Question

From whom did Pulakeshin get the kingdom?

Answer 1

Hint: Pulakeshin II was the most well-known ruler of the Vatapi Chalukya dynasty (present-day Badami in Karnataka, India). During his rule, the Chalukya kingdom grew to encompass most of peninsular India's Deccan area.

Complete answer:
Pulakeshin II (609 AD – 642 AD):
- The most powerful of the Chalukya kings.
- Eraya was his given name when he was born. The Aihole inscription, dated 634, provides information about him. Ravikirti, his court poet, wrote this beautiful inscription in Sanskrit using the Kannada alphabet.
- Xuanzang paid a visit to his realm. Pulakesin II has been praised by him as a good and powerful ruler.
- He was tolerant of Buddhism and Jainism while being a Hindu.
- He ruled over practically all of south-central India.
- He is known for stopping Northern monarch Harsha in his tracks while attempting to conquer the country's southern regions.
- He had fought the Pallava monarch Mahendravarman I, but in a series of fights with the Pallavas, he was defeated and slain by Mahendravarman's son and successor Narasimhavarman I.
- Badami remained under Pallava administration for the following 13 years.
- As represented in an Ajanta cave art, Pulakesin II was given a Persian mission. He maintained diplomatic ties with King Khusru II of Persia.
- The Chalukyas' authority weakened after his death.

Pulakeshin, the son of Chalukya king Kirtivarman II, took the kingdom from his uncle Mangalesha.

Note: Between the 6th and 12th centuries, the Chalukya dynasty dominated vast areas of southern and central India. They ruled as three separate but linked dynasties during this time. The "Badami Chalukyas," the first dynasty, ruled from Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the sixth century.