Vikramaditya VI

Vikramaditya VI
Vikramaditya VI
Old Kannada inscription (1077 AD) of Vikramaditya VI in Panchabasti Temple at Humcha
Western Chalukya emperor
Reign11 February 1076 – 1126
Anointment11 February 1076[1]
PredecessorSomeshvara II
SuccessorSomeshvara III
Died1126 (1127)
SpouseChandala Devi
Kethala Devi
Savala Devi
IssueSomeshvara III
HouseChalukya dynasty
FatherSomeshvara I
Mahadeva Temple at Itagi (c.1112)
Kalleshvara Temple (c.1083) at Ambali
Bhimeshvara Temple at Nilagunda (c.1075-1100)
Mallikarjuna Temple at Kuruvatti Temple (c.1070-1100)

Vikramaditya VI (died 1126) was the Western Chalukya emperor from 1076 until his death in 1126. He became the king after deposing his elder brother Someshvara II, a political move he made by gaining the support of Chalukya vassals during the Chola invasion of Chalukya territory.[2][3] Vikramaditya's reign is marked with the abolishment of the Saka era and the start of the Chalukya-Vikrama era. He was the greatest of the Western Chalukya kings and had the longest reign in the dynasty. He earned the title Permadideva and Tribhuvanamalla (lit "lord of three worlds").[4][5][6] He had several queens who ably assisted him in administration. One of his queens, Chandala Devi, a princess from the Shilahara ruling family of Karad was called Abhinava Saraswati for her skills as an artist. Queen Kethala Devi administered the Siruguppa region and Savala Devi was in charge of an Agrahara in Naregal.[7] According to the historian Kamath, Vikramaditya VI was a "great king who ruled over South India" and he finds a "pride of place in Karnataka history". More inscriptions in Kannada are attributed to Vikramaditya VI than any other king prior to the Vijayanagara era.[5][8]

Vikramaditya VI is noted for his patronage of art and letters. His court was adorned with famous Kannada and Sanskrit poets.[9] In Kannada, his brother prince Kirtivarma wrote Govaidya on veterinary science and the poet Brahmashiva wrote Samayaparikshe ("Analysis of the doctrine", c. 1125) and received the title Kavi Chakravarti (lit, "Emperor among poets")[10] Noted Sanskrit scholars such as Bilhana who earned the title Vidyapati ("pundit") came to his court from faraway Kashmir and wrote a panegyric on the life of his patron king in Vikramankadevacharita. The poet compared his rule to Ramarajya ("Rama's Kingdom"). Vijnaneshwara the noted jurist in his court wrote Mitakshara, a commentary on Yagnavalkya Smriti (on Hindu family law). Of the king he wrote "A King like Vikramarka is neither to be seen nor heard of".[11] Vikramaditya VI is known to be a Shaiva by faith.[4] His rule saw prolific temple building activity. Notable constructions include the Mallikarjuna temple,[12] the Mahadeva Temple[13] the Kaitabheshvara Temple[14] and the Kalleshvara Temple.[15] According to historian Sen, the 50-year reign of Vikramaditya VI was overall a peaceful and prosperous one. Sen estimates at his peak Vikramaditya VI controlled a vast empire stretching from the Tumkur district and Cuddapah in the south to the Narmada River in the north, and up to the Khammam district and the Godavari district in the east and south-east.[16]

Kaitabheshvara Temple (c.1100) at Kubatur

Wars against cholas

As a prince under his father Someshvara I, Vikramaditya VI played an active role in the Western Chalukya–Chola wars. According to C. Venkataramanayya, he marched through Konkan into Kerala, defeated the rulers of Kerala, Simhala and the Pandya countries which was under cholas ,he sacked the Malaya hills, and advanced upon Gangaikonda Cholapuram, compelling Virarajendra Chola to abandon his northern campaign and return to defend the Chola capital.[17][18] According to S. N. Sen, in c.1067–68 Vikramaditya marched against Gangaikonda Cholapuram and plundered the Chola capital in an attempt to restore Western Chalukya fortunes.[19]

Bilhana's Vikramankadevacharita, as discussed by B. R. Gopal, credits Vikramaditya with repeatedly defeating the Cholas, plundering Kanchi, campaigning in Kerala, Simhala, Vengi and Chakrakuta, and conquering Gangakunda. Gopal, however, notes that Bilhana's account is highly eulogistic and that several of these claims cannot be independently verified.[20]

Following the death of Virarajendra Chola in 1070, Bilhana states that Vikramaditya marched to Kanchi, suppressed a rebellion there, advanced to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, defeated the opposing forces and installed his brother-in-law Athirajendra Chola on the Chola throne before returning to the Deccan. Gopal identifies this as Bilhana's account of Vikramaditya's intervention in the Chola succession dispute.[21] According to B. R. Gopal, Virarajendra's inscriptions record the erection of a pillar of victory after the campaign at Chakrakuta. Comparing these claims with Bilhana's account, Gopal argues that the claim of the victory pillar was "only a hyperbolic statement to cover the truth of his failure" and suggests that the Cholas may instead have suffered defeat at the hands of Vikramaditya VI, who conquered Chakrakuta before returning to Kalyana following the death of Someshvara I.[22]

During the renewed Chola–Chalukya war in or before 1080, inscriptions of Vikramaditya's subordinate Tambarasa record several victories over the Cholas. They state that Tambarasa defeated the Chola forces at Madakedore and erected a pillar of victory there; advanced to Jayangondapuram (identified with Gangaikonda Cholapuram) where he erected a pillar of fame, a victory flag and an inscription; crossed the Southern Ghats and defeated Rajiga (Kulottunga I); and earned the title of "destroyer of Kanchipura". The same inscriptions credit the Hoysala prince Ereyanga with plundering the Chola capital Gangaikonda cholapuram. Golapchandra Raychaudhuri identifies these inscriptional records with Bilhana's account of Vikramaditya's Chola campaign.[23]

Vikramaditya seized Kanchi from the Cholas in 1085 and, about 1093, burnt Vengi and wrested Andhra from the Cholas. Although Kulottunga I subsequently recovered the region, it was later regained by Vikramaditya.[24]

The prolonged Chola–Chalukya wars also resulted in the gradual recovery of Nolambavadi, Banavasi, Singanam and Konkana by the Western Chalukyas. Dinkar Desai attributes the eventual expulsion of the Cholas from Nolambavadi to these campaigns, while inscriptions indicate that Chalukya commanders including Madhavabhatta, Tambarasa and other feudatories recovered territories temporarily occupied by Kulottunga I.[25][26]

In the later years of his reign, Vikramaditya VI gradually re-established Western Chalukya authority over Vengi. Inscriptions indicate that campaigns led by his general Anantapala culminated in the occupation of Vengi, and by 1118 he is described as the ruler set over Vengi 14000.[27][28]

Before becoming governor of Kondapalli, Anantapala's nephew Govinda Dandanatha campaigned against the Cholas by attacking Jananathapura (Bezwada), capturing Kumara, taking Ducheya Gonka prisoner, depriving him of his possessions, waging war against the Chola monarch and burning Vengipura.[29] [30] Vikramaditya VI's brother and subordinate, Prince Somesvara, styled Chalukya-Ganga-permadi, campaigned against the Cholas and the three Kalingas. A 1124 inscription records that Somesvara put the Chola king to flight and set fire to the three cities of the three Kalingas.[31]. During the reign of Vikramaditya VI, his subordinate Rajaditya defeated the Cholas and the Kurumbas while administering Chabbi-21,000 from his headquarters at Lembulavada.[32] Mahāmandaleśvara Rajaditya, a subordinate of the Kalyana Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI, is credited with several military achievements in an inscription dated 1083. Rajaditya defeated the chiefs of Tondaimandalam, burnt the forest fort of Kuningila, reduced the fame of Rajendra Chola I, rooted out the Kurumbas, killed Vijayaraya Vijaya, and plundered the Chola country and took Kanchi.[33]

Hoysala threat

There was a rebellion by the emperor's younger brother Jayasimha, the viceroy of Banavasi, around c.1080-1082 which was quelled and the rebel pardoned.[34] The real threat, however, was from the Hoysala dynasty who rose to prominence from the Malnad region in modern Karnataka. Their territory effectively acted as a buffer between the Chalukya and Chola kingdoms. For several decades, the Hoysalas had been faithful vassals of the Chalukyas. King Someshvara I (Vikramaditya's father) had taken a Hoysala princess as his queen. The Hoysala kings Vinayaditya, Ereyanga and Veera Ballala I had maintained cordial relations with Vikramaditya VI. But Ballala I's younger brother Vishnuvardhana, who according to historians Sastri and Kamath was a "great warrior" and an ambitious ruler had expansionist plans. He had the support of the Pandya ruler of Ucchangi and Kadamba king Jayakesi II of Goa. The Hoysalas under Vishnuvardhana began to expand their territory initially by defeating the Cholas in the famous battle of Talakad in 1116 resulting in the Hoysala annexation of Gangavadi (part of modern Southern Karnataka).[35][5][36][6] It was only when Vishnuvardhana turned his attention to the north, conquered Nolambavadi, marched beyond the Tungabhadra River and reached Ballary and Kummata that Vikramaditya VI saw an imminent threat to his power. The Chalukya emperor dispatched his trusted generals Achugi II and Permadi of the Sinda family of Yerambarge (or Yelburga) to deal with the situation. After several pitched battles in Goa, Kannegala, Halasur and Hosavidu between c.1117-1122, Vishnuvardhana and his supporters had to accept Chalukya suzerainty.[35][5][36][6]

Success in Chola and Gurjara country

From the beginning of his rule, Vikramaditya VI maintained the policy of interference in the affairs of Vengi and Kanchi. He invaded and captured Kanchi in 1085 and held it for a few years. He managed to conquer parts of Vengi in 1088. He held the Kollipakei-7000 province of Vengi for many years. Vengi came under his rule again from 1093 to 1099. The Cholas re-captured it in 1099. In 1115 Kulothunga Chola I recalled his son Vikrama Chola who was the viceroy of Vengi to focus on affairs in Kanchi. Encouraged by the Hoysala success against the Cholas at Talakad and utilising the vacuum in the leadership in Vengi, Vikramaditya VI sent his famous general Anantapala to invade Vengi which was duly conquered and came under his rule from 1118 to 1124. Western Chalukyan commanders are seen controlling some other parts of Telugu country also and the Chola influence over Vengi disappeared for many years. After Vikramaditya's death in 1126, the Cholas began a slow process of encroachment over Vengi. By 1133 Vikrama Chola was able to re-capture Vengi from Vikramaditya VI's mild son Someshvara III.[37][5][38] Before 1088, Vikramaditya VI subdued the recalcitrant Shilahara King Bhoja I and the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri. He invaded Lata (modern Gujarat), plundered and burnt the royal capital of the Gurjara Chalukya King Karna, and stopped the advances of Kalachuri king Jajjaladeva of Ratnapur. He dealt firmly with the revolting Kadamba feudatory of Goa but gave his daughter Maila Devi in marriage to King Jayakeshi II.[5][16]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Hill., S. Charles (23 October 2016). "Full text of "Indian Antiquary A Journal Of Oriental Research Vol.48"". Internet Archive. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Sen (2013), pp.52–53
  3. ↑ Sastri (1955), p.170
  4. 1 2 Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian, (2003), p.139, part 1
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kamath (1980), p.105
  6. 1 2 3 Cousens (1926), p.11
  7. ↑ Kamath (1980), pp.105–106
  8. ↑ Kamat, Jyotsna. "Chalukyas of Kalyana". 1996-2006 Kamat's Potpourri. Retrieved 24 December 2006.
  9. ↑ Sastri (1955), p. 174; Kamath (2001), p. 104–106
  10. ↑ Kamath (1980), p. 115; Sastri (1955), p. 358
  11. ↑ Cousens (1921), p.12
  12. ↑ Sinha (2000), p.142
  13. ↑ Cousens (1921), p.101
  14. ↑ Hardy (1995), p335
  15. ↑ "Kallesvara Swamy Temple". Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle. ASI Bengaluru Circle. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  16. 1 2 Sen (1999), p.387
  17. ↑ Venkataramanayya, C. The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi (1950), p. 263.
  18. ↑ Gopal, B. R. (1981). The Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris. Dharwad: Prasārānga, Karnatak University. p. 221.
  19. ↑ Sen, S. N. Ancient Indian History and Civilization. p. 354.
  20. ↑ Gopal, B. R. The Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris (1981), pp. 220–223.
  21. ↑ Gopal, B. R. The Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris (1981), p. 230.
  22. ↑ Gopal, B. R. (1981). The Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris. Dharwad: Prasārānga, Karnatak University. p. 223.
  23. ↑ Raychaudhuri, Golapchandra. The History of the Western Chalukyas (Political and Administrative) (1948), pp. 259–260.
  24. ↑ A History of Karnataka, p. 106.
  25. ↑ Desai, Dinkar. Mahamandalesvaras under the Calukyas of Kalyani.
  26. ↑ Karnatak Inscriptions, Vol. II (1951), p. 66.
  27. ↑ Murari, Krishna. The Calukyas of Kalyani (1977), p. 138.
  28. ↑ Gopal, B. R. The Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris (1981), p. 264.
  29. ↑ Murari, Krishna. The Calukyas of Kalyani (1977), p. 138.
  30. ↑ Gopal, B. R. (1981). The Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris. Dharwad: Prasaranga, Karnatak University. pp. 263–264.
  31. ↑ Kannada Inscriptions. Andhra Pradesh Government Archaeological Series. Vol. 3. 1961. p. 16.
  32. ↑ Saibabu, N. (2011). State and Society in Andhra under the Kalyana Chalukyas (973 A.D.–1162 A.D.) (PhD thesis). Acharya Nagarjuna University. p. 127.
  33. ↑ Epigraphia Telanganica. Vol. 1: Pre-Kakatiya Telangana. 2016. p. 203.
  34. ↑ Sastri (1955), p.175
  35. 1 2 Sastri (1955), pp.174-175
  36. 1 2 Sen (1999), p.386
  37. ↑ Sastri (1955), pp.175-176
  38. ↑ Sen (1999), pp.386-387

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