A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c13.34

c13.34

(769-70). Krishna who built the celebrated Kailāsa temple at Ellora, was succeeded by Govinda II some time between 772 and 775. In 777-8, Govinda co-operated with Nandivarman Pallavamalla in assisting Śivamāra II to gain the Ganga throne against the opposition of his brother, Duggamāra Ereyappa. Govinda was an easygoing monarch and his ambitious brother Dhruva planned to seize the throne for himself. Govinda sought the aid of the Pallava and the Ganga, and the rulers of Vengi and Malwa; but Dhruva defeated them and thus became king. How exactly Govinda ended his life is not known. Dhruva's accession took place about 780 and his first task was to punish Govinda's allies. He caught and imprisoned Śivamāra II, and levied a tribute of elephants from Pallavamalla. He crossed the Vindhyas and drove the Gurjara king of Malwa, Vatsarāja by name, into the desert. He proceeded against Vengi, and Vishnuvardhana IV had to purchase peace by parting with some territory besides offering the hand of his daughter Śilamahādevi to Dhruva. Dhruva followed up his success in Malwa by a raid into the Ganges-Jumna doab where he met and defeated Dharmapāla of Bengal. Towards the close of his reign, Dhruva abdicated and made Govinda III, the ablest of his sons, emperor. This led to trouble soon after Dhruva's death in 793-4, when Govinda III had to face the hostility of his disinherited brothers, particularly that of Kambha, the eldest. To gain support, Govinda released Śivamāra II from prison, but contrary to expectations that monarch threw in his lot with Kambha. Single-handed, Govinda defeated the confederacy of twelve rulers but used his victory with moderation, even reinstating Kambha as viceroy over Gangavādi; while Indra, a younger brother of Govinda who had stood by him, was rewarded with the viceroyalty of Lāta. Śivamāra II, however, was again put in prison. After putting down opposition at home Govinda III carried his arms into Northern India. He inflicted a decisive defeat on the Gurjara ruler of Malwa, Nāgabhaṭa II, and on his ally Chandragupta, of unknown identity. Malwa was annexed for a time to Lāta. Govinda proceeded farther north and received the submission of Chakrāyudha of Kanauj and his protector Dharmapāla. On his return (802) he fixed his camp at Śribhavana on the banks of the Narmada where a son was born to him, the future Amoghavarsha I. From Śribhavana, he dashed across the Deccan into the Pallava country (803-4). He defeated Dantivarman, entered his capital Kāñchī and there received the submission offered by an embassy from Ceylon before he retired to the banks of the Tungabhadra and fixed his camp at Rameśvara-tīrtha. The rulers of Vengi, Vishnuvardhana IV, and his successor Vijayāditya II (808), felt the impact of Govinda's power. Vijayāditya was a great fighter who earned for himself the title Narendramṛgarāja (Lion among Kings). Govinda III created trouble for him by supporting his half-brother Bhīma Saluki's rival claims to the throne of Vengi. One of the greatest monarchs of the line, Govinda's achievements go far to justify the claim of his court-poets that after his birth the Rāshṭrakūṭas became as unassailable as the Yādavas after the birth of Śrī Krishna.