Rashtrakuta Rulers

The earliest Rashtrakuta inscriptions38 in the district belong to the reign of Govinda II (775-780) . In these records the king Rulers is referred to by the titles Jagattunga, Prabhutavarsha, Pratapavaloka and Shrivallabha ; in one of them he is called the son of Akalavarsha, a title of Krishna I (756-775). According to these inscriptions, Govinda II had as his feudatories the son (Parameshwara Pallavadhiraja or Charu Ponnera) and the grand­son (Pallava-Chora or Polal-Chora or Pallavamalla) of Simhapota, a Nolamba chief, subordinate to the Ganga kings. The earliest Nolamba39 records in the district go back to the period of this Simhapota, who is introduced in three inscriptions coming from Challakere taluk40. The next Rashtrakuta ruler of whom we have records in this district is Krishna II (880-914), also known as Kannara II and Akalavarsha. One of them41, dated 889, records a private grant. Another dated 907-42 which is on a virgal refers to a fight between the Gangas and the Nolambas, though the name of the person representing the latter is not given. The Nolamba chiefs during the period of Krishna II appear to be Mahendra I about 870-897 and Ayyapadeva about 897 to 920. We have one record-ts mentioning Mahendra, dated about 890, and two records mentioning Ayyapadeva ; one of them dated 918 44 gives Nannigashraya as his second name and the others45 dated 920 calls him Nolambhadliraja Ayyapadeva. Two inscrip­tions, dated 937 and 940, coming from Chitradurga talnk 46 , refer to the Rashtrakuta Amoghavarslia II (935-940) ; in both of them one Kannayya or Kannarasa is said to have been governing Kadambalige-1000. The Nolamba chief during this period was Anniga or Annayya with the title Bira-Nolamba. He seems to have revolted against the Rashtrakuta power; for, we have an inscription mentioning that he was defeated by the Rashtrakuta Krishna III in 940. 47

Of the next Rashtrakuta king, Krishna III (940-966), we have a number of inscriptions in this district dating from 941 to 965 ; in fact one of them, assigned to 967 or 968, 47 also refers to him as the supreme sovereign. During his reign Kannayya was still governing Kadambalige until 964 when he was succeeded by Lokayya. When Lokayya was ruling the Kadambalige-nad-1000, Kannayya is said to have been rnling the seven Gaudalu and the Komara Gadyaua- one Thousand49. In 967-968, one Sudrakayya, probably a younger brother of Kannayya, is seen to be governing the Kadambalige-nad50. He has the titles : master of Andhra-mandala and Bhujanga (i.e., paramount lord) of Ujjeni. The Nolamba subordinate under Krishna III was Dilipa or Iriva Nolamba from about 942 to 966. Only one unimportant inscrip­tion belonging to him has been found in the Chitradurga district; but from some inscriptions found in the Kolar district, he seems to have had the Vaidumbas and the Mahavalis under him. Krishna III was succeeded by Khottiga (966-972), of whom a few inscriptions have been found in this district. The one found at : Kyasapura, dated 968, is the earliest in point of time.5l. Khottiga has been referred to in it as Nityavarshadeva. One Pandayya has been mentioned to be the governor of Kadambalige-1000. This Pandayya claims Chalukya descent, which is given in detail in another inscription, dated 968 52 . Khottiga was a weakling and his reign shows the signs of the beginning of the end of the Rashtrakuta rule. This state of affairs is well reflected in the inscriptions in this district. Out of the two inscriptions belonging to this period, one dated 976 53 mentions Kakkaladeva or Karkka II (972-977), the successor of Khottiga, as 'ruling the earth as far as the ocean' and Pandayya governing Kadambalige, while the other dated 977 54 . does not mention any sovereign king, though the name of the local chief Arabalava is given. In fact Karkka II was dethroned by the Chalukya Taila II in 973 ; but it is possible that he might have continued to rule in an insignificant manner upto about 977.

Courtesy : Gazetteer of India, Chitradurga District, 1967.