Early History of the Dekkan down to the Mahomedan Conquest c16.7

c16.7

**[46]** We have seen from the cave inscriptions that from remote times tribes of Kshatriyas calling themselves Bhojas and Raṭṭhis or Râshṭrikas were predominant in the country In the northern part of the Dekkan or Mahârâshṭra these called themselves "the Great Raṭṭhis or Mahâraṭṭhıs, the ancient Marâṭhâs," but in other places the name in use must have been Raṭṭhıs or Raṭṭhas, since we know of more modern chiefs in the Southern Marâṭhâ Country who called themselves by that name. Some of the Raṭṭha tribes must have formed themselves into a family or group (kûṭa) and called themselves Raṭṭhakûḍa, and later on Râṭhoḍa, the Sanskrit orıgınal of which is Râshṭrakûṭa Or the Râshṭrakûṭa family was so called because it was the main branch of the race of the Raṭṭhas that had spread over the whole country. These native chiefs that ruled over the country must have been held in subjection by the Andhrabhṛıtyas during the continuance of their power, and also by the later Kshatrapas. But after the dynasties became extinct they must have resumed their independence. The Âbhîras held sway for some tıme and over a part of the country only, for the tradition of Gauḷı or cowherd rulers which very probably refers to them is confined to the Nâsık and Khândes dıstricts The Râshṭrakûṭas probably rose to power about the same tıme as the Âbhîras. Hence in the inscriptıons on the Mıraj plates and the Yevur tablet first brought to lıght by Mr. Wathen and Sır Walter Ellıot,⁵ respectıvely, it is stated that Jaysımha, the founder of the Châlukya dynasty in the Dekkan, established hımself in the country after having vanquished Indra, the son of Krıshna of the Râshṭrakûṭa family. The Châlukya dynasty was, as will hereafter be seen, founded in the begınnıng of the sıxth century of the Christıan era From about the end of the thırd to the begınnıng of the sixth century, therefore, the Dekkan was ruled over by princes of the Râshṭrakûṭa family