HARSHAVARDHAN & THE SOUTHERN DYNASTIES |
- After the decline of Gupta empire, a number of Kingdoms appeared in the North India:
- Maukhari Dynasty in the core Ganga Valley Region.
- Harshavardhan’s ancestors (Pushyabhutis) in western U.P., eastern Punjab with their capitals at Kannauj and Thaneswar (Panipat-Topara).
- Further east, Shashank (7th century, CE) ruled over Bengal (Gauda).
- In South, after Vakatakas who were contemporaries of Guptas, Chalukyas of Badami ruled over Deccan and further South was the Kingdom of Pallavas of Kanchi.
PUSHYABHUTI DYNASTY |
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HARSHAVARDHAN (606 CE – 647 CE) |
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SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION DURING HARSHAVARDHAN & THE SOUTHERN DYNASTIES |
ADMINISTRATION
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ECONOMY |
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SOCIETY |
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RELIGION |
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ART AND CULTURE |
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PALLAVAS OF KANCHI |
- Pallava are identical with the pulindas mentioned in Ashoka’s Inscriptions.
- Pallavas ruled from Kanchi and Mahabalipuram/Mamallapuram as their capital.
- Important rulers of the dynasty were –
MAHENDRAVARMAN I (600 CE – 630 CE)
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NARSHIMHAVARMAN I (630 CE -668 CE)
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NARSIMHAVARMAN II
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- Other notable rulers were Nandivarman, Parmeshwarvarman I and Parmeshwarvarmn II.
ADMINISTRATION |
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SOCIETY & RELIGION |
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LITERATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE |
1. Under Mahendravarman I, small rock-cut temples were made and were called as ‘manadapas’; examples are Bhairavakonda temple and Ananteswara temple at Undavalli. 2. Under Narsimhavarman I, ‘mandapas’ became bigger, Mahabalipuram/ Mamallpuram city was founded and a number of monolithic Ratha (Chariot) temples were constructed like the Panchapanadava rathas. Important Mandapams are of Varaha, Mahishasuramardhini and Tirumurthi. 3. Under Rajasimha, free-standing or structural temples started to be built. Shore, Olakkaneshwara and Mukundanayanar Temples in Mahabalipuram and Kailashnath Temple and Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram were constructed with this feature. 4. Under Nandivarman and later Pallavas, temples continue to be constructed in Rajsimha style. Matagenswara and Muktheeswara temples are examples of this.
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CHALUKYAS (535 CE – 1190 CE)
- Founded by Pulakesin I, Chalukyas ruled the extensive Deccan region between 6th and 12th century CE with capital at Badami (Vatapi).
- Pulakesin I performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
- The same family also ruled from Vengi (as the Eastern Chalukyas) and Kalyani during some later time.
- Chalukyas were involved in continued struggle against Pallavas.
PULAKESIN II (608 CE – 642 CE) |
- The Aihole inscription issued by Pulakesin II substantiates that he was most important ruler of the dynasty.
- Ravikirti, the court poet of Pulakesin II and composer of Aihole inscription was a Jain.
- Pulakesin II defeated Harshavardhan and limited his southward expansion till Narmada.
- He also defeated Kadambas of Banavasi and the Gangas of Mysore and established his suzerainty.
- Pulakesin II emerged victorious against first struggle with Pallavas but he was defeated by Narasimhavarman I (Vatapikonda) of Pallavas (Kanchi) who captured the capital Vatapi (Badami).
- Pulakesin II sent an ambassador to the court of Persian King Khusrau.
- Huien Tsang, the Buddhist pilgrim from China, visited Chalukyas’ Kingdom during his reign.
- VIKRAMADITYA I: Pulakesin II was succeeded by Vikramaditya I, who pushed Pallavas out of Badami and re-consolidated the kingdom.
- VIKRAMADITYA II: After peaceful and prosperous reigns of Vinayaditya (681-93) and Vijayaditya (693-733), Vikramaditya II again invaded Pallava kingdom three times, and the repelled the Arab invasion of south Gujarat.
- KIRTIVARMAN II: He was the last ruler of the Chalukyas. Dantidurga defeated him to establish rule of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
- After the death of Pulakesin II, in Eastern Deccan, a branch of Chalukyas appeared with capital at Vengi. They ruled till the 11th
- During the late 10th century, the descendants of the Chalukyas of Badami, re-appeared and ruled with Kalyani as their capital (Basavakanlyan, western deccan).
ADMINISTRATION |
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ECONOMY |
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RELIGION |
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LITERATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE |
1. The Papanatha temple is in Nagara style: 2. The Sangamesvara temple and the Virupaksha temple are in Dravidian style. |