Post Gupta - Rashtrakutas Dynasty

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  • 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 3rd son Govinda III as the heir-apparent.
Govind III (794-814 CE)
  • Dantika, the Pallava king, was subdued to him.
  • Vishnuvaradana, ruler of venki do not change his authority.
  • Overlord of the Deccan.
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 8th 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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