Post Gupta - Rashtrakutas Dynasty

Rashtrakutas who were bidding their time to capture Kanauj from Pratiharas succeeded in their motive and continued to rule until 10th century CE.
Rivalry between Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas to be destructive to both the dynasties.

Rise of the Dynastry

Rashtrakutas – feudatories of the western Chalukyas of Vatapi.
Dandidurga (Great Ruler) - territorial conquest after the death of Vikramaditya II (733–746 CE), the Chalukya ruler.
By 750 CE, Became master of central and south Gujarat.
After defeating Kirthivarman II (746-753 CE), Chalukya ruler of Vatapi assumed title of Maharajadhiraja, Parameshwara & Paramabhattaraha.
Developed relationships with the Pallava ruler Nandivarman II by giving his daughter in marriage to the Pallava king.
After Dandidurga’s death in 758 CE, his uncle (father’s brother) Krishna I ascended the throne.

Rashtrakutas Rulers

Krishna I and His Successors

Krishna I (756–775 CE) defeated the Gangas of Mysore.
His eldest son Govinda II succeeded him in 775 CE. He defeated the Eastern Chalukyas.

Dhruva (780–794 CE)

During the reign of Dhruva (Govinda II Brother), the Rashtrakuta power reached its zenith.
Dantivarman, Pallava king, ruler of venki defeated and accept his suzerainty.
Defeat Vatsarya, the Prathihara king, and Dharmapala, the Pala ruler of region around Kanauj. Nominate his 3^rd son Govinda III as the heir-apparent.

Govind III (794-814 CE)

Amoghavarsha (814-880 CE)

Son of Govinda III.
First 20-year endless war in western ganga. Later, his daughter marry to ganga prince.
Great poet and his Kavirajamarga is the earliest Kannada work on poetics.

Krishna III (939 - 968 CE)

Last ruler of Rashtrakuta dynasty
Invaded Chola kingdom with his brother in law Butunga. Kanchi & Thanjavur were captured in 943 CE.
In 949 CE, Defeate chola army of Rajadithiya in battle of Takkolam.
He marched upto ramehvaram where he built a pillar of Victory.
Joined the contest that was held then among the northern ruling dynasties for control of Kanauj.
Conflict over possession of Kanauj cause local king to assert their independence and also invasion from north-west.
successors of Krishna III were too weak to save the kingdom from its decline.

Religious

Worship of shiva & Vishnu.
Seals have the pictures of Garudavahana of Vishnu or of Shiva seated in yogic posture.
Hiranyagarbha ritual by Dantidurga at Ujjayini.
Offer gold equal to one’s own weight.
Jainism patronised by Amoghavarsha I, Indra IV, Krishna II & Indra III. Buddhism has declined (only important center was at Kanheri).

Literature

Amoghavarsha I was the author of Prasnottaramalika, a Sanskrit work, and Kavirajamarga, a Kannada work.
Jinasena wrote the Adipurana of the Jains.
Gunabhadra, spiritual guide of Krishna II wrote Mahapurana of the Jains
Germ of Asian kannada literature - Kavichakravarthi Ponna, Adikavi Panpa and Kavichakravarti Ranna – patronised by Krishna III

Architecture

Rock-cut Shiva temple (Monolithic Kailasanath Temple – Single rock) at Ellora and Elephant was built by Krishna I in 8^th Century. - similar to the Lokesvara temple at Pattadakal, in Karnataka, buil by Chalukya king Vikramaditya II to commemorate his victory over the Pallavas
Ellora caves have features of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments.
Amoghavarsha I espoused Jainism, five Jain cave temples at Ellora.
The best specimens of sculpture inside the temple.
Dasavatara Bhirava, Ravana shaking the Mount Kailasa, dancing Shiva and Vishnu, and Lakshmi listening to music.
The main shrine at Elephanta is artistically superior to the shrines at Ellora.
The sculptures such as Nataraja and Sadashiva excel even that of the Ellora sculptures in beauty and craftsmanship.
Ardhanarishvara and Maheshamurti are the other famous sculptures.
The latter, a three-faced bust of Lord Shiva, is 25 feet tall and considered one of the finest pieces of sculpture in India.
The paintings are still seen in the porch of the temple of Kailasa and ceilings of the Mahesamurti shrine at Ellora.

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