ZEKSheryl225755 at 12:31, 11 September 2025

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{{Short description|Former Indian dynasty}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
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{{History of Gujarat}}
The '''Chalukyas''' ([[IAST]]: Cālukya) '''of Navasarika''' (modern [[Navsari]]) were an Indian dynasty that ruled parts of present-day [[Gujarat]] and [[Maharashtra]] during 7th and 8th centuries, as vassals of the [[Chalukyas of Vatapi]]. They are also known as the "Early Chalukyas of Gujarat" (as opposed to the later [[Chaulukya|Chalukyas of Gujarat]]).

In the late 660s, the Vatapi Chalukya king [[Vikramaditya I]] appointed his brother Dharashraya Jayasimhavarman as the governor of the north-western parts of his kingdom, which included southern Gujarat ([[Lata (region)|Lata]]), [[Nashik division|Nashik region]], and northern [[Konkan]]. Dharashraya's eldest son Shryashraya Shiladitya died before him, and he was succeeded by his younger sons, first Jayashraya Mangalarasa, and then Avanijanashraya Pulakeshin. Avanijanashraya is best known for repulsing an [[Umayyad campaigns in India|Arab invasion]] from the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] near Navsari, a feat recorded in his 738-739 inscription. After his reign, the history of this Chalukya branch is uncertain: their territory subsequently came under the [[Rashtrakuta]] control.

== Dharashraya Jayasimhavarman ==
[[File:Map of the Chalukyas.png|left|thumb|Chalukya Empire at its largest extent]]
The Navsari branch of the Chalukyas was established by Dharashraya Jayasimhavarman ([[IAST]]: Dharāśraya Jaya-siṃha-varman), who was a son of the [[Chalukyas of Vatapi|Vatapi Chalukya]] king [[Pulakeshin II]], and a younger brother of Pulakeshin's successor [[Vikramaditya I]]. Sometime before 667-670 CE, Vikramaditya appointed Dharashraya as the governor of the north-western Chalukya territories, which included parts of present-day southern [[Gujarat]], and the [[Konkan]] and [[Nashik division|Nashik region]] of [[Maharashtra]].{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=50}}

Dharashraya is attested by his [[Nashik]] inscription, which is dated to 20 or 21 March 685 (year 436 of the [[Kalachuris of Mahishmati|Kalachuri era]]). This Sanskrit-language inscription records the grant of the Dhondhaka village in the Nasikya ''[[vishaya]]'' (Nashik province) to a [[Brahmin|Brahmana]] named Trivikrama.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=309}}

The Nashik inscription states that Dharashraya defeated and routed the army of a king named Vajjada, between the [[Mahi River|Mahi]] and the [[Narmada River|Narmada]] rivers. Historian [[V. V. Mirashi]] theorizes that Vajrata invaded the [[Gurjaras of Lata|Gurjara]] kingdom, whose ruler Dadda III was a Chalukya vassal; the Chalukya emperor dispatched Dharashraya to repulse the invader.{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=50}} However, there is no concrete proof to support this theory. Historian Shyam Manohar Mishra theorizes that Vajjada may have been another name for Dadda III.{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=51}} It is possible that this Vajjada is same as the Vajrata, who according to a [[Samangad]] inscription, was defeated by the [[Rashtrakuta]] king [[Dantidurga]]. It is likely that Dharashraya's campaign against Vajjada was ordered by his overlord and nephew [[Vinayaditya of Vatapi|Vinayaditya]] (the successor of Vikramaditya I), who wanted to expand the Chalukya power in the north.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=152}}

=== Shryashraya Shiladitya ===

Dharashraya's eldest son was Shryashraya Shiladitya (IAST: Śrayāśraya Śilādtiya).{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=51}} An inscription of Shryashraya, issued by him as the [[crown prince]] (''yuvaraja''), is dated to 23 May 668 (year 420 of the [[Kalachuris of Mahishmati|Kalachuri era]]). Its [[find spot]] is unknown. It is written in [[Sanskrit]] language using an early form of the [[Telugu-Kannada alphabet]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=308}} It records the grant of Mudgapadra village to migrant [[Brahmin|Brahmana]] cousins Revaditya and Varasyaka by Dharashraya and Shryashraya. The inscription was issued from Navasarika (Navsari) and its text was composed by Dhananjaya.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=308}}{{sfn|Swati Datta|1989|p=168}}

A [[Surat]] inscription of Shryashraya, also in Sanskrit language, is dated to 28 January 671 (Kalachuri year 421). It records the grant of the Asatti village to Bhogikasvamin.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=308}} Another of his Sanskrit inscriptions, found at Surat, is dated 692-693 (Kalachuri year 443: the date can be read as 2 August 692 CE, assuming that the inscription was issued in the Kalachuri year 443; or as 23 July 693 CE, assuming that it was issued after the expiry of the Kalachuri year 443).{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|pp=309-310}} The inscription was issued from Kusumeshvara, and records the grant of a field in the Osumbhala village to Matrishvara Dikshita.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=310}}

Shryashraya appears to have died before his father Dharashraya; therefore, Dharashraya was succeeded by his second eldest son Jayashraya Mangalarasa, who was succeeded by Avanijanashraya Pulakeshin, another of Dharashraya's sons.{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=51}} Tribhuvanashraya Nagavardhana, a fourth son of Dharashraya, is attested by an inscription found at Nirpan village of Maharashtra. This inscription records the grant of the Belegrama village to the shrine of the deity Kapaleshvara, but is considered spurious by historians.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=309}}{{sfn|D R Bhandarkar|1983|p=383}}

== Jayashraya Mangalarasa ==

Jayashraya Mangalarasa (IAST: Jayāśraya Maṅgalarasa-rāja) was nominally a vassal of the Chalukya king [[Vinayaditya of Vatapi|Vinayaditya]], but appears to have been practically independent.{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=51}}

The [[Manor, India|Manor]] inscription of Mangalarasa is dated to 7 April 691 (year 613 of the [[Shaka era]]). This Sanskrit language inscription describes Mangalarasa as a crown prince, and records the grant of some villages and other land to the [[Surya|Sun]] temple at Manapura. It indicates that Mangalarasa bore the titles ''Prithvi-vallabha'', ''Yuddhamalla'', and ''Vinayaditya''.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=309}}

The [[Diveagar]] inscription issued during Mangalarasa's reign is dated to 727-728 (Shaka 649). It records the grant of the Talavallika village by prince Dharashraya Jayasimha to the goddess Katyayani, whose statue was located on the bank of a temple tank in Kadadroho-Votinera.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=310}}

The [[Valsad]] (Balsar) inscription of Mangalarasa is dated to 731-732 (Shaka 653). It describes him as "Raja Vinayaditya Yuddhamalla Mangalarasa".{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=311}}

The [[Rashtrakuta]] chief Indra I forcibly abducted Bhavanaga, a daughter or niece of Mangalarasa, from a marriage ''[[Wedding mandap|pandal]]'' at [[Kheda|Kaira]].{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=51}} Kaira was located in the traditional [[Maitraka]] territory; therefore, historian [[A. S. Altekar]] theorizes that Bhavanaga was to be married to a Maitraka prince. On the other hand, historian Shyam Manohar Mishra theorizes that Mangalarasa had conquered Kaira from the Maitrakas by this time.{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|pp=51-52}}

== Avani-janashraya Pulakeshin ==
[[File:Map of expansion of Caliphate.svg|thumb|300px|{{legend|#fad07d|Expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate during 661–750}}]]
[[File:Arab-Gujarat campaigns 724-740 CE.png|thumb|300px|right|Campaigns from the [[Caliphal province of Sind]] into [[Gujarat]] (724-740 CE). Avanijanashraya ultimately repulsed these attacks.
{{legend|yellow|Desert areas ([[Thar Desert]])}}
{{legend|#DEB887|[[Caliphal province of Sind]] (712-854 CE)}}
{{legend|#E0FFFF|Maitraka Kingdom (c.475–c.776 CE)}}
]]{{Main|Umayyad campaigns in India|Battle of Navsari}}
Mangalarasa's younger brother and successor Avani-janashraya Pulakeshin (IAST: Avani-janāśraya Pulakeśi-rāja) ascended the throne sometime between 731 and 739.{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=52}} He is attested by a Sanskrit inscription, which is known as the Navsari inscription, although its exact [[find spot]] is not known.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=311}} The Epigraphical Society of India received it from a resident of Satem village of [[Navsari district]].{{sfn|Sharada Srinivasan|1987|p=41}} It is dated to the year 490 of the [[Kalachuris of Mahishmati|Kalachuri era]]; the date can be interpreted as 1 November 738 (assuming current year i.e. it was issued in the 490th year of the Kalachuri era) or 21 October 739 (assuming expired year i.e. it was issued after 490 years of the era had been completed).{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=311}}

The inscription records Avanijanashraya's repulsion of an [[Umayyad campaigns in India|Arab invasion]] from the [[Umayyad Caliphate]]. It states that the Tajikas (the Arabs) had advanced up to Navsari after plundering the kingdoms of the [[Saindhava]]s, [[Kutch district|Kachchhelas]], [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], [[Chapotkata|Chavotkas]], [[Mori Rajputs|Mauryas]], the [[Gurjaras of Lata|Gurjaras]], and others. The forces of Avanijanashraya defeated the invaders after a fierce battle.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=166}}

As a result of this success, Avanijanashraya's overlord conferred several titles upon him, including "solid pillar of [[Dakshinapatha]]" (''Dakshinapathasadhara''), "ornament of the Chalukya family" (''Challuki-kulalankara''), "beloved of the earth" (''[[Prithvi-vallabha (title)|Prithvi-vallabha]]''), and "the repeller of the unrepellable" (''Anivartaka-nivartayitri'').{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=52}}{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=166}} The overlord was the Vatapi Chalukya ruler [[Vikramaditya II]], although the inscription doesn't mention his name,{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|pp=52-53}} simply calling him "Vallabha Narendra".{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=311}}

Avanijanashraya appears to have annexed the former [[Gurjaras of Lata|Gurjara]] territory to the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukya kingdom]] after repulsing the Arabs.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=167}} He became the most powerful ruler of the Navsari Chalukya family, and assumed the title ''Paramabhattaraka''.{{sfn|Shyam Manohar Mishra|1977|p=52}} His use of this title, usually borne by the sovereign rulers, cannot be explained with certainty. It is possible that it signifies his declaration of independence; alternatively, it is possible that he remained a Chalukya vassal, and the assumption of the title was just meant for glorification.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=167}}

The Chalukyas of Navasarika were ultimately supplanted by the [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakutas]] in the 8th century.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=167}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |editor=D R Bhandarkar |title=Appendix to Epigraphia Indica Volumes XIX-XXIII |year=1983 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.56665/2015.56665.Appendix-To-Epigraphia-Indica-Vol19-23#page/n393/mode/1up/search/navasarika |oclc=1568118 }}
* {{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 journal |author=Sharada Srinivasan |title=Satem copper plates of Avanijanasraya Pulakesiraja |journal=Studies in Indian Epigraphy |volume=14 |year=1987 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6ljAAAAMAAJ }}
* {{cite book |author=Shyam Manohar Mishra |title=Yaśovarman of Kanauj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kZWgj-YMdVEC&pg=PA50 |year=1977 |publisher=Abhinav |oclc=557679616 }}
* {{cite book |author=Swati Datta |title=Migrant Brāhmaṇas in Northern India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pKAb9DPUCCcC&pg=PA18 |year=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0067-0 }}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==

* [http://inscriptions.whatisindia.com/kalachuri-chedi/kalachuri-chedi-part1/incriptionsoftheearlychalukyasofgujarat.html Inscriptions of the early Chalukyas of Gujarat]

[[Category:History of Gujarat]]
[[Category:7th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:8th-century disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Chalukya dynasty]]

Chalukyas of Navasarika - Revision history

ZEKSheryl225755 at 12:31, 11 September 2025