For students of BA II sem BHU

1. BA I Sem
Chalukyas of Badami
By
Prachi Virag Sontakke

3. South India
1. Maharashtra
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. Telangana
4. Karnataka
5. Kerala
6. Tamil Nadu
7. Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and
Puducherry,
Maharashtra

8. Rise of Chalukyas
• 6th century CE: The age of small kingdoms gave way to large empires
in central & southern India.
• Rise of Chalukyan power in Deccan plateau.
• Ruled for over 600 years.
• During this period, they ruled as three closely related, but individual
dynasties.
Chalukyas of
Badami/Early
Chalukyas
Chalukyas of
Kalyani/
Western
Chalukyas
Chalukyas of
Vengi/
Eastern
Chalukyas

9. Chalukyas of Badami
• Original & Oldest branch of Chalukyas.
• Successors of the Vakatakas in western Deccan.
• Ruled over an extensive area in the Deccan for about two centuries
from 543 to 753 CE.
• Took control of the territory formerly ruled by the Kadambas
• Established their capital at Vatapi, modern Badami in the Bijapur
district, Karnataka.
• Marks an important milestone in the history of South India and a
golden age in the history of Karnataka
• Birth of efficient administration, overseas trade and commerce and
new style of architecture called “Chalukyan architecture”.

11. Sources
• Chalukyan inscriptions: Written in old Kannada script & in 2 languages
• Kannada: Badami cave inscriptions of Mangalesha
• Kanchi Kailasanatha Temple inscription and Pattadakal Virupaksha Temple
inscription of Vikramaditya II
• Sanskrit: Mahakuta Pillar inscription of Mangalesha (595) and the Aihole
inscription of Pulakeshin II
• Nerur inscription, Karnool inscription
• Inscriptions of contemporary kings: Kauthem inscription, Kuram inscription.
• Xuanzang’s accounts.
• Account of Muslim writer Tabri.
• Architectural remains.
• Chalukya coins.

12. Location

13. Lad Khan temple, Aihole

14. Durga temple, Aihole

15. Badami caves

16. Badami caves

17. Badami temple

18. Meguti Temple: Aihole inscription

19. Pattadakal
Virupaksh Temple

20. Origin
• Chalukya inscriptions: Address themselves as Harithiputras of Manavyasagotra
• Bilhana: Chalukya family belonged to Shudra caste.
• Xuan Zang: They were Kshatriyas.
• Early rulers Feudatories of Kadambas of Banvasi.

21. Homeland : Theory 1: North India
• A later Eastern Chalukyas inscription: One ruler of Ayodhya came south, defeated the
Pallavas and married a Pallava princess.
• She had a child called Vijayaditya who is claimed to be the Pulakeshin I’s father.
• K. V. Ramesh, Chopra and Sastri: Badmi Chalukya inscriptions = Ranarag I was
Pulakeshin I’s father & not Vijayaditya.
• K. V. Ramesh: An earlier southern migration is a distinct possibility
• Kamath and Moraes: Popular practice in 11th century to link South Indian royal
family lineage to a Northern kingdom.
• Badami Chalukya records themselves are silent with regards to the Ayodhya origin.

22. Homeland: Theory 2: South Indian Origin
• Theory A: Founders native to the modern Karnataka region
• Propounded by: John Keay, D.C. Sircar, Hans Raj, S. Sen.
• Theory B: Descendants of a feudatory of Andhra Ikshvaku (from an
Ikshvaku inscription of the 2nd century).
• Theory C: Descendants of the Kadambas

23. Geneology

24. Jayasimha (c.500-520 CE)
• First historically documented Chalukyan king.
• Kaira inscription: No Royal title affixed to his name.
• Fleet: Was samanta of Kadambas.
• Kauthem inscription: Jayasimha defeated Rashtrakuta Indra & his son
Krishna.
• Unacceptable
• Aihole inscription: silent in this regard.
• Titles: Vallabh, Shrivallabha, Vallabhendra.

25. Ranraga (c.520-540 CE)
• S/O Jaisingh
• No inscription of him.
• Title: Ranarajsinha
• Worshipper of Shiva.

26. Pulkesin I (c.540 – 566 CE)
• Fleet + D.C.Sircar: Pulkesin = with hair like tiger.
• First independent ruler & great king among the Chalukyas.
• Regarded as the real founder of this dynasty.
• Mahakoot pillar inscription: Made Vatapi his capital: ‘Vatapya Pratham vidhata’
• Badami inscription: performed Hiranyagarbha, Ashwamedha, Agnishtoma and
Vajpaye sacrifices.
• Nerur inscription: well versed in Puranas, Manusmriti, Ramayana & Mahabharata.
• Sircar: He was helped in his conquests by his son Kirtivarman.
• Titles: Satyashraya, Ranavikram and Shri Prithvivallabha.

27. Kirtivarman I (c.566 – 596 CE)
• S/O Pulkesin I
• Assisted his father in his conquests?
• Constructed several temples in Vatapi.
• Titles: Satyashraya, Vallabha, Parambhagvata and Shri Prithvivallabha.
• Enlarged the ancestral kingdom by waging wars & matrimonial alliance.
• Married his sister in Sen dynasty.
• Mahakuta inscription + Aihole inscription: Refer to his victories in the battles.

28. Imperialistic conquests
• Aihole Prasati: Destroyed Nals, Mauryas & Kadambas.
• Nal = Ruling in Bellari & Kurnool in Karnataka
• Mauryas: Rulers of Konkan.
• Kadambas: Parts of Karnataka.
• Mahakoota inscription: Defeated Kalinga, Magadh, Vanga, Anga, Battor, Madraka,
Kerala, Gangas, Mushak, Pandyas, Dramil, Choliya, Vaijayanti & Aluka.
• Exaggeration
• His empire included parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka & Andhra.

29. Manglesh (c.596 – 610 CE)
• At the death of Kirtivarman, his son Pulakesin II was too young to rule.
• Kirtivarman’s brother held sway as regent.
• Ambitious king: Extended northern boundaries of Chalukyan empire.
• Mahakuta inscription + Aihole inscription + Nerur inscription: Victory over
Bodharaja (= Kalachuri ruler of Gujrat, Kathiawad & Nasik).
• Aihole inscription: Subdued revolt of Mauryas of Revatidvipa (= Capital of
Konkan) by navy.
• Titles: Mangaleshwar, Prithvivallabha,Ranavikrama, Parambhagavata, etc.

30. Manglesh’s aftermath
• When Pulkesin II came of age ,Mangalesh did not hand over the
kingdom to his nephew.
• Wanted to grab throne permanently.
• Pulakesin II gathered the army, defeated and killed his uncle
Mangalesh in ensuing battle.
• Pulkesin II proclaimed himself king in 610 CE

31. Pulkesin II (c.610 – 642 CE)
• Marks the beginning of an important epoch in the history of Deccan
• Chalukyas who remained until then as a local power, confined to Karnataka and Southern
Maharashtra, spread over the whole of the Deccan and became paramount sovereigns of
the entire peninsula to the South of the Vindhyas
• Issued gold coins.
• Titles: Shri Prithvivallabha Parameswara, Satyashraya, Prithvivallabha,
Dakshinapatheshvara .
• Pulakeshin’s control extended over most of Southern India, including Maharashtra and
parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

32. Early conquests
• Political chaos at time of accession.
• Several rulers took advantage & established independent kingdoms.
1. Army elephants of Govinda & Appayika, Local rulers of Maharashtra,
reached northern boundaries of Pulkesin II’s kingdom.
• Diplomatic and tactful step: Policy of divide and rule.
• Pulkesin II: Made Allegiance with Govinda, to defeat Appayika.
2. Kadambas of Banvasi became independent: Pulkesin II defeated them.
• Divided Banvasi amongst his 2 samantas- Alupas & Sendrakas.

33. Imperialistic conquests: southern India
Aihole inscription: Defeated Gangas, Alukas & Mauryas.
Dynasty Identification Affiliation
Gangas Ruling in Talakad,
Karnataka
• Relatives of Kadambas
• Defeated Ganga king = Avineet or his son
Durvineet
• Durvineet gave his daughter in marriage to
Pulakesin II.
Alukas Ruling in Guntur, Andhra. Samantas of Kadambas
Mauryas Ruling in Konkan Chalukyan naval attack on their capital Sripuri
(Island of Elephanta)

34. Imperialistic conquests: western India
• Aihole inscription: Lata, Malwa & Gurjar offered their submission to him.
• Because of their fear of Harshavardhana of Kanauj?
Place Identification Ruled by
Lat Gujrat Kalchuri dynasty
Malwa Parts of M.P-Rajasthan Maitraka dynasty
Gurjar Bharoch, Gujrat ?

36. Pulkesin II & Harsha
• R.C.Majumdar + R.S.Tripathi: Harsha fought a federation of kings of Lat, Malwa & Gurjar
led by Pulkesin II?
• Aihole inscription of 634 CE: Pulkesin II defeated Sakaluttarapathnatha
• Xuang-Zang: “Shiladityaraja filled with confidence, himself marched at the head of his
troops to contend with this prince (i.e., Pulakeshin); but he was unable to prevail upon
or subjugate him”.
• Aihole Prasasti: To celebrate this victory, Pulkesin II took the title ‘Parmeshwar’
• Battle took place somewhere between 630-634 CE.
• Harsha attacked Kangod (Karnataka) in 643 CE to avenge his defeat and took some
areas from Pulkesin II.

37. Conquests in eastern Dakshinapath
Aihole Prashasti: Victories over Kosal, Kalinga & Pishtapuram.
Place identification Ruled by
Kosal South Kosal in Chhattisgarh Pandya dynasty
Kalinga In Odisa Eastern Ganga dynasty
Pishtapuram In Andhra Pradesh Vishnukundin dynasty
As the Chalukyan empire became too vast to be governed from Badami , Pulkesin II made his
brother Vishnuvardhana viceroy in 624 to rule Vengi empire independently.

38. Pulkesin II & Pallavas
• 2 expeditions into Pallava kingdom.
• First attack: During reign of Mahendravarman I.
• Aihole inscription: Pallavapati (Mahendravarman I) forced to flee & take shelter in
Kanchi.
• A complete success : Annexed the northern part of the Pallava kingdom.
• Next, he established friendly relations with Chola, Chera & Pandyas.
• Kashakkudi inscription: Mahendravarman I defeated his main enemies at Pulleloor.
• Some : Main enemy = Pulkesin II ?
• Second attack: During reign of Narasimhavarman I.
• First defeated Banas = Pallava samanta.
• Kuram inscription: Narsimhavarman I defeated & killed Pulakesin II.
• Captured Badami & took the title ‘Vatapikonda’
• Badami remained in the hands of the Pallavas for next 13 years.

39. Diplomatic relations
• Tabri: Shah of Persia Khosrau II exchanged ambassadors with Pulkesin II
• Ferguson: Ajanta painting depicting his reception of the Persian
ambassador.
• Aihole Prashasti: Cordial relations with Chola, Chera & Pandyas
• Samantas- Alupas & Sendrakas

41. Succession
• Pulkeshin II had five sons.
• Fight for throne: trying to divide the kingdom into territories for each of
themselves.
• Pulkeshin’s third son Vikramaditya I became the Chalukya king in 642CE
and successfully re-united the kingdom after defeating his brothers.

42. Vikramaditya I (c.655 - 681 CE):
• Titles: Shrivallabha, Satyashraya, Bhattaraka, Rajamalla, Parmeshwar etc
• Nerur inscription: Defeated my kings & re-established the glory of his
ancestors.
• Karnool inscription: Defeated ‘अवनिपनित्रििय ’
• Fleet + K.V.Ramesh: अवनिपनित्रििय = Pallava kings Narsimhavarman I,
Mahendravarman II, Parmeshwarvarman.
• K.A.N.Shastri: अवनिपनित्रििय = 2 brothers of Vikramaditya &
Narsimmhavarman I
• Others: अवनिपनित्रििय = Pandya, Chola, Chera.
• S.M.Mishra: Helped by his maternal grandfather Durvineet of Ganga
dynasty.

43. Vikramaditya I & Pallavas: Stage I
• Honnoor inscription: Vikramadity’s camp near Kanchi.
• Gadwal inscription + Savarur inscription: Srivallabha defeated Narsimha,
Mahendra & Ishwar and occupied Kanchi.
• Narsimha = Narsimhavarman I, Mahendra = Mahendravarman II, Ishwar =
Parmeshwarvarman I.
• Alam inscription: Pallava king worshipped the feet of Vikramaditya I
• Took the title Rajmalla after defeating Narsimhavarman I.
• Avenged his father’s defeat and death at the hands of the Pallavas.

44. Vikramaditya I & Pallavas: Stage II
• Kuram copper plate: Parmeshwarvarman forced Vikramaditya to flee
the battle field in rags.
• Periyapuranam: Pallava commander in chief attacked Vatapi &
brought back numerous riches to his king (= Parmeshwarvarman?)

45. Others
• Gadwal inscription + Alam Inscription: Defeated Cholas, Pandyas and the
Keralas.
• Alam inscription: Simhala king bowed before Vikramaditya’s power.
• Bana family, Teluguchoda and Western Gangas : His samantas.
• Helped by his son Vinayaditya in his victories & administration.

46. Vinayaditya (c.681-696 CE)
• As a Yuvraj, assisted his father: Safegaurded Vatapi when his father went to attack
Kanchi.
• Gaudvahu: Yashovarman of Kannauj defeated a king of Deccan.
• Chalukyan inscription: King Vijayaditya fought and defeated ‘Sakaluttarapathnath’
= Lord of whole of north India.
• R.C.Majumdar: Lord of whole of north India = King Yashovarman.
• H.C.Raichaudhary: Lord of whole of north India = Later Gupta king Adityasena or
Devagupta
• Claims of victory by both parties.

47. Other victories
• Chalukya inscriptions: defeated Trairajyapallavapati, Kerala, Pandyas, Cholas,
Malwas, Haiheyas, Musak, Lat, Kamb, Strirajya etc.
• Identification: difficult
• Received taxes from Kamer, Parsika, Simhala.
• Sendrak & Alupas: His feudatories.
• Assisted by his son Vijayaditya in administration.
• Titles: Shriprithvivallabh, Satyashraya, Yuddhmalla, Rajashraya, Parmeshwar

48. Vijayaditya (c.696-733 CE)
• Active participation as a Yuvraj.
• Peaceful reign.
• Empire from Gujrat to Pallava boundary.
• Feudatories: Alupas, Gangas, Sendrakas, Banas, Telugu Chodas.
• Ulchala inscription: Sent his son Vikramaditya II to attack Kanchi.
• His son defeated Parmeshwarvarman II & received taxes from
him.
• Constructed Sangameshwar temple at Pattadakal.
• Gave patronage to Brahmanical and Jain faiths.

50. Vikramaditya II (c.733- 745 CE)
• Led Chalukya army to Kanchi as a Yuvraj.
• Titles: Satyashraya, Kanchiyankonda, Vallabhadurjaya, Shri Prithvivallabha
• Navsari inscription: Tajjiks (Arabs) ventured till Navasari. But Pulkeshiraj
defeated & forced them to retreat.
• Pulkeshiraj = Samant of Vikramadity II in Lat.
• Vikramaditya bestowed many titles viz. चालुकििि
ु लालंिार due to this feat.
• No role of Vikramaditya in this victory.
• Narvan inscription: Terrified Cholas, Pandyas, Keralas and Kalabras.

51. Vikramaditya II & Pallavas
• Kendoor inscription: He attacked & defeated Nandivarman
Pallavamalla. Got hold of Kanchi but didn’t destroy it.
• Took the title ‘ िांचचििोंड’
• Gave grants to Kanchi temples & inscribed inscriptions in Kanchi.
• Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal similar to Kailashnath temple at
Kanchi.
• Again attacked Kanchi under command of his son Kirtivarman &
defeated Nandivarman Pallavamalla.
• Lokmahadevi’s Pattadakal inscription: He won Kanchi thrice.

52. Kendur inscription
Records the fact that Vikramaditya Satyasraya, after his
conquest of Kanchi, did not confiscate the property of
Rajasimhesvara temple, but granted large sums to the
same.

53. Influence of Pallava attack on Chalukya architecture
• Vikramaditya II took along with him the temple architects (sthapathy or sutradhari)
Sarvasiddhi Acharya and Anivaratha Acharya to Vatapi.
• As desired by his queens Lokamaha Devi and Trailokyamaha Devi, caused construction
of two temples, in Dravida style , dedicated to Shiva as Lokeshwara (now known as
Virupaksha temple) and Trailokeshwara (now known as Mallikarjuna temple).
• In addition, the queens caused construction of two other temples, at Pattadakal, in
Rekha-Nagara style, dedicated to Papanatha (Shiva) and Durga Devi.
• These temples were in celebration of King Vikramaditya’s victories over the Pallavas.
• The sthapathys were generously remunerated and honored with gifts and titles
Perjarepu, the great architects; and sent back to Kanchi.
• Of these, Lokeshwara temple (now known as Virupaksha temple) at Pattadakal is said to
have been modelled after Sri Kailasanatha (Rajasimheshwaram) temple of Kanchipuram.

55. Kailashnath & Virupaksha temple

56. Kirtivarman II (c.745 – 757CE)
• Last representative of this dynasty.
• Titles: Shriprithvivallabh, Satyashraya, Rajadhiraja, Parmeshwar
• Led Chalukya army against Pallavas as a Yuvaraj.
• Feudatories: Western Gangas, Banas & Rashtrakutas
• Rashtrakuta revolt: Dantidurga defeated Kirtivarman II.
• Chalukyas lost Gujrat & northern Maharashtra to Rashtrakutas.
• Kirtivarman II tried to reacquire lost areas after death of Dantidurga.
• But Rashtrakuta successor Krishna I defeated him & completely dethroned the
Chalukyas from power

57. Causes of decline
• The Pallava-Chalukya conflict : reduced the economic stability
• Rise of feudatories: A blow to the central authority.
• Arab attack: Weakened the small kingdoms which Rashtrakuta
samanta of Chalukyas conquered.
• Ambitious & Powerful Rashtrakuta samantas: Demolished Chalukyan
empire