The document discusses the Chalukya dynasty of Kalyani, which rose again to prominence in southern India after 200 years of rule by the Rashtrakutas. It describes how Taila II overthrew the Rashtrakuta king in 973 AD and reestablished the Chalukya kingdom, extending its territory from the Narmada to the Tungabhadra rivers through military campaigns. The dynasty went on to rule for over 200 years and engage in conflicts with the Paramara and Chola dynasties during the reigns of kings like Taila II, Satyasraya, Vikramaditya V, and Jayasim

1. Chalukya of Kalyani
BY
Dr. Rajiv Kumar Jaiswal
Assistant Professor
Vasanta College for Women
KFI, Rajghat, Varanasi

2. • The Badami Western Chalukyan rule over the Deccan came to an end
round about 750 A.D., with the rise of the Rashtrakutas who ruled for
nearly 200 years with their capital at Manyakheta or Malkhed.
Though the power of the Western Chalukyas was thus overshadowed,
they did not completely cease to exist, but were ruling as small
feudatories here and there. After a period of nearly 200 years of rule
by the Rashtrakutas, the Western Chalukyas rose to prominence
again, as the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani, ruled for a further period
of 200 years.

3. Sources
• We came to know the history of Chalukya of kalyani through many
sources, viz: Inscription and Literature
Inscription: mainly issued by Chalukya of kalyani rulers and feudatories.
Most of the inscription were in Kannada language. mostly ingraved on
stones, less number of copper plate grant ins.
Literature: one of the important literary source is Vikramānkdevacharit
written by Bilhana (a Kashmiri Brāhman scholar) in Sanskrit language.
This is a semi-historical text. Basically deals with the description of life
and political achievements of Vikramāditya VI. Another text is
Gadāyudha written by Ranna.

4. • There are some traditional accounts giving the genealogical connection
between the Western Chalukyas of Badami, and the Western Chalukyas
of Kalyani. The last ruler of the Badami line was Kirtivarma-II and have
no contemporaneous evidence to show, whether he left any offspring or
not. The traditional connection between the Western Chalukyan lines of
Badami and Kalyani is given in the Kauthem grant of 1009 A.D., which
gives us a list of seven kings spread over a period nearly 240 years
counting from the last date of Vijayaditya of the Badami line to the reign
of Taila-II who was the first important ruler of the Kalyani line of the
Western Chalukyas.
Introduction

5. • Chālukya of Kalyāni associated them with Chālukya of Vātāpi royal family.
They claimed that they were descendent of Vikramāditya II brother
(Chālukya of Vātāpi).
• Gotra of the Chalukya of Kalyani was same as Chalukya of Vatapi.
• They worshipped same Sects and God and Goddesses as Chalukya of Vatapi.
• They used same royal insignia as used by Chalukya of Vatapi.
• Probably Tailap or Tail II (Chalukya of Kalyani ruler) and his ancestor’s were
also belongs to Bijapur (where main branch of Chalukya of Vatapi associated)
• Many chalukya of kalyani rulers married with Chedi princess as we know that
Chalukya of Vatapi also had marriage alliance with Chedi dynasty.
The connection is as follows:

6. • The dynasty is called Western Chalukya to differentiate from the
contemporaneous Eastern Chalukya of Vengi a separate dynasty.
• For over century, the two empires of Southern India, the Western
Chalukya of kalyani and the Chola dynasty of Tanjore fought many fierce
wars to control the fertile region of Vengi

7. Tailap or Tail II (973-997 AD)
• Tailapa-II was the founder of the Chalukyas of Kalyani dynasty. He defeated
the Rashtrakuta king Karka in 973 A.D. and rose to the position of an
independent king from the position of Mahamandalesvara, a feudatory
chief. His full name is Ahavamalla Nurmadi Taila. His father name was
Vikramaditya IV and mother was Bonthadevi. References indicate him as a
feudatory of Krishna-III of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, in 957 and 965 A.D.
They mention a Tailapayya as a subordinate in charge of a Nadu. From this
subordinate position Taila-II would appear to have strengthened his
position and consolidated his reign. The growing weakness of the central
power of the Rashtrakutas kindled his ambition and when Malkhed or
Manyakheta the capital of the Rashtrakutas was plundered by the
Paramaras of Malwa, Taila got his chance.
• Tailap II was contemporary of three Rashtrakutas rulers: Krishna III (939-
67), Khottiga (967-72) and Kark II (972-73)

8. Cont….
• The collapse of the Rashtrakuta power was complete and Taila-II asserted his
position more or less as the heir to the Rashtrakuta kingdom. Taila-II was
married to a Rashtrakuta princess called Jakkavve by name, who was the
daughter of a certain Bammaha, and had two sons by her, the elder being
called Satyasraya, and the younger being called Dasavarma or Yasovarma.
• Gadag inscription of Vikrmaditya VI, gave detailed information. According to
the ins. Tailap II re-established Chalukya power and glory. Later inscription
also provide same information.
• Kharepatan ins. also gave credit to Tailap II for re-establishment of Chalukya
power.

9. Cont…..
• He ruled the new kingdom from 973 A.D. to 997 A.D. Tailapa-II was
successful in not only restoring the Chalukyan power to its original position
but also subdued the other feudatory kings of Rashtrakutas i.e.,
• Nolamba
• Pallavas,
• Silharas,
• Yadavas of Seun,
• Gangas
• Banwasi etc.

10. Cont…..
• After subduing all the feudatory kings, he had captured whole Rastrakutas
territory. Tailap II not only inheritated Rastrakutas territory but also
inheritated Enemy & friends of Rastrakutas dynasty. Parmar of malwa and
Cholas were main enemy of Rashtrakutas, probably Tailap II participated as
an Rashtrakutas feudal kings against Parmar and Chola.
• War with Parmar: we came to know about this conflict through Kauthem
grnat ins, Gadag ins and Praband-chintamani by Merutunga. According to
Prabandh-chintamani, Tailapa’s war against Munja (Utpal) Paramar of Malwa
was a protracted one and that he had invaded Malwa as many as six times.
But every time he was defeated. Munja decided to crush Tailap by a
devastating campaign against him. Prabandhachintamani states that the king
Vakpati Munja undertook his last expedition into Tailapa’s country against the
advice of his minister Rudraditya. He was defeated after crossing the
Godavari which formed the northern boundary of Tailapa’s kingdom and was
taken captive. He was finally executed.

11. Cont…….
• As Tailapa-II died in Saka 919 ( 997-98 A.D.) his victory over Munja (Utpala)
mentioned in the present record of Jammikunta which is dated Saka 917
(995 A.D.) must be referring to the last decisive battle, between the two
kings. Thus the date of the death of Munja-Vakpati can be precisely stated to
be 995 A.D.
• War with Chola: Sources reveal that Tailapa opened the Chalukya-Chola
conflict and fought with Chola king. As we know that during the reign of
Krishna III, Tailap II (a feudatory king of Krishna III) participated in many
battles against Chola. Chola ruler Rajraj I was his contemporary. It appears
that Tailap II succeeded in forestalling the design of Rajraj I, for an ins. dated
992 AD gives him the credit of defeating the Cholas and seizing their 150 war
elephants.

13. Cont……
• The Chalukyan inscriptions give to Tailap II the credit of subduing the
Gurjaras also. Thus, Tailapa’s kingdom extended from the Narmada to the
Tungabhadra. Ranna the great Kannada poet popularly known as Kaviratna
wrote Ajithapurana. He was the court poet of Tailapa-II and was honoured
by the king with the title Kavichakravarthi. He assumed the titles of
Chakrvartin, Maharajadhiraja and Parameshvara.

14. • Satyasraya (997-1008 AD)
• Vikramaditya V (1008-1014 AD)
• Ayyan II
• Jayasimha II (1015-1042 AD)