Introduction

The Rashtrakuta Dynasty was a famous Indian dynasty that became prominent after the fall of Badami Chalukyas and ruled the Indian Subcontinent from 753 AD to 973 AD. Dantidurga was the founder of Rashtrakuta empire. Dantidurga defeated Kirtivarman II, the last ruler of Badami Chalukyas and established the new dynasty. The capital of Rashtrakutas was Manyakheta. The Rashtrakuta empire stretched to a larger areas of Maharshtra, Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Emperors of Rashtrakuta Empire

Dantidurga was the first king of the dynasty. He was succeeded by Krishna I who was the uncle of Dantidurga. Govinda III was one of the most powerful emperors of the dynasty ascended the throne in 793 AD. He succeeded his father Dhruva Dharavarsha and defeated the Pallavas of Kanchi. Govinda-III was succeeded by his son Amoghavarsha-I in 814 AD. Amoghavarsha-I founded the capital of Rashtrakuta empire at Manyakheta, present day Malkhed in Karnataka. Some of the great emperors of
Rashtrakuta dynasty were
1. Dantidurga
2. Krishna I
3. Govinda II
4. Dhruva Dharavarsha
5. Govinda III
6. Amoghavarsha I
7. Krishna II
8. Indra III
9. Amoghavarsha II
10. Govinda IV

Scholars of Rashtrakuta Empire

Rashtrakutas were great patrons of literature. Many famous scholars lived in the court of Rashtrakuta Empire. Apabhramsa poet Svayambhu, was a court poet of Rashtrakuta empire. Emperor Amoghavarsha I himself was a great scholar. He wrote the famous Kannada book Kavirajamarga on the theory of literature. Adikavi Pampa, one of the greatest Kannada poets and the Jain scholar who wrote the Adipurana graced the court of the Rashtrakutas.

Rich Architectures of Rashtrakuta Empire

Architecture and sculpture of Rashtrakuta dynasty is recognized as the priceless contribution in the rich Indian architectural history. The famous Kailasanath Temple at Ellora was built by the Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna I. Rashtrakutas also built some of the rock cut caves in Elephanta island of Maharashtra. The famous Kashivishvanatha temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva was also one of the valuable contributions of Rashtrakutas. The Jain Narayana temple in Karnataka was also constructed at the time of Rashtrakuta Empire.

Amoghavarsha (800–878 AD)

Amoghavarsha (800–878 AD) was a Rashtrakuta emperor. He was the greatest ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, and one of the great emperors of India. His reigned for 64 years, one of the longest reign on record.
Amoghavarsha was an accomplished poet and scholar. He wrote the Kavirajamarga .Prashnottara Ratnamalika, a religious work in Sanskrit. Kavirajamarga, the earliest existing literary work in Kannada.
Many Kannada and Sanskrit scholars prospered during his rule, including the great Indian mathematician Mahaviracharya who wrote Ganita-sara-samgraha.
Amoghavarsha respected Muslims and that he allowed the construction of mosques in his cities. Historian have compared him to Ashoka for his religious leaning and love of peace.He is also known by the title "Ashoka of the South"

Decline of empire

In 972 A.During the rule of Khottiga Amoghavarsha, the Paramara King Siyaka Harsha attacked the empire and plundered Manyakheta, the capital of the Rashtrakutas. This seriously undermined the reputation of the Rastrakuta Empire and consequently led to its downfall.
The final decline was sudden as Tailapa II, a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta ruling from Tardavadi province in modern Bijapur district, declared himself independent by taking advantage of this defeat.
Indra IV, the last emperor, committed Sallekhana (fasting unto death practised by Jain monks) at Shravanabelagola. With the fall of the Rashtrakutas, their feudatories and related clans in the Deccan and northern India declared independence.
The Western Chalukyas annexed Manyakheta and made it their capital until 1015 and built an impressive empire in the Rashtrakuta heartland during the 11th century. The focus of dominance shifted to the Krishna River – Godavari River doab called Vengi.
The former feudatories of the Rashtrakutas in western Deccan were brought under control of the Chalukyas, and the hitherto-suppressed Cholas of Tanjore became their arch enemies in the south.

Architecture

The Rashtrakutas contributed much to the architectural heritage of the Deccan.
Art historian Adam Hardy categorizes their building activity into three schools: Ellora, around Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, and at Sirval near Gulbarga.
The Rashtrakuta contributions to art and architecture are reflected in the splendid rock-cut cave temples at Ellora and Elephanta, areas also occupied by Jain monks, located in present-day Maharashtra.
The Ellora site was originally part of a complex of 34 Buddhist caves probably created in the first half of the 6th century whose structural details show Pandyan influence. Cave temples occupied by Hindus are from later periods.
The Rashtrakutas renovated these Buddhist caves and re-dedicated the rock-cut shrines.

Amoghavarsha I espoused Jainism and there are five Jain cave temples at Ellora ascribed to his period. The most extensive and sumptuous of the Rashtrakuta works at Ellora is their creation of the monolithic Kailasanath Temple, a splendid achievement confirming the ""Balhara"" status as ""one among the four principal Kings of the world" The walls of the temple have marvellous sculptures from Hindu mythology including Ravana, Shiva and Parvathi while the ceilings have paintings.
The Kailasanath Temple project was commissioned by King Krishna I after the Rashtrakuta rule had spread into South India from the Deccan. The architectural style used is Karnata Dravida according to Adam Hardy. It does not contain any of the Shikharas common to the Nagara style and was built on the same lines as the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal in Karnataka.
According to art historian Vincent Smith, the achievement at the Kailasanath temple is considered an architectural consummation of the monolithic rock-cut temple and deserves to be considered one of the wonders of the world.
According to art historian Percy Brown, as an accomplishment of art, the Kailasanath temple is considered an unrivalled work of rock architecture, a monument that has always excited and astonished travellers.While some scholars have claimed the architecture at Elephanta is attributable to the Kalachuri, others claim that it was built during the Rashtrakuta period.
Some of the sculptures such as Nataraja and Sadashiva excel in beauty and craftsmanship even that of the Ellora sculptures.
In Karnataka their most famous temples are the Kashivishvanatha temple and the Jain Narayana temple at Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Other well-known temples are the Parameshwara temple at Konnur, Brahmadeva temple at Savadi, the Settavva, Kontigudi II, Jadaragudi and Ambigeragudi temples at Aihole, Mallikarjuna temple at Ron, Andhakeshwara temple at Huli (Hooli), Someshwara temple at Sogal, Jain temples at Lokapura, Navalinga temple at Kuknur, Kumaraswamy temple at Sandur, numerous temples at Shirival in Gulbarga, and the Trikuteshwara temple at Gadag which was later expanded by Kalyani Chalukyas. Archeological study of these temples show some have the stellar (multigonal) plan later to be used profusely by the Hoysalas at Belur and Halebidu.One of the richest traditions in Indian architecture took shape in the Deccan during this time which Adam Hardy calls Karnata dravida style as opposed to traditional Dravida style