South India during the Harsha Period

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• The Satavahana’s rule ended in the first half of the 3^rd century A.D. from Deccan and south India.

• In the second half of the 3^rd century A.D., the Vakatakas came into power. However, much is not known about the founder of the Vakatakas dynasty,

Vakataka Empire

• Pravarasena was the (known) founder of the Vakataka Empire in western and central India.

• Vindhyasakti was the father of Pravarasena. He played an important role in establishing Vakataka Empire.

• Pravarasena is the only Vakataka ruler to whom the title ‘samrat’ was accorded. He performed ‘Vajapeya’ and four ‘Ashvamedhayajnas.’

• The successors of Pravarsena divided the Vakataka Empire into two parts. The main branch was known as Vatsagulma branch.

• Chandragupta-II raised the importance of the Vakatakas as a political power in western and central Deccan. He married his daughter Prabhavati Gupta into the Vakataka family.

• After this matrimonial alliance, the Vakatakas and the Guptas remained friendly for a long-time.

Kingdoms of Central and South India

• After the Vakatakas, three major kingdoms (listed below) dominated the Deccan and south India for about 300 years −

  • Chalukyas of Badami,

  • Pallavas of Kanchipuram, and

  • Pandyas of Madurai.

• The Vakatakas in the Deccan were followed by the Chalukyas of Badami.

• The Chalukyas develop their base at Vatapi or Badami and Aihole. They moved northwards and captured the areas around Nasik and the upper Godavari region.

• Pulakesin-II was the greatest king of Chalukya dynasty.’ He ruled from A.D. 610 to 642.

• Pulakesin-II was the contemporary of Harshavardhana of Kanauj.

• The Aihole inscription mentioned the detailed account of Pulakesin II‘s victories as well as early history of the Chalukyas. This inscription was composed by Ravikirti.

• Vishnuvardhan, son of Pulakesin-II, founded the eastern branch of the Chalukyas with its capital first at Pishtapuri. Later Vengi developed as a capital of the east Chalukyas kingdom.

• This branch remained independent of the main western branch and exercised uninterrupted authority over the kingdom up to the 12^th century.

• The Rashtrakutas succeeded the Chalukyas of Badami and build a vast empire in the Deccan.

• Dantidurga-I was the first known ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. He defeated the Chalukyas and conquered Badami in A.D. 752.

• The Chalukyas and the Pallavas were contemporaries of the Gangas and the Kadambas in the Deccan.

• The western Gangas were distinguished from the eastern Gangas of Kalinga. The Chalukyas and the Pallavas were ruled over a large part of modern Mysore.This region was called after them as Gangavadi.

• Konkanivarman Dharmamahadhiraja was the founder of the family. He ruled in the second half of the 4^th century A.D. and had his capital at Kolar. He ruled independently from A.D. 350-550.

• Durvinita was a prominent Ganga king. He was a scholar of Kannada and Sanskrit literature.

• Sripurusha was another important ruler of (western Ganga) dynasty. He shifted his capital to Manyapura (Manne near Bangalore). His kingdom was known as Srirajya on account of its prosperity.