Dhruva Dharavarsha
| Dhruva Dharavarsha | |
|---|---|
| Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Dharavarsha Nirupama Srivallabha Kalivallabha | |
Fragment of Old Kannada inscription (780 CE) from Naregal of Rashtrakuta emperor Dhruva Dharavarsha | |
| 4th Rashtrakuta Emperor | |
| Reign | c. 780 – c. 793 CE (13 years) |
| Predecessor | Govinda II |
| Successor | Govinda III |
| Died | 793 CE Manyakheta, Rashtrakuta Empire (modern day Karnataka, India) |
| Spouse | Sila Mahadevi of the Eastern Chalukyas |
| Issue | Karka Suvarnavarsha Kambarasa Govinda III Indra, Governor of Lata |
| Father | Krishna I |
| Religion | Jainism[1][2][3]Hinduism |
| Rashtrakuta dynasty |
|---|
|
Dhruva (r. 780 – 793 CE) was one of the most notable rulers of the Rashtrakuta Empire. He ascended the imperial throne after replacing his elder brother Govinda II. Govinda II had become unpopular among his subjects on account of his various misconducts as a monarch, including excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures. This according to the historian Kamath is evident from the Karhad plates of Krishna III.[4] The Dhulia grant of 779 and Garugadahalli inscription of 782 proclaim Dhruva the emperor. Though some historians claim that Dhruva revolted and grabbed the throne,[5] other historians feel the transition of the throne from Govinda II to Dhruva was peaceful and may have happened willingly.[6] He earned titles like Kalivallabha, Srivallabha, Dharavarsha, Maharajadhiraja and Parameshvara.
Success in north and east
Dhruva Dharavarsha had a high political aspiration and he actively pursued the goal of expanding the frontiers of Rashtrakuta dominion. In Northern India, he subjugated the rulers of Kanyakubja. In central India, he defeated Vatsaraja of the Gurjara Prathihara Empire,[7] and Dharmapala of the Pala Empire (who was eager to rule Kanyakubja) in a battle in the Ganges - Yamuna doab. However, these great victories brought him no permanent land gains but only a lot of material gain and fame.[8] However another historian has claimed that Dhruva's empire stretched from Ayodhya in the north to Rameshvaram in the south.[5]
Religion
Dhruva Dharavarsha’s inscriptions use titles such as "Shri Vallabha," "Kali Vallabha," "Maharajadhiraja," "Dharavarsha," and "Parameshvara," which were standard Sanskrit royal epithets but are also frequently found in Jain donor inscriptions across the Deccan.[9] Notably, "Vallabha" itself is often identified as a Jain title and appears as a common honorific in Jain inscriptions and patron records.[10] The broader Rashtrakuta dynasty under his rule maintained a well-known tradition of religious tolerance and strong Jain patronage.[11] This inclusive approach laid the groundwork for the dynasty’s later reputation as major supporters of Jain monks, temples, and scholars, particularly under successors like Amoghavarsha I.[12] Dhruva Dharavarsha is known to have patronised the Jain Acharya Jinasena, who composed the Sanskrit Harivaṃśapurāṇa under his support.[13][14]
Victories in the Deccan and the South
He humbled Vishnuvardhana IV, an Eastern or Vengi Chalukya king in 784 and forged an alliance by marrying his daughter named Silabhattarika as per the Jetvai grant of 786. Thereafter, he defeated Shivamara II, the Western Ganga Dynasty ruler of Gangavadi, and imprisoned him and appointed his own son, the Prince Kambarasa as the governor. He also forced the Pallava monarch Nandivarman II to accept the suzerainty of the Rashtrakutas who paid him handsomely with many elephants. He undertook campaigns to Kanchi in 785 and again against the Western Ganga Dynasty in 788.[4]
Pan-Indian power
During his reign, the Rashtrakutas emerged as a true pan-Indian power, controlling large regions across the Indian subcontinent.[15] He was succeeded by his third son, Govinda III whose reign was also marked by brilliant military success and exploits.
Notes
- ^ Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XVIII (1925–26). Archaeological Survey of India.
- ^ Altekar, A.S. (1934). The Rashtrakutas and Their Times. Poona: Oriental Book Agency. pp. 48–55.
- ^ Desai, P.B. (1957). Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.
- ^ a b Kamath (2001), p75
- ^ a b Reu (1933), p62
- ^ Dr. P. B. Desai and K. V. Subrahmanya Aiyar in Kamath (2001), p75
- ^ Sen, Sailendra Nath (2013). Textbook of medieval Indian history. Primus Books. p. 20. ISBN 9789380607344.
- ^ A.S. Altekar in Kamath (2001), p75
- ^ Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XVIII (1925–26), Archaeological Survey of India.
- ^ Desai, P.B. (1957). Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.
- ^ Altekar, A.S. (1934). The Rashtrakutas and Their Times. Poona: Oriental Book Agency. pp. 48–55.
- ^ Desai, P.B. (1957). Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.
- ^ Desai, P.B. (1957). Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.
- ^ Sastri, K.A. Nilakanta (1955). A History of South India. Oxford University Press. p. 223–224.
- ^ A. S. Altekar in Kamath 92001), p76
References
- 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.
- Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 80905179. OCLC 7796041.
- Reu, Pandit Bisheshwar Nath (1997) [1933]. History of The Rashtrakutas (Rathodas). Jaipur: Publication scheme. ISBN 81-86782-12-5.