A significant series of political decentralization began throughout the Indian peninsula in the middle of the 6th century AD. At the time when many independent states emerged after the fall of the Gupta Empire in northern India, at the same time many new independent states emerged in the south as well. The Chalukya dynasty was also one of these.
The Chalukya dynasty established its suzerainty over a large part of southern and central India between the 6th and 12th centuries AD. The Chalukyas had many branches - such as the Chalukyas of Vatapi (Badami), the Chalukyas of Vengi, the Chalukyas of Gujarat and the Chalukyas of Kalyani.
The Chalukyas of Badami ruled the Pallava rulers of the south and the north. Despite strong resistance from India's illustrious emperor Harsha (except for a short period of time), he flagged his victory over the Deccan by binding South India in the thread of political unity for almost two hundred years. Meanwhile the brilliant princes of the Chalukya dynasty founded their semi-independent kingdoms in Gujarat and Vengi.
The Chalukyas of Vengi ruled for more than four hundred years. Later, when the rise of the Rashtrakutas brought disaster on his empire, he tried to secure his independence with the help of the Cholas of the far south.
When the power of the Rashtrakutas began to decline towards the end of the tenth century AD, the Chalukyas got an opportunity to regain their power. This time he made world fame Kalyanpuri city the center of power.
historical tool (Historical Sources)
Literary Source
The history-making of the Chalukyas comes from both literary and archaeological sources. In literary sources Vidyapati Bilhan composed 'Vikrammankadevcharit' and composed by Kannada poet Rann 'Gadayuddha' are particularly noteworthy.
Vikramnkdevcharit: Bilhan was originally a resident of Kashmir, who was given the title of 'Vidyapati' by the Chalukya ruler Vikramaditya. Although he wrote three poems - Vikramnkdevcharit , Karnasundari Natika and Chaurapanchasika (Geet Poetry) But among these, Vikramankadevcharita is the most important from the historical point of view, in which the character of Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI has been described. It describes the origin of the Chalukyas, their lineage, the appearance of three sons of Ahavamalla - Someshvara, Vikramaditya and Jayasimha, their struggle for power and the ascension of Vikramaditya. Although this book is unique from the point of view of poetry, but there are many historical errors in it. Nevertheless, it provides important information regarding the political history and cultural activities of the Chalukya period.
Massfight: A Kannada poet named Ranna in about 993 AD 'Gada Yudh' was composed. Although it originally describes the duel of Bhima and Duryodhana, but this book also sheds a good light on the contemporary Rashtrakuta-Chol relations.
In addition, the works of famous Kannada poet Pump (941 AD) - Bharat or Vikramarjuna and Adi Purana It also sheds light on the various aspects of the then history and culture.
Hiuen Tsang: Among the descriptions of foreign travelers, those parts of the travelogue of the Chinese traveler Yuan Chuang (Hiuan Tsang), which describes Maharashtra and its inhabitants, are particularly useful. It went to the court of the Chinese traveler Pulakeshin II.
Tabari description: The accounts of the Iranian historian Tabri suggest that the Iranian emperor Khusrau II exchanged ambassadors with Pulakeshin II. It is proved from the descriptions of Tabri that the first cave paintings of Ajanta depict Shah Khusrau II of Iran, his wife Shiri and Pulakeshin II meeting the Iranian ambassador.
archaeological evidence
Archaeological evidence - records, seals and monuments are more authentic and useful than literary evidence in the history-making of Chalukyas.
record: The most important in the making of the history of the Chalukyas are the inscriptions which are engraved on stone plates, pillars and copper plates and are in Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada languages. The main sources of information regarding the Chalukya history of Badami are inscriptions written in Sanskrit and Kannada, in which the Badami stone inscriptions of Pulakeshin I, Aihole Prashasti of Pulakeshin II, Mahakuta pillar inscriptions, Hyderabad donation letters etc. are particularly important.
Badami script: The Badami stone inscription of Pulakeshin I is of Saka era 465 (543 AD) which is inscribed on a stone block of Badami fort. It was discovered in 1941 AD. 'Vallabheshwar' in this article There is a mention of a Chalukya ruler (possibly Pulakeshin I) who built the fort of Badami and performed Ashwamedha etc. yagyas.
Aihole Commendation: The date of Shaka Samvat 556 (634 AD) is inscribed on the Aihole Prashasti of Pulakeshin II. Aihole is located in the Bijapur district of modern Karnataka province. This article was composed in old Kannada script and Ravikirti in Sanskrit language has done. This article mainly describes the achievements of Pulakeshin II, however, it also gives some important information about the Chalukya history before Pulakeshin and his contemporary rulers like Lat, Malav, Gurjar etc. This article also throws light on Pulakeshin's war with Harshavardhana. This prashasti has been composed on the poetic style of Kalidas and Bharavi.
Mahakoot Pillar-Text: This inscription has been found from a place called Mahakoot in Bijapur, on which the date of 602 AD is inscribed. In this article the wisdom, strength, courage and charity of the rulers of Chalukya dynasty have been praised. This made the Chalukya ruler Kirtivarman I There is also knowledge of victories.
Hyderabad This article is of the third reign-year of Pulakeshin II. Its date is Shaka Samvat 534 (612 AD). From this it is known that Pulakeshin II had won hundreds of warriors in the battle and 'God' held the title.
In addition to the above mentioned articles, majority of copper plates and articles have been received from places like Kurnool, Talamanchi, Nausari, Garhwal, Raigad, Pattadakal etc., from which the Chalukyas struggle with the Pallavas of Kanchi and Pulakeshin II There is knowledge of the achievements of the later rulers.
coins: Coins are not very useful as an archeological source, yet some information about the historicity and political activities of contemporary dynasties comes from the inscriptions, symbols and epigraphic inscriptions on them. Padmatka of Kadambas The coins were also imitated by the Chalukyas. Some coins of the later Chalukyas have also been found outside India from Siam, probably of Mangalesh, who established authority over the island of Revati. Some Chola coins (a special coin bearing a tiger between two island-pillars with a canopy inscribed on the top) indicate the victory of the Cholas over the Chalukyas of Kalyani. sukar lankan on Chalukya coins get it.
monument , temples and frescoes: The monuments, temples and frescoes of the Chalukyas not only indicate the splendor and artistic interest of the Chalukya kings, but also indicate the religious status and political events of the time. There are many mythological stories inscribed in the cave temples. Many scenes of Ramakatha inscribed in the temple of Virupaksha, such as Bali-Sugriva war, Sitaharan etc. are indicative of the harmony of Shaiva and Vaishnava sects. In one of the frescoes of Ajanta, the Shah and his queen of Iran and one of the Chalukya emperor Pulakeshin II's meeting with the Iranian ambassador is displayed very vividly. This is also confirmed by the details of Tabri.
Nomenclature and origin of Chalukyas (Naming and Origin of the Chalukyas)
No clear information is found regarding the nomenclature and origin of the Chalukya dynasty. In the writings of the Chalukyas, they have been addressed by many names like Chalukyas, Chalka, Chaluki, Chalekya, Chalikya, Chaluki etc. Later on from these designations, the names Chalukya and Chaulukya became popular for this dynasty. RG According to Bhandarkar and Bhagwan Lal Indraji, the initial name of this dynasty was 'Chalukya ' was. J.F. Fleet and KA Neelkanth Shastri also believes that the initial name of this dynasty was 'Chalakya ’ Later on it became Chalukya, Chaulukya form.
The original man of this lineage was the Chalaks, Chaliks or Chaluks. But many traditional stories related to the origin of Chalukyas are found in inscriptions and texts. Handrike and Kalyan Records of Later Chalukyas According to this, from the navel of Vishnu Brahma emerged from the lotus, Manu from Brahma, Mandavya from Manu, Harita from Mandavya and Harita from Harita. The Chalukyas were born from this Harit's chulak (Anjali). Similarly, in many other writings, the Chalukyas have been accepted as Chandravanshi Kshatriya, stating that they were born from Brahma's son Atri. 'Prithvirajraso' composed by Chandravardai Like the Rajputs, the Chalukyas are also said to have originated from the fire pit of the Yagya performed by Brahmarishi Vashistha at Abuparvat. Similar story related to the origin of Chalukyas Bilhan's 'Vikramnkdevcharit' I also meet. According to this, on the request of Indra to destroy the tyrants on earth in ancient times, Brahma produced a man from his Chuluk, who became famous by the name Chuluk. Its descendants later became famous with Chalukya Abhidhan.
There is also a story regarding the 'Chalukyas' that their original abode was Ayodhya. A ruler from there came south, defeated the Pallavas and married a Pallava princess. They had a son named Vijayaditya, who was killed while fighting with the Pallavas in an attempt to establish his independent kingdom. Later his son Vishnuvardhana defeated the Kadambo and the Ganges and established his kingdom there. Neelkanth Shastri also estimates that the Chalukyas were related to some Kshatriya dynasty of North India, but later they settled in Karnataka and established their kingdom there.
The above narratives relating to the origin of the Chalukyas are fictional, which were later from time immemorial by prashakars and poets to glorify the origin of the Chalukyas. There is no evidence that they were originally residents of Ayodhya, that is, north Indians and later established their power by coming to the Dakshinapatha. Many historians believe that in the eleventh century it became a popular tradition among the royal families of South India to link their lineage to the Northern Empire. The inscriptions of the Chalukyas of Badami are silent regarding the Ayodhya origin itself.
Some scholars consider the Chalukyas to be foreigners. Vincent Smith believes that belongs to the Chalukya arc caste They were a branch of the foreign Gujjar caste. Some other historians associate them with the Chulik caste living in the northwestern Indian region which belonged to a branch of the Sogdian dynasty. B. Ale. Rice also believes that Chalukya and Pallavas both Seleucia and Parthia had come from But there is no historical basis to believe the foreign opinion regarding the origin of Chalukyas.
Many historians have supported the Indian origin of the Chalukyas. None of the inscriptions of the Chalukyas indicate that they had come from Punjab. There is a sound similarity in the names of the Chalukyas and the Silusians, but the Chalukyas were not related to the Gurjaras either. The Chalukyas cannot be considered foreigners even by being related to the Gujjars because there is no strong evidence that the Gurjaras were foreigners.
The Chalukya caste, according to Dinesh Chandra Sarkar, is probably a branch of the Kannada caste The name of its founder was 'Chalik' 'Chalka' or 'Chaluk'. The people of this dynasty started declaring themselves as Kshatriyas after becoming powerful. Historian S.C. Nandinath is of the opinion that The word 'Chalukya' is derived from Kannada word 'Chalki', 'Shalki' or 'Chaluki' which is an agricultural implement. From this it can be inferred that the original founder of Chalukya dynasty was originally agriculturist of Karnataka state Who, on the strength of his talent and virility, later by getting the grace of the Kadamba kings gradually became their feudal rulers. Later on, these Chalukyas established their independent kingdom by making Vatapi the center due to their strategic power and popular rule. इस प्रकार ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि चुटुशातकर्णि, कदंब, राष्ट्रकूट आदि की भाँति चालुक्य भी किसी स्थानीय कुल से संबंधित थे। वे प्रारंभ में कदंब राजाओं की अधीनता में कार्य करते थे। क्रमशः अपनी शक्ति बढ़ाकर उन्होंने राजनीतिक प्रभुता प्राप्त कर लिया।
ए.एस. अल्तेकर का मानना है कि चालुक्य भारतीय वंशजों की संतान पर थे, चुटुशातकर्णि तथा कदंब कुलों के वंशज थे और ब्राह्मण थे। किंतु परवर्ती चालुक्य शासकों के कुछ अभिलेखों में उन्हें चंद्रवंशी क्षत्रिय कहा गया है। चीनी यात्री ह्वेनसांग भी इस वश के शासक पुलकेशिन् द्वितीय को क्षत्रिय बताता है। इस प्रकार चालुक्यों का संबंध क्षत्रिय कुल से था जो आधुनिक कर्नाटक क्षेत्र के मूल निवासी थे , वे मानव्य गोत्रीय चंद्रवंशीय क्षत्रिय थे। इनके अधिष्ठातृ देव विष्णु थे और वे वैष्णव थे।
चालुक्य राजवंश की मुख्य शाखाएँ (Main Branches of the Chalukya Dynasty)
बादामी/वातापी के चालुक्य (Chalukyas of Badami/Vatapi)
ईसा की छठीं शताब्दी के मध्य से लेकर आठवीं शताब्दी के मध्य तक दक्षिणापथ पर चालुक्य वंश की जिस मूल शाखा का आधिपत्य रहा, उसका उदय और विकास वर्तमान कर्नाटक में बागलकोट जिले के वातापी (आधुनिक बादामी) में हुआ था। चालुक्यों की इस शाखा को वातापी या बादामी का चालुक्य वंश कहा जाता है। बादामी के चालुक्य संभवतः बनवासी के कदंबों के सामंत थे। कदंबों के पतन के बाद उन्होंने अपनी स्वतंत्रता की घोषणा कर दी। इस वंश का वास्तविक संस्थापक पुलकेशिन् प्रथम ( 540-566 ई.) was. आरंभ में चालुक्यों की इस प्राचीनतम शाखा को ‘पूर्वकालीन पश्चिमी चालुक्य’ भी कहा जाता था। किंतु जब कल्याणी के कल्याणी के चालुक्यों को पक्षिमी चालुक्य कहा जाने लगा तो इस मूल शाखा को ‘बादामी के चालुक्य’ कहा जाने लगा।
वेंगी के चालुक्य या पूर्वी चालुक्य (The Chalukyas of Vengi or Eastern Chalukyas)
वेंगी के चालुक्य वंश का उत्थान बादामी के चालुक्य वंश की ही एक शाखा के रूप में हुआ। वेंगी के स्वतंत्र चालुक्य राज्य का संस्थापक पुलकेशिन् द्वितीय का छोटा भाई कुब्ज (कुबड़ा) विष्णुवर्धन था। वातापी (बादामी) के पुलकेशिन् द्वितीय ने पूर्वी दक्षिणापथ (पूर्वी दक्कन) को सुव्यवस्थित एवं नियंत्रित करने के लिए अपने छोटे भाई विष्णुवर्धन को आंध्र राज्य का प्रांतपति नियुक्त था। कालांतर में विष्णुवर्धन ने अपनी शक्ति बढ़ाकर वेंगी को केंद्र बनाकर वहाँ एक स्वतंत्र राज्य की स्थापना कर ली, जिसे ‘वेंगी के चालुक्य’ या ‘पूर्वी चालुक्य’ के नाम से अभिहित किया जाता है। पूर्वी चालुक्यों ने 7वीं शताब्दी से आरंभ करके 1130 ई. तक चार सौ वर्षों से भी अधिक समय तक करते रहे।। यह चालुक्य राज्य मुख्यतः कृष्णा एवं गोदावरी नदियों के बीच के क्षेत्र में विस्तृत था। इसकी राजधानी वेंगी (वेंगिपुर) की पहचान आंध्र राज्य के गोदावरी जिले में स्थित वर्तमान पेड्डवेगी से की जाती है।
कल्याणी के चालुक्य या पश्चिमी चालुक्य (The Chalukyas of Kalyani or Western Chalukyas)
दशवीं शताब्दी के अंतिम चरण में कल्याणी या कल्याण में चालुक्यों की एक नई शाखा का राजनीतिक उत्कर्ष हुआ। अंतिम राष्ट्रकूट शासक कर्क द्वितीय के समय उसके शक्तिशाली सामंत चालुक्यवंशीय तैलप द्वितीय ने 973-74 ई. में अपनी शक्ति और कूटनीति से संपूर्ण राष्ट्रकूट राज्य पर अधिकार कर लिया। आगे चलकर तैलप द्वितीय ने कल्याणी को अपनी राजधानी बनाया और इस प्रकार एक नये राजवंश की स्थापना की, जो ‘कल्याणी के चालुक्य’ या ‘पश्चिमी चालुक्य’ के नाम से विश्रुत हुआ। इन पश्चिमी चालुक्यों ने बारहवीं शताब्दी ईस्वी के अंत तक शासन किया।
चालुक्यों शासन का महत्व The Importance of the Chalukyas)
दक्षिण भारत, विशेषकर कर्नाटक के इतिहास में चालुक्यों की भूमिकाएँ अत्यंत प्रशंसनीय रहीं। कर्नाटक प्रदेश में आविर्भूत होने वाला यह पहला राजवंश था, जिसने भारत में ही नहीं, बल्कि भारत से बाहर ईरान तक अपने नाम और यश को प्रतिष्ठापित किया। बादामी के चालुक्यों ने अपने प्रभुत्व के कारण दक्षिण भारत में राजनीतिक एकता स्थापित करने के प्रयास में एक बड़े साम्राज्य की स्थापना की और कावेरी तथा नर्मदा नदियों के बीच पूरे क्षेत्र को नियंत्रित किया।
चालुक्य दक्षिण भारत में एक राजनीतिक शक्ति के ही प्रतीक नहीं थे, वे कुशल प्रशासक, महान निर्माता, साहित्य एवं संस्कृति के उन्नायक भी थे। उन्होंने न केवल एक स्थायी साम्राज्य स्थापित किया, अपितु विद्या, साहित्य, कला एवं धर्म को भी संरक्षण प्रदान किया। ऐहोल, बादामी तथा पट्टदकल की वास्तुकृतियाँ इनकी शक्ति, सामर्थ्य एवं कलात्मक अभिरुचि के उत्कृष्ट प्रमाण हैं। चालुक्य नरेशों ने कन्नड़ एवं तेलगु साहित्य के विकास और संवर्द्धन में अप्रतिम योगदान दिया। चालुक्य शासक विक्रमादित्य षष्ठ ने न्यायशास्त्र के विद्वान् विज्ञानेश्वर और विक्रमांकदेवचरित, कर्णसुंदरी नाटिका तथा चौरपंचाशिक जैसे काव्यग्रंथों के प्रणेता बिल्हण को संरक्षण प्रदान किया।
आंध्र-सातवाहन राजवंश और गौतमीपुत्र सातकर्णि (Andhra-Satavahana Dynasty and Gautamiputra Satakarni)
यूरोप में राष्ट्रीय राज्यों का उदय (Rise of National States in Europe)