Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty

chalukya dynasty and pallava dynasty

Chalukya Dynasty

• There were three distinct but related Chalukya dynasties.

• Chalukyas of Badami
  • The Vakatakas were followed by the Chalukyas of Badami.
  • They played a prominent role in the history of south India for about two centuries
  • Chalukya dynasty of Badami started rule in the beginning of 6th century
  • They set up their kingdom in western Deccan
  • Their capital was at Vatapi (modern Badami in Karnataka).
• Eastern Chalukya Dynasty
  • Emerged after the death of Pulakesin II in Eastern Deccan with capital at Vengi.
  • They ruled till the 11th century.
• Western Chalukya Dynasty
  • Descendants of the Badami Chalukya
  • They emerged in the late 10th century and ruled from Kalyani (modern day Basavakanlyan).

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Rulers of Chalukys of Badami

• Jayasimha was the first ruler of the Chalukya dynasty.

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Pulakesin I (543 – 566)

• He founded the empire with the capital at Vatapi.
• Pulakesin I performed Ashwamedha.

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Kirtivarman I (566– 559)

• He was the son of Pulakesin I.
• Kirtivarman I conquered Konkan and northern Kerala.

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Mangalesha (597 – 609)

• Brother of Kirtivarman I.
• He conquered the Kadambas and the Gangas.
• He was killed by his nephew and son of Kirtivarman, Pulakesin II.

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Pulakesin II (609 – 642)

• Pulakesin II was the greatest king of Chalukya dynasty.
• Extended the Chalukyas rule to most parts of the Deccan.
• Information about Pulakesin II is obtained from the Aihole inscription dated 634.
• This poetic inscription was written by his court poet Ravikirti in Sanskrit language using the Kannada script.
• Hiuen Tsang visited his kingdom.
• He has praised Pulakesin II as a good and authoritative king.
• Though a Hindu, he was tolerant of Buddhism and Jainism.
• Pulakesin II is famous for stopping king Harsha on banks of Narmada, while he was trying to conquer southern parts of the country.
• He had defeated the Pallava king Mahendravarman I but was defeated and killed by Mahendravarman’s son and successor Narasimhavarman I.
• For the next 13 years, Badami remained under Pallava control.
• Pulakesin II received a Persian mission as depicted in an Ajanta cave painting.
• He maintained diplomatic relations with the King of Persia Khusru II.

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Vikramaditya I (655 – 680)

• Vikramaditya I was the son of Pulakesin II.
• He plundered Kanchi, the capital of the Pallavas.

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Vikramaditya II (733 – 744)

• He is famous for repelling the Arab invention in south Gujrat.

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Kirtivarman II (744 – 755)

• Kirtivarman II was the last Chalukya ruler.
• He was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king, Dantidurga.

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Chalukya Art & Architecture

• Chalukya dynasty developed Deccan or Vesara style of temple building.
• They mostly used locally found reddish-golden sandstone in their monuments.
• Most of the temples were concentrated in Aihole, Badami, Pattadakal and Mahakuta in modern Karnataka.
• Virupaksha Temple and Bhutanatha group of temples at Badami are also from this period.
• Much of the paintings and sculpture of the Ajanta and Ellora caves were completed during period of Chalukya dynasty.

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Pallava Dynasty

Origins

• There are several theories propounded by historians about Pallava dynasty
• Some historians say they are a branch of the Pahlavas of the Parthians who moved to the South.
• Some say they are an indigenous dynasty that arose within the Southern region and were a mix of various tribes.
• Some experts believe them to be of Naga origin who first settled around the Tondaimandalam region near Madras.
• Another theory says that they are descendent from a Chola prince and a Naga princess of Manipallavam.
• Some others are of the opinion that the Pallavas were feudatories of the Satavahanas.
• The first Pallava kings ruled during the beginning of the 4th century AD.
• By the 7th century AD, there were three kingdoms in southern India vying for supremacy
  • Chalukya of Badami
  • Pandyas of Madurai
  • Pallavas of Kanchipuram

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Extent

• The Pallava dynasty capital was Kanchipuram.
• Their territories at the height of their powers extended from northern part of Andhra Pradesh to River Kaveri in the South.
• During the seventh century, the Cholas were reduced to a marginal state by the authority of the Pallavas.

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Pallava Dynasty Rulers

Sivaskanda Varman

• Sivaskanda Varman was the greatest among the early rulers of Pallava dynasty.
• He ruled in the beginning of the 4th century AD.
• He Performed Ashwamedha and other Vedic sacrifices.

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Simhavishnu (575 – 600)

• Simhavishnu was the first important ruler of Pallava dynasty.
• He also known as Simhavarman.
• He followed Vaishnavism as religion.
• Simhavishnu included Sri Lanka in his kingdom.
• He defeated the contemporary Tamil Kalabhras ruler.
• Pallava dynasty history assumes a definite character from this ruler onward.

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Mahendravarman (600 – 630)

• Succeeded Simhavishnu who was his father.
• Mahendravarman was a poet and composed Vichitrachita and Mahavilasa Prahasana.
• He introduced rock cut temple architecture.
• The Pallavas and Chalukyas rivalry began in his time.
• He had ongoing rivalry and battles with Pulakesin II of Chalukya dynasty.
• Mahendravarman died in battle with the Chalukyas. He was an able and efficient ruler.

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Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668)

• Narasimhavarman was the son and successor of Mahendravarman.
• He is considered as the greatest king of the Pallava dynasty.
• He also called as Narasimhavarman Mahamalla/Mamalla.
• Narasimhavarman defeated and killed Pulakesin II in 642 AD.
• He took control of Vatapi, the Chalukya capital and assumed the title ‘Vatapikonda’.
• He also vanquished the Cholas, Cheras and the Pandyas.
• Narasimhavarman sent a naval expedition to Sri Lanka and reinstated the Sinhalese Prince Manivarma.
• He founded the city of Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram which is named after him.
• Pancha Rathas or Ratha temples of Mahabalipuram was carved during the reign of King Narasimhavarman I.
• Hiuen Tsang visited the Pallava kingdom during his reign in about 640 AD
• Hiuen Tsang also says that, there was an abundance of agricultural products.
• Great Nayannar saints like Appar, Tirugnanasambandar and Siruthondar lived during his reign.
• Narasimhavarman was succeeded by his son Mahendravarman II.

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Narsimhavarman II (695-722)

• Narsimhavarman II was also known as Rajasimha.
• His rule was peaceful and offered ample opportunities for development of arts.
• Dandin was a court poet of Rajasimha.
• He constructed Shore temple at Mamallapuram and Kailasanatha at Kanchipuram.
• Narsimhavarman II sent embassies to China.
• Maritime trade flourished during his reign.

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Later Rulers

• Parameshwaravarman II and Nandivarman II were the successors
• Pallava rule lasted till 9th century A.D.
• Aparajita (899 – 903 AD) was the last Pallava ruler was defeated by Aditya I of Chola dynasty.

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Kalabhra Uprising

• Pallavas, Chalukyas & Kadambas – All 3 were brahaman dynasties.
• They followed Brahamanism with vedic sacrifices.
• They made numerous land grants to Brahamanas.
• Kalbhras patronised Buddhism & Buddhist monasteries.
• The Kalabhras were protesting against the numerous land grants (Brahamadeya) to Brahmanas made by the Brahmanic rulers of the three dynasties.
• The Kalabhra uprising was crushed by the Pandyas, Chalukyas and the Pallavas jointly.

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