Who were the Rashtrakutas? Who was the founder of the Rashtrakuta power ?

Who were the Rashtrakutas? Who was the founder of the Rashtrakuta power ? Write how they contested with the Palas and Pratiharas for supremacy over Kanauj. – Answered

a. The Rashtrakutas:

There is a great controversy of opinion regarding the origin of the Rashtrakutas. One view is that the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan originally belonged to northern India.

Another opinion emphasises on their Maratha origin. But the more recent view is that they were Dravidian agriculturists who obtained hereditary governorship of provinces under the Chalukyas.

Later, they established a kingdom overthrowing the Chalukyas. The real founder of the independent Rashtrakuta power was Dantidurga.

b. Conlzst with Other Powers:

From the time of Harshavardhana the centre of political activities in northern India shifted from Pataliputra to Kanauj.

The importance of Kanauj did not diminish even after the death of Harsha. This is evident from the fact that for the next two hundred years the Indian rulers of both the northern and southern India were struggling among themselves for domination over Kanauj.

The three powers engaged in the conflict were the Palas of Bengal, the Pratiharas of western India and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan. More important than the conflict itself was the impact it had on the three powers.

Though all the powers had to spend money for military purposes no one could control Kanauj permanently.

Moreover, the struggle weakened all the three powers as the respective rulers could not look after the administration of their own kingdoms.