Short Essay on the Eastern Chalukyas

The political condition of Eastern Andhra before the rise of the Chalukyas of Vatapi was one of endemic confusion relieved by the rule of petty dynasties who have been listed and discussed in the chapter on the successors of the Satavahanas.

This historical fog was dispelled by Pulakesin II who conquered the whole of the Deccan and brought it under his flag.

That powerful emperor had earned the submission of the Latas, Malavas and Gurjaras, had defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada and thrust his sword deep into the Pallava country to reach its heart at Kanchi.

The territories so gained were proportionate to the effort and the conqueror prudently decided on creating a subordinate kingdom in the Eastern Deccan to share his responsibilities if not power; and to the kingdom, which is known to history as the kingdom of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, he appointed his younger brother Vishnuvardhana.

Vishnuvardhana, Kubja

Vishnuvardhana was already functioning in Vatapi as Yuvaraja, but he now began independent rule in Vengi (c. 621). Some scholars hold that he began his reign in 615, some others have it as 624. He was called Kubja or hunch-backed for he was physically so deformed. He mopped up the remaining areas of Eastern Andhra before 631 and started the Eastern Chalukyan dynasty. He ruled over the kingdom extending from Nellore to Vishakhapatnam. He assumed the title of Vishama Siddhi (one who gets over obstacles).

Vishnuvardhana observed the formalities of subordination to his elder brother carefully and the dynasty did not presume independence till catastrophe overtook Vatapi. This dynasty has the distinction of having ruled for nearly five centuris in South India, from the middle of the 7th to the middle of the 12th, but without the distinction of ever having been brilliant in politico-military or cultural attainments. But survival itself being a value in Indian history the Eastern Chalukyan kingdom is also deemed worthy of historical credit.

Kubja Vishnuvardhana ruled till 641; he died a year before his famous brother died fighting the Pallava in Vatapi. Here again scholarly opinion differs regarding the last year of this reign, some assigning it to AD 633. A silver coin of his with the figure of a lion, a trident and lamps is noticed. He had two sons Jayasimha I (AD 641-AD 673) and Indra Battaraka.

The former passed away without having achieved anything and was succeeded by the latter who ruled for only part of a year. His son Vishnuvardhana II ruled from AD 673 to AD 682; and was succeeded by Mangi Yuvaraja (his son) in 682; he was in his turn followed by Jayasimha II (AD 706-AD 718). Then came Kokkilli, the youngest brother of this last named ruler, who sat on the throne for a year and gave it up to Vishnuvardhana HI (AD 719-755).

Vengi and the Rashtrakutas

This dreary list of rulers means that for well over a century since its inception the history of the dynasty is obscure. Evidently there were succession disputes and supersessions, but they were perhaps no more than palace revolutions.

The Eastern and Western Chalukyan dynasties, so long as they were collateral branches of the same ruling stock did not create much trouble for each other. But when Vatapi was taken over by the Rashtrakutas, hostility between the rulers of Western Deccan and the Eastern Chalukyas became marked.

This hostility, however, meant merely a lot of fighting in which the latter fared mostly badly; the exceptional instances were very occasional. Vishnuvardhana IV (Eastern Chalukya) (AD 772-AD 808) became subordinate to the Rashtrakuta Krishna I. He made the mistake of supporting Govinda II (a desultory prince) against Dhruva, his competent younger brother and had to reverse his policy on Dhruva’s success.

As Vishnuvardhana IV ruled for long he had enough time to be subordinate to a number of Rashtrakuta rulers. But his son and successor Vijayaditya II (AD 799-AD 843) rebelled against Rashtrakuta aggression but it was only an exhibition of valour without prudence for he was expelled by Govinda III. He had to accept humiliation till the accession of Amoghavarsha I, whose military incompetency was sufficient to bestow an opportunity on even Vijayaditya II for a military success against the Rashtrakutas.

Inflated by the success he assumed titles like Maharajadhiraja and Paratnesvara. His fame as a temple builder, however, was quite deserved. Among his successors Gunaga Vijayaditya III (AD 849-AD 892) fell in line with his ancestors in being defeated by the Rashtrakutas, in his case Amoghavarsha I.

But his inscriptions, however, claim a chain of victories for him over even such distant princes like the Pandyas. It was Chalukya Bhima I (AD 892-AD 921) who firmly secured a measure of independence for his line from the Rashtrakutas. Both Vijayaditya III and Bhima I were ably served by a competent general by name Panduranga.

After the death of Bhima I, his son Vijayaditya IV ruled for six months and he was succeeded by the latter’s son Amma I whose death was followed by a civil war and an interference from the Rashtrakutas. Bhima II, the brother of Amma I, frustrated Rashtrakuta designs and ascended the throne of Vengi.

In the reign period of Amma II there was again effective interference from the Rashtrakutas who drove him from Vengi to Kalinga and appointed one Batapa to the Eastern Chalukyan kingdom. This was about the middle of the 10th century AD