CHALUKYAS AND RASHTRAKUTAS

1. Chalukyas (543 – 755 A.D.)

The Western Chalukyas ruled over an extensive area in the Deccan for about two centuries after which the Rashtrakutas became powerful. The family of Western Chalukyas had its offshoots like the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and the Chalukyas of Kalyani. Pulakesin I was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty. He established a small kingdom with Vatapi or Badami as its capital.

Pulakesin II (608-642 A.D.)

• The most important ruler of this dynasty was Pulakesin II.
• The Aihole inscription issued by him gives the details of his reign.
• Another notable achievement of Pulakesin II was the defeat of Harshavardhna on the banks of the river Narmada.
• He put a check on the ambition of Harsha to conquer the south.
• In his first expedition against the Pallavas, Pulakesin II emerged victorious.
• But he suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Narasimhavarman I near Kanchi. Subsequently, the Chalukya Capital Vatapi was captured and destroyed by the Pallavas.
• The most important event in the reign of Pulakesin II was the visit of Hiuen Tsang to his kingdom.
• The successor of Pulakesin II was Vikramaditya. He once again consolidated the Chalukya kingdom and plundered the Pallava capital, Kanchi.
• Thus he had avenged his father’s defeat and death at the hands of the Pallavas. Kirthivarma II was the last of the rulers of the Chalukyas. He was defeated by Dantidurga, the founder of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty.

Administration and Social Life under the Chalukyas

• The Chalukya administration was highly centralized unlike that of the Pallavas and the Cholas. Village autonomy was absent under the Chalukyas. The Chalukyas had a great maritime power. Pulakesin II had 100 ships in his navy. They also had a small standing army.
• The Badami Chalukyas were Brahmanical Hindus but they gave respect to other religions. Importance was given to Vedic rites and rituals.
• The founder of the dynasty Pulakesin I performed the asvamedha sacrifice. Several temples in honour of Vishnu, Siva and other gods were also built during this period.

Art and Architecture

Developed the Vesara style in the building of structural temples, reached its culmination only under the Rashtrakutas and the Hoysalas.

• Exist at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal.
• Cave temple architecture was also famous, found in Ajanta, Ellora and Nasik.
• Best specimens of Chalukya painting can be seen in the Badami cave temple and the Ajanta caves.
• The reception given to a Persian embassy by Pulakesin II is depicted in a painting at Ajantha.
• The Chalukya temples may be divided into two stages.
• The first stage is represented by the temples at Aihole and Badami.

Among the seventy temples found at Aihole, four are important.

1. Ladh Khan temple is a low, flat-roofed structure consisting of a pillared hall.
2. Durga temple resembles a Buddha Chaitya.
3. Huchimalligudi temple.
4. The Jain temple at Meguti.

Among the temples at Badami, the Muktheeswara temple and the Melagutti Sivalaya are notable for their architectural beauty.

• A group of our rock-cut temples at Badami are marked by high workmanship.
• The walls and pillared halls are adorned by beautiful images of gods and human beings.
• The second stage is represented by the temples at Pattadakal.
• There are ten temples here, four in the northern style and the remaining six in the Dravidian style.
• The Papanatha temple is the most notable in the northern style.
• The Sangamesvara temple and the Virupaksha temple are famous for their Dravidian style.
• TheVirupaksha temple is built on the model of the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram.
• It was built by one of the queens of Vikramaditya-II.
• Sculptors brought from Kanchi were employed in its construction.

2. Rashtrakutas (755 – 975 A.D.)

• The Rashtrakutas were of Kannada origin and Kannada language was their mother tongue.
• Dantidurga was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
• He defeated the Gurjaras and captured Malwa from them.
• Then he annexed the Chalukya kingdom by defeating Kirtivarman II.
• Thus, the Rashtrakutas became a paramount power in the Deccan.
• His successor Krishna I was also a great conqueror.
• He defeated the Gangas and the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi.
• He built the magnificent rock-cut monolithic Kailasa temple at Ellora.
• The next important king of this dynasty was Govinda III.

Administration

• The Rashtrakuta Empire was divided into several provinces called Rastras under the control of rashtrapatis.
• They were further divided into vishayas or districts governed by vishayapatis.
• The next subdivision was bhukti consisting of 50 to 70 villages under the control of bhogapatis.
• These officers were directly appointed by the central government. The village administration was carried on by the village headmen.
• However, the village assemblies played a significant role in the village administration.

Society and Economy

• The Hindu sects of Vaishnavism and Saivism flourished during the period of Rashtrakutas.
• Yet, they did not affect the progress of Jainism under the patronage of Rashtrakuta kings and officers.
• Almost one-third of the population of the Deccan were Jains.
• There were some prosperous Buddhist settlements at places like Kanheri, Sholapur and Dharwar. There was harmony among various religions.
• There was a college at Salatogi, situated in modern Bijapur district.
• An inscription gives details of this educational centre.
• It was run by the income from the endowments made by the rich as well as by all the villagers on occasions of functions and festivals.

Cultural Contributions

• Widely patronized the Sanskrit literature.
• Many scholars in the Rashtrakuta court.
• Trivikrama wrote Nalachampu and the Kavirahasya was composed by Halayudha during the reign of Krishna III. The Jain literature flourished under the patronage of the Rashtrakutas.
• Amogavarsha I, who was a Jain, patronized many Jain scholars. His teacher Jinasena composed Parsvabhudaya, a biography of Parsva in verses.
• Another scholar Gunabhadra wrote the Adipurana, the life stories of various Jainsaints. Sakatayana wrote the grammer work called Amogavritti.
• The great mathematician of this period, Viracharya was the author of Ganitasaram.

Art and Architecture

• The art and architecture of the Rashtrakutas were found at Ellora and Elephanta. At Ellora, the most remarkable temple is the Kailasa temple. It was excavated during the reign of Krishna I.
• The temple consists of four parts - the main shrine, the entrance gateway, and an intermediate shrine for Nandi and Mandapa surrounding the courtyard. The temple stands on a lofty plinth 25 feet high.
• In the interior of the temple there is a pillared hall which has sixteen square pillars. The Kailasa temple is an architectural marvel with its beautiful sculptures.
• The sculpture of the Goddess Durga is shown as slaying the Buffalo demon. In another sculpture, Ravana was making attempts to lift Mount Kailasa, the abode of Siva. The scenes of Ramayana were also depicted on the walls.
• Elephanta is an island near Bombay. It was originally called Sripuri. The Portuguese after seeing the large figure of an elephant named it Elephanta.
• The sculptural art of the Rashtrakutas reached its zenith in this place. There is a close similarity between the sculptures at Ellora and those in Elephanta.
• They might have been carved by the same craftsmen. At the entrance to the sanctum, there are huge figures of dwara-palakas.
• In the walls of the prakara around the sanctum there are niches containing the images of Shiva in various forms - Nataraja, Gangadhara, Ardhanareesvara and Somaskanda.
• The most imposing figure of this temple is Trimurthi. The sculpture is six metres high. It is said to represent the three aspects of Shiva as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer.