Page 91 - SST Class 06

Hiuen Tsnag, during his stay in India, visited
CHALUKYA’S DYNASTY
the court of Pulakeshin II. He also toured
Indus
GANDHARA
the countryside and was impressed with the
Taxila
Jhelum administration.
Chenab
Ravi Trade
Rakas Lake
Satluj Tsangpo
Indus Yamuna Ganga Foreign trade flourished with Iran, Arabia,
KAPILVASTU
Mathura Brahmaputra the Red Sea ports and with South-east Asia.
Chambal Ganga Pulakeshin II also sent an embassy to the
UJAINI Son PATLIPUTRA VANGA Persian king, Khusrao II. This further
Ujjain
MAGADHA
strengthened the ties of friendship between
SAURASHTRA Narmada
Mahanadi the two empires—Architecture and Painting.
Tapi BHOJAKAS
Toshali
PITINKAS Kopasi The Chalukys were great patron of art and
Chilika
Godavari B A Y
KALINGA O F architecture. The Chalukyan structural
ARABIAN Vatapi
ANDHRA B E N G A L
SEA architecture is represented by the old brick
Krishna
Suvarnagiri
temples at Tel and more fully by several
shrines at Aihole, Pattakadal and Badami.
Chalukyas Dynasty
PULINDAS
Major Cities
SATHYA PUTRA Current Country Boundaries Aihole represents the best of Chalukyan
Kaveri
architecture. There are several temples at
CHOLA
Aihole which speak of the Chalukyan love
PANDYA
for art and architecture. Among those may
I N D I A N O C E A N
be mentioned the famous Ladkhan temple,
during Pulakesin I. Badami is also known as
the Durga temple and Huchchimaltigudi temple.
Vatapi.
THE PALLAVAS
PULAKESHIN II (AD 608 – 642)
Today’s southern India was once ruled by the
The most famous ruler of the Chalukyan Dynasty
Pallava dynasty between the 2nd and 9th centu-
was Pulakeshin II. He lived at the same time as
ries CE, who are known for their great architec-
Harsha and defeated him in AD 620. With this
ture. The Pallava dynasty was one of the most
victory, he checked Harsha’s advance into the
significant dynasties of ancient India, and a
Deccan. Pulakeshin II also fought against the
major force in southern India. Kanchi or modern-
Rashtrakutas and the Pallavas.
day Kanchipuram was the capital city of the
The Rashtrakutas were not very powerful at this
Pallavas. Telegu, Tamil and Sanskrit were their
time. So, the main threat to the Chalukyas came
from the Pallavas. Pulakeshin II defeated the main languages. Different architectural patterns,
especially the stone-cut religious sites in
Pallava king Mahendravarman. But later, the
Mahabalipuram are associated with them. Most
Pallva Mahendravarman I attacked the
of their places of worships were devoted to Lord
Chalukyas, defeated Pulakeshin II and captured
Shiva. The Pallavas are known for their cultural
Vatapi.
development rather than political acumen. Gifts
After the death of Pulakeshin II, the Chalukyan
of land were frequently given to Gods and
power declined. The ‘Later Chalukyas’ tried to
Brahmins. Also, Vedic sacrifices and Aswamedha
continue the dynasty. But, they were militarily
rites were part of their rituals. For writing pur-
weak. Ultimately, the Rashtrakutas ended the
poses, a one-of-its-own-kind southern Brahmi
rule of the Chalukyas.
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