- Pulakesi I
Pulakesi I (543–566 CE) established the
Chalukya dynasty in then westernDeccan and his descendants ruled over an empire that comprised the entire state ofKarnataka and most ofAndhra Pradesh . Pulakesi overthrew theKadambas to establish the Chalukya kingdom. He had the titles "Satyashraya", "Vallabha" and "Dharmamaharaja".Predecessors
The Chalukya records mention two early chiefs of the family, Jayasimha Vallabha (500–520) and his son, Ranaranga (520–540). They must have been petty chiefs under the Kadambas, but we know little about their activities and achievements.
Establishment of Chalukya kingdom
Pulakesi I was Ranaranga's son. He earned the distinction of being the first independent King and the real founder of the Chalukya dynasty. He successfully defied the waning power of the Kadambas and proclaimed the Chalukyan independence. He chose
Badami (Vatapi) as his capital and constructed a strong hill fortress there. The new fortress stood on the defensible location surrounded by rivers and steep mountains.Pulakesi performed sacrifices like
Asvamedha ,Hiranyagarbha ,Agnistoma ,Vajapeya ,Bahusuvarna andPaundarika . These details are provided by his Badami Cliff inscription datedSaka 565 (543 CE).Extent of kingdom
At the time of Pulakesi I the Chalukyan kingdom did not extend much beyond the immediate vicinities of Badami.
Titles
Pulakesi assumed titles like "Vallabha", "Dharma Maharaja", "Satyasraya", "Ranavikrama" and so on. Inscriptions compare him with such mythical heroes as "Yayati" and "Dilipa". His wife was Durlabhadevi of Bappura family.
Pulakesi was succeeded by his son
Kirtivarman I (566–597).###@@@KEYEND@@@###
References
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1935). The CōĻas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat (2001). Concise History of Karnataka, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002).
* South Indian Inscriptions - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/
* [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/history.htm History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje]
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