Chalukya Dynasty [6th-12th Century] | UPSC State PSC History Notes

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Introduction: Chalukya Dynasty

The Chalukya Dynasty stands as one of the most influential ruling houses in the history of ancient India, particularly in the Deccan Plateau and parts of South India.

Emerging around the 6th century CE, the Chalukyas established a powerful empire that endured for centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the political, cultural, and architectural landscape of the subcontinent.

From the iconic Badami Chalukyas to the later Western and Eastern branches, the dynasty witnessed periods of expansion, consolidation, and occasionally fragmentation, yet their enduring legacy continues to fascinate scholars and enthusiasts, reflecting a remarkable chapter in the history of ancient India.

Important Points: Chalukya Dynasty

The Chalukya dynasty ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and 12th centuries.
This dynasty was divided into three branches.
The earliest dynasty, known as the “Badami Chalukyas“, ruled from Vatapi (modern Badami).
Eastern Chalukyas ruled from Vengi until about the 11th century.
These Western Chalukyas ruled from Kalyani (modern Basavakalyan) until the end of the 12th century.
The building of large empires from smaller kingdoms started in south India.
They developed a new style of architecture called “Chalukyan architecture”.
Kannada literature got patronage from the Western Chalukyas.
The 11th century saw the patronage of Telugu literature under the Eastern Chalukyas.

Historical sources of the Chalukya Dynasty

The Badami cliff inscription of Pulakeshin I (543 CE).

Badami cave inscriptions of Mangalesha (578 CE).

Kappe Arabhatta’s (Chalukya warrior) inscription (700 CE).

Peddavaduguru inscription of Pulakeshin II.

The Kanchi Kailasanatha Temple inscription and the Pattadakal Virupaksha Temple inscription of Vikramaditya II (written in Kannada).

The Mahakuta Pillar inscription of Mangalesha (595).

The Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II (634) is an example of an important Sanskrit inscription written in the old Kannada script.

Several coins of the Badami Chalukyas with Kannada legends have been found.

Nilagunda inscription of Vikramaditya VI.

The Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited the court of Pulakeshin II. He mentioned that Pulakeshin II had divided his empire into three maharashtrakas or great provinces comprising 99,000 villages each.

Chalukyas of Badami

Jayasimha was the first ruler of the Chalukya dynasty of Vatapi (modern Badami, Bagalakote , Karnataka).
Jayasimha is referred to as nrpah (“king”) in Mahakuta inscription.
Pulakeshin I was the first sovereign ruler of the dynasty.
Pulakeshin I made Vatapi his capital.
Pulakeshin I and his descendants are referred to as “Chalukyas of Badami“.
Pulakeshin II extended the Chalukya Empire up to the northern extents of the Pallava kingdom.
He defeated Harsha on the banks of the river Narmada.
He then defeated the Vishnukundins in the south-eastern Deccan.
Narasimhavarman (Pallava ruler) attacked and occupied Badami in 642 CE temporarily.
Vikramaditya I, who succeeded in pushing the Pallavas out of Badami and restoring order to the empire.
Vikramaditya I took the title “Rajamalla” (“Sovereign of the Mallas” or Pallavas).

Chalukya Dynasty — ***Badami Cave Temple***

Chalukyas of Kalyani (Western Chalukyas)

The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan between the 10th and 12th century.
They also called the Chalukyas of Kalyani after its capital at Kalyani (Basavakalyan in the modern Bidar District of Karnataka).
For over a century, the Western Chalukyas and the Cholas fought many battles to control the fertile region of Vengi(Krishna Godavari Basin).
During the rule of Vikramaditya VI, the Western Chalukyas reached its peak in terms of territorial expansion.
During the later half of the 12th century, the subordinates of the Western Chalukyas (the Hoysalas, the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Kakatiyas and the Kalachuris) gained their independence.
The Western Chalukyas developed an architectural style known today as a transitional style, an architectural link between the style of the early Chalukya dynasty and that of the later Hoysala empire.

Dodda Basappa Temple e1690223591196 — **Dodda Basappa** **Temple** **in Dambal, Karnataka (12th-century)**

Chalukyas of Vengi

Pulakeshin II conquered the Vengi region in eastern Deccan and appointed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana the governor of this newly acquired territory.
Vishnuvardhana later became independent and possibly founded the dynasty after Pulakeshin died in the Battle of Vatapi.
Originally, the capital of the Eastern Chalukyas was located at Pishtapura (modern-day Pitapuram). It was subsequently moved to Vengi (present-day Pedavegi, near Eluru) and then to Rajamahendravaram (now Rajahmundry).