The Calukyas of Kalyani

Summary

This lengthy article studies the history of the Western Chalukyas, sometimes called the Calukyas of Kalyani, who restored their independence in the late tenth century after the fall of the Rastrakuta empire. It begins by describing Taila II’s revolt against the Rastrakutas and his victory over Paramara king Munja, events recorded in inscriptions such as the Bhadna copper-plate and the Kharepatan grant. Taila’s son Satyasraya succeeded him and struggled with neighbouring dynasties, particularly the Paramaras. The article traces the family’s genealogy, noting the succession of Vikramaditya V, Ayyana II, and Jayasimha. It examines the political context in which the Chalukyas held territory across the Deccan, including Gujarat and the Konkan, and describes their conflicts with the Cholas and the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi. A significant portion is devoted to the Nolamba-Pallavas, a minor dynasty related to the Pallavas of Kanchipuram, whose fortunes were intertwined with those of the Chalukyas. As inscriptions reveal, the death of the Nolamba-Pallava king Marasimha triggered a power vacuum in the Nolambavadi region; the Chalukyas and Hoysalas contended for control, and dynastic marriages were used to secure alliances. The article also analyses the cultural achievements of the Chalukyas, noting their patronage of Jainism and Shaivism and their architectural contributions at Kalyani and Lakkundi. The decline of the dynasty is linked to the rise of the Kalachuri usurper Bijjala, whose coup fractured the kingdom. The paper concludes by emphasising that the history of the Chalukyas of Kalyani cannot be understood without careful study of inscriptions and local traditions; it calls for further research to clarify uncertain successions and the chronology of minor branches.