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Rashtrakuta Empire

Rashtrakuta Empire during Dhruva Dharavarsha (780CE.),
Official languages	Sanskrit Kannada
Capitals	Regal Capital: (early) Mayurkhand (Bidar district), (later)Manyakheta Other Capitals : Latur
Government	Monarchy
Preceding state	Badami Chalukya
Succeeding state	Kalyani Chalukya

The Rastrakutas were a dynasty which ruled the southern and the central parts or the deccan India during the 8th - 10th century. The emergence of the Rashtrakutas heralded a new era in the history of South India. The idiom of a Pan-Indian empire had moved to south. South Indian kingdoms had hitherto ruled areas only south of the Narmada. It was the Rashtrakutas who first forged north to the Gangetic plains and successfully contested their might against the Palas of Bengal and the Prathiharas of Gujarat. Their period brought about great contributions from Jaina mathematicians and scholars, particularly in Kannada language. Architecture reached a pinnacle in dravidian style, finest examples of which are seen in Ellora and Elephanta in Maharashtra and the Kashivishvanatha temple and Jain temple at Pattadakal in Karnataka, all of which are UNESCO world heritage monuments. They also built many fine Jaina monuments in Lokapura and Navalinga temples at Kuknur in present day Karnataka.

History

The Rashtrakutas were feudatories to the Chalukyas and came into prominence under Dantidurga around 753 CE.

Origin

There are several controversies about the origin of the founders of the Rashtrakuta feudatory during their rule from central India as subordinates of the Badamai Chalukya during the 6th. and 7th. century. Dr. J. F. Fleet claimed a Rajput origin while historians Dr. P.B. Desai, Dr. A.S. Altekar, Dr. D.R. Bhandarkar, Dr. S.U. Kamat claim the Kannada origin. Historians C. V. Vadiaya, R. G. Bhandarkar postulate a Maratha origin theory while Dr. A. C. Burnell and H. Krishna Shastri believe they were descendants of Dravidian Reddis of Andhra Desha. However, the general understanding is that they originated from an area in the deccan called by various names such as Kuntala, Maharashtra and Karnata.

The Empire

Irrespective of the early lineage of the Rashtrakuta kings, there is broad concensus among historians that the true builders of the imperial empire in the period 8th.c C.E. through 10th. c. C.E., from their regal capital Manyakheta in Gulbarga district of Karnataka, were of Kannadiga origin. This is proven by the fact that most of their inscriptions are in Kannada, the rest in Sanskrit. They encouraged Kannada and Sanskrit literature, inherited the Dravidian style of architecture, best examples of which is scattered over present day Maharashtra and northern Karnataka.

The Rashtrakutas ruled nearly all of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for several centuries as the heart of their empire. Dantidurga founded the kingdom in 735 C.E. He was the father-in-law of Pallava king Nandivarman of Kanchi. Dantidurga helped Nandivarman to regain Kanchi from the Chalukyas and finally overthrew the Badami Chalukya yoke to start the Rashtrakuta empire, with the family based in Gulbarga.. Dhruva (780 CE - 793 CE) considerably expanded the kingdom. The Rashtrakutas were involved in several wars and alliances with other southern deccan kingdoms like the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, Cholas and Gangas of southern Karnataka. They had marital alliances with the Gangas, Cholas and kingdoms in central India.

The consolidation of the kingdom started with Krishna I in whose time major portions of present day Karnataka and coastal Maharashtra came under control. During the rule of Dhruva Dharavarsha the Kingdom expanded into an empire encompassing all territory between the Kaveri River and Central India. His led successful expeditions to Kannauj also, but without long term land gains. According to some historians, the Rashtrakutas became an "All-India" power during his rule.. The ascent of his third son Govinda III to the throne heralded an era like never before. During this time, the Rashtrakutas ruled a vast empire. One Sanjan inscriptions mentions that the horses of Govinda III drank the icy water of the Himalayas and his war elephantss tasted the sacred water of Ganga. He conquered regions from Cape Comorin to Kannauj and from Banaras to Broach (Bharuch).. Though his successorAmoghavarsha I ruled a large empire, his rule was not so flamboyant militarily, but was a great success for arts and literature and religion. He is widely seen as the most famous of the Rashtrakuta kings. Jaina scholars in Sanskrit and Kannada adorned his court. During the rule of Krishna II, the empire shrank and covered mostly the Western Deccan and Gujarat. Indra III recovered most of their fortunes in Kannaujand central India, while maintaining his influence over Vengi. After a succession of unsuccessful and weak kings during which time the empire shrank in area, Krishna III, the last great king who once again consolidated the empire to stretch from the Narmada River to Kaveri River including northern Tamil country.

The final decline was sudden, Tailapa II, a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta tracing his lineage back to the Chalukyas of Badami declared himself independent taking advantage of the defeated the successors of Krishna III at the hands of the Paramara who plundered Manyakheta. Indra IV, the last king commited Sallekhana and died (fasting unto death practiced by Jain monks). However by this time, several branches of Rashtrakutas had established themselves in North India.

Art and Architecture

Kannada Literature

Kannada rose as a literary language during the Rashtrakuta rule. Most of their inscriptions are in that language. The Rashtrakutas were great patrons of learning, many literary, religious and scientific texts were written during their rule.

Kannada language, script and literature showed remarkable growth during the Rashtrakuta period. Kannada alphabet assumed sound and beautiful shapes and forms, and its literature attained productivity and dignity. The inscriptions mention a number of Kannada poets. However, the first extant work in Kannada is Kavirajamarga, a treatise on Kannada poetics. It is ascribed to the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha I Nripatunga, although some scholars argue that it was written by his court poet, SriVijaya. Sri Ponna , patronised by Krishna II was honoured by the title Kavichakravarthi and authored works like Bhuvanaika- Ramabhyudaya, Shantipurana and Jinaksaramale and Gatapratiagata. Other famous works in Kannada were Adipurana and Vikramarjuna Vijaya or Pampa Bharata by Adikavi Pampa, (patronized by King Arikesari of Vemulavada, feudatory of Rashtrakuta in Andhra). Adikavi Pampa and Sri Ponna are considered gems of Kannada literature. Asaga's Vardhamana Purana, Shivakoti Acharya's Vaddaradhane is probably the earliest prose work in 900 C.E., Chavundarayapurana was written by Chavundaraya . Other poets mentioned in inscriptions are Rudrabhatta of Banahatti, Ravinagabhatta who wrote a record for Govinda IV, Kavi Rajaraja a minister patronised by Krishna II wrote the Kalasa record and Gajankusha, a minister of Krishna III wrote on erotics.

Sanskrit Literature

The Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha is thought to have written Prashottara Ratnamalike. Trivikrama was the most important poet of the time. He authored Nalachampu and the Bagumra plates. Plates were used to write poems. Halayudha patronised by Krishna III wrote Kavirahasya, Mritasanjivini, Somadevasuri who was patronised by King Arikesari of Vemulavada wrote Yashastilaka Champu and Neetivakyamrita. Many Advitha scholars like Padmapada, Visvarupa who wrote Balakrida lived during this time. Great Jain scholars like Virasena and Jinasena were active then. They jointly wrote Dhavala and Jayadhavala. Jinasena who was guru of Amoghavarsha I also wrote Harivamsha , Parshvabhyudaya and Adipurana which was later completed as Uttarapurana by Gunabhadra, who was patronised by Krisnha II. Mahaveera wrote Ganithasarasangraha a work on Mathematices, Shakatayana wrote Amoghavritti, Amoghavarsha I himself authored Prashnottara Ratnamala. Great logicians like Manikyanandin, Mallavadin and Prabhachandra were of this period.

Architecture

The Rashtrakuta contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut shrines at Ellora and Elephanta, situated in present day Maharashtra. It is said that they altogether constructed 34 rock-cut shrines, but most extensive and sumptuous of them all is the Kailasanatha temple at Ellora. The temple is a splendid achievement of dravidian art.

The project was commissioned by King Krishna I after the Rashtrakuta rule had spread into South India from the Deccan. The architectural style used was dravidian. It does not contain any of the Shikharas common to the Nagara style and was built on the same lines as the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal in Karnataka..

The achievement at the Kailasanath temple is considered an architectural freak and should be considered one of the wonders of the world..

The Rashtrakutas contributed much to the culture of the Deccan. They contributed magnificently to architecture in places like Elephanta and Ellora in Maharashtra. In Karnataka they were responsible for the Parameshwara temple at Konnur, Brahmadeva temple at Savadi, the Settavva, Kontigudi II, Jadaragudi and Ambigeragudi temples at Aihole being proposed for world heritage status, Mallikarjuna temple at Ron, Andhakeshwara temple at Huli, Someshwara temple at Sogal, Jain temples at Lokapura, Navalinga temple at Kukanur and a Jain temple at Pattadakal, Kumaraswamy temple at Sandur, many temples at Shirival in Gulbarga, Trikunteshwara temple at Gadag which was later expanded by Kalyani Chalukyas.

Administration

From inscriptions and other records it is known that the Rashtrakutas followed the practice of nominating the crown price based on heridity. The crown did not always pass on to the eldest son as in the case of Govinda III who was crowned by Dhruva Dharavarsha. Abilities were given importance over age and chronology of birth. The most important positions under the king were Chief minister (Mahasandhivigrahi), commander (Dandanayaka), foreign minister (Mahakshapataladhikrita) whose main responsibility was to draft and maintain copper plate inscriptions like an archivist, a prime minister (Mahamatya) usually associated with one of the feudatory kings. These ministers were well versed in political science with military training.

The kingdom was divided into Mandala or Rashtras (Province). The Rashtra was ruled by Rashtrapathi which sometimes was the emperor himself. Amoghavarsha's empire had sixteen Rashtras's. Under a Rashtra was a Vishaya overlooked by a Vishayapathi and under that was a Grama looked after by Gramakuta. Trusted ministers sometimes ruled more than a Rashtra like Bankesha, commander of Amoghavarsha. Below the Vishaya was also Nadu looked after by Nadugowda or Nadugavunda. Taxes were called Udranga, Uparika and Bhagakara.

The Rashtrakutas issued coins such as Suvarrba, Drammas in silver and gold weighing 65 grains, Kalanju weighing 48 grains, Gadyanaka weighing 96 grains, Kasu weighing 15 grains, Manjati with 2 1/2 grains and Akkam of 1 1/4 grain. Coins were minted in Akkashale. Kannada inscriptions from this empire from the Bombay-Karnataka region have been deciphered and recorded by historians of Archeological Survey of India - South Indian Inscriptions (vol 9, 11,15,17 and 18).

Impact of the Rashtrakutas On Indian History and Culture

Template:Rashtrakuta Lata Kings Infobox

The rise of Chalukyas and Rashtrakuts had a great impact even in North India. While some historians have called this as "Age of Imperial Kannauj", during these times, Chalukya Pulakesi II defeated Harshavardhana and stopped his southward march at the Narmada River. Vengi remained essentially a republic of Vatapi upto middle of 9th. century. The Rashtrakutas successfully captured Kannauj and levied tribute on its rulers and on multiple occassions posed as masters of North India. During the period 7th - 12th. century, Central India was for much of the period under control of these empires and Vengi under their influence. The area between Kaveri River and Godavari River was known as "Kannada Nadu" from Kavirajamarga (850 C.E.) and formed the core area of these two ruling families. Hence according to Dr. Suryanath Kamat, the era deserves to be rightly called the "Age of Imperial Karnataka". An Arab record of 851 C.E. wrote of the Rashtrakutas as one of the four great contemporary empires of the world.

References

• Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, Concise History of Karnataka, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (reprint 2002)
• Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
• Dr. Romila Thapar, The Penguin History of Early India, From Origins to 1300 AD., Penguin, 2003, New Delhi.
• History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje © 1998-00 OurKarnataka.Com,Inc

Notes

1. According to Dr. Romila Thapar, 2003, History of Early India, From Origin to 1300 AD)
2. Dr. A.S. Altekar claims in his book Rashtrakutas and their Times, (1934)
3. From the Sanjana plates, according to Dr. Jyotsna Kamat The Rashtrakutas and Dr. Suryanath Kamath Concise history of Karnataka, 2001
4. Takeo Kamiya,The Guide to the Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 1996, Japan Architects Academy (www.indoarch.org), Archeological Survey of India
5. According to Vincent Smith, Art critic. History of Karnataka, Arthikaje
6. Arab traveller Sulaiman (851 C.E.) wrote of the Rashtrakutas, (Dr. Suryanath.U. Kamath, Concise History of Karnataka 2001)

See also

• Chalukya Empire
• Ellora Caves

External links

• List of rulers of Maharashtra
• Ancient India
• South Indian Inscriptions- Archeological Survey of India
• Kannada Literature under the Rashtrakutas - Dr. Jyotsna Kamat
• The Rashtrakutas, Dr. Jyotsna Kamat
• Sanskrit Literature under the Rashtrakutas- Dr. Jyotsna Kamat
• Archaeological Survey of India
• Architecture of Indian Subcontinent, Takeo Kamiya, Japan Architects Academy
• Early Rashtrakuta history article in Nasik gazetteer

• Ruling clans of India
• Ruling Hindu clans
• Empires and kingdoms of India
• History of Karnataka