A History of Agriculture in India v1.c37.s2: The Rashtrakutas

v1.c37.s2.1

The Rashtrakutas belonged to Lattalura (modern Latur), a town in the Usmanabad District of Andhra Pradesh. The founder of the dynasty was Dantidurga, an official of the Chalukyas of Badami. Realizing the weakness of his overlord, Kirtivarman II, Dantidurga made himself the master of Maharashtra and also annexed Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh. In A.D. 753, he proclaimed himself the paramount ruler of the Deccan. In A.D. 756, he was succeeded by his uncle Krishna I, who defeated the Gangas of Karnataka. The monolithic Kailasha temple at Ellora was excavated under his patronage. It was cut out of rock from top downwards, and the precision of its architecture and the beauty of its sculptures remain unrivalled. Krishna I died in A.D. 773, and was succeeded by his son Govinda. Amoghavarsha I (A.D. 814-880) was the builder of the Manyakheta City. He built a palace at Manyakheta which was famous for its fine workmanship. The next kings were Krishna II, Indra III, and Krishna III. The last invaded the Chola territory and defeated the Chola king at Takkolam (A.D. 949).