The decline of the eastern Chalukya power began even in the days of Taila III. He was a feeble ahd incompetent ruler and the Kalachuri chieftain by name Bijjala won his confidence and slowly obtained more and more powers from the Chalukyan emperor.

By 1157 he had the courage to assume imperial titles and he almost believed that a new era had begun. Taila however contrived to maintain his hold though nominally over the empire. Even Hoysala Narasimha I accepted Taila’s suzerainty without question though with reservation in his mind. Taila as we have noted earlier was terrified by the Kakatiya Prola and he died in sheer fear.

Bijjala

It was now that the Kalachuris under Bijjala set up rule in the Chalukyan captial thereby executing an usurpation. Bijjala became powerful enough to march through the Deccan and attack. Hoysala Narasimha I and capture Banavasi. He was ruling in 1168 although we hear of a Jagadekamalla III perhaps a younger brother of Taila III ruling simultaneously in the Deccan and with full imperial title.

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Some legends have it that Bijjala lost his life because of the hostility of the Lingayats who had just then come up as a new sect. Bijjala’s sons ruled after him till 1183 but they could not improve upon what their father had done. They no doubt fought the Hoysalas under Ballala II with some initial success. Somesvara IV, son of Taila III, ascended the Chalukyan throne after destroying the remnants of Kalachuri power.

Basava

The rule of the Kalachuris is important not only because of the usurpation but also because of Basava, founder of the Vira Saiva sect and minister of Bijjala who ruled in Kalyani about 1156. This Basava is considered to be the founder of the Lingayat sect. The Vira Saiva religion was destined to play a dominant role in the religious history of the Deccan thereafter.