The document provides information about the Kalchuri dynasty that ruled over parts of central India from the 8th to 13th centuries CE. Some key points:
1. The Kalchuris originated in Maharashtra and Gujarat and established their kingdom in Tripuri in the 8th century under their founder Vaamrajadeva.
2. Important kings included Kokalla I who expanded the kingdom, Gangeyadeva who achieved major conquests, and Laxmikarna who brought much of central India under his control during his reign from 1041-1072 CE.
3. The dynasty declined in the early 13th century and was eventually conquered by the Delhi Sultanate in the late 12
3. Introduction
• Various names: Kalchchuri, Katchchuri, Haiheya, Chedis, Chedikula.
• Ruled over Maharashtra, Gujarat and parts of Malwa.
• Founder: Vaamrajdeva
• Around 8th century CE, they emerged as a strong force in the region
around Jabalpur with their capital at Tripuri.
• Referred to as kings of Dahal mandal.
• Kalchuri samvat: 248CE
Kalchuris of
Mahishmati
Kalchuris of
Saryupara
Kalchuris of
Tripuri
4.
5.
6. Origin: Mythical ancestory
• Mahabharata: King Shishupala as Chediraja, Arjuna Kartavirya, Parshurama
• Ramayana: King Sagar defeated Chedis.
• Puranas: Kashi under king Divodasa attacked by Haiheyas.
• Imparted mythical ancestry.
• Kalchuri inscriptions + Prithvirajvijaya: Related to Arjuna Kartavirya
Sahastraarjun of Haiheya Dynasty.
• Haiheya Dynasty = Chandravamshi/Somvamshi Kshatriya
• Kalchuris = Chandravamshi/Somvamshi Kshatriyas.
10. Antiquity & Associations
• One of the 16 Mahajanpadas during 6th cent BCE.
• Capital : Mahishmati
• D.R.Bhandarkar: They were Hindu descendants of Foreigners Sakas-
Pahalava.
• Unacceptable.
• V. V. Mirashi: Connected the Kalchuris of Tripuri to the early Kalchuris
of Mahishmati ??
11. Sources
• Bilhari inscription of Yuvaraj
• Banaras inscription & Rewa inscription of
Laxmikarna.
• Sarnath inscription & Mukundpur inscription of
Gangeyadeva
• Khaira & Jabalpur inscription of Yashahkarna
• Chatsu inscription of Guhil king Baladitya.
• Khajuraho inscription of Chandellas
• Udaypur Prashasti of Parmaras.
• Vadnagar Prashasti of Gujrat Chaulukyas.
• Viddhashalbhanjika & Kavyamimansa by
Rajshekhar.
• Prabandchintamani by Merutunga.
• Vikramankdevacharita by Bilhana.
• Kirtikaumudi by Someshwar deva.
• Dwashrayakavya by Hemachandra
• Tareekh-e-Baihaki
• Parijatmanjari
• Coins, Art & Architecture,Excavated site
remains.
22. Tripuri was first excavated by Dikshit ( 1952 ) and
later by Sankalia and Bajpai
23.
24. Kalchuri Geneology
• Vamaraja-deva (675-700 CE)
• Shankaragana I (750-775 CE)
• Lakshmanraja I (825-850 CE)
• Kokalla I (850-890 CE)
• Shankaragana II (890-910 CE)
• Balaharsha (910-915 CE)
• Yuvaraja-deva I (915-945 CE)
• Lakshmana-raja II (945-970 CE)
• Shankaragana III (970-80 CE)
• Yuvaraja-deva II (980-990 CE)
• Kokalla II (990-1015 CE)
• Gangeya-deva (1015-1041 CE)
• Lakshmi-karna (1041-1073 CE),
• Yashah-karna (1073-1123 CE)
• Gaya-karna (1123-1153 CE)
• Nara-simha (1153-1163 CE)
• Jaya-simha (1163-1188 CE)
• Vijaya-simha (1188-1210 CE)
• Trailokya-malla (c. 1210- at least 1212 CE)
25. Vaamrajadeva (c.675-700CE)
• Founder of Kalchuri of Tripuri dynasty.
• BiIhari inscription + Banaras inscription of Karna: Kalchuri genoelogy beginning
with Kokkal I. No mention of Vaamrajadeva.
• Called Parambhattarak Maharajadhiraj Parmeshwar.
• Probably established himself after the decline of Harshavardhan’s power.
• Won Kalinjar fort and occupied Bundelkhand & Baghelkhanda.
• Also occupied Pratapgarh and Raibareli.
• Made Tripuri his capital.
26. Shankargana I to Lakshmanraj I
(750-850CE)
• Shankargana I: Called Parambhattaraka
Maharajadhiraja Parmeshwar.
• Ruled over an extensive area.
• After Shankargana, a period of darkness for 100 years.
• Probably faced Rashtrakuta pressure.
• No inscription of any king during these 100 years.
• Next known king after Shankargana I = Lakshmanraj I.
• Lakshamanraj I accepted Rashtrakuta soverignity.
27. Kokkal I (c.850-890CE)
• BiIhari inscription + Banaras inscription of Karna: Kalchuri
genealogy beginning with Kokkal I
• First better known and powerful Kalchuri king.
• Matrimonial alliances:
1. Himself married to Chandella princess Nattadevi.
2. Married his daughter from Nattadevi to Rashtrakuta king
Krishna II.
• Relations with Chandella and Rashtrakutas: western &
southwestern sides of Kalchuri kingdom safeguarded.
• Begot 18 sons who were appointed Mandaladhipatis of various
Mandals.
28. Imperialistic conquests
• Banaras inscription of Karna: Gave abhay to Bhoja, Vallabhraja,
Chitrakootabhupala, Harsh & Shankargana.
• Bilhari inscription: Established Krishnaraja and Srinidhibhojadeva as his victory
pillars in south and north.
• Bhoja =Gurjar Pratihara king ?
• Vallabharaj = Rashtrakuta Krishna II (Helped him against Vengi Chalukyas)
• Chitrakootabhupala = Chandella/Guhil king
• Shankargana =Kalchuri of Saryupara.
29. Shankargana II (c.890-910CE)
• S/O Kokkal I
• Titles: Prasiddhadhawal, Mugdhatunga.
• As a Yuvaraja, participated in battle against Vengi Chalukyas for Krishna II.
• Kalchuri inscriptions: Won coastal areas and Paali.
• Coastal areas ?
• Paali = In south Kosal.
• Appointed his younger brother as Mandaladhipati of Paali.
• Succeeded by his son Baalharsha who had a minor reign & who died sonless.
30. Yuvaraja I (c.915-945CE)
• Shankargana son Balaharsha ruled for a little time and died heirless.
• Yuvaraja = Brother of Shankargana I
• Became Kalchuri king
• Banaras inscription of Karna: Praises his might and credits him with carrying many
imperialistic campaigns.
• Patron of scholars and poets.
• Rajshekhar, court poet of Pratihara Mahendrapal-Mahipal, became cout poet of Yuvaraj I.
• Constructed Chausath Yogini Temple at Bhedaghat
• Titles: Parmeshwar, Chakravarti, Trikalingaadhipati
31.
32.
33.
34.
35. Conquests
• Bilhari inscription: Yuvaraja was emperor of Gaud, Karnat, Laat, Kashmir
& Kalinga.
• Some truth but mostly exaggeration.
• A Chandella inscription: Yuvaraj I put his foot over heads of many
powerful kings.
• Viddhashaalbhanjika by Rajshekhar: Yuvaraj I called a serpent for Ujjaini.
• Attack on Parmaras of Malwa?
• Khajuraho inscription: Yashovarma Chandella defeated Yuvaraja I
36. Lakshmanraj II (945-970CE)
• S/O Yuvaraj I
• Worshipper of Shiva: Gave donations to Sahivacharyas & constructed Shaiva temples
• Goharwa inscription: Defeated Gaud king, Pandyaraja, Laatraja, Gurjararaj & Veers of
Kashmir.
• Bilahari inscription: defeated Kosal & Odra king & did puja in Somnath temple, Gujrat.
• Kosal = Mahakosal
• Odra = Odisa
• Somnath = Laat conquest?
• Took Laat from Gurjar Pratiharas.
37. Shankargana III (c.970-980CE)
• S/O Lakshmanraj II.
• Not very powerful as a king.
• Defeated by a minister of younger brother of Chandella king Dhang.
• Died heirless.
38. Yuvaraj II (c.980-990CE)
• Yuvaraj II = Shankargana’s younger brother.
• His sister was married in Kalyani Chalukya dynasty.
• Sister = Mother of Kalyani Chalukya King Tailap.
• Udaypur Prashasti: Parmar king Vakpati II Munjraja attacked Tripuri and
killed in commander of Yuvaraj II’s army.
• Vakpati II got hold over Tripuri for a while.
• Later a treaty was sought between two.
39. Kokkal II (c.990-1015CE)
• S/O Yuvaraj II.
• Minor at time of accession.
• A weak king.
• Power of Kalchuris further declined in his reign.
40. Gangeyadeva (c.1015-1040CE)
• S/O Kokkal II
• Greatest ruler of Kalchuri dynasty.
• At the time of his accession -
Kalchuri power waning.
Mighty Chandellas under Vidyadhar
Powerful Parmaras under Bhoja
41.
42. Gangeyadeva and Chandellas
• Contemporary Chandella king = Vidyadhar
• Mukundpur inscription of 1019 CE: Feudatory title of Gangeyadeva
• A later inscription of Chandellas: "Bhojadeva, together with
Kalachurichandra worshipped, full of fear, like a pupil, (this) master of
warfare, who had caused the destruction of the King of Kanyakubja.
• Dr. D.C. Ganguly and C.V.Vaidya: Kalchurichandra = Gangeyadeva
• Gangeyadeva seems to have been forced to acknowledge for the time the
supremacy of the Chandella ruler.
43. Gangeyadeva and Parmaras: Stage 1
• Contemporary Paramara king = Bhoja
• Probably Gangeyadeva and Bhoja became friends initially against their combined
enemy Vidyadhara.
• Kulenoor inscription: Gangeyadeva participated in Bhoja’s battle against Kalyani
Chalukya king Jaisimha II & defeated Chalukyas.
• Goharwa + Khaira + Jabalpur inscriptions: refer to this victory of Gangeyadeva.
• Later Chalukyas regained their kingdom.
• Probably Jaisimha defeated Gangeyadeva
• Friendship of Gangeyadeva with Bhoja Parmar also ended.
44. Gangeyadeva and Parmaras: Stage 2
• 1021 CE: Death of Vidyadhar Chandella
• Fight amongst contemporary powers for supremacy.
• Kalchuri & Parmara vying for Chandella kingdom.
• Conflit inevitable.
• Udaypur Prashasti + Kalvan inscription: Bhoja defeated Chedishwar
• Chedishwar = Gangeyadeva
• Paarijaatmanjari: Bhoja celebrated this victory as a festival.
45. Gangeyadeva and Palas
• Pala power declining: opportunity for Gangeyadeva.
• Took Kashi from Mahipala.
• Tried to conquer Anga (Muzaffarpur-Bhagalpur), and Magadh from Palas.
• Inscriptions of Laxmikarna: Gangeyadeva took the wealth of Anga desa
• Mahipala’s Inscriptions: Anga under Mahipala
• Not definitive how much success Gangeyadeva got against Mahipala.
46. Digvijay
• Overthrew the yoke of Chandella overlordship after the death of Vidyadhar.
• Banaras inscription of Laxmikarna: Won Kir = Kangada in H.P. & imprisoned its king.
• Banaras inscription of Laxmikarna :Won Kashi & its neighbourhood & took them under his
direct control.
• Tareekh-e-Baihaki : Control of Kashi
• Took Kashi and neighbouring areas from Pal king Mahipal.
• Won Prayag and attached it to his kingdom.
• Khaira + Jabalpur inscriptions: Control over Prayag.
• Coins of Gangeyadeva: Hold over Ganga-Yamuna doab
47. Attack of Ahmad Niyaaltageen
• 1033CE: Attack of Ahmad Niyaaltageen on Kashi
• Tareekh-e-Baihaki: The king of Kashi was Gangeyadeva.
• Attack was quite sudden.
• More of a raid in nature.
• Did not stay in Kashi.
• Fully aware of Gangeyadeva’s mighty army.
48. Gangeyadeva and Utkal
• Goharwa inscription: Gangeyadeva defeated Utkalraj
• Rewa inscription: Blood of the elephants killed by Gangeyadeva’s soldiers redded
the sea waters.
• Sea = Odisa coastal sea
• V.V.Mirashi: Defeated Utkal king = Shubhkar II of Kar dynasty
• Helped by his Tummain Kalchuri samant Kamalraj.
• V.V.Mirashi: In the same campaign, Gangeyadeva went on to defeat
Mahashivagupta Yayati, king of south Kosal & took the title of Trikalingaadhipati
• Trikalinga = Odra + Kangod + Kalinga
49. Remarks
• Laid foundation for further rise of Kalchuris.
• Shaivite: constructed many Shiva temples.
• Issued Lakshmi type of coins which were imitated by Chandellas, Gahadwalas and Tomars.
• Titles: Maharajadhiraj Parmeshwar, Mahamandaleshwar,Vikramaditya, Jitvishwa,
Trikalingaadhipati
• Khaira + Jabalpur inscription: Gangeyadeva, along with his 100 wives, left for heavenly
abode in Prayag.
50. Laxmikarna (1041-1072CE)
• S/O Gangeyadeva
• Greatest of all Kalchuri monarchs
• Received a stable empire in accession.
• 8 inscriptions of his are recovered.
• Rewa inscription & Benaras inscriptions: Provide details of his conquests.
• Period of reign can be divided into two categories
• First 20 years: Period of supremacy
51. Laxmikarna and Vanga
• Bhedaghat inscription: Vanga and Kalinga trembled in front of Laxmikarna.
• Vanga = Southern + Eastern Bengal
• Rewa inscription: Defeated King of East
• King of East = King of Vanga = Jaatvarman
• Jaatvarman became Laxmikarna’s feudatory.
• Helped Laxmikarna in his Anga victory.
• Laxmikarna married his daughter Veer shri with Jaatvarman.
52. Laxmikarna and Kalinga
• Bhedaghat inscription: Vanga and Kalinga trembled in front of Laxmikarna.
• Kalinga under Somvamshi king or Udyotakesari IV Mahabahavgupta
• Mahabahavgupta’s inscriptions: He defeated kings of Dahal, Odra and Gaud.
• Contradictory evidence.
• May be Laxmikarna victorious in one round & Mahabahavgupta in other.
• May be Laxmikarna defeated Somvamshi king of Kalinga whose successor
Mahabahavgupta defeated Laxmikarna.
53. South Indian conquests
• Rewa inscription: Credits Laxmikarna with Kuntal and Pallava victory.
• Kuntal = Under Kalyani Chalukyas.
• V.V.Mirashi: Reference to Pallavas is wrong since by this date, Cholas had
already uprooted Pallavas.
54. Laxmikarna and Kalyani Chalukyas: Stage I
• Kalyani Chalukya king = Someshwar I
• Many rounds of conflicts between Kalchuris and Kalyani Chalukyas.
• Rewa inscription: Karna kidnapped the wealth of Kalyani Chalukyas.
• Vikramankadevacharita by Bilhana: Aahavmalla so destroyed the
power of Karna, that Laxmi could never go back to Dahal.
• Aahavmalla = Kalyani Chalukya king Someshwar I.
55. Laxmikarna & Chandellas: Stage I
• Chandella king = Devavarma
• Devavarama : A weak king
• Laxmikarna attacked and killed Devavarma.
• Acquired a huge part of Bundelkhanda.
• Bilhana: Calls Karna as Kaal for Kalinjaraadhipati.
56. Chandellas: Stage II
• Chandella king = Kirtivarma
• Prabodhachandrodaya: Victory of Chandella armies over Laxmikarna.
• Kalchuris lost Bundelkhand which was under Laxmikarna since 10-12
years.
• V.N.Pathak : Not clear if Chandella king was helped by Chaulkya Bhim
I or Kalyani Chalukya Someshwar I
57. Laxmikarna & Parmaras
• Parmara king = Bhoja = A powerful king
• Bhoja had earlier defeated Gangeyadeva, the father of Karna.
• Laxmikarna initially avoided any direct conflict with Bhoja
• Birbhum district Karna was aware of powerlessness of old Bhoja.
• Allied with Gujrat Chaulukya king Bhim I
• Prabandhachintamani: Plan = attacking Malva together & dividing the loot equally between
themselves
• Bhoja died.
• 1055CE: Bhoja looted Dhara and took all the wealth of Bhoja.
• Avenged his father’s defeat at the handa of Bhoja Parmara.
58. Laxmikarna & Gujrat Chaulukyas
• Gujrat Chaulukya king = Bhim I
• Laxmikarna and Bhim joined hands against Bhoja Pramar.
• Later differences arose between them on the distribution of loot from
Dhara.
• Prabandhachintamani + Dwashrayakavya: Bhim I defeated Laxmikarna.
• It appears that a treaty was sought between the two.
59. Zenith of Laxmikarna’s power: 1054-55CE
• V.V.Mirashi: To declare his Chakravartin status, Karna organized his second
coronation in c.1052-1053CE
• Gopalpur Inscription: Calls Laxmikarna as Saptamchakravartin.
• Goharwa inscription: परमभट्टारकमहाराजाधिराज परमेश्वर , त्रिकल िंगाधिपति,
तिजभुजोपार्जििअश्वपतििरपतिगजपतिराजियाधिपति
• Trikalinga = Odra, Kangoda, Kalinga
• Ashvapati = Gurjar Pratiharas
• Narpati = Gangas of Kalinga
• Gajapati = Palas of Bengal
60. Retaliation by Kalyani Chalukyas: Stage II
• Kalyani Chalukyas and Parmaras: Sworn enemies.
• Kalyani Chalukya king Tailap II’s ill treatment & killing of Pramara king Munj
• Still, both dynasties decided to unite against Lakshmikarna.
• BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC COUP IN INDIAN HISTORY
• Kalyani Chalukya king = Someshwar I
• Malwa formerly of Parmaras, now under Laxmikarna, the Kalchuri king
• Kalyani Chalukyas couldn’t afford the Kalchuri control of Malwa at any cost.
• Vikramankadevacharita: S/O Someshwar I, Vikramaditya VI helped son of Bhoja Parmar in
placing him on Parmara throne & married his daughter with him.
• Laxmikarna lost Malwa.
61. Kalyani Chalukyas: Stage III
• Kalyani Chalukya king = Someshwar II.
• Someshwar II stopped helping and supporting Parmara king Jaisimha II.
• Someshwar’s relation with Kalchuris improved.
• Someshwar II + Laxmikarna: Attacked Malwa.
• Nagpur Prashasti: Karnat-Kalchuri federation was a sea that drowned Parmaras.
• Jaisimha II was killed.
• Kalchuri inscription: Silent with regard to this victory.
• Probably Laxmikarna acted only as an assistant and couldn’t do much due to his old age.
• No benefit for Laxmikarna
62. Laxmikarna & Palas
• Pala king = Nayapala
• Kalchuri inscriptions + Tibetan sources: Karna attacked Palas.
• No conclusive result of this attack.
• Tibetan sources: A treaty was sought between the two.
• Pala king = Vigrahpala III
• Ramcharita by Sandhyakar Nandi: Vigrahapala III defeated Laxmikarna.
• Paikore (Birbhum district) inscription of Karna: Victory over Palas.
• Dwashrayakavya by Hemchandra: Even after being victorious, Karna married his daughter with
Vigrahpala III.
• Diplomatic move: Security against Chalukya-Chaulukyas in west.
63. End
• Parmara inscription: Udayaditya Parmara killed Dahalaadheesh
• Dahalaadheesh = Laxmikarna
• Inscriptions of Yashahkarna Kalchuri: His father Laxmikarna himself
coronated him on Kalchuri throne.
• Situation unclear?
64. Remarks
• Kalchuris reached zenith of their power under Laxmikarna.
• Many dynasties even allied to defeat him.
• But could not incur much damage to Kalchuri power.
• A period of cultural accomplishments.
• Prabandhachintamani: Constructed Karnameru temple in Varanasi, Karnateerth Ghat in
Prayag & Karnavati city.
• Gave grants in Kashi and Prayag: His favorite cities.
• Gave patronage to Buddhism in Sarnath.
• Kashmiri poet Bilhan resided in his kingdom at Kashi for a few days.
• Many poets served his court: Karpoor, Kankaabhar, Vidyapati etc.
65. Fall of Kalchuris: Yashahkarna (c.1073-1123CE)
• S/O Laxmikarna
• Issued Khaira and Jabalpur inscriptions.
• Could not safeguard the empire he recived in succession.
• Kalchuri feudatories shifting their allegiance to other contemporary powerful overlords.
• Defeated by Gahadwala Chandradeva, Lakshamdeva Parmara, Chandella Sallakshanvarma,
Chalukya Vikramaditya VI.
• Boundaries of Kalchuri kingdom shrinked to consist only of Bundelkhanda
• Only success: defeating an Andhra king.
66. Fall of Kalchuris: Gayaakarna (c.1123-1151)CE
• S/O Yashahkarna
• Defeated by Chandella king Madanvarma.
• Kalchuris of south Kosal = Feudatory of Kalchuris
• Now they defeated Gayaakarna and also became independent.
• Gayaakarna succeeded by his son Narsimha
• Narsimha = Last known independent Kalchuri king
• Kalchuri could not face the attacks of Yadavas and Muslim advance and
succumbed.
67. Fall of Kalchuris
• Weak incapable successors
• Powerful contemporaries: Gahadwalas,Chandella, Parmaras, Kalyani Chalukyas
• Attack by Yadavas
• Muslim advance
• Draining economy