Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

THE GANGAS c. 350-999 A.D. Durvinitha 555-605 A.D. He was the first great king in the dynasty and a great scholar. His Gummareddipura rec- ord informs that he had defeated his enemies at Alatur, Poralae, Pernagara and other battles and merged to his kingdom the Heggadeva- nakote Taluk region with Kirtipura. A warrior and creative writer, he translated Vaddakatha of Gunadhya into Sanskrit, wrote a commen- tary on parts of Kiratarjuniya of poet Bharavi; His Nallala plates say that he was expert in music, dance, taming of elephants and Ayur- veda; he was succeeded by his first son, Mushakara in c.605. Chavundaraya : Though only a minister and commander, he has a prominent place in Ganga history; he was the son of Mantri Mabalayya and Kaladevi; he was a Jain disciple of Ajitasena; he was a great scholar and poet, wrote 'Charitrasend in Sanskrit and 'Chavun- daraya Purana' in Kannada language; he had

Overview * The Gangas ruled the region of Ganga- wadi, comprising Kolar, Mysore, Banga- lore and Tumkur districts (350-550 A.D.) * They continued to rule as the subordinates of Badami Chalukyas and Rastrakutas till the close of 10th century A.D. * Inscriptions, Chavundarayapurana, a Kan- nada work, and Lokhavibhaga, a Prakrit work, are the chief sources of information. * Durvinitha (555-605) was the powerful ruler. * World - famous monolithic statue - 'The Gommateshwara' — was engraved at Sravanabelagola (Hassan, Karnataka) in 982-83 A.D. by Chavundaraya, a Ganga minister. Advent The Gangas were the successors of the Ik- shvakus of Andhra; after the decline of Ik- shvakus they founded a new kingdom at Perur and later shifted to Kolar. The first ruler of the dynasty was Konganivarma Madhava (c. 350); taking advantage of the political confusion created by the campaign of Samudragupta he consolidated his power.

also patronised famous Kannada poet Ranna and Gunavarma (Kannada grammarian); He was responsible for the erection of the world famous monolithic statue of Bahubali called 'Gommateshwara', 56 feet high, on Chan- dragiri hill near Sravanabelagola, a Jain centre of Karnataka. Administration * They followed Manudharmashastra, kingship was hereditary; ministers like, Sarvadhikari (Prime Minister), Shri bhan- dari (chief treasurer) and Sandhivigrahi I (foregin minister) existed; the kingdom was divided into Nadus, Vishayas and Kampanas; the village head was gramika; land was the chief source of revenue; vil- lage assemblies were functioning. Both Jain and Vedic religions flourished; Jain Basadis were constructed at Sravana Be- lagola, Kambada halli and other places. * Sanskrit, Prakrit and Kannada languages flourished; Sripurusha wrote 'Gajashas- tra 'in Sanskrit; Shivamara II composed 'GajamataKalpana'm Sanskrit; famous poets and writers like Bharavi, Chavun- daraya, Gunavarma I and Pampa lived during this period. * The important temples of the period are; Kapileshwara temple at Manne, Mahalingeshwara temple at Varuna, Pathaleshwara and Maruleshwara temples at Talakadu; many basadis were also constructed at Belagola; the free standing pillars of Gangas - Mahastambhas and Brahmasthambas are unique sculptures. Decline The Gangas were overthrown by the Cho- las after the capture of Gangavadi in 999 A.D. during the reign of Rachamalla V Rakkasa- ganga.

Chronology * Konganivarma Madhava

(c.350) (c.400) (c.440) (c.465) (c.480)

* Madhava I * Hariverman * Madhava II * Vishnugopa * Madhava III * Avinitha * Durvinitha * Mushkara * Shrivikrama * Bhuvikrama * Shivamara * Shripurusha * Shivamara II * Rachamalla I * Nithimarga * Rachamalla II * Buthugal * Polavira

(c.495)

(555-605)

(c.605) (c.644)

(c.670)

(679)

(726-788) (788-816)

(816) (843) (870) (907)

Gommateshwara - A Jain Saint

* Ercganga Neetimarga II

(907-921) (921-933) (933-938) (938-961) (961-963) (963-975) (975-986) (986-999)

* Narasimha

Monolith - Sravanabelagola - 56 feet height - installed c. 982-83 A.D. wrought in fine- grained white granite, unique for serene, facial expression, curled hairs and graceful looks.

* Rachamalla III

* Butuga II

* Marulaganga Neetimarga

* Narasimha II * Rachamalla IV * Rachamalla V

Neetimarga

(999)

*

* Permanadi