CHALUKYAS IN TELANGANA

CHALUKYAS

Pulakesin II, the renowned ruler of Chalukyas conquered Vengi (near Eluru) in AD 624 and made his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana (AD 624-641) as its ruler. His dynasty known as the Eastern Chalukyas ruled for nearly four centuries. Contemporaries to the Eastern Chalukyas were the Eastern Gangas in the northeast and the Pallavas in the south. A Chalukya family ruled Vemulavada (Karimnagar district). Their rule extended over the present day Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts. As subordinate rulers loyal to the Rashtrakutas, they ruled with semi-independent status for about two centuries (AD 755-968). The Cholas attained the status of a major power in south India under the leadership of Rajaraja I (AD 985-1016).

Two rebel princes of the Eastern Chalukya family sought refuge in Rajaraja I court. The Rajaraja I utilized the claim of one of these princes, Saktivarma, as a pretext for intervening in the affairs of Vengi. He was successful in crowning Saktivarma on the throne of Vengi. From that time, the Eastern Chalukyas played a role subservient to the Cholas. The Telugu country witnessed battles between the Cholas and the Chalukyas of Kalyani who supported a rival claimant to the throne of the Vengi each time. An Eastern Chalukya Prince, Rajendra, occupied the Chola throne in AD 1070. Nevertheless, Vijayaditya VII, a cousin of Rajaraja, continued to rule over Vengi till his death in AD 1076. Then the Eastern Chalukya dynasty came to an end.

Though the Eastern Chalukyas originally of Kannada stock, they patronized Telugu and gave importance to it. The great epic Mahabharata was translated partly by Eastern Chalukya king, Rajaraja court poet, Nannaya in the 11th century. At the time of Chalukya conquest there were three religions: Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. Buddhism was on the wane and the resurgent Hinduism transformed the Buddhist Aramas into pilgrim centers. Hinduism enjoyed the status of a national religion throughout the kingdom. Temples were built which played an important role in the religious life of the people. In the period of seven centuries (AD 624-AD 1323), Telangana history had seen significant sea-change and it brought in all spheres of the human activity; social, religious, linguistic and literary. Kakatiyas came to power during the later half of this period and extended their rule over the entire Telugu land with the exception of a small land in the northeast.