The Early History of the Kalacuris of Cedi

Summary

This historical investigation examines the early Kalacuri dynasty of Cedi (Dahala) in central India. After the decline of the Nala and Vakataka kingdoms, Dahala fell under the control of the Kalacuris, who were originally feudatories of the Rashtrakutas. The article identifies Kokkalla I as the first prominent Kalacuri ruler. He made Tripuri his capital and embarked on campaigns to secure the regions of Mekala, Baghelkhand, Kosala and Tripura. In inscriptions he boasts of having planted pillars of victory in the Vindhyas and Himalayas, claims that likely reflect his assertion of independence from the Rashtrakutas. The study analyses copper‑plate charters issued by Kokkalla I and his successors, which provide genealogies and details of land grants. These records mention his son Shankaragana and grandson Yuvarajadeva and describe their military exploits. The author uses the plates to reconstruct the early succession and to date the dynasty to the tenth and early eleventh centuries. He also compares the Kalacuri genealogies with those of their contemporaries, noting intermarriages with the Chandelas and other central Indian houses. Attention is paid to the dynasty’s economic base: the fertile plains of the Narmada and Mahanadi rivers and control of iron‑rich regions gave the Kalacuris resources for their campaigns. As Rashtrakuta power waned, the Kalacuris became virtually independent; their rulers adopted imperial titles and patronised temples, including the magnificent structures at Tripuri. The article places the Kalacuris within the broader context of central Indian politics, highlighting their role in resisting the Chola and Western Chalukya expansions. By synthesising epigraphic, literary and numismatic evidence, the author reconstructs the early history of a dynasty that would later rise to considerable prominence.