Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about The Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta and the Chalukyas of Kalyana from Class 8 Social_Science. After studying this chapter, you will learn about Dantidurga, the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, and the contributions of the prominent ruler Amoghavarsha. You will also learn about the contributions of the Rashtrakutas to administration, literature, and architecture. We will study the administration and the contributions of the Chalukyas of Kalyana to literature. Finally, you will learn how to locate the extent of the Rashtrakuta dynasty on the map of India. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us begin with the Rashtrakutas, who ruled from 753 to 973. The Rashtrakutas were Kannadigas. In the beginning, they were the tributary kings of the Chalukyas. Later, they became famous as the rulers of a vast kingdom in the South. The Rashtrakuta age is a glorious epoch in the history of Karnataka. The credit of taking the glory of Karnataka to its peak goes to them. Their kingdom extended from the Narmada river in the North to the Cauvery river in the South. This kingdom has been immortalized by the Kailasanath temple at Ellora and by the first Kannada work, Kaviraja Marga. The kingdom began with Dantidurga, and continued with Krishna, Govinda II, Dhruva, Govinda III, Amoghavarsha, and others, reaching its peak of glory. [CHECKPOINT]
The early reign of Amoghavarsha had to face many obstacles. But he was not interested in feuds and desired peace. Hence, he got rid of the enmity by developing matrimonial relations with the Gangas and the Pallavas. Since he was a peace-loving king, he had to give up some territories in the north. The ports of the west coast were busy trading centres and enjoyed great prosperity by developing trade relations with Persia and Arabia. Many travellers and merchants visited the kingdom during this period. Prominent among them was the Arab traveller Sulaiman. He praised Amoghavarsha as one of the four powerful emperors of the World. Amoghavarsha was brave and peace-loving, and encouraged all faiths. After him, Krishna II, Indra III, and Krishna III ruled the kingdom. The weakness in administration during the period of Karka II paved the way for the rise of his tributary Tailapa II of the Kalyana Chalukyas, which brought the end of the Rashtrakuta rule. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us look at the contributions of the Rashtrakutas. The kingship among the Rashtrakutas was hereditary. There used to be a Council of Ministers to assist the King. A prominent person in the Council was appointed as the Mahasandhivigrahi to look after foreign affairs. For administrative convenience, the kingdom was divided into Rashtra, also known as Mandala, Vishaya, Nadu, and Grama. The leader of the grama was called gramapati or prabhugavunda. He was the leader of the village army too, and was assisted by the village accountant. There were grama sabhas also. There used to be an official called nadagavunda in the nadus. Similar officials were present in the vishayas and rashtras. The vishayapati and the rashtrapati were the officers for the vishaya or the district and the rashtra respectively. [CHECKPOINT]
The income of the kingdom came from land revenue, toll on goods, houses, shops, and tax on occupations like operating ferries. Foreign trade also brought a lot of income to the state in the form of taxes. The Rashtrakutas encouraged both Kannada and Sanskrit. Excellent works were written in Sanskrit. Trivikrama wrote Nalachampu, the first champu work in Sanskrit literature. Halayudha wrote Kavirahasya. Jinasena, mathematician Mahaveeracharya, grammarian Shakatayana, Gunabhadra, and Veerasena were in Amoghavarsha’s court. In Kannada, Pampa, known as Adikavi, wrote Adipurana and Vikramarjunavijaya. Ubhayakavi Ponna composed Shanti Purana. Shrivijaya, who was in the court of Amoghavarsha, wrote Kavirajamarga. This is the first work in Kannada and it is a masterpiece. All these reveal how Kannada literature has developed from ancient times. The Kannada University, Hampi, has been awarding the title of Nadoja in memory of the first poet, Pampa, to veteran achievers in Karnataka every year. [CHECKPOINT]
Another noteworthy prose work of the Rashtrakuta period is Vaddaradhane. The author is Shivakotiacharya. It is a collection of Jain religious stories. Special importance has been given to the use of native Kannada words here. There is liveliness in plot, structure, characterization, and dialogue. This is a great prose work belonging to the pre-Pampa age, and enjoys eternal significance in the history of Kannada literature. Mathas and Agraharas were the prominent educational centres in those days. Knowledge was imparted about Sanskrit, the Vedas, astrology, logic, and the Puranas. Salotgi in Indi taluk of Vijayapura district was one of the leading centres of learning. [CHECKPOINT]
The Rashtrakuta kings were devotees of Shiva and Vishnu, and built many Shiva and Vishnu temples. Jainism had received royal patronage and became a wide-spread religion. Apart from these, even other religions were encouraged. The Rashtrakuta kings were patrons of art. Their great contribution to Indian art can be seen in the Ellora and Elephanta cave temples. The Kailashnath temple at Ellora, built by Krishna I, is a monolithic wonder. This temple has been carved from a rock 100 feet high, 276 feet long, and 154 feet wide. Nearby is the famous Dashavatara cave temple. The sculpture at the Elephanta caves near Mumbai is a milestone in Rashtrakuta sculpture. The statues of Ardhanarishwara and Maheshamurti, or three-murthy, have been exquisitely carved. The structural Rashtrakuta temples are in Shiravala of Raichur district. There is a beautiful Jain temple at Pattadakallu. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us now move on to the Chalukyas of Kalyana, who ruled from 973 to 1189. This period enjoys an honourable place in the history of India. They gave special encouragement to art, literature, and education. They gave special encouragement for the development of Kannada and Sanskrit. They gave patronage to famous Kannada poets like Durgasimha, Ranna, Nagachandra, and others. Vachana literature came into prominence during this period. Tailapa II, who had been a tributary king of the Rashtrakutas, defeated the Rashtrakuta king Karka II and captured Manyakheta. Then he established the kingdom of the Kalyana Chalukyas. He ruled for approximately 24 years. [CHECKPOINT]
Someshwara I is one of the important kings of this dynasty. He built a new city called Kalyana and made it his capital. This is today’s Basava Kalyana in Bidar district. Though Someshwara I had to wage many wars, he took care to see that his kingdom did not shrink in any way. He defeated Rajadhiraja Chola in Koppam. Vikramaditya VI, the son of Someshwara I, is the greatest king of this dynasty. He was an extremely courageous warrior and excellent administrator. He began the Chalukya Vikrama era in 1076 C.E. He suppressed the revolt of the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. He had established contact with the Srilankan King Vijayabahu. Vignaneshwara, the author of Mitakshara, who lived during his time, remarked that there was never a great city like Kalyana in the past and can never be in the future. He also said that a king like Vikramaditya has never been seen nor heard of. The kingdom began to decline during the period of kings who came after Vikramaditya VI and Someshwara III. It became very weak during the period of Someshwara IV, and Kalachuri Bijjala occupied Kalyana and began to rule it. [CHECKPOINT]
It was at this time that the social revolutionary Sri Jagajyoti Basaveshwara came to the limelight. Because of this, the values of Basaveshwara and his contemporary Sharanas, who are called Basavadi Shivasharanas in local terms, reached the common people. Basaveshwara preached in three forms: soft advice, harsh criticism, and strict warning. He taught that surrendering oneself to Shiva with total devotion is the only path to salvation. He declared that the body is the abode of Lord Shiva, which is expressed as Kayave Kailasa. He established Anubhava Mantapa in 1162 C.E. He wrote his vachanas in colloquial Kannada. Respecting his invaluable contributions to socio-cultural inclusiveness, the Government of Karnataka, while unveiling the portrait of Vishwaguru Basavanna on 13-02-2024, declared him as the Cultural Leader of Karnataka. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us look at the contribution of the Kalyana Chalukyas. Like the Chalukyas of Badami, the Chalukyas of Kalyana too have made special contributions in various fields. The kingship was hereditary. The kingdom was divided into provinces, called mandala, and small provinces, called nadu. There were kampanas, which are today’s hobli, to enable smooth functioning of administration of villages. Land revenue was the main source of income for the kingdom. The other sources of income included sales tax, toll, and tax on professions. There was an officer called Kaditavergade appointed to look after collection of land revenue. There were different guilds in trade and business. [CHECKPOINT]
Literature received encouragement during the period of the Chalukyas. Kannada literature prospered with the support of Jain scholars. The notable works of this period are Gadayuddha, also known as Sahasa Bheema Vijaya, written by Ranna. Panchatantra was written by Durgasimha. Vikramankadeva Charita was composed by Bilhana. Dharmamruta was composed by Nayasena. The legal work Mitakshara was authored by Vignaneshwara. Manasollasa, written by King Someshwara III, is considered as the Sanskrit encyclopaedia. The unique contribution of the Chalukyan period has been the Vachana literature. Basavanna, Akkamahadevi, Allamaprabhu, Machayya, and others were leading vachanakaras. Mints were set up in Lakkundi and Sudi to mint coins like gadyana, pana, dhamma, pon, and suvarna. Your textbook also features an image with the caption 'Coins', which visually represents the currency used during this prosperous era. [CHECKPOINT]
The Chalukyas were not only lovers of literature but also patrons of art. Their contribution in the field of art is vast. Famous temples like the Kashi Vishweshwara temple at Lakkundi, Mahadev temple at Itagi, Mallikarjuna temple at Kuruvatti, and Trikuteshwara temple at Gadag are noteworthy examples of their art. The kings of this dynasty built innumerable temples and contributed to making the Kannada land home to fine arts. Music and dance forms too prospered. During their period, musicians and dancers used to be appointed to serve in the court. Queen Chandralekha patronised many music scholars and dancers. Manasollasa and the work of Jagadekamalla II, titled Sangeeta Chudamani, discuss many topics related to music, dance, art, and jewellery. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us now describe the map referenced in your textbook. The map of India shows the extent of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. It covers the region stretching from the Narmada river in the north down to the Cauvery river in the south, encompassing a large portion of the Deccan plateau. This geographical coverage highlights the vast territorial control and strategic importance of the Rashtrakuta empire during its peak. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, let us move on to the exercises. I will answer each question completely so you can prepare well for your exams.
Exercise One: Fill in the blanks with suitable words. One. The founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty was Dantidurga. Two. The Chalukya king of Kalyana who was responsible for the defeat of the Rashtrakutas was Tailapa II. Three. The author of Kavirahasya is Halayudha. Four. The famous poem written by Ponna is Shanti Purana. Five. The most famous king among the Kalyan Chalukyas was Vikramaditya VI. Six. The person who can be called as the pioneer of the social revolution is Sri Jagajyoti Basaveshwara. [CHECKPOINT]
Exercise Two: Answer the following questions in brief. Question Seven: How was the administrative system of the Rashtrakutas? Answer: The kingship among the Rashtrakutas was hereditary. A Council of Ministers assisted the King, and a prominent minister called the Mahasandhivigrahi handled foreign affairs. For administrative convenience, the kingdom was divided into Rashtra or Mandala, Vishaya, Nadu, and Grama. The village leader was the gramapati or prabhugavunda, who also led the village army and was assisted by a village accountant. Grama sabhas existed. Officials like nadagavunda, vishayapati, and rashtrapati administered the nadu, vishaya, and rashtra respectively.
Question Eight: Write about the educational system under the Rashtrakutas. Answer: Mathas and Agraharas were the prominent educational centres. Knowledge was imparted in Sanskrit, the Vedas, astrology, logic, and the Puranas. Salotgi in Indi taluk of Vijayapura district was one of the leading centres of learning. [CHECKPOINT]
Question Nine: Write a short note on the Kailasanatha temple of Ellora? Answer: The Kailashnath temple at Ellora was built by Krishna I and is a monolithic wonder. It has been carved from a single rock that is 100 feet high, 276 feet long, and 154 feet wide. It stands as a great contribution to Indian art.
Question Ten: How did the Kalyan Chalukyas encourage literature? Answer: They gave special encouragement to Kannada and Sanskrit literature and patronized famous poets like Durgasimha, Ranna, and Nagachandra. Vachana literature came into prominence. Jain scholars supported Kannada literature. Notable works include Gadayuddha by Ranna, Panchatantra by Durgasimha, Vikramankadeva Charita by Bilhana, Dharmamruta by Nayasena, Mitakshara by Vignaneshwara, and Manasollasa by Someshwara III. Basavanna, Akkamahadevi, Allamaprabhu, and Machayya were leading vachanakaras. [CHECKPOINT]
Exercise Three: Activities. Activity One: Visit the Rashtrakuta period temples and prepare a report. You should visit temples like the Kailashnath temple at Ellora, the structural temples at Shiravala, or the Jain temple at Pattadakallu. Observe their architecture, monolithic carvings, and sculptures, then write a detailed report on their historical and artistic significance. Activity Two: Find out more about the contributions of the Kalyani Chalukyas to art and architecture. Research temples like Kashi Vishweshwara at Lakkundi, Mahadev at Itagi, Mallikarjuna at Kuruvatti, and Trikuteshwara at Gadag. Study their structural designs, inscriptions, and the role of mints at Lakkundi and Sudi in producing coins like gadyana and suvarna.
Exercise Four: Projects. Project One: Divide students into four groups and ask them to discuss and prepare a report about the Kailashnath temple of Ellora. Each group can focus on different aspects: the monolithic carving process, the dimensions and layout, the religious significance of Shiva and Vishnu iconography, and its historical context under Krishna I. Project Two: Collect pictures of Manyakheta. Gather historical photographs, maps, and archaeological sketches of the ancient capital city, Manyakheta, to understand its geographical location and historical importance during the Rashtrakuta and early Chalukya periods. Project Three: Write an essay on the life of Basavanna. Cover his early life, his role as a social revolutionary, his establishment of the Anubhava Mantapa in 1162 C.E., his teachings like Kayave Kailasa, his use of colloquial Kannada in vachanas, and his declaration as the Cultural Leader of Karnataka on 13-02-2024. [CHECKPOINT]
We have now covered every aspect of this chapter, from the rise of the Rashtrakutas under Dantidurga to the literary and architectural brilliance of the Kalyana Chalukyas, and the profound social reforms of Basaveshwara. Remember to review the dates, names, and administrative terms carefully for your examinations. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]