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Rashtrakuta

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 Rashtrakuta Empire 

Rashtrakuta Empire  during Dhruva Dharavarsha (780CE.),
Official languages Sanskrit
Kannada
Capitals Regal Capital: Manyakheta
Other Capitals : Latur
Government Monarchy
Preceding state Badami Chalukya
Succeeding state Kalyani Chalukya

The Rastrakutas were a dynasty which ruled the southern and the central parts or the deccan India during the 8th - 10th century. The emergence of the Rashtrakutas heralded a new era in the history of South India. The idiom of a Pan-Indian empire had moved to south. South Indian kingdoms had hitherto ruled areas only south of the Narmada. It was the Rashtrakutas who first forged north to the Gangetic plains and successfully contested their might against the Palas of Bengal and the Prathiharas of Gujarat. Their period brought about great contributions from Jaina mathematicians and scholars, particularly in Kannada language. Architecture reached a pinnacle in dravidian style, finest examples of which are seen in Ellora and Elephanta in Maharashtra and the Kashivishvanatha temple and Jain temple at Pattadakal in Karnataka, all of which are UNESCO world heritage sites. They also built many fine Jaina monuments in Lokapura and Kuknur in present day Karnataka.

Contents

Origin

The Rashtrakutas were feudatories to the Chalukyas and came into prominence under Dantidurga around 753 CE.

Theories Of Early Origin

In ancient times the areas south of the Godavari river including southern districts of modern Maharashtra, northern districts of modern Karnataka and south Karnataka districts of Shimoga and Chitradurga were collectively called Kuntala. An inscriptional passage the upper valley of the Krishna points to this theory [Ep. Ind., Vol. XII, p. 153. See Mirashi, Studies in Indology, Vol. I, p. 9, D. 4]. In the Sanskrit work Udayasundarikatha of Soddhala (11th cen. A.D.) Pratishthana on the Godavari is said to be the capital of the Kuntala country. In early times Kuntala was probably included in the larger country called Maharashtra. The Aihole inscription of Pulakeshi II includes all these areas mentioned in Kuntala as Maharashtra. This designation of the entire area seems to be confirmed in Chinese notes as well. During these times, Kuntala came to denote the predominantly Kannnada-speaking country, further corroborating views of historians such as Dr. Altekar and Dr. P.B. Desai. The Early Chalukyas of Badami and the Later Chalukyas of Kalyani were known as Kuntaleshvaras or lords of Kuntala. All their inscriptions are in Kannada and Sanskrit and their regal capitals at different times, Badami, Manyakheta(Malkhed in Gulbarga district) and Kalyani were also in present day Karnataka, which historically would be southern Kuntala. During these times however, the districts of Kolhapur, Satara, Sholapur, Ahmadnagar and Bid which are now Marathi-speaking, were included in Kuntala, indicating that Kannada country spread much further north of today's political boundaries. The Kannada classic Kavirajamarga calls the entire region between the Godavari and Kaveri rivers as Karnataka indicating Kannada country at one time extended far north and east of present day boundaries. Perhaps this was the region that embraced Hale Kannada as the official language. It is well known that during these times, Kannada and Telugu were written in Hale Kannada script. The Early Rashtrakutas, who were ruling over this territory as feudatory of the Chalukyas, were known as Kuntaleshvaras as well and their inscriptions call their overlords at that time as Karnataka Bala. Much later their imperial empire would rule large parts of India from regal capital Manyakheta in present day Karnataka, though as their empire grew they had many provincial capitals.

Their oldest inscription is found in Satara district of Maharashtra belonging to 6th century. In it Rashtrakuta king Avidheya has donated a village to learned brahmins. The inscription is in Sanskrit written in Bhrami script [#endnote_inscription].This has confirmed their origin at above place generally called Kuntala. From above theories it is clear that the ancient regional names such as Kuntala, Karnata or Maharshtra may have covered large common areas in the deccan at different times in Indian history. It is clear also that in the spirit of the deccan that normally prevailed, the Rashtrakutas encouraged and made Kannada and Sanskrit their official languages. This is proven by the great works of literature that were accomplished in these languages. Rashtrakuta inscriptions are in Kannada closer to and in the core Kannada country at that time and in Sanskrit going farther away from their crux land. Theories that further support above historical notes are given below. The inscription at Jura, belonging to the reign of Krishna III, is regarded as an epigraphical landmark of classical Kannada literary composition, with charming poetic diction in polished Kannada metre.

Research Notes

Dr. A.S. Altekar claims in his book Rashtrakutas and their Times (1934) that while the Rashtrakutas were descendants of the Rastiks or Rathikas mentioned in the edits of King Ashoka, the original home of builders of the Rashtrakuta empire was present day Karnataka. According to him, they inherited the cultural tradition of Karnataka, spoke Kannada as their mother tongue and almost all their inscriptions are in Kannada. They patronized Kannada literature. The earliest extant classical work on Kannada poetics, Kavirajamarga(850AD), is ascribed to Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I himself, though some historians argue that it may have been written by his court poet Sri Vijaya Ponna. This was the time of great 9th century Kannada poets like Sri Vijaya Ponna, Adikavi Pampa and Shivakoti Acharya. The Rashtrakuta inscriptions are almost all in the Kannada script and language. An epigraph of Krishna III composed in ornate literary style has been found at Jura near Jabbalpur. According to Dr. P.B. Desai (HOD, Ancient Indian History and Culture, Karnataka University), Rashtrakutas called themselves Lattalura - Puravara -Dhisvara, implying thereby that they hailed from Lattalur or Latur in Osmanabad district of present day Maharashtra. Dr. P. B. Desai is of opinion that the area formerly formed the part of present day Karnataka as attested by the surviving vestiges of Kannada place - names, Kannada inscriptions and other cultural relics. Dr. Altekar, however, believes that Rashtrakutas of Malkhed (Manyakheta, Gulbarga) were a different branch and could not be identified with those of Lattalur. It was from Manyakheta that the empire ruled large parts of India.

The suffix "Ur" is a Kannada term indicating town or city as in "Mysuru" (Mysore) and "Bangaluru" (Bangalore).

Perhaps, Dr. Desai means that Latur in present day Maharashtra was a part of Kannada country at that time. One must cautiously look at these modern theories based on newly formed states on linguistic criterion.

Rashtrakutas find mention in the edicts of Ashoka, where they are referred to as the Rathika or Rastika. The Rashtrakuta's ruled nearly all of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for several centuries. Dhruva (780 CE - 793 CE) considerably expanded the kingdom. The Rashtrakuta's were involved in several wars and alliances with other deccan kingdoms like the Vengi, Cholas and Gangas.

The final decline was sudden, Taila II (973 CE - 997 CE) a feudatory of the Rashtrakutas tracing his lineage back to the Chalukyas declared himself independent after defeating the king Indra II. However by this time, several branches of Rashtrakutas had established themselves in North India.

Kannada inscriptions from this empire from the Bombay-Karnataka region have been deciphered and recorded by historians of Archeological Survey of India - South Indian Inscriptions (vol 9, 11,15,17 and 18).

Literature

Kannada rose as a literary language during the Rashtrakuta rule. Most of their inscriptions are in that language. The Rashtrakutas were great patrons of learning, many literary, religious and scientific texts were written during theor rule. The Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha is thought to have written Prashottara Ratnamalike.

Kannada language, script and literature showed remarkable growth during the Rashtrakuta period. Kannada alphabet assumed sound and beautiful shapes and forms, and its literature attained productivity and dignity. The inscriptions mention a number of Kannada poets. However, the first extant work in Kannada is Kavirajamarga, a treatise on Kannada poetics. It is ascribed to the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha I Nripatunga. Although some scholars argue that it was written by his court - poet, Sri Vijaya Ponna, the famous Kannada poet, who was also patronized by Krishna II, and was honoured with the title, Kavichakravarthi. Sri Ponna authored other works like Bhuvanaika- Ramabhyudaya, Santipurana and Jinaksaramale. Other famous works in Kannada were Adipurana and Vikramarjuna Vijaya by Adikavi Pampa, (was patronized by Arikesari of Vemulavada, who was a feudatory of the Rashtrakutas), Asaga wrote Vardhamana Purana, Shivakoti Acharya's Vaddaradhane, probably the earliest prose work, Chavundarayapurana by Chavundaraya’s .

Art and Architecture

The Rashtrakuta contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut shrines at Ellora and Elephanta, situated in present day Maharashtra. It is said that they altogether constructed 34 rock-cut shrines, but most extensive and sumptuous of them all is the Kailasanatha temple at Ellora. The temple is a splendid achievement of dravidian art. 

"This project was started by Krishna I (757- 773) of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. His rule had also spread to southern India, hence this temple was excavated in the prevailing style. Its builders modelled it on the lines of the Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal. Being a south Indian style temple, it does not have a shikhara common to north Indian temples".-The Guide to the Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, Takeo Kamiya,  1996, Japan Architects Academy, Archeological Survey of India.


Vincent Smith extols it as "the most marvelous architectural freak and one of the wonders of the world". 


Some of the khyats of the  Rathore clan of Jodhpur claim descent of the family from the Rashtrakutas. Archaeological evidence confirm that Rathore Rajputs indeed owe their origin to them. The Rashtrakute Maratha clan, one of the 96 maratha clans is also descended from them.


The Rashtrakutas also contributed to Maharashtra and its culture. They contributed magnificently to architecture in places like Elephanta and Ellora in Maharashtra, Lokapura, Kuknur and Pattadakal in Karnataka.



Rashtrakuta Empire


At its height, the Rashtrakutas ruled a vast empire. One inscription mentions Govinda III,  having horses which drank the icy water of the Himalayas and his war elephant tasted the sacred water of Ganga. He conquered regions from Cape Comorin to Kanouj and from Banaras to Broach.[link]



Impact of the Rashtrakutas On Indian History and Culture


The rise of Rashtrakuts and Chalukyas had a great impact even in North India. See The great Karnataka Expansion.However one must remember that Karnataka as a state came into effect in 20th century and that is story of all states in India. The term "Karnataka" however is nothing new. Rashtrakuta inscriptions call the Badami Chalukyas,
as Karnataka Bala. The word Karnata itself is said to originate from the word karu nadu
meaning elevated land.



List of rulers of Rashtrakuta

Earlier Rashtrakuta rulers were regional kings under the Chalukyas. Dantidurga was the first independent Rashtrakuta king.


Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (present day Malkhed):



For details see [History of Karnataka]


Rashtrakutas of Lata:




Rashtrakutas of Hastikundi (near Jodhpur)




Rashtrakutas of Dahal (in MP)




Rashtrakutas of Kanauj (11-early 13th cent)





Rashtrakutas of Mandore/Jodhpur



References









See also



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