The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s12.7

v1.c8.s12.7

There is in fact no evidence at all to support the theory that the descendants of Sudevarāja, Abhimanyu and Avidheya were ruling over an empire extending from Chhattisgarh to the Khandesh, and from Malwa to the Karṇāṭak during the latter part of the sixth century. If such a formidable empire had really existed, its overthrow would have been the most memorable achievement of the Cālukyas, and would have been described in the most exaggerated language in their records. The Aihole eulogy describes every military achievement of Pulakeśin II and of each of his predecessors; it tells us how Pulakeśin I captured Vātāpi, how his successor overthrew the Naḷas, Mauryas, and the Kadambas, how the next king exterminated the Kaḷachuris, and so on. Pulakeśin II himself defeated a large number of kings, and the eulogy gives the names of every one of them in full detail. Is it not then strange that this eulogy, which mentions specifically even the most insignificant kings defeated by the Cālukyas during the sixth century, should be silent about this most glorious achievement of the family, consisting of the overthrow of the mighty Rāṣṭrakūṭa empire, which had embraced practically the whole of the Deccan? The eulogy, in fact, does not refer to this empire for the simple reason that it never had any historical existence.¹