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

1. Kalchuris of Tripuri
By
Prachi Virag Sontakke

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

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.

7. Haiheyas: Arjuna Kartavirya Sahastraarjun

8. King Divodasa of Kashi

9. Tripuri
Puranic
legends: The
name Tripuri
is derived
from 3 forts
built by 3
demons.
Destroyed by
Shiva

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.

18. The Karna temple at Amarkantak,
built by Lakshmikarna

21. Nravarah Kari Talai Jabalpur, Kalchuri Period

22. Tripuri was first excavated by Dikshit ( 1952 ) and
later by Sankalia and Bajpai

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

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

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