Exploring the Magnificent Legacy of the Chalukya Dynasty

Vatapi (Karnataka)

Initially, the Chalukyas were vassals of the Kadamba dynasty rulers.

Pulakeshin-I (533-565 A.D.)

He built a fort in Vatapi. Pulakeshin-I assumed titles like Prithvi Vallabh and Shrivallabh.

After this, Kirtivarman became the ruler who is said to be the creator of the city of Vatapi.

After Kirtivarman, Mangalesha became the ruler who was murdered by his nephew Pulakeshin II.

Pulakeshin-II (609-642 A.D.)

He was the most powerful ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. Pulakeshin literally means having hair like a lion.

Pulakeshin II performed the Ashvamedha and Vajpeya yagya. The main source of information about Pulakeshin II is the Eloha inscription whose author was Ravikirti.

Pulakeshin – II defeated Harshvardhan. Apart from this, he defeated Mahendra Varman, the ruler of the Pallava dynasty of Kanchi, and handed over the territories won from the Pallavas to his brother Vishnuvardhan and this branch came to be known as the branch of Vengi.

Pulakeshin II was defeated and killed on the battlefield by the Pallava Shamaka Narasimhavarman and Narasimhavargan assumed the title of Vatapikonda, which is mentioned on the wall of the Mallikarjuna temple at Vatapi.

The ambassador of the Persian ruler Khusro Parvez used to come to the court of Pulakeshin II and pictures of both of them have been made in Cave No. 1 of Ajata.

After Pulakeshin-II, Vikramaditya-II became the ruler who defeated the Pallava ruler Parameshwar Varman I. After this, Vijayaditya and Vikramaditya-II became the rulers.

Vikramaditya – II

He defeated the Pallava rulers Parameshwaravarman – II and Nandivarman – II.

Lokamahadevi, wife of Vikramaditya II, built the Veerupadaksha Temple at Mepadatkal (Karnataka) to commemorate the victory over the Pallavas.

Vikramaditya-III

He was the last ruler of this branch.

Exploring the Magnificent Legacy of the Chalukya Dynasty — Chalukya Dynasty

Kalyani branch (Karnataka)

Telva-11 (373-997)

He was defeated 6 times by Vakpati Munj, the ruler of the Parmar dynasty of Malwa. For the 7th time, Vakpati Munj crossed the Godavari river and attacked Tailap-II and Munj was defeated. Munj was kept captive in prison where he fell in love with Tailap-II’s sister Mrinalvati. Munj planned to escape from prison but Mrinalvati betrayed him and informed her brother Tailap-II about this and Munj was murdered in prison. Information about this is available in Merutung’s book Prabandh Chintamani.

After Telap-II, Satyashraya became the ruler who took the title of Bhuvanmalla. After him Vikramaditya and Someshwar-I became the rulers.

Someshwar-I fought with the Cholas. Someshwar-I defeated and killed the Chola ruler Rajadhiraja in the battle of Kopiyam. But the Chola rulers Rajendra-II and Veera Rajendra defeated Someshwar-I in the battle of Kudalasangam and Someshwar committed suicide by jumping into the Tungabhadra river.

Vikramaditya IV’s court writer Vihalan wrote Vikramantadevacharita and Vigyaneshwar wrote Mitakshara.

A ruler named Someshwar-III wrote a book named Manasollas. Someshwar-IV was the last ruler of this branch.

Vengi branch

Its founder was Vishnuvardhan, brother of Pulkebin II. After this, two princes Shaktivarman and Vimaladitya were defeated by a ruler named Chodabhim, then they were given shelter by Rajaraja Chola.

A ruler named Rajendra II incited the public and got the Chola ruler Adhirajendra killed. Rajendra II later became the ruler of the Chola dynasty under the name of Kulothunga.