Who Were the Rashtrakutas?
The Rashtrakuta Dynasty has ruled the major southern and western parts of India. The Rashtrakuta Empire was in peak form from the 8th century to the 10th century. Even though many conflicts occur among historians to find the origin of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty, they mainly originated from the Deccan region of Karnataka. In a short term, they covered most of the places in current Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Many Islamic travelers and scholars who visited India during the rule of Rashtrakutas wrote more about their rule, military, art and culture, and many more. This article will provide a list of famous Rashtrakuta rulers and their arts and culture in India are here.
(Image Will be Updated Soon)
Origin of Rashtrakuta Dynasty
Many historians have various views on the origin of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in India and they raised many debates on their concept. The medieval Rashtrakutas have mainly occupied the southern part of the country and they built good relationships between the little kingdoms in the Northern part of the country. They mainly focused on occupying the southern part of the county. The Rashtrakuta dynasty is basically from the families of Kannada, Maratha, Rajput, Reddi, or Punjabi groups. The meaning of Rashtrakuta in Sanskrit means “Country Chieftain”. Many historians believe that the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great was the ancestor of the Rashtrakutas. But there is not enough archaeological evidence about the Rashtrakutas. Rashtrakutas kingdom was founded by the Dantidurga, who was also known as Dantivarman. Dantidurga became the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty because he was a feudatory of the Badami Chalukyas.
Dantidurga defeated King Kirtivarman II in 753 CE and initiated the rule of Rashtrakutas in India. For defeating King Kirtivarman II, Rashtrakuta received help from the Chalukyas and won the war against the incoming Arab army. Day by day, the military of Rashtrakutas got superior and enlarged the Rashtrakuta Empire, and created Malkhed J as the capital of Rashtrakutas.
Rulers of Rashtrakutas
Dantidurga (735–756 AD)
Dantidurga was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta. Dantidurga ruled their place with the capital of the Gulbarga area of Karnataka. Initially, he established his rule with the help of Chalukyas. In 753 AD, Dantidurga defeated the Chalukyas and took the titles of Rajadhiraja and Parameshvara. Dantidurga also defeated the small rulers like Lata, Malwa, Tanka, Kalinga, and Sheshas and established his rule in many parts of the country. He took the entire control of the southern region at the end of 757 AD by defeating the Chalukya Empire the Chalukya Emperor Kirtivarman II.
Krishna I (756–774 AD)
Krishna I was an uncle of Dantidurga and took over the charge of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. To develop the Rashtrakuta dynasty, Krishna I defeated the last Badami Chalukya ruler Kirtivarman II in 757 AD. He was also effectively involved in the battle against the Western Ganga Dynasty King Sripurusha. Through that, he obtained some domain in Gangavadi, which is a part of southern Karnataka in present India. He also acquired the Shilaharas of South Konkan. Krishna I also defeated the Eastern Chalukya ruler Vishnuvardhana IV. Krishna I also took charge of building 18 Shiva temples and the Kailasanatha temple in Ellora. After Krishna, I, his eldest son Govinda II came to power.
Govinda II (774–780 AD)
After his father Krishna I, Govinda II took over the charge of the Rashtrakutas. But, during the early days, he left the rule over his younger brother Dhruva Dharavarsha. Govinda II has an interest in exotic joys. During his period, he invaded Vengi and took steps to defeat Eastern Chalukya ruler Vishnuvardhana IV.
Dhruva (780–793 AD)
Dhruva was one of the famous rulers in the Rashtrakuta empire. He decorated the throne after his elder brother Govinda II. But Govinda II was not such a successful ruler among the Rashtrakuta empire. Many delights arose among people because of the extreme liberality provided by him during his rule.
Govinda III (793–814 AD)
Govinda III came to the throne after his father Dhruva Dharavarsha. Govinda III was one of the best emperors in the Rashtrakutas dynasty. He established control from Kannauj in the north to Cape Comorin in the south, from Broach in the west to the Banaras in the east. Govinda III also founded their capital in Mayurkhandi in the Bidar area and tried to establish his control through northern battles in 800 AD. Govinda III also established the rule by defeating Dharmapala of the Pala Empire and the ruler of Kannauj, Gurjara-Pratihara Nagabhata II, Chakrayudha. In 814 AD, Govinda III died.
Amoghvarsha or Sarva (Amoghavarsha I) (800–878 AD)
Amoghvarsha or Sarva took over the charge after his father Govinda III. Amoghvarsha or Sarva was the great ruler in the Rashtrakuta tradition, who held the throne position for 64 years and held the record as the longest unequivocally dated monarchical ruler. He was also an expert in writing and research works. Amoghvarsha was composed of Kavirajamarga, which is the most punctual surviving abstract work in Kannada. Amoghvarsha also made some religious work in Sanskrit in the name of Prasnottara Ratna Malika. He shifted the Rashtrakutas capital from Mayurkhandi in the Bidar locale to Manyakheta in the Gulbarga region, which is one of the central places in Karnataka.
Krishna II (878–914 AD)
After the death of Amoghavarsha I, his elder son Krishna II decorated the throne of Rashtrakuta. King Krishna II was a great writer. He ruled the country from 878 AD to 914 AD. He was not such a good warrior and lost some places of Rashtrakutas. To establish his power he also fought with the Eastern Chalukyas ruled by King Gunaga Vijyaditya III and established his rule over central India.
Krishna III (939 – 967 AD)
Krishna III took over the charge after Krishna II. Krishna III was the last great warrior, who came to the throne of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty of Manyakheta. Krishna III was a great military campaigner and wise manager. He was involved in numerous wars to establish the Rashtrakuta's power and to increase the beauty of the Rashtrakutas. He played an important role in revamping the Rashtrakuta realm. He extended the boundaries of Rashtrakutas from the Narmada stream in the north to the Kaveri waterway delta in the south.
Rashtrakutas Administrative Structure
During the rule of Rashtrakutas, they classified the entire kingdom as Mandala or Rashtras (regions). Rashtrakuta kept Rashtra under the rule of Rashtrapati, who was an emperor. Under Amoghavarsha I’s kingdom, he has 16 Rashtra. Vishayapathi ruled the Vishaya’s, which was the same as the district under a Rashtra. Below Vishaya, they classified them as Nadu and are taken care of by the Nadugowda or Nadugavunda. The ministers in his kingdom will rule more than one Rashtra. The smallest division in the Rashtrakutas Administrative Structure was the Grama or village administration. This was administered by a Gramapathi or Prabhu Gavunda.
Art, Culture, and Literature of Rashtrakutas
Rasktrakuta rulers played a prominent role in the customary soul of religious resilience. They are mainly concentrated on constructing the Jain temples in various parts of India. Lord Amoghavarsha I was the great follower of the Jain acharya Jinasena. Rashtrakutas also have belief in Hinduisms and also supported the Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Shakta beliefs. Rashtrakutas also worked on constructing the Shiva temple. They are mainly concentrated on spreading Jainism around the country. They created many memorable monuments in India in the Karnata Dravida style. Rashtrakutas has constructed the stunning Kailasa Temple of Ellora, which was showing the excellent Rashtrakuta architectural achievement. The UNESCO world heritage site at Pattadakal was also constructed by the Rashtrakutas. The Jain Narayana Temple was also created by the Rashtrakuta Dynasty.
The rule of Rashtrakutas started declining after Khottiga Amoghavarsha came to power. They lost their power to the Chola dynasty. They ruled India for more than four centuries from the 6th century to the 10th century. They made many contributions towards art, culture, and architecture. This article explained the list of important rulers in the Rashtrakutas dynasty.
FAQs on Rashtrakuta Dynasty - List, Important Rulers, Governance, and FAQs
1. Who were the Rashtrakutas In short?
Among the rulers in India, the Rashtrakutas were one of a royal dynasty, who ruled a vast part of India. Rashtrakutas have mainly occupied the south and west parts of India from the 6th century to the 10th century. Initially, Rashtrakutas got land from the Badami Chalukyan dynasty through the feudal system.
2. How did Rashtrakutas become powerful?
The Rashtrakutas were mainly located in the Deccan region of India. They were the subordinates of the Chalukyas in Karnataka. During the mid of 8th century, Dantidurga the head of Rashtrakutas overthrew Chalukya with the help of Brahmanas and started performing as a ritual called 'Hiranya-garbha'
3. Where are Rashtrakutas?
Rashtrakuta Empire mainly occupied South India and West India from the 6th century to the 10th century. While the Rashtrakuta empire was at its peak, they occupied the entire modern state of Karnataka with most of the part of current Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
