Question

How did the Rashtrakutas become powerful?

Answer 1

Hint: The Chalukyas dynasty ruled central India between the sixth and 12 centuries. The dynasty was divided into three-time frames firstly the Badami Dynasty followed by the Eastern Chalukyas and lastly, they were revived by the western Chalukyas.

Complete answer:
The royal dynasty of Rashtrakuta ruled the Indian subcontinent in the sixth and tenth centuries.
The kings acknowledged the big landlords as their samantas or subordinates, during the seventh century, the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan were subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the mid-eighth century a Rashtrakuta chief, Dantidurga the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire overthrew his Chalukyan overlord Kirtivarman II by claiming the title of “ Parameshvara”. He performed a ritual Hiranya-Garbha ( Sacrificing an animal) with the help of Brahmans. It was a believed notion that the sacrificer would be reborn as a Kshatriya, even if he was not one by birth.

With better alliances and war, they fought against the dynasties of Palas and Gujara Pratihara and the empire rose to power in South India in 753 AD. Dantidurga established his capital in Karnataka. Krishna was the successor of Dantidurga and he extended his empire to all of Karnataka. The empire is known for its architectural achievements, literary contributions and their amiable political expansion.

The period of Rashtrakuta dynasty was influenced by Jainism and Hinduism, many Jain scholars contributed important works in Sanskrit and Kannada. Architecture too reached a Pedestal in Dravidian style with shorter towers, usually bending inwards called Shikharas.

Note: Dantidurga, was also known as Dantivarman. He was the son of Indra II. He played a pivotal role in sending back Arabs. Few of his victories were over the kingdoms of Kalinga, Tanka and Gujarat.