Chalukya dynasty

Ancient Indian Dynasties

1. The Chalukya Dynasty Submitted by, Juliya Saji

2. T he Chalukya dynasty was a classical Indian royal dynasty that ruled larger parts of Southern and Central India between the 6 th and 12 th centuries. During this period they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty known as the Badami chalukyas ruled from Vatapi (modern day Badami)from the middle of 6 th century.

3. CHALUKYA DYNASTY

4. The Badami Chalukyas began to assert their independence at the decline of Kadamba dynasty of Banvasi and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakeshin second. After the death of Pulakeshin second the Eastern Chalukyas ( chalukyas of Vengi) became an independent kingdom in the easternDeccan . They ruled from Vengi until about the 11 th century.In the Western Deccan the rise of Rashtrakudas in the middle of 8 th century eclipsed the Chalukyas of Badami before being revived by their descendants ,the Western Chalukyas ,in the late 10 th century. These Western Chalukyas ruled from Kalyani (modern Basavakalyan )until the end of the 12 th century. The rule of Chalukya marks an important milestone in the history of South India and a golden age in the history of Karnataka. The political atmosphere in South India shifted from smaller kingdoms to larger empires with the ascendency of Badami Chalukyas. A south India based kingdom took control and consolidated the entire region between Kaveri and Narmada rivers.

5. The rise of this empire saw the birth of : Efficient administration Overseas trade and commerce Development of Chalukyan Architecture. Kannada Literature which had enjoyed royal support in 9 th century Rashtrakuda court found patronage from the Western Chalukyas in the Jain and Veerashaiva traditions .The 11 th century saw the patronage of Telegu literature under the Eastern Chalukyas. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Old Kannada inscriptions of Chalukya King Mangalesha dated 578 ce at Badami cave temple no.3

6. CHALUKYAS OF BADAMI This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

7. The rule of Chalukya of Badami constitutes a brilliant epoch in the history of Karnataka in particular and Indian history in general. It was the first Karnataka dynasty to establish name and fame throughout India.Their fame had spread as far as Persia. They were Dharmic monarch who always ruled bearing in mind the welfare and happiness of the people . Architecture reached its highest watermark under the Chalukyas and the monuments that stand to this day at Aihole,Badami and Pattadakal speak the volume for the glory and grandeur of the Chalukyas This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

8. ORIGIN From the 6 th century to the 8 th century A.D the Chalukyas were the dominant power in the Deccan .The Chalukya inscriptions provide valuable material for the reconstruction of a continous history of the Deccan together with its contact with South India for about 200 years.There is a lot of controversy with regard to the origin of Chalukyas. (note:The legendary origin theory) According to Dr.VA Smith the Chalukyas was connected with the Chapas and the foreign Gurjaras of the North. But Dr. DC Sircar pines that the Chalukyas were the local Kanarese people ,who improvised the ruling varna under the Brahmanical influence .

9. C halukya power had its rise in the west with its capital at Vatapi (Badami).It ultimately established a kingdom corresponding to the modern Bombay state with some additions to the south and east but without Kathiawad and Gujarat . The Chalukya of Badami claimed to have been Haripuras .They contended that they belong to the Manavya Gotra . This kingdom of Chalukyas ruled from the middle of the sixth century to the middle of eighth century A.D,when they were supplanted by the Rashtrakudas. The later Western Chalukya of Kalyani overthrew the Rashtrakudas in the second half of the 10 th century and continued to rule till the end of the 12 th century. An offshoot of the Western Chalukyas known as the eastern Chalukyas established its power at Vengi from the 7 th century to 12 th century.

10. R RULERS T he founder of the Western Chalukyas were unknown chiefs named Jayasimha and Vallabha and his son Rangara . It was Rangara ‘s son Pulakesin first who was the real founder as well as the first sovereign ruler of the dynasty . He established his capital at Vatapi about A.D 543 . He was succeded by his own son Kirthivarman first in about 567AD .He further extended his territory by defeating Nalas of south,the Mauryas of Konkan and the Kadambas of Banvasi .

11. Kirtivarman first succeded in about AD 598 by his brother Mangalesa Ranavikrant who began to rule as a regent as Pulakeshin second son of Kirthivarman was a minor His great achievements include his victory over the Kalachuris and the conquest of Revatidivipa .He died about 608 AD in acivil war between himself nd his nephew Pualkeshin 2. The cause of the trouble was the attempt of Manglesa to secure succession for his own son and by this Pulakeshin 2 became the king. Pulakeshin 2 ruled from 610- 611AD to 642AD . In the south he had to reconquer the Kadamba sof Banavasi ,the Gangas of South Mysore and the Maurya sof Konkana with their capital Puri . Further north he subdued the Latas,Malvas and the Gurjaras over whom he appointed his viceroy. These conquest thus made him master of three Maharashtras . Maharashtra ,KONKAN and Karnataka . The army of Pulakeshin2 cheched the forces of Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada.

12. The Aihole inscription wrote by the Ravikirti a jain poet gives a detailed description about this. While the Pulakeshin’s 2 second expedition against the Pallava kingdom which was then ruled by the Mahendravarman 1 was a complete success ,the second invasion of the Pallava territory ended in failure. He was defeated by the pallava king Narasimhavarman1 in a series of campaigns. At the zeneith of his power Pulakeshin cultivated foreign relations even with the distant state of Persia . The fallen fortunes of the Chalukyas were restored by Vikramadithya1 ,a son of Pulakeshin who defeated tree supposed Pallavakings Narasimhavarman,Mahendravarman2and parameshvaravarman . Vikramaditya was succeeded by his son Vikramadithyan2 who took after him both in war and peace .He was great builder and patron of learning . He destroyed power of Kanchi , chola Kerela ,Pandya , Kalabhra and other kings .

13. He was succeed by his son Kirtivaraman2. He helped his father in his Pallava campaign . But he was the last glorious of the Chalukya race. After 50 years later Chalukya power was completely eclipsed by the Rashtrakudas.He was defeated by one of his feudatories Dantidurga,the founder of the Rashtrakuda dynasty.

14. RELIGION The chalukya were the followers of the Brahminical religion .But they also followed a policy of religious toleration .During their reign Jainism prosperd in the Deccan. Many Chalukyan kings granted villages to well known Jaun scholars . Tere is not much information regarding the Buddhism. As regards to Brahmanism there arrived the Bhagavata and Pashupati cults the cults of devotion to Vishnu and Shiva respectively. Superb structures were set up at Vatapi and Pattadakal in honour of Vishnu , Brahma and Shiva. The sacrificial forms of worship were composed .Of the Shaivite saints the most popular were Appar < sambandar,Mnikkavasagarand Sundarar . THE hymns dedicated to shivaand Vishnu have been preserved in two separate collections the Tirumurari and the Nalyira Prabandham .

15. Jainism and Buddhism gradually gave way to a new form of religious worship the devotional cults of the Tamil saints which later came to be known as the Bhakthi movement. Tamil devotionalism achieved a great wave of popularity and was continued in the hymns and the sermons of the Nayanars and the Alvars A movement was started to clear the Vedic philosophy of its obscurities in order to make it both comprehensible and acceptable to people at large.

16. LANGUAGE Sanskrit was recognized in this Mathas,and was also the official language at the court. Two outstanding sanskriy work of this age wereBharavi’s kiratarjunia and Dandin’Dasakumaracharitha Apart from the University at Kanchi,there were number of other Sanskrit colleges Apart from Sanskrit other regional languages also prospered( prakrit,kannada etc.)

17. CHALUKYAN ARCHITECTURE Art made great progress under the Chalukya dynasty.A new style of architecture known as the Chalukya style which was different from the Gupta style . The chalukyan architecture is known as the cradle of the Indian temple architecture . This dynasty is attributed with having introduced its own style of temple architecture called Chalukyan Architecture This architecture blends the finer aspects of the Dravidan and Nagara temple architecture.Henceit is also referred as Vesara .

18. CHALUKYAN TEMPLES They built number of rock cut templesand structural temples at brick dedicated to Shiva,Vishnu and Brahma. Some exquisite monuments have been excavated at Badami,Aihole,Pattadakal and Mahakuta Badami architectural style is called as the Vesara style and chalukyan style. The famous temples at Aihole are Ladh kahan temple , The Durga temple Hucchimalligudi temple, Gaudura Gudi and Ravana Phadi . The movement of the rock cut halls was initiated during this period .There are many as 10 temples at Pattadakal belonging to this priod . There are 4 temples in the Northern styla and 6 of them following the Dravidan style .Among them the Virupaksaha temple is the most important one. Another important achievement of the Chalukyan art was the building of excavated cave temple of Hindu gods . The Melgaiti sivalaya at Badami is a small but finely proportioned and magnificiently located temple.

19. MALEGITTI SHIVALAYA TEMPLE,BADAMI

20. LADH KHAN TEMPLE The Ladh khan temple is a flat roofed structure situated at Aihole.The temple design contains many unusual features.

21. DURGA TEMPLE The Durga temple was an experiment seeking to adopt the Buddhist chaityas to a Brahmanical temple.It was built between 7 th and 8 th century at Aihole .

22. HUCCHIMALLIGUDI TEMPLE The Hucchimalligudi temple is very much similar to Durga templebut smaller than it.It was the first south Indian temple with porch.It was built in 7 th century at Aihole .

23. GAUDARA GUDI TEMPLE

24. R RAVANA PHADI TEMPLE

25. VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE There are 4 temples in the Northern styla and 6 of them following the Dravidan style .Among them the Virupaksaha temple is the most important one.It is a direct intiation of the Kaliasantha temple of Kanchiand was built by one of the queens of Vikramadithya 2. Kailasanatha temple Virupaksha temple

26. CHALUKYAS OF VENGI

27. The Vengi Chalukya dynasty is chronologically juxtaposed between the powerful dynasties of Badami and Kalyani. This branch of the Chalukyas is also referred to as the Eastern Chalukyas. . These kings were based at Vengi a town in present day Andhrapradesh and ruled for almost five centuries from the seventh century to 1130 A.D. They were subjugated by the Chola kings and were their feudatories till 1189 A.D. After that they were amalgamated with the Hoysalas and the Yadavas . ( sEvuNa ) Their capital was later shifted from Vengi in the West Godavari district to Rajamahendravaram ( rajamunDri ) Eastern Chalukyas came to power after the invasion of Pulikeshi-2 on the Deccan region which consisted of the coastal districts of Andhrapradesh . The VishnukunDina kingdom which was in the last leg of its glory was defeated

28. Pulikeshi appointed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana as the Viceroy before his return. However, gradually the successors of Kubja Vishnuvardhana severed their relations with the Chalukyas of Badami and became autonomous. Chalukyas of Vengi continued their tenure even after the Badami dynasty became extinct. They consolidated their kingdom over a period of time and that was an important period in the history of Andhrapradesh or the Telugu speaking community. This dynasty extended from Kubja Vishnuvardhana (624-641 A.D.) up to Vijayaditya-7 who ruled in two stints (1063-68, 1072-75) Jayasimha-1, (641-673 A.D.) Mangi Yuvaraja, (682-706A.D.) Vishnuvardhana-3, (719-755 A.D.) Vishnuvardhana-4, (772-808 A.D.) Vijayaditya-2, (806-847 A.D.) Gunaga Vijayaditya-3 (848-892 A.D.) Amma-2 (947-970 A.D.) Jata Choda Bhima (973-1000 A.D.) and Rajaraja Narendra (1018-1061 A.D.) are among the more important kings of this dynasty at least in terms of longevity. Most of their rule was spent in altercations with more powerful kingdoms such as Rashtrakutas , Chalukyas of Kalyani and Cholas. Gunaga Vijayaditya-3 was treated as a friend and supporter by the Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha-2.

29. The Eastern Chalukya kingdom was a typical Hindu state. They did follow the administrative patterns of the Badami Chalukyas. However they developed some unique characteristics later. Raja, Mantri, Purohita , Senapati, Yuvaraja, Pradhana and Adhyaksha were among the persons who wielded a lot of power. The state was divided in to Vishayas and kottams . Inscriptions provide some information about the modes of administration. “The society was based on hereditary caste system. Even the Buddhists and Jains who originally disregarded caste, adopted it. Besides the four traditional castes, minor communities like Boyas and Savaras (Tribal groups) also existed. However one witnesses the gradual decline of Buddhism and the rise of Jainism and Hinduism in that chronological order. This period witnessed the birth of Telugu literature. Some important inscriptions with literary qualities made their appearance. Nanayya the first major poet of Telugu was the poet laureate in the court of Rajaraja Narendra. There was a distinct effort by these kings to develop a unique style of architecture. This is visible in the shrines at ‘ draksharama ’ and ‘ biccavolu ’.

30. Some important inscriptions with literary qualities made their appearance. Nanayya the first major poet of Telugu was the poet laureate in the court of Rajaraja Narendra. There was a distinct effort by these kings to develop a unique style of architecture. This is visible in the shrines at ‘ draksharama ’ and ‘ biccavolu ’. Throughout their history the Eastern Chalukyas were the cause of many wars between the more powerful Cholas and Western Chalukyas over the control of the strategic Vengi country. The five centuries of the Eastern Chalukya rule of Vengi saw not only the consolidation of this region into a unified whole, but also saw the efflorescence of Telugu culture, literature, poetry and art during the later half of their rule.

31. DRAKSHARAMAM TEMPLE

32. B BICCAVOLU TEMPLE