Vikramaditya VI (r. 1076 – 1126 CE) became the Western Chalukya 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.[1][2] 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").[3][4][5] 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.[6] 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.[4][7]
Vikramaditya VI is noted for his patronage of art and letters. His court was adorned with famous Kannada and Sanskrit poets.[8] 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")[9] 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".[10] Vikramaditya VI is known to be a Shaiva by faith.[3] His rule saw prolific temple building activity. Notable constructions include the Mallikarjuna temple,[11] the Mahadeva temple[12] the Kaitabheshvara temple[13] and the Kalleshvara temple.[14] 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.[15]
Vikramaditya's rebellion, rise to power and Chola relations
Vikramaditya displayed his military ambitions even as a prince, prior to 1068, during the rule of his father Someshvara I when he led successful military campaigns as far east as modern Bihar and Bengal.[16][17][18] After his father's death, as soon as his elder brother prince Someshvara II who administered the Belavola-300 and Puligere-300 provinces came to the throne, Vikramaditya VI started to plan to overthrow him and contend with the growing Chola power. He achieved his ends with skillful opportunism and diplomacy: by making use of the Chola invasion of Gutti and Kampili and striking diplomatic relations with Virarajendra Chola, gaining the support his younger brother Jayasimha and of the Chalukya feudatories, the Pandyas of Ucchangi, the Seuna, the Hoysalas of Malnad, the Kadambas of Konkan and Hangal. Someshvara II had the support of the Kulothunga Chola I (also called Rajendra II of the Eastern Chalukya-Chola royal family of Vengi) and the Kadambas of Goa. This sudden change in diplomatic relations practically bifurcated the Chalukya kingdom into two halves, giving Vikramaditya VI independent rule over the southern half (Gangavadi). Vikramaditya married one of Virarajendra Chola's daughters bringing an age-old feud between the two kingdoms to a temporary end.[19][20]
The balance of power changed again in 1069 with the death of Virarajendra Chola. Vikramaditya VI proceeded via Kanchi where he quelled a rebellion and installed his younger brother-in-law Athirajendra Chola on the throne at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. But this went against the designs of Kulottunga Chola I who had plans of his own. Kulothunga expelled the Vengi ruler Vijayaditya. In a civil uprising in the Chola capital, Athirajendra was killed making way for Kulothunga Chola I to crown himself the monarch of the Chola empire.[21][20] In 1070-72, when Vijayabahu revolted to rid Ceylon of the Chola rule and succeeded, Vikramaditya VI wasted no time in declaring the new king of Ceylon his "natural ally". By 1076, despite being surrounded by enemies at home (Someshvara II) and in Vengi and Chola country (Kulothunga Chola I), Vikramaditya VI successfully defeated his elder brother and took him captive. He then crowned himself the Chalukya monarch and began a new era, the Vikrama Varsha.[22][5][3]
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.[23] 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).[24][4][25][5] 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.[24][4][25][5]
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.[26][4][27] 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.[4][15]
Chopra, P.N.; Ravindran, T.K.; Subrahmanian, N (2003) [2003]. History of South India (Ancient, Medieval and Modern) Part 1. New Delhi: Chand Publications. ISBN81-219-0153-7.
Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 80905179. OCLC 7796041.
Narasimhacharya, R (1988) [1988]. History of Kannada Literature. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN81-206-0303-6.
Sastri, Nilakanta K.A. (2002) [1955]. A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. New Delhi: Indian Branch, Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-560686-8.
Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999) [1999]. Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Delhi: New Age Publishers. ISBN81-224-1198-3.
Sen, Sailendra Nath (2013) [2013]. A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. New Delhi: Primus. ISBN978-9-38060-734-4.
Cousens, Henry (1996) [1926]. The Chalukyan Architecture of Kanarese Districts. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. OCLC 37526233.
Hardy, Adam (1995) [1995]. Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation : the Karṇāṭa Drāviḍa Tradition, 7th to 13th Centuries. New Delhi: Abhinav. ISBN81-7017-312-4.
Sinha, Ajay (2000) [2000]. Imagining architects: creativity in the religious monuments of India. Cranbury: Associated University Press. ISBN0-87413-684-9.
Majumdar, R.C. (2003) [1952]. Ancient India. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN81-208-0436-8.
Sinha, B.P. & Somers, George E (1977) [1977]. Dynastic History Of Magadha. New Delhi: Abhinav. ISBN81-7017-059-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
June 05, 2023
vikramaditya, 1076, 1126, became, western, chalukya, king, after, deposing, elder, brother, someshvara, political, move, made, gaining, support, chalukya, vassals, during, chola, invasion, chalukya, territory, vikramaditya, reign, marked, with, abolishment, sa. Vikramaditya VI r 1076 1126 CE became the Western Chalukya 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 1 2 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 3 4 5 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 6 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 4 7 Vikramaditya VIKaitabheshvara temple c 1100 at KubaturWestern Chalukya KingReign1076 1126 CE 50 years PredecessorSomeshvara IISuccessorSomeshvara IIIDied1126 CESpouseChandala DeviKethala DeviSavala DeviIssueSomeshvara IIIHouseChalukya dynastyFatherSomeshvara IMahadeva 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 is noted for his patronage of art and letters His court was adorned with famous Kannada and Sanskrit poets 8 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 9 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 10 Vikramaditya VI is known to be a Shaiva by faith 3 His rule saw prolific temple building activity Notable constructions include the Mallikarjuna temple 11 the Mahadeva temple 12 the Kaitabheshvara temple 13 and the Kalleshvara temple 14 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 15 Contents 1 Vikramaditya s rebellion rise to power and Chola relations 2 Hoysala threat 3 Success in Chola and Gurjara country 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesVikramaditya s rebellion rise to power and Chola relationsVikramaditya displayed his military ambitions even as a prince prior to 1068 during the rule of his father Someshvara I when he led successful military campaigns as far east as modern Bihar and Bengal 16 17 18 After his father s death as soon as his elder brother prince Someshvara II who administered the Belavola 300 and Puligere 300 provinces came to the throne Vikramaditya VI started to plan to overthrow him and contend with the growing Chola power He achieved his ends with skillful opportunism and diplomacy by making use of the Chola invasion of Gutti and Kampili and striking diplomatic relations with Virarajendra Chola gaining the support his younger brother Jayasimha and of the Chalukya feudatories the Pandyas of Ucchangi the Seuna the Hoysalas of Malnad the Kadambas of Konkan and Hangal Someshvara II had the support of the Kulothunga Chola I also called Rajendra II of the Eastern Chalukya Chola royal family of Vengi and the Kadambas of Goa This sudden change in diplomatic relations practically bifurcated the Chalukya kingdom into two halves giving Vikramaditya VI independent rule over the southern half Gangavadi Vikramaditya married one of Virarajendra Chola s daughters bringing an age old feud between the two kingdoms to a temporary end 19 20 The balance of power changed again in 1069 with the death of Virarajendra Chola Vikramaditya VI proceeded via Kanchi where he quelled a rebellion and installed his younger brother in law Athirajendra Chola on the throne at Gangaikonda Cholapuram But this went against the designs of Kulottunga Chola I who had plans of his own Kulothunga expelled the Vengi ruler Vijayaditya In a civil uprising in the Chola capital Athirajendra was killed making way for Kulothunga Chola I to crown himself the monarch of the Chola empire 21 20 In 1070 72 when Vijayabahu revolted to rid Ceylon of the Chola rule and succeeded Vikramaditya VI wasted no time in declaring the new king of Ceylon his natural ally By 1076 despite being surrounded by enemies at home Someshvara II and in Vengi and Chola country Kulothunga Chola I Vikramaditya VI successfully defeated his elder brother and took him captive He then crowned himself the Chalukya monarch and began a new era the Vikrama Varsha 22 5 3 Hoysala threatThere 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 23 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 24 4 25 5 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 24 4 25 5 Success in Chola and Gurjara countryFrom 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 26 4 27 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 4 15 Gallery Old Kannada inscription c 1083 of King Vikramaditya VI at the Kalleshvara Temple Ambali Old Kannada inscription c 1107 AD of Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI Old Kannada inscription c 1108 AD of Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI Old Kannada inscription 1112 CE of King Vikramaditya VI in the Mahadeva temple at Itagi Old Kannada inscription c 1122 AD of Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VISee alsoVikrama Chola Vishnuvardhana Hoysala The title VikramadityaPreceded bySomeshvara II Western Chalukyas1076 1126 Succeeded bySomeshvara IIINotes Sen 2013 pp 52 53 Sastri 1955 p 170 a b c Chopra Ravindran and Subrahmanian 2003 p 139 part 1 a b c d e f Kamath 1980 p 105 a b c d Cousens 1926 p 11 Kamath 1980 pp 105 106 Kamat Jyotsna Chalukyas of Kalyana 1996 2006 Kamat s Potpourri Retrieved 24 December 2006 Sastri 1955 p 174 Kamath 2001 p 104 106 Kamath 1980 p 115 Sastri 1955 p 358 Cousens 1921 p 12 Sinha 2000 p 142 Cousens 1921 p 101 Hardy 1995 p335 Kallesvara Swamy Temple Archaeological Survey of India Bengaluru Circle ASI Bengaluru Circle Archived from the original on 17 September 2014 Retrieved 10 July 2012 a b Sen 1999 p 387 B P Sinha in George E Somers 1977 p 214 Sen 1999 p 282 Majumdar R C 1952 p 320 Sastri 1955 p 171 172 a b Kamath 1980 p 104 Sastri 1955 pp 181 182 Sastri 1955 Sastri 1955 p 175 a b Sastri 1955 pp 174 175 a b Sen 1999 p 386 Sastri 1955 pp 175 176 Sen 1999 pp 386 387ReferencesChopra P N Ravindran T K Subrahmanian N 2003 2003 History of South India Ancient Medieval and Modern Part 1 New Delhi Chand Publications ISBN 81 219 0153 7 Kamath Suryanath U 2001 1980 A concise history of Karnataka from pre historic times to the present Bangalore Jupiter books LCCN 80905179 OCLC 7796041 Narasimhacharya R 1988 1988 History of Kannada Literature New Delhi Penguin Books ISBN 81 206 0303 6 Sastri Nilakanta K A 2002 1955 A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar New Delhi Indian Branch Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 560686 8 Sen Sailendra Nath 1999 1999 Ancient Indian History and Civilization New Delhi New Age Publishers ISBN 81 224 1198 3 Sen Sailendra Nath 2013 2013 A Textbook of Medieval Indian History New Delhi Primus ISBN 978 9 38060 734 4 Cousens Henry 1996 1926 The Chalukyan Architecture of Kanarese Districts New Delhi Archaeological Survey of India OCLC 37526233 Hardy Adam 1995 1995 Indian Temple Architecture Form and Transformation the Karṇaṭa Draviḍa Tradition 7th to 13th Centuries New Delhi Abhinav ISBN 81 7017 312 4 Sinha Ajay 2000 2000 Imagining architects creativity in the religious monuments of India Cranbury Associated University Press ISBN 0 87413 684 9 Majumdar R C 2003 1952 Ancient India New Delhi Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 81 208 0436 8 Sinha B P amp Somers George E 1977 1977 Dynastic History Of Magadha New Delhi Abhinav ISBN 81 7017 059 1 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vikramaditya VI amp oldid 1089019531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
