The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c11.s3: Introductory
The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c11.s3
- Language
- English
Contents
- v1.c11.s3.t1 Sources — 1 part
- v1.c11.s3.t2 Descent — 12 parts
Introductory
Sources
v1.c11.s3.t1.1
T HE nature of the sources for the history of the Chālukyas of Kalyāṇī is generally the same as that of those for the earlier Bādāmi period; only the inscriptions, both of the Chālukyas themselves and of the contemporary dynasties with whom they came into friendly or hostile contact, are more numerous and better preserved; stone inscriptions, and with them the Kannaḍa language, gain greater importance in the records of the period, copper-plates becoming rarer. Among literary works Bilhaṇa’s Sanskrit Kāvya, *Vikramānkadevacharita*, deserves special attention as a quasi-historical treatment of the life of the most celebrated Chālukya emperor, which, in the midst of much exaggeration and poetic embellishment, sometimes gives valuable clues to the history of the long reign of Vikramāditya VI. Ranna’s *Gadāyuddha*, a Kannaḍa poem of shorter compass, written in the reign of Irivabeḍanga Satyāśraya, is not so valuable for history, though its importance for any reconstruction of the social life of the time is necessarily much higher than that of Bilhaṇa’s *Mahākāvya*. Other authorities will be mentioned as occasion arises in the course of the narrative.
Descent
v1.c11.s3.t2.1
The later Chālukyas who ruled from Kalyāṇī claim descent¹ from the main line of Chālukyas of Bādāmi by a brother of Vikramāditya II about whom, however, we have no information from the inscriptions of the earlier period. The table overleaf shows the line of descent.
v1.c11.s3.t2.2
¹ Kauthem (*IA*, xvi, 15-24), Yeūr (*IA*, viii, 11 ff.), and Devāṇagere inscriptions (*EC*, xi, Dg. 1).
v1.c11.s3.t2.3
The family legends regarding the *gotra* of the line, their devotion to Kārttikeya and other deities, and the manner of their obtaining their crest and other royal insignia, continue to be the same as those of the Chālukyas of Bādāmi, allowing for minor variations; and though the average duration of a generation appears to be rather long, it is not such as, by itself, could lead one to reject the authenticity of this genealogical account. Yet there are grounds for supposing that the connexion with the Bādāmi line was invented after the fortunes of the family had been re-established by Taila II. The poet Ranna knows of this connexion, but his genealogy differs materially from that of the inscriptions which come a little later. On the other hand Taila II, and perhaps also some of his ancestors, are seen ruling in the Bijapur District and the neighbourhood in the proximity of the original capital of the dynasty, and princes from this line are chosen as husbands for princesses of important ruling dynasties like the Rāṣṭrakūṭas themselves and the Haihayas of Chedi—indications that after all the genealogy may not be altogether without foundation, though it is of course possible that some links in it may have been lost.
v1.c11.s3.t2.5
Vijayāditya (A.D. 696–733/4)
v1.c11.s3.t2.6
| . . . . . |
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v1.c11.s3.t2.7
Vikramāditya II Brother, strong as Bhīma, (A.D. 733/4–746/7) not named
v1.c11.s3.t2.8
Kirttivarman II Kirttivarman III (A.D. 746/7–757?) | Taila I
v1.c11.s3.t2.9
Vikramāditya III
v1.c11.s3.t2.10
Bhīmarāja
v1.c11.s3.t2.11
Chēdi K. Lakṣmaṇarāja Ayyaṇa = daughter of Kṛṣṇa
v1.c11.s3.t2.12
Bonthādēvi = Vikramāditya IV
v1.c11.s3.t2.13
Taila II (A.D. 957, earliest date)
Cites (2)
- Sāhasabhīmavijaya — Ranna, Kannada
- Vikramāṅkadevacarita — Bilhaṇa, Sanskrit