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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Short description|Chalukya Emperor from 645 to 646}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Abhinavaditya
| title = [[Prithvi-vallabha (title)|Shri-prithvi-vallabha]], [[Maharajadhiraja]], Parameshvara
| succession = Chalukya king
| reign = {{circa|645|646}}
| predecessor = [[Adityavarman (Chalukya dynasty)|Adityavarman]]
| successor = [[Chandraditya (Chalukya dynasty)|Chandraditya]]
| house = [[Chalukyas of Vatapi]]
| house-type = Dynasty
| father = Abhinavaditya
}}
{{Chalukyas|Vatapi}}
'''Abhinavaditya''' (r. c. 645–646 CE) was a king of the [[Chalukya dynasty]] of [[Vatapi]] in southern India. He appears to have succeeded his father [[Adityavarman (Chalukya dynasty)|Adityavarman]] on the weakened Chalukya throne, in the period following the death of his grandfather [[Pulakeshin II]]. He appears to have died heirless, and was probably succeeded by his uncle [[Chandraditya (Chalukya dynasty)|Chandraditya]].

== Background ==

Abhinavaditya's father [[Adityavarman (Chalukya dynasty)|Adityavarman]] was one of the sons of the powerful Chalukya emperor [[Pulakeshin II]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=114}} After [[Pulakeshin II]] was defeated and probably killed during a [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] invasion in 642–643 CE, Adityavarman appears to have held the weakened Chalukya throne, as attested by the [[Kurnool]] (Karnul) grant inscription. Abhinavaditya seems to have succeeded his father on the throne, as attested by his Nelkunda grant inscription.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|pp=114-116}} He probably died heirless, as the next known person to have held the Chalukya throne was his uncle [[Chandraditya (Chalukya dynasty)|Chandraditya]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|pp=116-118}} The Chalukya power was subsequently restored by Chandraditya's younger brother [[Vikramaditya I]]. Another possibility is that Abhinavaditya and Vikramaditya belonged to two different branches of the family, and ruled different parts of the Pulakeshin's former empire simultaneously.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=115}}

Abhinavaditya's Nelkunda inscription is the only historical source that mentions him. The subsequent Chalukya records presumably omit his name because he was not in direct line of succession of the subsequent rulers such as [[Vikramaditya I]]. Historian D. P. Diskhit assumes that he probably ruled between c. 645 and 647 CE, and lost his life while trying to restore the Chalukya power.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=116}}

== Nelkunda inscription ==

The Nelkunda copper-plate inscription of Abhinavaditya came to the notice of the [[Mysore State]]'s archaeology department in the 1950s. The copper-plates were originally in the possession of the family of Pujar Bhimanna, a resident of the Ganjigatte village near [[Holalkere]]. The inscription was later given to the archaeological museum at [[Chitradurga]].{{sfn|P. B. Desai|1958|p=213}}

The inscription is in form of a set of three copper-plates tied using a circular ring, which is fastened to a circular seal containing a [[varaha|boar]] emblem. The first and the third plates are engraved only on one side, while the second plate is engraved on both the sides.{{sfn|P. B. Desai|1958|p=213}}

The writing comprises 28 [[Sanskrit]] language lines inscribed in the 7th century [[Telugu-Kannada alphabet]]. The inscription first praises the foot of the Hindu god [[Vamana|Hari]] (Vishnu) that crushed the demon ([[Mahabali|Bali]]), followed by a ''[[prashasti]]'' (eulogy) of the Chalukya dynasty. The genealogy portion of the ''prashasti'' mentions Abhinavaditya, his father Adityavarman, and his grandfather [[Pulakeshin II]]; all three kings are accorded the imperial titles ''Maharajadhiraja'' and ''Parameshvara''. Like his grandfather, Abhinavaditya is also accorded the title ''Satyashraya-[[Prithvi-vallabha (title)|Prithvi-vallabha]]''.{{sfn|P. B. Desai|1958|p=214}}

Next, the inscription records Abhinavaditya's grant of the Nelkunda village, located in the Uchcha-shringa ''[[vishaya]]'' (district) to a [[Brahmin|Brahmana]] named Kuppa-sharman.{{sfn|P. B. Desai|1958|p=214}} Nelkunda can be identified with present-day Nalkunda in [[Davanagere district]] of Karnataka; the name Uchcha-shringa is preserved in the name of the present-day [[Uchangidurga]] village in the same district.{{sfn|P. B. Desai|1958|p=215}} The donee Kuppa-sharman belonged to the [[Devarata]]-[[Kaushika]] [[gotra]] (lineage), and was well-versed in the [[Vedas]] and the [[Vedangas]]. The record ends with imprecatory verses cursing anyone who violates the grant deed. The grant was made on the [[Purnima|full-moon day]] of the [[Bhadrapada]] month of the Hindu calendar; the inscription states that it was made during the "victorious reign" of king Abhinavaditya, but does not specify the regnal year.{{sfn|P. B. Desai|1958|p=214}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Durga Prasad Dikshit |title=Political History of the Chālukyas of Badami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lEB11tKmCgcC&pg=PA152 |year=1980 |publisher=Abhinav |oclc=8313041 }}
* {{cite book |author=P. B. Desai |author-link=P. B. Desai |chapter=Nelkunda Grant of Chalukya Abhinavaditya |editor=B. Ch. Chhabra |editor-link=B. Ch. Chhabra |title=Epigraphia Indica |volume=XXXII, Part V |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u2dDAAAAYAAJ |year=1958 |publisher=Manager of Publications }}
{{ref end}}

[[Category:Early Chalukyas]]
[[Category:Chalukya kings]]

Abhinavaditya - Revision history

DilkhusOfficial at 11:16, 15 May 2025