Chapter Info (Click Here)
Book No. – 17 (Ancient History)
Book Name – History of the Early Dynasties of Andhra Desa (Book Iv – The Visnukundins; 420-620 AD)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. A Survey of the Period, from the Fall of the Iksvakus to the rise of the Visnukupdins
2 Political Condition of South India in the First Part of Fifth Century
3. Madhavavarman I. the Great. 420-455 AD
3.1. Madhavavarman’s Rise to Power. Lakshmana Rao’s Theory
3.2. Legends about a king named Madhavavarman
3.3. Criticism of the Legend
3.4. Probable Events that led to Madhavavarman’s Rajasiya Sacrifice
3.5. Causes for the Unimpeded Expansion of Madhavavarman’s Power
3.6. The Real Political Significance of the Rajasiya and Eleven Asva-medhas of Madhavavarman I
3.7. The Ritual and Importance of Rajasuya
3.8. Madhavavarman’s Rajasaya and Purusamadha
3.9. Essential Features of Asvamedha Sacrifice
3.10. The Ritual of Asvamëdha
3.11. Another Feature of the Asvamedha Expiation of Sins
3.12. Madhavavarman’s Vedic Sacrifices: a Landmark in the Religious History of Andhradesaa
3.13. Yuwan Chwang’s Story of Revival of Brahmanism in Andhradesa
3.14. Probable date of Madhavavarman’s Eleven Asvamedhas
3.15. Death of Madhavavarman: 455 AD & Events in North India
3.16. Madhavavarman | Entitled to be called the Great
3.17. Growth of Visnukundin Sculpture and Architecture
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The Rise and Political Ascendency of the Visnukundins: Madhavavarman I
Chapter – 4
A Survey of the Period, from the Fall of the Iksväkus to the rise of the Vişnukupdins
The period from the fall of the Ikṣvākus in the third century to the rise of the Visņukuņdins in the fifth century (roughly one and a half centuries) was marked by bitter struggle and protracted wars.
These wars were between the Pallavas of Kāñci and the successive dynasties that sought sovereignty in Andhradesa.
The Pallavas fought relentlessly to maintain their domination in Southern Andhradesa.
A survey of the period shows that the successive dynasties of Andhradesa struggled in vain to liberate their land from the Pallava dominion and restore paramount monarchy.
The Pallava kingdom extended as far as the Kṛṣṇa river, making Karmarāṣṭra the bone of contention and the site of protracted hostilities.
The Bṛhatphalāyanas were the first to challenge Pallava rule, followed by the Ānandas, who became fierce opponents of Pallava domination in Andhradesa.
After the Ānandas, the Visņukuņdins emerged as the political successors in the struggle for freedom.
The earliest Visņukuņdin charter points to a close connection between the Visņukuņdins and the Ānandas.
The Visņukuņdins rose in the very region on the southern bank of the Kṛṣṇa river, where the Ānandas had previously ruled.
The Visņukuņdins seem to have acquired sovereignty immediately after the fall of Attivarman, the last independent king of the Ananda dynasty.
The Ānandas bore the epithet Trikāta-parvata-patiḥ (the Lord of Trikūta Mountain).
Mādhavavarman II, the third king of the Visņukuṇdin dynasty, proudly called himself Trikūṭa-malayādhipatiḥ (the Lord of Trikūta and Malaya Mountains).
Certain legends recorded in literature seem to suggest a connection between the two dynasties, though in a vague manner.
Political Condition of South India in the First Part of Fifth Century
In the fifth century, the Pallava supremacy was significantly weakened by the rise of the Kadambas under three great monarchs: Kākusthavarman and his sons Śāntivarman and Kṛṣṇavarman I.
The accession of Kākusthavarman marked a new era for the Kadambas, signaling the expansion of Kuntala into north, south, and south-east.
The northern boundary of the Kadamba kingdom reached the borders of the Vākāṭaka Empire in the Deccan.
The Kadambas encroached upon the Pallava dominions in the east and south.
Kākusthavarman strengthened his power through a series of dynastic marriages, the most notable being an alliance with the Imperial Guptas of Magadha.
The Western Gangas (also known as the Jähnaviyas) became subordinate allies of the Kadambas, and together they opposed the Pallavas, even threatening to overthrow their sovereignty.
A series of crushing reverses during the early part of the fifth century led to the decline of the Pallavas.
The Kadamba successes ultimately led to the **celebration of an Asvamedha sacrifice by Kṛṣṇavarman I around 435 A.D..
Around the same time, the Vişnukundins under Mādhavavarman I emerged as a formidable power in Andhradesa and Eastern Dakṣiṇāpatha.
The Pallavas were dislodged from their possessions in the southern Andhra country.