CHALUKYAS OF BADAMI The Chalukyas of Badami ( Vathapi as is known in Tamilnadu) were one of last powerful Emperors in the Deccan. The dynasty was founded by Pulikesin I. But the real power and glory of this Empire came during the reign of Pulikesin II. He and his elder brother were mere children when their father died and a brother of their father had usurped the throne and captured power. With the assistance of a maid servant who was loyal to the Royal Family, the two escaped into the mountains and took asylum with the Budhdhist monks of Ajantha caves. Though they were with the Budhdhist monks they were brought up with all the bravery and ferocity due for a Kshathriya of Royal descent. The elder of the two brothers Neela Kesi declined the claim to the throne and became a Budhdhist monk. The younger brother pulikesin II became the King by conquering and killing the brother of their father who had dispossessed them earlier. Throughout his reign Pulikesin was active in military campaigns. He is variously described by historians as a bloodthirsty,cruel and greedy campaigner. Where ever his army moved through there were total devastation and heartless killing and maiming of even women, children and Old people who were normally exempted in warfare during that period from s a matter of scorched earth policy to deny food supplies to his enemies. In the process the Civilian public of the area suffered to a great extent. That was the stepping stone for all the success Pulikesin had in all his military campaigns which included the stopping of the Great Emperor Harsha Vardhana, the last Great Hindu Emperors of the Indo Gangetic plains, at the Narmadha Banks and prevented his conquest of Deccan. Harsha’s Empire extended from Assam to Sind and Gandhar on the East West and from the Himalayas to the Narmadhas in the North South. Also Pulikesin had a long campaign against the Pallavas of Kanchi under the reign of Mahendhra Pallava I. His long siege of Kanchipuram was the stuff of which History is made. Since he was not able to break Kanchipuram, he left a part of his forces to maintain the siege and continued further South and went almost up to the Pandiyan Empire. He had crossed the Gedilam and gone further down. Due to certain misinformation, his campaign miscarried and the monsoon interfered with his plans, like the Russian winter with a latter day Hitler’s campaign in Stalingrad. History records that ultimately he had to give up the siege and head back to his capital Badami because there was a possibvility that Harsha may again invade Deccan. During the period Pulikesin showed himself to be a connoisseur of art, architecture and music though he never had much time for all this earlier. During his campaign against the Pallavas it is said that Pulikesin had captured a number of sculptors, dancers and musicians from Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram This was the turning point in the history of Pulikesin as Mahendhra Pallava’s son Narasimha Pallava I took fourteen years to round up a massive force for campaign against Badami and ultimately destroyed Badami as a City. Narasimha Pallava’s army commander Paranjyothi ( laterday Saivait saint Siruththondar one of the 63 Nayanmars) had actually brought a massive Vinaya Murthy from Badami and it is said that it was installed in Tiruvarur, and the Ganapathi was named Vathapi Ganapathi. This murthy is said to have iinspied sri Muthuswamy Deekshidhar to compose his Krithi on Ganapathi called “Vathapi ganapathim baje ham” Yes, efforts had been made by later Chalukyas including the Kalyani Chalukyas, and even Rashtrakutas to revamp Badami as it was the symbol of Chalukyan supremacy. But it never got under way at all. The ruins of Badami and the other allied ruins continue even today to be as they were when the {Pallavas left Baadami. Later generation Chalukyas again had a campaign against the Tamils of Pallava & Pandian Kingdoms after the death of Narasimhavarma Pallava. There after the Chozha Tiger Ensign flew high all over the peniunsular India and also across far East Asia and near west like Lakshadweepas and Maladweepas. (Present day Lakhdives and Maldives.) During this reign the fatherson combination of Rajaraja Chozha and Rajendra Chozha. The Chozha Chakravarthis, ensured thatb the Gangas, Rashtrakootas, Kalingas and Chalukyas had no hope of fighting again with the Chozha Empire. They had a;lso built up strong alliances by matrimony with Pandiyas and Vengi Kings which was the starting point of new Dynasty called the Vengi Chzhas. The presence of thius dynasty ensured that there was an effectiuve barrier to any invasion from the North against the Chozha Empire. Progressively the Chalukya empire declined and became a small Zamindari of some 26 villages in the area around what today are called Badami, Aihole and Pattadakkal. There was a short spurt of Hindu activity in Vijayanagaram during the Golden Rule of Krishna Deva Raya, but that Also met the same fate of decline and fall after Aliya Rama Raya because of the usual infighting playing into the Hindus into the hands of the Islamic Forces, Malik Khafur (Gaffoor) and the succeeding Sultans of Baman Emires of Golkonda, Ahmednagar, Bijampur, Gulbarga & Bidar and also the influence of the Moghuls in the area ensured that no other Kingdoms came up in this area. Unfortunately even today this period of Indian History is the target of linguistic chauvisnism. There are claims and counter claims as to the language spoken by the Chalukyas. Some Maharashtra scholars claim that they were Maratis where as some Kannadigas claim that they were Kannada people. These Karnatak proponents go the exten of saying that Ajantha Ellora are symbols iof Kannada art and architecture. They go to the extent of saying that Mahalakshmi temple of Kolhapur and Vittal temple iof P)andarpur are remnants of Kannada influence in the area. Fort hose who are interested Perasiriyar Kalki’s “Sivakamiyin Sabatham” records the history of Mahendra/Narasimha Pallavas as well as that of Pulikesin II. This novel delineates in detail and profusely the influence of allegedly non-violent religions such as Budhdhisnm anb Jainism (Samanam), on aggravating and influencing in increasing Pulikesin’s cruelty and his blood thirsty methods. Thius 8is was because the Pallavas under Mahendra Pallava came under the influence of Thirunavukkarasar (Appar swamikal) and converted themselves to Saoivism from being a jain himself. This largely influenced the general public also to quite being Jains and convert back to Hinduism Saivism.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 08:46:40 +0000
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