What was the relation between Gangas and Rashtrakutas?

After the accession of Amoghavarsha I (Rashtrakuta) there was evidence of reduced aggression on the part of the Rashtrakutas, a policy designated “conciliatory” by some historians. This was a suitable atmosphere for the succcessors of Sivamara II to reassert their independence.

In fact Rajamalla I (AD 817-AD 853) rebelled against the Rashtrakutas. This policy of struggle against the imperial stranglehold was continued by Nitimarga I (AD 853-AD 870). Rajamalla II (A.d. 870-AD 907) and Butuga I were on friendly terms with the Rashtrakutas. Amoghavarsha I gave his daughter in marriage to Butuga I.

These rulers came into conflict with the Easterm Chalukyas of Vengi and allied themselves with the Pallavas against the Pandyas. The Rashtrakutas under Krishna II left the Gangas largely to themselves. There was then a partition of the kingdom by which Prithvipati I (AD 853-A.D 880) belonging to a subsidiary branch of the Ganga dynasty was ruling in Kolar. He helped Aparajita Pallava in the battle of Tiruppurambiyam which went against the Pandyas.

Prithvipati II (AD 880-AD 925) became a feudatory of Parantaka I Chola. The next great Ganga king was Nitimarga II (AD 907-AD 935) and he was ruling from Talakad. His successor was Rajamalla III who sufferred at the hands of Krishna III (Rashtrakuta) who supported Butuga II in 937. Butuga II (AD 937-A.D 960) cooperated with Krishna III in the battle of Takkolam fought between the Rashtrakutas and the Cholas.

In that battle the Chola prince Rajaditya died (949). Butuga II was a philosopher proficient in Jain thought. Narasimha III (AD 960-AD 974) was loyal to the Rashtrakuta alliance and cooperated with Krishna III.

He, however, could not succeed in helping Indra IV (who was his nephew and therefore a grandson of Krishna III) against Taila II of Kalyani. He committed ritual suicide following the Jaina tradition. He was followed by Rajamalla IV (AD 974-AD 985). His minister Chamundaraya was entitled Viramarthanda and he successfully put down rebellions in the kingdom.

He wrote the Chamundarayapurdnam in Kannada. It is an account of the 24th Jain Tirthankaras. He built a Jaina temple in Sravana Balgola about 982 and put up a huge statue of Gomatesvara in the same place. The stature is 57 feet in height and for sheer dimension it is unparalleled.

The Decline

Rajamalla IV was succeeded by his younger brother Rakkasaganga (AD 985-AD 1024). In 1004 the Cholas under Rajaraja I captured Talakad and practically ended Ganga dominion. Inscriptions of Rakkasaganga dated 1024 indicate Rajendra I Chola as the overlord of Gangavadi Vishnuvardhana Hoysala of the 12th century had a Gangaraja for minister and we hear of another Gangaraja daring to defy Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar.

The Gangas were throughout staunch supporters of Jainism. They practised the religion and propagated it. Their patronage of Kannada literature is noteworthy. Two of the greatest Kannada poets belonged to the 10th century namely Pampa, the author of the Pampabharatha and Ponna as well as Ranna the greatest of the Kannada poets.