The Eastern Calukyas
By Dhirendra Chandra Ganguly
Summary
In this concise historical sketch, the author outlines the genealogy and reigns of the Eastern Calukya dynasty, which ruled the Vengi region of the eastern Deccan. Starting with Kubja Viṣṇuvardhana I, the brother of the Western Chalukya king Pulakeśin II, the narrative traces how Viṣṇuvardhana established an independent principality in c. 615 CE and adopted titles signifying imperial ambition. The article then summarises inscriptions from Korrapāḍu, Pedavegi and other sites to reconstruct the succession of rulers, including Jayasiṃha I, Indra Bhattāraka, Viṣṇuvardhana II and Vijayāditya I. Particular attention is given to Vijayāditya II (Narendra-mṛgāditya), who is credited with building temples and consolidating Calukya authority over coastal Andhra, and to the epigraphic record attesting to grants of villages and the use of titles like Tribhuvana–malla. The author notes that Visnuvardhana’s reign was short—about eighteen months—before he was succeeded by Vijayāditya around 843 CE. By enumerating known inscriptions and highlighting gaps in the record, the article serves as both a chronological summary and a call for further research.
Conclusion
The author concludes that although the Eastern Calukyas ruled for centuries, our knowledge of their chronology and administrative system remains fragmentary. Systematic collection and publication of inscriptions, combined with archaeological exploration in the Godavari delta, could fill these gaps. The article underscores the importance of epigraphy in reconstructing regional histories and encourages historians to integrate inscriptional evidence with literary sources to produce a fuller account of the dynasty’s political and cultural contributions.