Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India

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LURE - THRU THE AGES

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.

Chronology

* Konganivarma Madhava

(c.350)

* Madhava I

(c.400)

* Hariverman

(c.440)

Madhava II

(c.465)

Vishnugopa

(c.480)

* Madhava III

* Avinitha

(c.495)

Durvinitha

(555-605)

Mushkara

(c.605)

Polavira

(c.644)

Shrivikrama

Bhuvikrama

(c.670)

Shivamara

(679)

* Shripurusha

(726-788)

* Shivamara II

(788-816)

* Rachamalla I

(816)

* Nithimarga

(843)

* Rachamalla II

(870)

Buthugal

(907)

Ercganga Neetimarga II

(907-921)

Narasimha

(921-933)

Rachamalla III

(933-938)

Butuga II

(938-961)

Marulaganga Neetimarga

(961-963)

Narasimha II

(963-975)

* Rachamalla IV

(975-986)

Rachamalla V

(986-999)

Neetimarga

(999)

Permanadi

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

Gommateshwara - A Jain Saint

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.

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

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

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.