Rashtrakutas & Imperial Cholas

Rashtrakutas

Dantidurga

• Founder of Rashtrakutas kingdom
• Defeated Pariharas annexed Malwa
• Defeated & Annexed Chalukyas

Krishana 1

• Annexed Chalukyas of Vengi (Eastern Chalukyas)
• Built Monolithic Ellora temple Kailasha temple > Dravidian Style

Amoghavarsha

• Ruled for 64 Years > Follower of Jainism
• Chief Teacher > Jinasena (Wrote Parshavabudaya)
• Wrote 1^st Kannada book > Kavirajmarga
• Built capital Malkhed (Manyakhet) to its zenith

Krishana 3

• Last prominent Rashtrakuta ruler
• Built Krishaneshwara Temple at Rameshwaram
• After his death Rastrakutas power declined & Chalukya of kalyani took over

Administration of Rashtrakutas

• Empire was divided into several provinces called Rashtras under the control of Rashtrapati
• Rashtras were further divided into Districts called vishayas, goverened by Vishayapatis
• Next subdivision was Bukti (Consiting of 50 – 70 villages ) under charge of Bhogpatis
• Each village was headed by village headmen who in turn was helped by village elders called Grama Mahajana or Grama Mahattara
• Law & order was responsibility of Kosta – pala or Kotwal
• Hereditary Revenue Officer > Nav Gavundas or Desa Gramakutas

Religion

• Vaishnavism & Shaivism prominently flourished
• Jainism & Buddhism along with Muslims were welcomed & allowed to preach their faith.
• Famous Temples > Kailash temple at Ellora, Krishaneshwara temple at Rameshwaram
• Famous Caves > Elephanta Caves at Mumbai

Imperial Cholas (900 -1200 AD)

Vijayalaya

• Founder of Chola Dynasty
• Capital > Tanjore
• Built Durga Temple at Tanjore

Rajaraja 1 (Shaivist)

• Defeated Cheras (Trivendrum), Pandayas & Annexed Northern Srilanka
• Conquered Maldieves & Chalukya of Kalyani (Who succeeded Rashtrakutas)
• Built Famous Rajeshwara/Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore (Dravida Style) in 1010 AD

Rajendra 1 (Shaivist)

• Defeated southern Srilanka & annexed whole Srilanka
• Moved north & captured till Bengal defeating Mahipala 1; Assumed title of Gangaikonda chola
• Conquered Malay Peninsula & converted Bay of Bengal to Chola lake for trading purposes with China
• Found new capital Gangaikondacholapuram at Kaveri & Built famous Gangaikondachola Temple (Dravida style)

Administration

• Chola Empire was divided into Mandalams or provinces
• Mandalams were further divided into Valanadu or Nathus (Number of villages)
• Local self-government in villages with mainly two assemblies Ur & Sabha (or Mahasabha)
• Ur > General assembly of the village
• Mahasabha > Gathering of adult men in Brahamdeya villages called Agraharas

Culture & Religion

• Prevalent cast system as Brahamanas & Kshatriyas enjoyed powers
• Shaivism & Vaishnavism flourished & a number of temples & Mathas (educational centres) were built
• Shaivism saints were known as Nayanars & Vishnu saints as Alvars
• Famous Temples > Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur by Rajraja 1, Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram by Rajraja 2, Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram by Rajendra 1

Dravida was the main style of building temples viz.

• 5 -7 story building above Girbhagriha (Chief deity room) > Vimana Style 
• Gopurams (Lofty gates)
• Mandap (pillars) with big hall for audiences & ceremonies
• Ceremonies performed by Devadasis (Women dedicated to God
• Example > Kailashnath temple of Kanchipuram

🔶 Rashtrakutas (c. 753 – 982 AD)

• Capital: Manyakheta (modern Malkhed, Karnataka)

• Founded by Dantidurga; empire expanded under Govinda III and Amoghavarsha I

• Fought against the Gurjara-Pratiharas and Palas in the tripartite struggle for Kanauj

• Famous for the Kailasa temple at Ellora, carved from a single rock

• Great patrons of Kannada and Sanskrit literature

• Practiced religious tolerance—supported Shaivism, Jainism, and Vaishnavism

🔶 Imperial Cholas (c. 850 – 1279 AD)

• Capital: Thanjavur

• Rose to prominence under Vijayalaya Chola; reached peak under Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I

• Built the Brihadeeswara Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

• Maintained a strong navy; led expeditions to Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Southeast Asia

• Efficient centralized administration with village autonomy

• Promoted Tamil literature, Bhakti movement, and temple-based economy

For more updates, explore the Ancient India History. Feel free to share your thoughts and comments.

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