RASHTRAKUTA DYNASTY

RASHTRAKUTA DYNASTY

Rashtrakutas (rASTrakUTa dynasty) (ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ ರಾಜವಂಶ) constitute one of the premiere dynasties of Karnataka. This dynasty is known for important monarchs such as Amoghavrasha Nrupatunga and Krishna-3 who have enhanced the political might and artistic reputation of Karnataka enormously. Some of the kings of this dynasty ruled over vast reaches of South India and many parts of Central India and North India. Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (Malkhed) come to mind whenever one thinks of this empire. However, many interrelated clans claiming Rashtrakuta lineage were ruling from small packets in Central and North India in the fifth and sixth centuries. Dantidurga (735-756 A.D.) who was successful in minimizing the influence of the Chalukya kings is given the credit of starting the empire that had its base in Manyakheta in the Gulbarga district of present day Karnataka. Their rule continued till 973 A.D. when they were overpowered by the might of Kalyani Chalukya Empire.

The word Rashtrakuta literally means ‘Officer in command of a particular region in a state’. Rashtrakutas belonged to a place called ‘laTTalUru’ in Andhrapradesh(lATUr in present day A.P.). Dantidurga shifted his Capital to Malkhed after he secured a victory over Keerthivarma the Chalukya king.

Some of the important monarchs who ruled over the Rashtrakuta Empire are as follows. (With approximate dates of their regime):

1. Dantidurga 735-756 A.D.

2. Krishna-1 756-774 A.D.

3. Govinda-2 774-780 A.D.

4. Dhruva (Dharavarsha) 780-792 A.D.

5. Govinda-3 792-814 A.D.

6. Amoghavarsha-1 (Nrupatunga) 814-880 A.D.

7. Krishna-2 880-915 A.D.

8. Indra-3 914-929 A.D.

9. Amoghavarsha-3 (baddega) 935-939 A.D.

10. Krishna-3 939-967 A.D.

11. Khottiga Amoghavarsha 967-972 A.D.

12. Karka-2 972-973 A.D.

13. Indra-4 973-982 A.D.

The political history of Rashtrakutas is inevitably linked with the histories of various other dynasties of India. Chalukyas of Badami, Vengi and Kalyani, Cholas, Pallavas, Nolambas, kings of Ceylon and Gangas of the South, Gurjara Pratihara, Kalinga, Kosala and the kings of Saurashtra and Bengal in the North were their either their friends or foes depending on the political exigencies. Dhruva, Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga, Govinda-3 and Krishna-3 were the most powerful monarchs in this dynasty as far as military ability was concerned. The whole of Karnataka and Maharashtra and parts of Andhrapradesh constituted the heart of this Empire. However, it extended from simhaLa in the South right up to Kanauj and Gujarath in the north during the rein of Govinda-3. An inscription found at Sanjan, states that the horses of Govinda-III drank the icy waters of the Himalayan streams and his war elephants tasted the sacred waters of the Ganga. His Empire at that point of time, reached from Cape Camorin (Kanyakumari) to Kannauj and from Benaras to Broach. The entire history of this period should be seen in the perspective of politico-geographical realities of those times. The imperial manuoveres were beyond the pale of mere religious and linguistic affinities and it was more are less mandatory for the kings to support many religions and languages irrespective of their personal preferences. Rashtrakutas were Hindu kings to begin with, but it seems that many kings adopted the Jaina religion during later years. The exploits of Rashtrakutas are documented in a number of inscrptions found all over the country, literary works of repute in Kannada as well as other languages. Eagle the emblem of the Rashtrkuta empire, coins minted during their regime and copper inscriptions found aplenty bear witness to the fact, that they sponsored Hindism and Jainism.

RASTra, viSaya, Bukti(nADu) and grAma were the administrative divisions present during the Rashtrakuta period. They were contolled respectively by rASTRapati, viSayapati, BOgapati (nADu gowDa) and gAvunDa. GAvunDa was in charge of the revenue, judiciary and executive tasks of the village. He had access to some land and he was exempted from paying any revenues. ‘GrAmasabhA’s and ‘mahAjanasaBA’s were entrusted with the task of assisting the gAvunDa and settling disputes. Towns and cities were ruled by separate agencies. BanavAsi-12000, beLvola-300, puligere-300 and kundUru-500 were among the more important viSayas. The number suffixed to the names indicate the number of villages attached to that viSaya.

MahAsandhi vigrahi, danDanAyaka and mahAmAtya exercised their powers directly under the king and they managed the affairs of the entire state. Even women such as rEvakanimmaDi held positions of power.

Agriculture, warfare and trade were the major souces of income to the government. Trans-oceanic trade was encouraged. Many coins bearing the Rashtrakuta insignia were minted. SuvarNa, dramma, gadyANa, kaLnju, munjADi and akkam are the coins minted by the Rashtrakutas. The hegemonic dominance of Brahmnis over other communities was as powerful as ever. Education was given in ‘GaTikAstAnA’s and religious institutions.

Rashtrkuta kings and their feudatories encouraged literature and other arts. Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga was once considered as the author of ‘Kavirajamarga’ one of the foundational texts of the language. It is now atttributed to Sri Vijaya who was in the royal court of Nrupatungaq. Pampa, one of the greatest poets in Kannada was a court poet of Arikesari-2 a king belonging to the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty which was then a feudatory of the Rashtrkutas. Ponna a great poet of Kannada was in the royal court of Krishna. rudraBaTTa, ravinAgaBaTta, gajAnkusha, asaga, guNanandi, and guNavarma are some of the Kannada writers who composed their works during this period.

MahAvIrAcArya, (Mathematician) TrivikramaBaTTa, (poet) JinasEnAcArya (Author of ‘dhavaLA’, and ‘jaya dhavaLA’), halAyudha (‘kavirahasya’ and ‘mRutasanjIvini’) and sOmadEva sUri who wrote ‘Yashastilaka campU’ are important among the writers who wrote in Sanskrit.

Ellora, Elephanta, Jogeshvari, Mandapeshvar and Pattadakallu contain the most important contribution of the Rashtrakuta kings to the field of of architecture. (Rashtrakuta Architecture) There are five Jaina rockcut caves built by Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga in Ellora. The great Kailasanatha temple in the same place was commisioned by Krishna-1. The Mahadeva icon in Elephanta is equally wellknown. The Kashi Vishvanatha temple at Pattadakallu is another example of Rashtrkuta architecture.

The rule of the Rashtrakuta dynasty is thus one of the more glorious chapters in the history of Karnataka. It has enhanced the prestige of Karnataka in terms of military endevours and cultural contributions.

Many branches of the Rashtrakuta did come in to existence in the later period. However, none of them assumed large proportions. Rashtrkutas of Gujarat, (lAta) Rashtrkutas of Hastikundi, (Jodhpur) Rashtrkutas of Dahal, (Jabalpur, M.P.) and Rashtrakutas of Kanauj had their bases outside Karnataka.

Rashtrakutas of Banavasi in North Canara and raTTas of savadatti in Belgaum district claim their descent from the original dynasty.