The Rashtrakutas called themselves descendants of one named Satyaki. But there is difference of opinion about their origin among the historians. According to some they were originally of Dravidian peasant extraction. From some of the inscriptions of the Chalukya kings it is known that the Rashtrakutas were feudatories of the Chalukyas. Perhaps their original home was Karnataka and their mother tongue was Kanarese.
Important rulers of rashtrakuta dynasty
Krishna I
Dantidurga was succeeded by his uncle Krishna I. He conquered the territories that were still under the Chalukyas and thereby competed conquest of the Chalukya territories. He also occupied Konkan. It is not known for certain the name of the country over which Rahappa used to rule. Vishnuvardhana of Vengi and the Ganga king of Mysore were defeated at the hands of the Rashtrakuta King Krishna I. The Kailash Temple at Ellora was built by the Rashtrakuta King Krishna I. He was a great patron of art and architecture.
Govinda II
Krishnaraja’s eventful career came to an end within a very short time and he was succeeded by his son Govindaraj who ruled for some time as Govinda II. His worthlessness as a ruler and his lack of interest in administration led to his deposition by his brother Dhruva who ascended the throne himself.
Dhruva
Dhruva was by far the best ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. He ruled for a short span of time but within this short time he entered into struggle with the Gurjara-Pratihara King Vatsyaraja and defeated him signally. He also like wise defeated the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Pala King Dharmapala of Bengal.
Govinda III
Dhruva was succeeded by Govinda III his son and with almost equal vigor as of his father. He succeeded in keeping the Gurjara power sufficiently under control. He defeated the great Gurjara King Nagabhatta II. It is said that the Pala King Dharmapala and his protégé Charayudh sought the help of Govinda III. Govinda III made the Rashtrakutas dynasty one of the most powerful dynasties of contemporary India. His kingdom spread up to the Vindhyas and Malava in the north and the river Tungabhadra to the south.
Amoghavarsha I
The greatest king of the Rashtrakuta dynasty was Amoghavarsha I. As a warrior he was, however, no match with his father Govinda III, but he succeeded in defeating the East-Chalukya kings. Amoghavarsha I set up a new capital at Manyakheta (now Malkhed in Karnataka State) and during his reign Broach became the best port of his kingdom. Amoghavarsha I was a great patron of Education and literature. From the evidence of the Jaina works it is known that Amoghavarsha was converted into Jainism by Jinasena, a Jaina monk.
Amoghavarsha spent the accumulated wealth of his predecessors to beautify his kingdom. Suleman, an Arab merchant, in his account called Amoghavarsha I as one of the four greatest kings of the world, the other three being the Caliph of Bagdad, the king of Constantinople and the emperor of China.
Krishna II
Amoghavarsha ruled for 63 years and he was succeeded by his son Krishna II who in his turn was succeeded by Indra III.
Indra III
Indra III was a powerful king. He defeated and deposed Mahipala. The Rashtrakuta Kings Amoghavarsha II, Govinda IV and Amoghavarsha III were weak kings.
Krishna III
The last powerful and efficient king of the Rashtrakutas was Krishna III. He had a prolonged struggle with Mahipala, the Gurjara king. He also succeeded in conquering Tanjore and Kanchi. In the middle of the tenth century for a time he succeeded in defeating the Tamil kings of Chola kingdom. But towards the end of the same century the Rashtrakuta King Kaka was defeated and deposed by Taila or Tailapa, the Chalukya king of Kalyani. With Kaka’s defeat the Rashtrakuta power came to an end.
Architecture of rashtrakutas
The Rashtrakutas contributed much to the architectural heritage of the Deccan. Art historian Adam Hardy categorizes their building activity into three schools: Ellora, around Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, and at Sirval near Gulbarga. The Rashtrakuta contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut cave temples at Ellora and Elephanta, areas also occupied by Jain monks, located in present-day Maharashtra. The Ellora site was originally part of a complex of 34 Buddhist caves probably created in the first half of the 6th century whose structural details show Pandyan influence. Cave temples occupied by Hindus are from later periods.
The Rashtrakutas renovated these Buddhist caves and re-dedicated the rock-cut shrines. Amoghavarsha I espoused Jainism and there are five Jain cave temples at Ellora ascribed to his period.The most extensive and sumptuous of the Rashtrakuta works at Ellora is their creation of the monolithic Kailasanath Temple, a splendid achievement confirming the “Balhara” status as “one among the four principal Kings of the world”. The walls of the temple have marvellous sculptures from Hindu mythology including Ravana, Shiva and Parvathi while the ceilings have paintings.,
The Rashtrakutas were a dynasty that ruled over much of the Deccan Plateau in India from the 8th to the 10th centuries. They were originally a feudatory of the Chalukyas, but they eventually overthrew their overlords and established their own empire. The Rashtrakutas were a powerful and prosperous dynasty, and they made significant contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature.
The Rashtrakutas were a Kannada-speaking dynasty that originated in the Deccan Plateau. They were originally a feudatory of the Chalukyas, but they eventually overthrew their overlords and established their own empire. The Rashtrakutas reached the height of their power under the reign of Krishna I (756-774 CE). Krishna I was a great conqueror, and he extended the Rashtrakuta empire to include much of northern India. He was also a patron of the arts, and he commissioned many important works of architecture and sculpture.
The most famous example of Rashtrakuta architecture is the Kailasa Temple at Ellora. The Kailasa Temple is a monolithic temple, which means that it was carved out of a single piece of rock. It is one of the largest and most impressive temples in India.
The Rashtrakutas were also patrons of literature. The most famous Rashtrakuta poet was Kalidasa. Kalidasa is considered to be one of the greatest poets in the Sanskrit language. His most famous works include the plays “Shakuntala” and “Abhijnana Shakuntalam” and the epic poem “Kumarasambhava“.
The Rashtrakuta empire began to decline in the 10th century. This was due to a number of factors, including internal strife and external threats from the Chola dynasty. The Rashtrakutas were eventually overthrown by Cholas/”>The Cholas in 973 CE.
Despite their relatively short reign, the Rashtrakutas left a lasting legacy on Indian history. They were a powerful and prosperous dynasty that made significant contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature. Their empire was one of the largest and most powerful in India, and their legacy can still be seen in the many monuments that they built.
The Rashtrakutas were a Hindu dynasty, and their religion played an important role in their culture. They built many temples and monasteries, and they supported the study of Hindu scriptures. The Rashtrakutas were also patrons of the arts, and they commissioned many beautiful works of sculpture and painting.
The Rashtrakutas were a tolerant dynasty, and they allowed people of other religions to live and worship freely in their empire. They also had a strong military, and they were able to defend their empire from foreign invaders.
The Rashtrakutas were a great dynasty, and they left a lasting legacy on Indian history. They were a powerful and prosperous dynasty that made significant contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature. Their empire was one of the largest and most powerful in India, and their legacy can still be seen in the many monuments that they built.
The Rashtrakutas were a dynasty that ruled over much of southern India from the 7th to the 10th centuries. They were originally a feudatory power of the Chalukyas, but they eventually overthrew their overlords and established their own empire. The Rashtrakutas were a powerful and prosperous dynasty, and they made significant contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Rashtrakutas:
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Who were the Rashtrakutas?
The Rashtrakutas were a dynasty that ruled over much of southern India from the 7th to the 10th centuries. They were originally a feudatory power of the Chalukyas, but they eventually overthrew their overlords and established their own empire. -
When did the Rashtrakutas rule?
The Rashtrakutas ruled from the 7th to the 10th centuries. -
Where did the Rashtrakutas rule?
The Rashtrakutas ruled over much of southern India, including the Deccan Plateau, the Konkan coast, and the Malabar coast. -
What was the capital of the Rashtrakuta empire?
The capital of the Rashtrakuta empire was Manyakheta. -
Who were some of the important Rashtrakuta rulers?
Some of the important Rashtrakuta rulers include Dantidurga, Krishna I, Amoghavarsha I, and Krishna II. -
What were some of the achievements of the Rashtrakutas?
The Rashtrakutas were a powerful and prosperous dynasty, and they made significant contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature. They also built many temples and palaces, and they patronized the arts. -
What was the legacy of the Rashtrakutas?
The Rashtrakutas left a lasting legacy on Indian history. They were a powerful and prosperous dynasty, and they made significant contributions to Indian art, architecture, and literature.
- The Rashtrakutas were a dynasty that ruled over parts of India from the 8th to the 10th centuries. They were originally from the Deccan Plateau, and their capital was at Manyakheta.
- The Rashtrakutas were a powerful dynasty, and they were able to conquer large parts of India. They were also patrons of the arts and literature, and they built many temples and palaces.
- The Rashtrakutas were eventually overthrown by the Chalukyas, but they left a lasting legacy on Indian history.
Here are some MCQs about the Rashtrakutas:
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The Rashtrakutas were a dynasty that ruled over parts of India from the:
(a) 6th to the 8th centuries
(b) 8th to the 10th centuries
(c) 10th to the 12th centuries
(d) 12th to the 14th centuries -
The Rashtrakutas were originally from the:
(a) Deccan Plateau
(b) Ganges Valley
(c) Indus Valley
(d) Himalayas -
The Rashtrakutas were able to conquer large parts of India because they were:
(a) a powerful dynasty
(b) patrons of the arts and literature
(c) builders of temples and palaces
(d) all of the above -
The Rashtrakutas were eventually overthrown by the:
(a) Chalukyas
(b) Cholas
(c) Pallavas
(d) Pandyas -
The Rashtrakutas left a lasting legacy on Indian history because they were:
(a) a powerful dynasty
(b) patrons of the arts and literature
(c) builders of temples and palaces
(d) all of the above