Early History of the Dekkan down to the Mahomedan Conquest c17.2

c17.2

WE will next proceed to an account of the princes who belonged to the dynasty called Chalikya, Chalukya, or Châlukya¹ A large number of inscriptions on copper-plates and stone tablets have amply elucidated the history of this dynasty. The legendary origin of this family is thus given by Bilhana, the author of the Vikramânkadevacharita, or life of Vikramâditya a prince of the later or restored Châlukya line On one occasion when Brahmadeva was engaged in his morning devotions, Indra came up to him and complained of the sinfulness of the world in which no man performed the sacrificial rites or gave oblations to the gods Brahmadeva looked at his *chuluka* or the hand hollowed for the reception of water in the course of his devotional exercise, and from it sprang a mighty warrior who became the progenitor of the Châlukya race Some time after, two great heroes of the name of Hârıta and Mânavya were born in the family and they raised it to very great distinction The original seat of the dynasty was Ayodhyâ, and in the course of time a branch of it established itself in the south '