Kalachuri

Kalachuri is this the name used by two kingdoms who had a succession of dynasties from the 10th-12th centuries, one ruling over areas in Central India (west Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan) and were called Chedi or "Haihaya" ("Heyheya") (northern branch) and the other southern Kalachuri who ruled over parts of Karnataka. They are disparately placed in time and space. Apart from the dynastic name and perhaps a belief in common ancestry, there is little in known sources to connect them.

The earliest known Kalachuri family ruled from 550–620 in central and western India; its power ended with the rise of Badami Chalukyas. Northern Kalachuri family ruled in central India with its base at the ancient city of Tripuri (Tewar); it originated in the 8th century, expanded significantly in the 11th century, and declined in the 12th–13th centuries.

Southern Kalachuri Kingdom ( _kn. ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಕಲಚೂರಿ) (1130 - 1184) at their peak ruled parts of the Deccan extending over regions of present day northern Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra. Their rule was a short and turbulent and yet very important from a the socio - religious movement point of view. A new sect called the Lingayat or Virashaiva sect was founded during these times. A unique and purely native form of Kannada literature-poetry called the "Vachanas" was also born during this time. The writers of "Vachanas" were called "Vachanakaras" (poets).

Origin of Kalachuris

Natives of Central India

Historians such as Dr. P. B. Desai are emphatic about the central Indian origin of the Kalachuris. Before the arrival of Badami Chalukya power, they had carved out an extensive empire covering areas of Gujarat, Malwa, Konkan and parts of Maharashtra. However after their crippling defeat at the hands of Badami Chalukya Magalesa, they remained in obscurity for a prolonged period of time. A 1174. record says the dynasty was founded by one Soma who grew beard and moustache, to save himself from the wrath of Parashurama, and thereafter the family came to be known as "Kalachuri".

Legends

According to legends, Kalli meaning "long moustache" and Churi meanoing "Sharp knife" is the source of their dynastic name. They were also referred to as Katachuris (shape of a sharp knife), "Kalanjarapuravaradhisvara" (Lord of Kalanjara) and "Haihaya" ("Heheya"). Mount Kalanjara is in north central India, east of the Indus Valley floodplain.

This name "Haihaya" is supposed to be derived from "haya" (a horse). Other theories are,
* A prince of the Lunar race, and great-grandson of Yadu.
* A race or tribe of people to whom a Scythian origin has been ascribed. The Vishnu Purana represents them as descendants of Haihaya of the Yadu race, but they are generally associated with borderers and outlying tribes.
*In the Vayu and other Puranas, five great divisions of the tribe are named as Talajanghas, Vitihotras, Avantis, Tundikeras, Jatas, or rather Sujatas.
*They conquered Bahu or Bahuka, a descendant of King Harish Chandra, and were in their turn conquered, along with many other barbarian tribes, by King Sagara, son of Bahu. According to the Mahabharata, they were descended from Saryati, a son of Manu. They made incursions into the Doab, and they took the city of Kasi (Benares), which had been fortified against them by King Divo Dasa; but the grandson of this king Pratardana by name, destroyed the Haihayas, and re-established the kingdom of Kasi. Kaartaveerya-arjuna, of a thousand arms, was king of the Haihayas, and he was defeated and had his arms cut off by Parasurama.
*The Vindhya Mountains would seem to have been the home of these tribes; and according to Colonel Todd, a tribe of Haihayas still exists “near the very top of the valley of Sohagpur, in Bhagelkhand, aware of their ancient lineage, and though few in number, still celebrated for their valor.”

Northern Dynasty

"First dynasty"Some historians identify several Kalachuri ruling families in Tripuri, Gorakhpur, Ratnapur, Rajpur (eastern Gujarat) regions of central India. They established their kingdom in Madhya Pradesh with their capital at Tripuri near Jabalpur. Kokalla I was the founder of the dynasty. The Chedis had to face the rulers of Kannauj and Malwa, the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. They also had to defend their territory against the Palas and rulers of Kalinga. One of the most important rulers of Kalachuri dynasty was Gangeya Deva. He tried to make the Chedis the paramount power of Northern India. He was succeeded by his son Karan Deva. "Second dynasty"

After the decline of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Laksm Karna (1041-1072) of Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri, who came to power, brought under his control almost the entire region covered by the present district of Gorakhpur. But his son and successor Yash Karna (1073-1120), was unable to check the process of disintegration. The Kahla inscription indicates that Sodha Deva, a feudatory of another branch of Kalachuri dynasty, had proclaimed his independence in a portion of Gorakhpur district. During the same period the Kalachuri rule was supplanted by that of the Gahadvalas of Kannauj over this region. According to epigraphic evidence the kingdom of Govind Chandra (1114-1154) of the Gahadvala dynasty extended to Bihar including the area now comprising Gorakhpur. Two inscriptions ascribed to Govind Chandra have also been found one each at Magdiha (Gagha) and Dhuriapar in Bansgaon Tehsil mentioning the genology of the Gahadvalas and the charity given by him for the prosperity of his family. A number of mounds of bricks, ruins and masonry wells found at these places go to establish their antiquity.

The defeat of Jaya Chandra ( 1170-1194) grandson of Govind Chandra, at the hands of Shihab-uddin Ghuri in 1194, paralyzed the Gahadvala power and brought to an end their dominance over the district. As a result a number of small principalities held by Sarnet, Donwar, Kaushik Rajputs and Bhars came into existence in different parts of the district.

outhern Dynasty, Immigrants in Karnataka

Legends

This dynasty which overthrew the Chalukyas of Kalyani in the early part of the 12th century, had a relatively short but stormy rule. According to a record pertaining to the year 1174, the founder of the family was Soma, who was a disciple of Ashwathama (the heroic character of the Mahabharata). According to legends, he grew a beard and a moustache to conceal his visage, in a bid to escape the wrath of the fiery Parashurama (another famous character of the Mahabharata). Thereafter his family and kinsmen came to be known as Kalachuris. However, the later records of the dynasty claim that they descended from Brahma, the Creator of the universe.

Research Notes

Historians have also pointed out that several Kalachuri kings were related to Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas by matrimonial alliances and had ruled from places like Tripuri, Gorakhpur, Ratnapur, Rajpur. They migrated to the south and made Magaliveda or Mangalavedhe (Mangalavada) their capital. They called themselves "Kalanjarapuravaradhisvara", which indicates their central Indian origin. Their emblem was "Suvarna Vrishabha" or the golden bull. They started out as modest feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani.

The Southern Clan

The Kalachuris of the south were Jains and encouraged Jainism in their kingdom. The first notable chief of the Kalachuri family of Karnataka was Uchita. While there were several kings who followed him ruling as feudatories of the Kalyani Chalukya, it was Jogama who became an influential vassal of Vikramaditya VI, being related to the great Chalukya king by matrimony.

The Kalachuri Clan (feudatory of Kalyani Chalukya)

* Uchita
* Asaga
* Kannam
* Kiriyasaga
* Bijjala I
* Kannama
* Jogama
* Permadi
* Bijjala II (1130 – 1167): proclaimed independence in 1162.
* Sovideva (1168 – 1176)
* Mallugi --> overthrown by brother Sankama
* Sankama (1176 – 1180)
* Ahavamalla (1180 – 1183)
* Singhana (1183 – 1184)

Coinage

The Southern Kalachuri kings minted coins with Kannada inscriptions on it. In the link provided, notice the coin from Barma Bhupala, Kalachuri-feudatory 1187 - 1188.
* [http://prabhu.50g.com/southind/chalukya/south_chalcat.html Conis of Kalachuri]

Virashaiva Movement and Emergence of Basavanna (or Basaveshvara, Basava)

The Virashaiva movement evolved in an attempt to simplyfy religion and create social order.Tradition wrongly claims that the sect was started by five saints namely, Renuka, Daruka, Ekorama, Panditaradhya and Vishwaradhya. Latest research has proved that there was no person called Renukacharya. Few selfish Jangamas created Renukacharya out of Revanasiddha. Revanasiddha was elder contemporary of Basavanna. It was Basavanna, the prime minister of king Bijjala who gave it momentum and inspirational direction, in the process he established a new religion called "Lingayata".

Basavanna was born in 1105 in the town of Bagavadi in present day Bijapur district in Karnataka state. He was born to Brahmin parents and studied Kannada and Sanskrit during his childhood. From an early age, Basava disliked religious rituals and tried to distance himself from it. He refused to undergo the brahminical "thread ceremony". He left Bagevadi and went to Kudala Sangama, a near by town to study spirituality under Isanya Guru.He found employment in the treasury of king Bijjala and his efforts and hard work did not go unnoticed. He married the daughter of minister Baladeva. He often gathered around him large number of devotees of lord Shiva.Much to the discontent of the orthodox Bhramins of Kalyani, Basava preached his casteless beliefs even in the regal capital, Kalyani. The "Anubhava Mantapa", an academy of mysticism, a great centre of religious discussions, was founded at Kalyani. It was from here the Basavanna taught his teachings to a growing number of devotees of lord Shiva. During this time, he conducted a marriage between a lower caste man and a brahmin girl, something the orthodoxy in Kalyani could not accept. They complained to King Bijjala II about this and wanted the parties involved punished. The king had Haralayya and Madhuvayya, the fathers of the groom and the bride executed. This atrocity of the ruler stunned the followers of Basavanna, and soon it became a signal for a widespread anger and discontent. In order not to kindle a raging fire among his followers, Basavanna moved backto Kudala Sangama. In the capital however, chaos reigned. King Bijjala was assassinated by Jagadeva, a cousin of Basavanna. This led to widespread resentment against the Virashaivacommunity which seemed to have suffered a setback, though only temporarily. The movement that had been inspired by Basavanna would regain its regal patronage during the days of the Vijayanagar Empire.

Virashaiva Saints and "Vachanakaras"

A unique feature of the Virashaiva movement was the large number of woman saints and poetesses it produced. Basavanna believed in equality of both sexes.The contribution of Basavanna to Kannada language and literature is immense and enduring. He couched his teachings in simple, terse, verse forms of rare felicity known as "Vachanas". They were frank, vigorous and incisive. Dr. Mugali regards the "Vachanas" as "Spiritual lyrics" and "springs of beauty flown from the peak of devotion".Basavanna is considered as one of the great saints of Karnataka, who rose above caste, creed, religion and sex. His vigorous yet simple teachings endeared to him people of "lower castes" and "lower creed". It is for this reason that Dr. Arthur Miles called him "Martin Luther of Karnataka".

Some well known and saints and vachanakaras were
* Renukacharya
* Darukacharya
* Ekoramacharya
* Panditaradhyacharya
* Vishwaradhyacharya
* Akka Mahadevi +
* Nilambike
* Gangambike +
* Allama Prabhu
* Siddarama
* Chennabasava
* Madivala Machayya
* Madara Channayya
* Sakalesha Madarasa
* Ramanna
* Sujikayakada Ramitande
* Medara Ketayya
* Kayakada Basappa

(+ poetess)

Kannada Literature

While this period saw the emergence of vachana "sahitya", many other important works were also written. Virupaksha Pandita wrote "Chennabasavapurana", Dharani Pandita wrote "Bijjalarayacharite" and Chandrasagara Varni wrote "Bijjalarayapurana"

Decline Of Kalachuris

The kingdom went into decline after the assassination of Bijjalla. The rulers who followed were weak and incompetent, with the exception of Sovideva, who managed to maintain control over the kingdom.The Kalachuris are the principal characters in the Andhra epic "The battle of Palnadu"

References

* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)

Links

* [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/history/historyofkarnataka25.htm Brief history of Kalachuris]
* [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/history/historyofkarnataka26.htm Life of Basavanna]

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