History (Medieval India History :- Rashtrakutas & Imperial Cholas)

Medieval India History :- Rashtrakutas & Imperial Cholas

Rashtrakutas

Deccan + Karnataka  →  975 AD     Mother Tounge  →  Kannad

Capital  →  Manyakhet     Great Kannad Poet  →  Pampa (Wrote Vikramasena Vijaya & Adi Purana)

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 1st 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