THE CHALUKYAS OF LATA

THE CHALUKYAS OF LATA

Introduction and Background

Overview of the Dynasty

• The Chalukyas of Lata were an Indian dynasty that ruled the Lata region of present-day Gujarat during the 10th and 11th centuries (c. 970 CE – c. 1074 CE)​

• They ruled as feudatories of the Western Chalukyas in their early years and were ultimately defeated by the Chaulukyas of Gujarat (Solankis)​

• The dynasty represents an important regional power in medieval Gujarat history

The Lata Region – Geographical Context

• Lata was a historical region located in the southern part of present-day Gujarat​

• Northern boundary was formed by the Mahi River, or at times by the Narmada River​

• In the south, Lata extended up to the Purna River, and at times up to Daman​

• The region included modern-day Surat, Bharuch, Kheda, and Vadodara districts​

• Major city of the region was Bharuch (ancient Bhrigukachchha)​

• The region was strategically important for trade and political control of Gujarat

Relationship with Western Chalukyas

• The Chalukyas of Lata were feudatories and offshoots of the Western Chalukya dynasty of Kalyani​

• They maintained close ties with the Western Chalukya king Tailapa II (r. 973-997 CE)​

• With the decline of Western Chalukya power in the region, they attempted to establish independence​

• The dynasty traced its lineage to the Chalukya imperial family​

Dynastic History and Rulers

Foundation of the Dynasty

Nimbarka (First Known Ancestor)

• He is mentioned as the earliest ancestor in copper-plate inscriptions​

• Very little historical information is available about his reign or achievements​

• He established the foundation for the dynasty in the Lata region

Barappa (c. 970-990 CE) – Founder Ruler

• He was identified as a general of the Western Chalukya king Tailapa II​

• Tailapa II appointed him as the governor of the Lata region​

• He attempted to expand his territory and establish independent authority in Gujarat​

Military Campaigns and Conflicts

• According to Merutunga’s Prabandha-Chintamani (14th century), Barappa and the ruler of Sapadalaksha (Chahamana king Vigraharaja II) simultaneously attacked Gujarat​

• The target was Mularaja (r. 941-996 CE), the Chaulukya king of Gujarat who founded the Chaulukya dynasty​

• Mularaja asked the Sapadalaksha ruler not to attack him until he dealt with Barappa first​

• Mularaja defeated Barappa, which prompted the Sapadalaksha king to flee Gujarat​

• Since Merutunga was from Gujarat, this account may be biased toward Gujarati rulers​

Alternative Account – Chahamana Alliance Theory

• Chahamana chroniclers claim that Vigraharaja II defeated Mularaja and marched up to Bhrigukachchha (Bharuch)​

• At Bharuch, Vigraharaja constructed a temple dedicated to his family deity Ashapura​

• According to one theory, Vigraharaja II allied with Barappa and helped him achieve independence from the Western Chalukyas​

• This alliance would have been strategically beneficial for both rulers against the powerful Chaulukyas

Death of Barappa

• According to Hemachandra’s Dvyashraya Kavya (12th century), Mularaja’s son Chamundaraja invaded Lata and killed Barappa​

• Chamundaraja ruled Gujarat from 996-1008 CE​

• Therefore, Barappa was likely killed between 990-996 CE during Chamundaraja’s campaign as prince or early reign as king​

• This invasion temporarily ended Chalukya rule in the Lata region​

Gogi-raja or Gongi-raja (c. 990-1010 CE)

• He was the son of Barappa​

• Gogi-raja revived the family’s rule in the Lata region after his father’s defeat and death​

• He successfully re-established Chalukya control over Lata territories​

• His reign marked the restoration of the dynasty after a period of setback

Kirti-raja or Kirtiraja (c. 1010-1030 CE)

Epigraphic Evidence

• A copper-plate inscription dated 940 Shaka (1018 CE) of Kirtiraja was discovered in Surat​

• This inscription names his ancestors as Nimbarka, Barappa, and Gogi​

• The inscription provides important genealogical information about the dynasty

Military Conflicts During His Reign

• Durlabharaja, the Chaulukya king of Gujarat, plundered Lata in 1018 CE​

• He probably defeated Kirtiraja, who was a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas at this time​

• The Kalyani Chalukya king Jayasimha II was preoccupied with wars against the Chola dynasty, allowing Durlabharaja to invade​

• Shortly after, Kirtiraja appears to have regained independence or regained Kalyani Chalukya vassalship​

Paramara Invasion by Bhoja

• Soon after Durlabharaja’s invasion, Paramara king Bhoja also invaded Lata around 1018 CE​

• Bhoja’s victory over Kirtiraja is attested by epigraphic records, the Prabandha-Chintamani, the Udaipur Prashasti inscription, and the Kalyan copper-plate inscription​

• A copper-plate grant of his grandson Trilochana-pala corroborates Bhoja’s victory, stating that Kirtiraja’s fame was taken away briefly by his enemies​

• According to K.M. Munshi, Kirtiraja was the vassal of the Western Chalukyas, but K.N. Seth believes he was an independent ruler at the time of Bhoja’s invasion​

• Bhoja did not depose the Chalukyas of Lata; the epigraphic evidence suggests the dynasty continued even after this defeat​

• Kirtiraja may have become independent after serving as a feudatory of Bhoja for a brief period​

Vatsa-raja (c. 1030-1050 CE)

Religious and Charitable Activities

• During his reign, he established a free food canteen (sattra) for the benefit of pilgrims and common people​

• He built a golden umbrella for the god Somnatha at the famous Somnath temple​

• These activities demonstrate the dynasty’s patronage of Hindu religious institutions

• The Somnath temple was one of the most important pilgrimage centers in Gujarat

Administrative Developments

• His reign appears to have been relatively peaceful compared to his predecessors

• He consolidated Chalukya control over the Lata region

• His charitable works suggest economic prosperity during this period

Trilochana-pala (c. 1050-1070 CE)

Epigraphic Evidence

• Two copper-plate inscriptions dated 972 Shaka (1050 CE Eklahare and 1051 CE Surat) have been discovered​

• In these inscriptions, he is referred to as Maha-Mandaleshvara (great feudatory lord)​

• This title indicates his position as a subordinate ruler under a larger empire

Administrative Grants

• The 1050 CE Eklahare inscription mentions his donation of the Eklahare village to a Brahmin named Taraditya​

• Such grants were common practice among medieval Indian rulers to gain religious merit and support from Brahmin communities

• These inscriptions provide valuable information about land administration and revenue systems

End of the Dynasty

• By 1074 CE, the dynasty appears to have been vanquished by the Chaulukyas of Gujarat (Solankis)​

• The Chaulukyas gradually absorbed the Lata region into their expanding kingdom

• Trilochana-pala was the last known ruler of this dynasty

Administration and Society

Administrative Structure

• The Chalukyas of Lata followed the administrative model of their overlords, the Western Chalukyas​

• Rulers held the title of Maha-Mandaleshvara, indicating their position as feudatory chiefs​

• The region was organized into districts (vishayas) and villages​

• Land grants were made to Brahmins and temples for religious merit and administrative support​

Social Organization

Caste System

• The Chalukyas followed the Hindu caste system prevalent in medieval India​

• Brahmins held privileged positions in society and were recipients of royal grants​

• Brahmins typically worked in fields related to learning, religion, and administration​

• Some Brahmins also succeeded in martial arts, showing exceptions to strict occupational boundaries​

Women’s Status

• Some women from royal families held powerful political positions in administration​

• Women’s participation in fine arts is documented in records​

• Widows are mentioned in records, suggesting that sati may not have been universally practiced​

Religious Institutions

• Devadasis (temple dancers) were recognized by the government and were present in temples​

• Schools and hospitals were mentioned in records and were built near temples​

• The precursor to Bharatanatyam, Sage Bharata’s Natyashastra, was well-known and depicted in sculptures and inscriptions​

Eating Habits and Lifestyle

• Brahmins, Jains, Buddhists, and Shaivas were strictly vegetarian​

• Other communities enjoyed various types of meat​

• Domesticated meat such as goats, sheep, pigs, and fowl were sold by marketplace vendors​

• Exotic meat such as partridge, hare, wildfowl, and boar were also available​

Entertainment

• Indoor entertainment included watching wrestling matches (Kusti)​

• People watched animals fight, such as cock fights and ram fights​

• Gambling was a popular indoor entertainment activity​

• Horse racing was a popular outdoor recreation activity​

Education and Healthcare

• Schools (vidyalayas) were established near temples for education​

• Hospitals (arogyashalas) were built to provide healthcare facilities​

• The dynasty patronized learning and religious institutions

Cultural Contributions

Religious Patronage

• The Chalukyas of Lata were Hindus who patronized Hindu temples and religious institutions​

• They made donations to Brahmin communities and supported temple construction​

• Vatsa-raja’s golden umbrella for Somnath temple demonstrates their devotion to Shaivism​

• Free food canteens (sattras) were established for pilgrims and travelers​

Temple Architecture

• While specific architectural remains from this dynasty are limited, they followed the Chalukyan architectural tradition​

• The dynasty likely contributed to temple construction in the Lata region

• Their patronage of Somnath and other temples helped maintain important pilgrimage centers

Literature and Inscriptions

• The dynasty issued copper-plate grants in Sanskrit using Chalukyan script​

• These inscriptions provide valuable historical information about genealogy, administration, and land grants

• The inscriptions follow the literary and epigraphic conventions of the Western Chalukya dynasty

Historical Sources

Primary Sources

Copper-plate Inscriptions

• Surat copper-plate inscription of Kirtiraja (1018 CE) naming ancestors Nimbarka, Barappa, and Gogi​

• Two copper-plate inscriptions of Trilochana-pala (1050 CE Eklahare and 1051 CE Surat)​

• These inscriptions are preserved and provide authentic historical data

Literary Sources

Hemachandra’s Dvyashraya Kavya (12th century)

• Written by Acharya Hemachandra (c. 1088-1172/1173 CE), a renowned Jain scholar and poet​

• Epic poetry on the history of the Chaulukya dynasty of Gujarat​

• Mentions that Chamundaraja invaded Lata and killed Barappa​

• Important source for early Chaulukya-Lata Chalukya conflicts

• Considered relatively reliable as it was written closer to the events

Merutunga’s Prabandha-Chintamani (1304 CE)

• Compiled by Jain scholar Merutunga in the Vaghela kingdom of Gujarat​

• Collection of semi-historical biographical narratives (prabandhas)​

• Describes the simultaneous attack by Barappa and Vigraharaja II on Mularaja​

• Contains interesting anecdotes but many are considered fictitious​

• Shows pro-Gujarat bias as the author was from Gujarat​

• Historical reliability is questionable as it was written over 300 years after the events

Chahamana Chronicles

• Prithviraja Vijaya mentions Vigraharaja II’s campaign against Gujarat​

• Claims Vigraharaja defeated Mularaja and built a temple at Bhrigukachchha​

• Hammira Mahakavya (15th century) claims Mularaja was killed by Vigraharaja​

• These sources present the Chahamana perspective on conflicts with Gujarat

Decline and Fall

Factors Leading to Decline

• Constant military pressure from the powerful Chaulukya dynasty of Gujarat​

• Loss of support from Western Chalukyas due to their own conflicts with Cholas and other powers​

• Strategic vulnerability of the Lata region, bordered by powerful kingdoms​

• Repeated invasions weakened the dynasty’s military and economic strength​

Final Conquest by Chaulukyas

• By 1074 CE, the Chalukyas of Lata were defeated by the Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat​

• The Chaulukya king Karna (r. c. 1064-1092 CE) successfully evicted the Kalachuris from Lata and annexed the region to the Chaulukya kingdom​

• This marked the end of Chalukya rule in the Lata region​

• The region became an integral part of the expanding Chaulukya empire

Aftermath

• The Lata region remained under Chaulukya control for several decades​

• Later, it passed through various dynasties including the Vaghelas and eventually came under Delhi Sultanate rule

• The legacy of the Chalukyas of Lata contributed to Gujarat’s rich medieval heritage

Key Points to Remember

Chronology

• Dynasty duration: c. 970 CE to c. 1074 CE (approximately 100 years)​

• Peak period: During the reigns of Gogi-raja and Kirtiraja (990-1030 CE)

• Decline: Gradual weakening from 1018 CE onwards due to multiple invasions​

Important Rulers

• Barappa (c. 970-990 CE): Founder, general of Tailapa II, killed by Chamundaraja​

• Gogi-raja (c. 990-1010 CE): Revived family rule after father’s death​

• Kirtiraja (c. 1010-1030 CE): Faced invasions from Durlabharaja and Bhoja (1018 CE)​

• Vatsa-raja (c. 1030-1050 CE): Built golden umbrella for Somnath, established free food canteen​

• Trilochana-pala (c. 1050-1070 CE): Last ruler, held title Maha-Mandaleshvara​

Major Conflicts

• Barappa vs. Mularaja of Gujarat (c. 980s-990s): Barappa defeated and killed​

• Kirtiraja vs. Durlabharaja and Bhoja (1018 CE): Multiple invasions of Lata region​

• Final conquest by Chaulukyas (1074 CE): End of the dynasty​

Cultural Contributions

• Religious patronage: Support to Somnath temple and Brahmin communities​

• Social welfare: Establishment of free food canteens (sattras)​

• Administrative practices: Copper-plate grants documenting land administration​

Historical Sources

• Primary: Copper-plate inscriptions of Kirtiraja (1018 CE) and Trilochana-pala (1050-51 CE)​

• Secondary: Hemachandra’s Dvyashraya Kavya, Merutunga’s Prabandha-Chintamani

also read: Early Medieval India