early rulers of the dynasty. The Kollapur copper-plate inscription attributes several military victories to Vinayaditya alias Yuddhamalla I (not to be confused with the Badami Chalukya king Vinayaditya, also titled Yuddhamalla). These victories amount to the subjugation of almost the entire Indian subcontinent, and therefore, appear to be gross exaggerations. [2] It is possible that Vinayaditya was a feudatory of a powerful king, and participated in this king's military campaigns. This king could have been the Rashtrakuta ruler Dantidurga, who was a contemporary of Vinayaditya. [3]
The dynasty's original capital was at Podana (modern Bodhan), but was later moved to Vemulavada, probably during the reign of Vinayaditya's successor Arikesari I. [4] According to the dynasty's inscription, Arikesari conquered Vengi and Trikalinga; this probably refers to his subjugation of the Vengi Chalukya king Vishnuvardhana IV on the orders of his Rashtrakuta overlord Dhruva Dharavarsha. [5]
Little is known about the next two rulers, Arikesari's son Narasimha I and grandson Yuddhamalla II. Baddega I, the son of Yuddhamalla II, was a distinguished general, and assumed the title Solada-ganda ("the unvanquished hero"). He defeated the Vengi Chalukya king Bhima I. [6] According to the Vemulavada court poets, Baddega's grandson Narasimha II subjugated the Latas, the seven Malavas, and the Gurjara-Pratihara king Mahipala. [7] He achieved these victories in the service of his Rashtrakuta overlord Indra III, in a campaign against the Gurjara-Pratiharas. [8]
Arikesari II, the son of Narasimha II, married two Rashtrakuta princesses, including Lokambika and Revakanirmadi (the daughter of Indra III). His mother Jakavve was probably a sister of Indra III. Several military successes are attributed to him. [9] The noted Kannada poet Pampa was a court poet of Arikesari II. His Vikramarjuna Vijaya is an important source of the dynasty's history. [10]
Arikesari had two sons: Vagaraja and Bhadradeva (alias Baddega-Narasinga; son of Lokambika), who were half-brothers. [11] Vagaraja (r. c. 941-950) and Bhadradeva (r. c. 941-946) appear to have ruled simultaneously for a few years. [12] Vagaraja, who is known to have been ruling in 959 CE, was a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III. He accompanied Krishna III in a military campaign to Melpadi in present-day Chittoor district, and nothing else is known about his reign. [13] Vagaraja probably died without an heir, and was succeeded by Bhadradeva's son Arikesari III, who is attested by the 966 CE Parbhani inscription. [11]
The subsequent history of the dynasty is unknown. It appears to have been overthrown by the Chalukyas of Kalyani by the early 970s CE. [11]
Baddega I commissioned the Baddegesvara temple at Vemulavada, [4] which is identified with the modern Bheemesvara temple. [14] During the reign of Arikesari II, his father Narasimha's officer tantrapala Peddanarya established a temple of the Sun god. [15] His 10th-century inscription alludes to two other temples - Rajesvvara (possibly modern Kedaresvara temple [16] ) and Nagaresvara - which may have been commissioned by the Chalukyas of Vemulavada. [4]
Although the Chalukyas of Vemulavada patronized Shaivism, they also favoured Jainism. Arikesari's Jain court poet Adikavi Pampa composed the Kannada classic Vikramarjuna Vijaya . Pampa's brother Jina-vallabha established a Jain shrine called Tri-bhuvana-tilaka-Jinalaya on the Bommalagutta hillock near Kurikyala village in modern Karimnagar district. Jina-vallabha's wife Bhagiyabbe installed a metal Chatur-vimshati-patta image of Jina, and also established a Basadi (Jain shrine) named after her. [15]
Baddega II commissioned at Jain temple at Repaka, and endowed it with land grants. He also commissioned the Shubha-dhama Jinalaya for the Jain poet Somadeva Suri, who migrated from the Pratihara kingdom to the Chalukya kingdom during his reign. He also granted a village to Somadeva for the maintenance of this shrine. In the year 959, Somadeva composed Yashodhara-charita (or Yashas-tilaka-champu) at Gangadhara in the Chalukya kingdom. [15]
Following is a list of the Vemulavada Chalukya rulers, with estimated periods of their reign: [12]
The following inscriptions of the dynasty have been discovered:
Find spot | Date | Issuer | Language | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kuravagatta, Mahboobnagar district | c. 9th century | Viragriha, son of Vinayaditya | Sanskrit and Kannada | [17] |
Kollipara | c. 9th century | Arikesari I | Sanskrit | [17] |
Vemulavada | Undated | Arikesari II | Sanskrit | [18] |
Kurikyala | Undated | Arikesari II | Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu | [19] |
Karimnagar | 946 CE | Arikesari III | Sanskrit and Kannada | [20] |
Parbhani | 966 CE | Arikesari III | Sanskrit | [21] |
Repaka, Karimnagar district | 968 CE | Arikesari III | Sanskrit and Kannada | [22] |
The Kakatiya dynasty was a Telugu dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region in present-day India between 12th and 14th centuries. Their territory comprised much of the present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka, northern Tamil Nadu, and southern Odisha. Their capital was Orugallu, now known as Warangal.
Lakkundi, also referred to as Lokkugundi, was a major city before the 14th century, and is now a village in Gadag District of Karnataka, India. By 10th century, it was already a major economic and commerce center with mint operations for South India, one mentioned in Kannada and Sanskrit inscriptions and texts. By 12th century, many Hindu and Jain temples had been consecrated here, along with public infrastructure such as stepwells and water reservoirs. Among the major temples are the Brahma Jinalaya (oldest), Mallikarjuna, Lakshminarayana, Manikeshwara, Naganatha, Kumbheshvara, Nanneshwara, Someshwara, Narayana, Nilakanteshwara, Kasivisesvara, Virabhadhara, Virupaksha, and others. As its importance and wealth grew, Lakkundi became one of the capitals of the Hoysala Empire.
Eastern Chalukyas, also known as the Chalukyas of Vengi, were a dynasty that ruled parts of South India between the 7th and 12th centuries. They started out as governors of the Chalukyas of Badami in the Deccan region. Subsequently, they became a sovereign power, and ruled the Vengi region of present-day Andhra Pradesh until c. 1001 CE. They continued ruling the region as feudatories of the Medieval Cholas until 1189 CE.
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This Kannada-speaking dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in the modern Bidar district of Karnataka state, and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical relationship to the 6th-century Chalukya dynasty of Badami. The dynasty is called Western Chalukyas to differentiate from the contemporaneous Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, a separate dynasty. Before the rise of these Chalukyas, the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta controlled most of the Deccan Plateau and Central India for over two centuries. In 973, seeing confusion in the Rashtrakuta empire after a successful invasion of their capital by the ruler of the Paramara dynasty of Malwa, Tailapa II, a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta dynasty ruling from Bijapur region defeated his overlords and made Manyakheta his capital. The dynasty quickly rose to power and grew into an empire under Someshvara I who moved the capital to Kalyani.
Indra III was the grandson of Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna II and son of Chedi princess Lakshmi. He ascended the imperial throne after the early demise of his father Jagattunga. He had many titles such as Nithyavarsha, Rattakandarapa, Rajamarathanda and Kirthinarayana. He patronised Kannada poet and commander Sri-Vijaya and Sanskrit poet Trivikrama. Indra III was married to princess Vijamba of the Kalachuri dynasty of central India (Chedi).
Govinda IV was the younger brother of Amoghavarsha II. He became the Rashtrakuta emperor in 930 as described in the Kalasa record of Chikmagalur. He was a very unpopular ruler who indulged in licentious acts. Control over Kannauj was lost during his rule. The Chalukyas of Vengi defeated him and much territory was lost. Finally, his own vassals including King Arikesari of Vemulavada revolted against him and placed Amoghavarsha III on the throne in 935. This is known from the records of Kannada poet Adikavi Pampa, who was patronised by King Arikesari. Govinda IV patronised Kannada poet Ravinagabhatta.
Pampa, called by the honorific Ādikavi was a Kannada-language Jain poet whose works reflected his philosophical beliefs. He was a court poet of Vemulavada Chalukya king Arikesari II, who was a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna III. Pampa is best known for his epics Vikramārjuna Vijaya or Pampa Bharata, and the Ādi purāṇa, both written in the champu style around c. 939. These works served as the model for all future champu works in Kannada.
Rashtrakuta literature is the body of work created during the rule of the Rastrakutas of Manyakheta, a dynasty that ruled the southern and central parts of the Deccan, India between the 8th and 10th centuries. The period of their rule was an important time in the history of South Indian literature in general and Kannada literature in particular. This era was practically the end of classical Prakrit and Sanskrit writings when a whole wealth of topics were available to be written in Kannada. Some of Kannada's most famous poets graced the courts of the Rashtrakuta kings. Court poets and royalty created eminent works in Kannada and Sanskrit, that spanned such literary forms as prose, poetry, rhetoric, epics and grammar. Famous scholars even wrote on secular subjects such as mathematics. Rashtrakuta inscriptions were also written in expressive and poetic Kannada and Sanskrit, rather than plain documentary prose.
The Kasivisvesvara temple, also referred to as the Kavatalesvara, Kashivishveshvara or Kashi Vishvanatha temple of Lakkundi is located in the Gadag district of Karnataka state, India. It is about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Gadag city, between Hampi and Goa. The Kasivisvesvara temple is one of the best illustrations of fully developed Kalyana Chalukya style of Hindu architecture.
Somadeva Suri was a south Indian Jain monk of the 10th century CE, author of a work known as "Upasakadyayana" "chapter on lay followers (upasakas)", a central work of Digambara shravakacara literature, i.e. instructions and prescriptions for shravakas or Jain lay followers.
Vinayaditya alias Yuddhamalla I, was an Indian ruler from the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty. He was most probably a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga, and his capital was likely located at Podana ; his successors moved the capital to Vemulavada.
Arikesari I was an Indian ruler from the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty. He was a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva Dharavarsha and appears to have helped his overlord subjugate the Vengi Chalukya ruler Vishnuvardhana IV.
Baddega, who assumed the title Solada-gaṇḍa, was an Indian ruler from the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty. He was a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna II, and participated in Krishna's unsuccessful invasions of the Vengi Chalukya kingdom.
Narasimha II was a ruler of the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty of present-day Telangana, India. As a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Indra III, he led an Rashtrakuta army against the Gurjara-Pratihara king Mahipala. According to his dynasty's records, he advanced as far as river Ganga, forcing Mahipala to flee.
Arikesari II was a ruler of the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty of present-day Telangana, India. A Rashtrakuta vassal, he played an important role in dethroning the Rashtrakuta emperor Govinda IV and enthroning Amoghavarsha III as the new emperor. He was the patron of Pampa, one of the earliest notable Kannada-language poets.
Arikesari III was the last known ruler of the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty of present-day Telangana, India. He was a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III.
Bommalagutta is a Jain centre situated near Kurikyala village of Karimnagar district in Telangana. This Jain center is situated 3 km from another famous Jain center Kulpakji.
Gunda III, also known as Gundyana or Gundana, was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. He served the Rashtrakuta king Krishna II, and died during Krishna's invasion of the Vengi Chalukya kingdom. He is the earliest known member of the Kakatiya family to have been in the Telugu-speaking region.
Gunda IV alias Pindi-Gunda was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. As a Rashtrakuta general, he helped the Vengi Chalukya prince Danarnava ascend the throne after a succession dispute. In 973 CE, after the collapse of the Rashtrakuta empire and the murder of Danarnava, he attempted to carve out an independent principality at Kuravi. The Kalyani Chalukyas, who had usurped the power from the Rashtrakutas, probably defeated and killed him, supported by the Mudugonda Chalukyas, the former rulers of Kuravi.
Prola I was a member of the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India. As a Kalyani Chalukya vassal, he participated in prince Vikramaditya VI's campaigns, and consolidated the Kakatiya control over the area around Anumakonda by subjugating local chiefs. He obtained the Anumakonda vishaya and its neighbouring lands as a hereditary fief from the Chalukya king.