Madhavavarman’s Death: Death Blow to Visnukundin Empire

• The defeat and death of the great king Madhavavarman III was a serious blow to the Visņukundin Empire.

• It was not the only cause for the disappearance of the Visņukundins; there were several contributing factors.

• The empire, which had been held together by the strong arm of the aged king, quickly vanished after his death.

• Numerous dynasties were eager to overthrow the yoke of the Visņukundins and assume independence in their own principalities.

• Notable among these were the Eastern Gangas of Kalinga and the vassal king of Pistapura.

• The disruptive wars during this period weakened the Visņukundin Empire considerably.

• It is probable that the vassals of the empire did not join forces with the Visņukundin monarch in resisting the Cāļukya invaders.

• The Cāļukya forces easily defeated and humbled the lords of Kösala, Kalinga, Devarashtra, and others.

• The empire cracked and disappeared like a broken pot in an ocean.

• Madhavavarman’s death thus paved the way for the Cāļukya conquest and annexation of the Andhra country.

Маnсуaрра-Bhattaraka, the Last of the Visnukundin

• Mañcyanna Bhattāraka, the son and presumably successor of Madhavavarman III, faced great challenges after his father’s death.

• He was described as a shipwrecked prince, fighting single-handedly against foes on all sides.

• The task of restoring the sunken glory of his house was too heavy for him to handle.

• After the invasion of Pulikēsin II, Kalinga plunged into internecine wars between rival claimants and dynasties.

• Pṛthivīmahārāja of Pistapura began his conquest to establish a powerful kingdom, encountering hostility from the Eastern Gangas.

• The kingdom of Andhradesa became divided between the conquerors and the conquered.

• Mañcyanna Bhattāraka’s authority was likely destroyed during this time.

• According to the Tāņdi vāda grant, Pṛthivīmahārāja took advantage of the disturbed state and occupied the eastern portion of Vengi.

• Mañcyanna may have held out in the region around his capital for a short period.

• He was caught between two devastating forces:

  • From the north/north-east, Pṛthivīmahārāja pursued conquest of Vengi and further south.

  • From the south/south-west, the Cāļukya invader had occupied a large territory and stationed his own general, Pithivi-Duvarāja, as viceroy.

• The fate of Mañcyanna Bhattāraka is unclear, but it is possible he was defeated and destroyed by his enemies around 612 A.D..

• With his death, the glory of the Visņukundins vanished.

• Two main powers remained struggling for supremacy:

  • The Cāļukya invader in the south.

  • Pṛthivīmahārāja in the north.

• However, Pulikēsin II turned his back on Andhradesa and Kanchi, heading towards Vātapi.

• Meanwhile, trouble broke out in the Andhra country.

• The authority of the Cāļukya viceroy was threatened by the Pallava king from the south and Pṛthivīmahārāja from the north, both seeking to end the Cāļukya occupation of Southern Andhra.

• In the tri-partite struggle, Mahēndravarman of the Pallavas emerged victorious, annexing Southern Andhra and ousting the Cāļukya viceroy.

• The Cēzerla fragmentary stone inscription records a battle at Dhānyakataka between Pṛthivi-Yuvarāja and Kandararāja of the Ananda family, a vassal of the Pallava king Mahēndravikramavarman I.

• The inscription indicates that Kandararāja defeated Pṛthivi-Yuvarāja, suggesting he was destroyed.

• Pṛthivi-Yuvarāja is likely the same as Pithivi-Duvarāja, mentioned in the Koppāram copper-plate grant of Pulikēsin II.

• The date of the Cēzerla inscription supports this identification, as it belongs to the same period as the Koppāram plates (first quarter of the seventh century).

• There was no other prince by the name of Pṛthivi-Yuvarāja except for the Cāļukya general stationed in Southern Andhra.

• The date of the battle of Dhānyakataka and the death of Pṛthivī-Yuvarāja is around 617 A.D..

• By this date, Yuvaraja Vişnuvardhana had not yet come to Andhradesa.

• The Satāra plates show that Yuvaraja Vişnuvardhana was still in Kuntala, assisting his elder brother Pulikēsin II in a subordinate role.

• The Satāra plates register the grant of a village in Kuntala on the southern bank of the Bhīmarathī on the full moon day of Kārttika in the 8th year of Maharaja Satyāsraya Pulikēsin II.

• The date of Pulikēsin II’s accession was about Saka 532 (610 A.D.), and the 8th year of his reign corresponds to 617 A.D. with the full moon day of Kārttika falling on October 19, 617 A.D..

• The death of Pṛthivi-Duvarāja marked a turning point in the history of the Cālukya conquest of Andhradesa.

• After the death of Pṛthivi-Duvarāja, Pulikēsin II, eager to extend his dominion over Andhradesa (the home of his ancestors), likely sent his younger brother Yuvaraja Vişnuvardhana (surnamed Vişamasiddhi) to the east.

• Vişnuvardhana’s mission was to stem the tide of disaster following the battle of Dhānyakataka.

• Vişnuvardhana’s arrival in Andhradesa was probably around 620 A.D., after the date of his Satārā grant.

• He was likely sent to Andhradesa with the express command to:

  • Quell the revolt of turbulent vassals.

  • End the Pallava occupation of Southern Andhradesa.

  • Destroy the power of Pṛthivīmahārāja, who had gained significant power north of the Godavari.

  • Firmly establish the sovereignty of the Cālukyas in the east.