https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=AmoghavarshaAmoghavarsha - Revision history2026-07-31T17:42:11ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Amoghavarsha&diff=422604&oldid=prevAjay Kumar at 23:46, 29 August 20232023-08-29T23:46:22Z<p></p>
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{{Infobox royalty<br />
| image = Old Kannada inscription (876 AD) of Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha I at Veerabhadra temple in Kumsi.jpg<br />
| alt = Amoghavarsha<br />
| title = Nrupathunga, Atishadhavala, Veeranarayana, Rattamarthanda, Srivallabha<br />
| caption = Old Kannada inscription (876 AD) of Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha I at Veerabhadra temple in Kumsi<br />
| succession = 6th [[Rashtrakuta Empire|Rashtrakuta Emperor]]<br />
| reign = {{circa|815|877 CE}} (62 years)<br />
| predecessor = [[Govinda III]]<br />
| successor = [[Krishna II]]<br />
| birth_name = Sharva<br />
| birth_date = 800 CE<br />
| death_date = 878 CE (aged 77-78)<br />
| father = [[Govinda III]]<br />
| religion = [[Jainism]]{{sfn|Jaini|2000|p=339}}<br />
}}<br />
{{Rashtrakuta Manyakheta Kings Infobox}}<br />
'''Amoghavarsha I''' (also known as '''Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga I''') (r.814–878 CE) was the greatest emperor of the [[Rashtrakuta|Rashtrakuta dynasty]], and one of the most notable rulers of [[History of India|Ancient India]]. His reign of 64 years is one of the longest precisely dated [[List of longest reigning monarchs of all time|monarchical reigns on record]]. Many [[Kannada]] and [[Sanskrit]] scholars prospered during his rule, including the great Indian mathematician [[Mahavira (mathematician)|Mahaviracharya]] who wrote ''Ganita-sara-samgraha'', [[Jinasena]], [[Virasena]], Shakatayan and Sri Vijaya (a [[Kannada language]] theorist).<ref name="scholar"/> <br />
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Amoghavarsha I was an accomplished poet and scholar. He wrote (or co-authored) the ''[[Kavirajamarga]]'', the earliest [[Extant literature|extant]] literary work in [[Kannada]],<ref name="writing">Sastri (1955), p. 355.</ref> and ''Prashnottara Ratnamalika'', a religious work in [[Sanskrit]]. During his rule he held titles such as ''Nrupathunga'', ''Atishadhavala'', ''Veeranarayana'', ''Rattamarthanda'' and ''Srivallabha''. He moved the [[Rashtrakuta]] regal capital from Mayurkhandi in the [[Bidar district]] to [[Manyakheta]] in the [[Kalaburagi district]] in the modern [[Karnataka]] state. He is said to have built the regal city to "match that of Lord [[Indra]]". The capital city was planned to include elaborately designed buildings for the royalty using the finest of workmanship.<ref name="fine">Sastri (1955), p. 146.</ref> <br />
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The Arab traveler [[Sulaiman al-Tajir|Sulaiman]] described Amoghavarsha as one of the "four great kings of the world."<ref>The Shaping of Modern Gujarat: Plurality, Hindutva, and Beyond; Acyuta Yājñika, Suchitra Sheth, Penguins Books, (2005), p.42, {{ISBN|978-0-14400-038-8}}</ref> For his religious temperament, his interest in the fine arts and literature and his peace-loving nature, historian Panchamukhi has compared him to the emperor [[Ashoka]] and given him the honorific "Ashoka of the South".<ref name="Ashoka">Panchamukhi in Kamath (2001), p80</ref> Amoghavarsha seems to have entertained the highest admiration for the language, literature and culture of the [[Kannada people]] as testified to in the text Kavirajamarga.<ref>M. V. Krishna Rao (1936), ''The Gangas of Talkad: A Monograph on the History of Mysore from the Fourth to the Close of the Eleventh Century'', p.80</ref><br />
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==Early years==<br />
Amoghavarsha I (whose birth name was Sharva)<ref name="sharva">Kamath (2001), p77</ref><ref name="birth">It has been claimed that Sharva may be a title (Reu 1933, p66)</ref> was born in 800 CE in Sribhavan on the banks of the river [[Narmada River|Narmada]] during the return journey of his father, Emperor [[Govinda III]], from his successful campaigns in [[northern India]]. This information is available from the Manne inscription of 803 and the Sanjan plates of 871, both important sources of information about Amoghavarsha I.<ref name="sharva"/> The Sirur plates further clarify that Amoghavarsha I ascended to the throne in 815 at the age of 14 after the death of his father.{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=1}} All his inscriptions thereafter refer to him as Amoghavarsha I.{{sfn|Reu|1997|p=68}}<br />
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A revolt led by some of his relatives together with feudatories of the empire temporarily unseated Amoghavarsha I, who, with the help of his cousin (Karka) also called Patamalla, re-established himself as the emperor by 821. This information comes from the [[Surat]] records and the [[Vadodara|Baroda]] plates of 835.<ref name="revolt">Kamath (2001), p78</ref>{{sfn|Reu|1997|p=66}} The first to revolt was the [[Western Ganga Dynasty|Western Ganga]] feudatory led by King [[Shivamara II]]. In the series of battles that followed, Shivamara II was killed in 816. But Amoghavarsha I's commander and confidant, Bankesha, was defeated in Rajaramadu by the next Ganga king, Rachamalla.<ref name="defeat">From the Hiregundagal records (Kamath 2001, p78)</ref> Due to the resilience of the Western Gangas, Amoghavarsha I was forced to follow a conciliatory policy. He gave in marriage his daughter, Chandrabbalabbe, to the Western Ganga King Butuga I, and another daughter, Revakanimmadi, to prince Ereganga. More revolts occurred between 818 and 820, but by 821 Amoghavarsha I had overcome all resistance and established a stable kingdom to rule.<ref name="defeat"/><br />
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Amoghavarsha ruled from 815 to 877 CE.{{sfn|Ram Bhushan Prasad Singh|2008|p=2}}<br />
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==Wars in the south==<br />
[[File:Bilingual old Kannada-Sanskrit inscription (866 AD) from Nilgund of Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha I.jpg|thumb|upright|Bilingual old Kannada-Sanskrit inscription (866 AD) written in old Kannada script, from Nilgund of Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha I]]<br />
Vijayaditya II of the [[Eastern Chalukya]] family overthrew Bhima Salki, the ruling Rashtrakuta feudatory at [[Vengi]], took possession of the throne and continued his hostilities against the Rashtrakutas. He captured Sthambha (modern Kammamettu), a Rashtrakuta stronghold. From the Cambay and Sangli plates it is known that Amoghavarsha I overwhelmingly defeated the Vengi Chalukyas and drove them out of their strongholds in the battle of Vingavalli.<ref name="defeat"/> The Bagumra records mention a "Sea of Chalukyas" invading the [[Ratta dynasty|Ratta kingdom]] which Amoghavarsha I successfully defended. After these victories he assumed the title ''Veeranarayana''.<ref name="defeat"/><br />
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Tranquility was restored temporarily by a marriage between Vijayaditya II's son, Vishnuvardhana V, and the Ratta princess Shilamahadevi, a sister of Karka of the Gujarat Rashtrakuta branch. However, Vishnuvardhana V attacked the northern [[Kalachuris of Tripuri|Kalachuri]] feudatory of the Rashtrakutas in [[Tripuri, Madhya Pradesh|Tripuri]], central India, and captured Elichpur near [[Nasik]]. Amoghavarsha I killed Vishnuvardhana V in 846 but continued a friendly relationship with the next Eastern Chalukya ruler Gunaga Vijayaditya III, and suppressed the recalcitrant [[Alupas]] of [[South Canara]] under prince Vimaladitya in 870. Likewise, Amoghavarsha I maintained friendly interactions with the [[Pallava]] who were busy keeping the [[Pandyas]] at bay.<ref name="daughter"/> The Pallavas had marital ties with the Rashtrakutas as well. Nandivarman was married to a Ratta princess, Sankha, and their son was also called ''Nripathunga''. This has prompted historians to suggest that the Pallava king must have married Nrupatunga Amoghavarsha I's daughter.<ref name="daughter">Hultzsch in Kamath (2001), p79</ref><br />
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Amoghavarsha's reign lasted until 877 AD after which he had voluntarily retired from his throne.{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=1}}<br />
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==Religion, culture and literature==<br />
[[File:Jain Narayana temple at Pattadakal.JPG|thumb|Jaina Narayana temple [[Pattadakal]] built by [[Rashtrakuta]] Amoghavarsha ]]<br />
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Amoghavarsha I preferred to remain friendly with all his neighbours and feudatories and avoided taking an aggressive posture against them. It is still debated whether he abdicated his throne at times to fulfill religious pursuits.<ref name="abdicate">He retired to his Jain monastery more than once during his long reign (Sastri 1955, p395)</ref> He deeply cared for his subjects and once when a calamity threatened to harm them (according to the Sanjan plates), he offered his finger as a sacrifice to the goddess [[Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur|Mahalakshmi]] of [[Kolhapur]]. For this benevolent act the Sanjan inscription likens him to ''[[puranic]]'' heroes such as [[Mahabali|Bali]], [[Shibi (king)|Shibi]] and Jimutavahana (hero of the play [[Nagananda]]).<ref name="finger">From the Sanjan plates (Kamath 2001, p79)</ref> It is written that the rulers of Vanga, Anga, Magadha, [[Malwa]] and [[Vengi]] worshipped him.<ref name="worship">From the Nilagunda records (Kamath 2001, p79)</ref><br />
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Amoghavarsha I was a disciple of Acharya [[Jinasena]].{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=2}} Proof for this comes from the writing, ''Mahapurana'' (also known as ''Uttara Purana'') by Gunabhadra in which the author states "blissful for the world is the existence of Jinasenacharya, by bowing to whom Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga considered himself to be purified". The same writing proves that Amoghavarsha I was a follower of the [[Digambara]] branch of [[Jainism]].{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=2}}{{sfn|Reu|1997|p=72}} Amoghavarsha I patronised [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]], and [[Hinduism]]. However, according to the scholar Reu, writings such as ''Mahapurana'' by Gunabhadra, ''Prashnottara Ratnamalika'' and Mahaviracharya's ''Ganita-sara-sangraha'' are evidence that Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga I had taken to Jainism.{{sfn|Reu|1997|p=35-36}} According to Arab traveller Suleiman, Amoghavarsha I's empire was one among the four great contemporary empires of the world and because of his peaceful and loving nature, he has been compared to Emperor [[Ashoka]].<ref name="Ashoka"/><ref name="great">From the notes of 9th-century Arab traveller Suleiman (Kamath 2001, p80)</ref> The [[Jainism|Jain]] Narayana temple of [[Pattadakal]], (a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]])<ref name="site">{{cite web|title=Reclaiming past glory|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb272007/spectrum1437452007226.asp|author=Vijapur, Raju S.|publisher=Spectrum|work=Deccan Herald|access-date=2007-02-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007194411/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb272007/spectrum1437452007226.asp|archive-date=7 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> a [[basadi]] at [[Konnur]] and the Neminatha Basadi at [[Manyakheta]] were built during his rule. His queen was Asagavve. Famous among scholars during his time were Mahaviracharya, [[Virasena]],{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=51}} [[Jinasena]], Gunabhadra, Shakatayan, and Sri Vijaya.<ref name="scholar">Kamath (2001), p79</ref><br />
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==Writings==<br />
Amoghavarsha was a scholar in [[Kannada]] and [[Sanskrit]] literature.{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=1}} His own writing [[Kavirajamarga]] is a landmark literary work in the [[Kannada language]] and became a guide book for future poets and scholars for centuries to come.{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=12}}{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=17}}{{sfn|Ram Bhushan Prasad Singh|2008|p=2}} The Sanskrit writing ''Prashnottara Ratnamalika'' is said to have been written by Amoghavarsha I in his old age when he had distanced himself from the affairs of the state.{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=1}} However others argue that it may have been written by [[Adi Shankara]] or by Vimalacharya.<ref name="ratna">While the Tibetan version of the book and copies of the book written by Digambara Jains claim the author was indeed Amgohavarsha I, the manuscript copy of the writing preserved in the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras, states that Adi Shankara (Shankaracharya) was the author. According to Reu, some Svetambara Jains claim the author was Vimalacharya (Reu 1933, p36, p73)</ref><br />
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There is a mention of several Kannada authors in his works who preceded him. Those who wrote in prose were Vimala, Udaya, Nagarjuna, Jayabandhu and [[Durvinita]], whereas those who wrote in poetry were Srivijaya, Kavisvara, Pandita, Chandra and Lokapala.{{sfn|Narasimhacharya|1988|p=2}}<br />
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==References==<br />
===Citations===<br />
{{reflist|30em}}<br />
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===Sources===<br />
* {{citation |last=Jaini |first=Padmanabh S. |author-link=Padmanabh Jaini |title=Collected Papers on Jaina Studies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HPggiM7y1aYC |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |date=2000 |isbn=81-208-1691-9 }}<br />
* {{citation |last= Kamath|first= Suryanath U.|title= A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present|orig-year=1980|year= 2001|publisher= Jupiter books|location= Bangalore|oclc= 7796041 |lccn=80905179}}<br />
* {{citation |last=Narasimhacharya |first=Ramanujapuram |title=History of Kannada Literature (Readership Lectures) |url={{Google books|nOTmIt3wumwC|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[[Asian Educational Services]] |year=1988 |isbn=81-206-0303-6 }}<br />
* {{citation |last=Reu |first=Pandit Bisheshwar Nath |author-link=Bisheshwar Nath Reu |title=History of The Rashtrakutas (Rathodas) |year=1997 |orig-year=1933 |publisher= Publication scheme |location=Jaipur |isbn= 81-86782-12-5 }}<br />
* {{citation |last= Sastri|first= Nilakanta K.A.|title= A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar|orig-year=1955|year=2002|publisher= Indian Branch, Oxford University Press|location= New Delhi|isbn= 0-19-560686-8}}<br />
* {{citation |last=Shah |first=Natubhai |author-link=Natubhai Shah |title=Jainism: The World of Conquerors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qLNQKGcDIhsC |volume=I |date=2004 |orig-year=First published in 1998 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=81-208-1938-1 |ref={{sfnref|Natubhai Shah|2004}} }}<br />
* {{citation |last=Singh |first=Ram Bhushan Prasad |title=Jainism in Early Medieval Karnataka |url={{Google books|JtWGm4E4qZIC|plainurl=yes}} |year=2008 |orig-year=1975 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-3323-4 |ref={{sfnref|Ram Bhushan Prasad Singh|2008}} }}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061104095148/http://www.ourkarnataka.com/history.htm History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje]<br />
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{{s-start}}<br />
{{succession box |<br />
before= [[Govinda III]] |<br />
title= [[Rashtrakuta|Rashtrakuta Emperor]] |<br />
years= 814&ndash;878 |<br />
after= [[Krishna II]]<br />
}}<br />
{{s-end}}<br />
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{{Karnataka topics}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Amoghavarsha}}<br />
[[Category:800 births]]<br />
[[Category:878 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:History of Karnataka]]<br />
[[Category:Kannada poets]]<br />
[[Category:9th-century Indian Jains]]<br />
[[Category:9th-century Indian monarchs]]<br />
[[Category:Jain monarchs]]<br />
[[Category:Rashtrakuta emperors]]<br />
[[Category:9th-century Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male poets]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]</div>Ajay Kumar