INDIA , THAT IS BHARAT -A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, #BHARAT[PART-54][EP-283]

THE EASTERN CHALUKYA OR THE CHALUKYA OF VENGI

The EASTERN CHALUKYA or the CHALUKYA of VENGI ruled part of South INDIA between 7th and 12th centuries . They started out as the Governors of the CHALUKYA of BADAMI in the DECCAN region . During the courses of time , they started ruling over the VENGI region of the present-day ANDHRA PRADESH till 1001 AD .They continued ruling the region as feudatories of the medieval CHOLAS until 1189 AD . Their capitals had been PITAPURAM , VENGI and RAJAHMUNDRI at different time periods . Common languages of the Kingdom were TELGU , SANSKRIT and KANNADA . They followed HINDUISM as a religion . Throughout their history , they were involved in wars between the more powerful CHOLAS and WESTERN CHALUKYAS over the control of the strategically important VENGI Country . The five century long rule of EASTERN CHALUKYA over VENGI , consolidated the region into a unified whole. The TELUGU culture , literature , poetry and art reached at zenith during this period . As per the TIMMAPURAM plates of KUBJA VISHNUVARDHANA , the progenitor of the EASTERN CHALUKYA , belonged to MANAVYA GOTRA (CLAN) and were HARIPUTRAS , just like the KADAMBAS and WESTERN CHALUKYAS .The Dynasty started claiming themselves as Lunar Dynasty origins from the 11th century onward . According to this legend , the Dynasty descended from the Moon . 59 unnamed descendants of UDAYANA ruled at AYODHYA . Their descendant VIJAYADITYA was killed in a battle with TRILOCHANA PULLAVA . His pregnant widow was given shelter by VISHNUBHATTA SOMAYAJI of MUDIVEMU . She named her son VISHNUVARDHANA after her benefactor . And when the child grew old , it is said that  he became the ruler of DAKSHINAPATHA by the grace of goodness NANDA BHAGAVATI .

ADMINISTRATION & GOVERNMENT OF THE EASTERN CHALUKYA

The EASTERN CHALUKYA government was a monarchy based on the HINDU philosophy .The EASTERN CHALUKYA’S inscriptions state that the state had seven components and eighteen offices .The seven components of the state were as follows : 1. Mantri (Minister) ; 2. Purohita (chaplain)  ; 3. Senapati (Commander) ; 4. Yuvaraja (Heir-apparent) ; 5. Dauvarika (Door Keeper) ; 6. Pradhana (Chief) ; and 7. Adhyaksha (Head of Department) . On about how the administration was carried out , no information is available . However, historical records suggest that the VISHAYA and KOTTAM were the administrative subdivisions .The royal edicts were addressed to all NAIYOGI KAVALLABHAS as well as GRAMEYAKAS , the residents of the village granted . The inscriptions also refer to MANNEYAS , who held assignments of land or revenue of different villages . As we know that fratricidal wars and foreign invasions were common features of that period , they frequently disturbed the land . The entire empire was parcelled out into many principalities (estates) held by the different nobility . The most of these nobility  like the KONA HAIHAYAS , KALACHURIS , KOLANU SARONATHAS , CHAGIS , PARICHEDAS , KOTA VAMSAS , VELANADUS and KONDAPADAMATIS were closely connected by marriage ties with the EASTERN CHALUKYA . Most of their family members were raised to high position for their royal services . But the historical records also show that when the VENGI rulers were strong , the nobility paid allegiance and tribute to them and when they became weak , these nobility were ready to join hands with the enemies against the royal house .

SOCETY , RELIGION & LITERATURE DURING THE EASTERN CHALUKYA

VENGI had heterogeneous population .The CHINESE traveler HIUEN-TSANG had noted that the people were of violent character . They were of a dark complexion , but were fond of arts .The society was based on hereditary caste system . Even the BUDDHISTS and JAINS , who originally disregarded caste , had also adopted it . Besides the four traditional castes , minor communities like BOYAS and SAVARAS (both tribal group) also existed .The BRAHMINS were treated in high esteem in the society because they were proficient in VEDAS and SHASTRAS .The KSHATRIYAS were the ruling class .The KOMATIS (VAISHYAS) were a flourishing trading community .The SHUDRAS constituted the balk of the population .They were also divided into several sub-castes . HINDUISM was the main religion of the EASTERN CHALUKYA Kingdom . SHAIVISM was more popular than VAISHNAVISM .The MAHASENA temple was at CHEBROLU , became famous for its annual YATRAS and a procession of the deity’s idol from CHEBROLU to VIJAYAWADA and back . BUDDHISM , which was dominant during the SATAVAHANA period , was in decline . Most of its monasteries were by now deserted . However , HIUEN-TSANG noticed that some twenty or more BUDDHIST monasteries existed in which more than three thousand monks lived . Unlike BUDDHISM , JAINISM continued to enjoy some support from people .The king like KUBJA VISHNUVARDHANA , VISHNUVARDHANA and AMMA II patronized JAINISM . So far as literature of the period was concerned , TELUGU literature was at its zenith . NANNAYA was the poet-laureate of RAJARAJA NARENDRA in the middle of the 11th century . He was well-versed in VEDAS and SHASTRAS . He had translated the MAHABHARTA into TELUGU . NARAYANA BHATTA , who was proficient in eight languages , assisted him in his endeavour .Though incomplete , his work is considered as a masterpiece of TELUGU literature.

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TO BE CONTINUED ……………….

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