Pulakesi II

Pulakesi II (c.610 - 642 CE) is certainly the most famous and most recognized ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. In his reign the Chalukyas of Badami saw their kingdom extend over most of the Deccan.

Early life and accession

Ereya, who assumed the name Pulakesi on his coronation, was born to the Chalukya king Kirtivarman I. When Kirtivarman died in 597 C.E., Ereya was still a young boy and Kirtivarman's brother Mangalesa governed the young kingdom as regent until Ereya came of age. Magalesa was a capable ruler and continued expanding the kingdom. However, when Ereya came of age, desire for power perhaps made Mangalesa deny prince Ereya his rightful place on the Chlakya throne, and sought to perpetuate his own line by making his son heir apparent.

Ereya took shelter in the Bana territory, organised an army with the help of his associates and declared war on his uncle. Mangalesa was defeated and killed in the ensued battle at Elapattu Simbige. Ereya ascended the Chalukya throne as Pulakesi II

Consolidation

Pulakese had to face several obstacles soon after his coronation. The civil war had given fresh hopes to the feudatories and adventurers; some of them must have been emboldened to throw off their allegiance to the Chalukyas. As the Aihole inscription says, "the whole world was envelope in the darkness that was enemies". Pulakesi had to face the challenge of Appayika and Govinda, perhaps loyal adherents of the defeated Mangalesa. It is even possible that at least one of them, if not both, was Mangalesa's son. Pulakesi confronted their army on the banks of the river Bhima. Appayika ran away from the battlefield, while Govinda surrendered.

Expansion

After consolidating his position, Pulakesi II organized and enlarged his fighting forces. He then embarked upon a comprehensive scheme of conquests to expand his dominions.

The accounts of Pulakesi's campaigns are provided in his Aihole inscription dated 634 C. E. It was composed by his court poet Ravikirti. It is possible that Pulakesi did not conquer all the Kingdoms in one long expedition, he did so in several expeditions undertaken at different periods.

Conquestes in the west

He subjugated the Kadambas of Banavasi, the Gangas of Talakad and the Alupas of South Kanara. He conquered the Maurya chiefs of Konkan, and the port of Puri (modern Elephanta Island) was captured after a marine fight. It was followed by victory over the Latas, the Gurjaras and the Malavas, resulting in the annexation of the Gujarat area.

The Ganga ruler Durvinita gave one of his daughter in marriage to Pulakesin, and she became the mother of Vikramaditya I.

Eastern Deccan

Pulakesi then overran Kosala, ruled by the Panduvamsis. It was followed by a resounding victory over the Eastern Gangas of Kalinga and the capture of the fort of Pishtapura (Pithapuram). He subjugated the Vishnukundins and captured the Kunala area in the Vengi region. He appointed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana as viceroy to his Eastern territories (c. 631 C.E.). Vishnuvardhana eventually founded the dynasty of Eastern Chalukyas.

Southern Expedition

Moving further south, Pulakesi II routed the Pallava king Mahendravarman I in the battle of Pullalur, only 25 KM north of the Pallava capital. There a pitched battle was fought, and although Mahendravarman could save his capital, he lost the northern provinces to Pulakesi. The Chalukya army laid siege to the Pallava capital at Kanchipuram. Pulakesi perhaps had the assistance of the then Pallava feudatories, the Chola, the Pandya and the Chera kings.

The Chalukya victory over Mahendravarman I was, according to Prof. Nilakanta Sastri, "the first move initiating what developed into one of the persistent lines of conflict in South Indian history".

Battle with Harsha

When Pulakesi II pushed forth up to the Narmada, he came face to face with Harshavardhana of Kanauj who already had the title Uttarapatheshvara (Lord of the North). In a decisive battle fought on the banks of the river Narmada, Harsha lost a major part of his elephant force and beat a retreat. The Aihole inscription describes how the mighty Harsha lost his harsha (joy) when he suffered the ignominy of defeat. Pulakesin had a treaty with Harsha, which marked the Narmada River as the border between the Chalukya Empire and that of Harshavardhana.

The Chinese traveller Hieun-tsang describes the event thus:

"Siladityaraja (i.e., Harsha), filled with confidence, himself marched at the head of his troops to contend with this prince (i.e., Pulakesi); but he was unable to prevail upon or subjugate him".

It was indeed a great victory for the Chalukya monarch, who assumed the proud title of Parameswara (Paramount overlord). With this conquest, Pulakesi's control extended completely over Southern India, including Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. He received the title Dakshinapatheshvara (Lord of the South) at around the same time.

Reversals

The last days of Pulakesi II witnessed several reversals to his earler successes. Pulakesin's ambition prompted him to undertake another expedition against the Pallavas in the hope of achieving more decisive results. However, the war had depleted the treasury sufficiently enough to prevent Pulakesin to mount an effective campaign.

The Pallavas had overcome their defeat and Narasimhavarman I had succeeded Mahendravarman I. Pulakesi began his campaign by an attack on the Banas, feudatories of Pallavas. After overrunning them, Pulakesin invaded the Pallava kingdom proper and once more threatened the Pallava Capital. However the Pallava forces under Nrasimhavarman defeated the Chalukyas in several battles including one at Manimangalam east of Kanchipuram. In these battles the Pallava army was assisted by the Sinhalese king Manavarma. Pulakesin's expedition thus ended in failure. The Pallavas however were encouraged by their success and invaded well into the Chalukya territory. The Pallava ruler captured and sacked Vatapi (Badami). Narasimhavarman assumed the title of Vatapikonda (the conqueror of Vatapi).

Pulakesi's death and legacy

It is possible that Pulakesi II lost his life in one of these encounters against the Pallavas. It left his Kingdom in a state of gloom, and the thirteen years that followed this calamity saw a sad eclipse of the Chalukya power, when Badami remained in the hands of the Pallavas.

Pulakesi exchanged ambassadors with the Shah of Persia Khosrau II. His reception of the Persian ambassador is depicted in one of the paintings in the Ajanta caves. The Chinese traveller Hsuan Tsang, who visited India in the 7th century, wrote admiringly of Pulakesi and his Empire.

Pulakesi had five sons, namely Chandraditya, Adityavarma, Vikramaditya, Jayasimha and Ambera. They fought among themselves after the demise of Pulakesi and tried to divide the kingdom into independent kingdoms. Pulakesin's third son Vikramaditya became the Chalukya king c. 642 C.E. and tried to unite the kingdom after defeating his brothers.

References

Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
South Indian Inscriptions
Arthikaje

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