Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India

encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

Overview

Towards the end of the 8th century, the

Guijara Pratiharas in the North, the Rash-

trakutas in the Deccan and Pal as in Bengal

began three-cornered struggle for para-

mountcy.

The Rashtrakutas' empire extended from

the Narmada valley (north), Mahanadi

delta (east) and Kaveri (south).

Malkhed or Manyakheta was their capital

(originally they came from Lattur or Lat-

talur).

Dantidurga, Govinda II, Dhruva I, Gov-

inda III, Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga were

the most notable rulers.

They won brilliant victories over the Gan-

gas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Malwas, Par-

amaras, Prathiharas.

Magnificent temples were built at Ellora,

Elephanta and Malkhed; the most notable

one is the Kailasanatha temple (the Rock-

cut-monolith) at Ellora built by Rashtra-

kuta Krishna I.

Inscriptions are the mainstay for the histo-

rians to study the history of Rastrakutas -

Kavirajamarga

- a Kannada work written

by Nrupatunga is also helpful.

Advent

The Rashtrakutas started as feudatories

of Chalukyas of Badami. Later they over-

threw them and became the masters of the

whole Deccan (Mid. 8th century).

In 753 A.D. Rashtrakuta Dantidurga de-

feated the Chalukyas, captured Badami

and established Rashtrakuta dynasty (the

Ellora record of Dantidurga).

Chronology

Dantivarma

(650-665)

Indra I and Govinda I

(665-700)

Karka I

(700-715)

Indra II

(715-735)

Dantidurga

(735-755)

Krishna I

(755-772)

* Govinda II

(772-780)

* Dhruva

(780-793)

Govinda III

(793-814)

* Nrupatunga Amoghavarsha I

(814-880)

* Krishna II

(880-914)

* Indra III

(914-928)

* Amoghavarsha II

(928-929)

* Govinda IV

(929-936)

* Amoghavarsha III

(936-939)

* Krishna III

(939-967)

RASHTRAKUTAS 756-973 A.D.

Kottiga

(967-972)

Karka II (Nirupama) (972-973)

Wars

The defeat of Kirtivarman II, the Cha-

lukyan king, by Dantidurga at Khandesh

(758 A.D.).

Invasion of Yengi (770) and the defeat

of Chalukya Vishnuvardhana IV by

prince Govinda.

Defeat of Vatsaraja (the Prathihara

ruler of Ujjain); invasion of Gangetic

doab, and march against Dharmapala by

Dhruva.

Govinda III acquired Gujarat, Kosala,

parts of Andhra and Gangavadi.

Ganga revolt (818-820) during the reign

of Amoghavarsha, defeat of Chalukyas

at Vingavalli.

Indra III captured Kanauj, controlled by

Gurjara - Prathiharas and defeated

Chalukya Bhima.

Krishna HI invaded the territory of Gurjara-

Prathiharas, captured Chitrakuta and Ka-

linjara.

Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga I 814-880

Amoghavarsha I was born at Sribhavan

(Sanjan plates 871 A.D.); put down early

revolt, defeated Ganga rulers (Rachamalla, Sri

Varma II); defeated Chalukyas severely at

Vingavalli; and Chankarangana the Kalachuri

feudatory and captured Elichpur; defeated

Alupa prince Vimaladitya (c. 850); later de-

veloped friendly relations with Gangas, Cha-

lukyas and Pallavas; his Nilagunda records

claim that he was being worshipped by the

rulers of Vanga, Anga, Magadha, Malwa and

Vengi; built a new capital at Malkhed (Mayurk-

handi, old); a great scholar and patron of art,

architecture and literature; wrote

Kaviraja-

marga

in Kannada and

Prashnottara Ratna-

mala

in Sanskrit; he had titles like,

Nrupatunga,

Atishayadhavah,

Veeranarayana,

Kattam-

arthanda

and

Srivallabha.

His empire was di-

vided into 16 provinces (Sanjan plates 871).

He ruled till 878.

Friends

: Feudatories

Foes

: Gangas, Chalukyas, Cholas, Palas

and Gurjara- Pratiharas.

Administration

Kingship was hereditary.

Mahasandhivigrahi

was the Chief Minis-

ter for war and peace; ministers were

well versed in

Rajaneethi

(Political sci-

ence).

The empire was divided into

mandalas

rastras, vishayas

or districts; village

headman was

Gavunda;

village assem-

blies were called

Mahajana;\

taxes were

called variously as

udranga, uparika

and

bhagakara

; land revenue was collected in

3 instalments.

Coins like

suvarna, drammas, kalanju,

gadyanaka, kasu, manjati, akkam

etc were

issued.

The glorious reign of the Rashtrakutas

saw at once the flowering of literary ac-

tivities both in Kannada and Sanskrit;

Somadeva

mn-Yashastilaka champu

and

Neetivakayamrita

(Sanskrit),

Visvarupa-

Balakrida;

Jinasena and Virasena-Jain

Theologists.

Mainly Vedic religion was followed; Bud-

dhism and Jainism also existed. Islam was

popular on Konkan coast.

The temple of Kailasa at Ellora is the most

important construction of their period; the

Rockcut-temple at Elephanta is also fa-

mous.

Decline

During the period of Kottiga, the Rashtra-

kuta power began to decline. The Rashtra-

kutas were overthrown in the cyclic year,

Srimukha corresponding to A.D. 973-74

and the rule of Chalukyas of Kalyana be-

gan. (Gadag record of Chalukya Vikrama

VI).