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{{Short description|Rashtrakuta emperor from 780 to 793}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image = Old Kannada inscription (780 AD) from Naregal of Rashtrakuta King Dhruva Dharavarsha.jpg
| caption = Fragment of Old Kannada inscription (780 CE) from Naregal of Rashtrakuta emperor Dhruva Dharavarsha
| alt = Dhruva Dharavarsha
| title = Maharajadhiraja Dharavarsha Nirupama Srivallabha Kalivallabha
| succession = 4th [[Rashtrakuta Empire|Rashtrakuta Emperor]]
| reign = {{circa|780|793 CE}} (13 years)
| predecessor = [[Govinda II]]
| successor = [[Govinda III]]
| death_date = 793 CE
| death_place = [[Manyakheta]], [[Rashtrakuta Empire]] (modern day [[Karnataka]], [[India]])
| father = [[Krishna I]]
| religion = [[Jainism]]<ref>Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XVIII (1925–26). Archaeological Survey of India.</ref><ref>Altekar, A.S. (1934). ''The Rashtrakutas and Their Times''. Poona: Oriental Book Agency. pp. 48–55.</ref><ref name="Desai, P.B. 1957 pp. 20">Desai, P.B. (1957). ''Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs''. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.</ref> [[Hinduism]]
| spouse = Sila Mahadevi of the [[Eastern Chalukyas]]
| issue = Karka Suvarnavarsha [[Kambarasa]] [[Govinda III]] Indra, Governor of [[Lata]]
}}
{{Rashtrakuta Manyakheta Kings Infobox}}
'''Dhruva Dharavarsha''' (r. 780 – 793 CE) Also known as "'''Kalivallabha'''" was one of the most notable rulers of the [[Rashtrakuta Empire]]. He ascended the imperial throne after replacing his elder brother [[Govinda II]], who had become unpopular among his subjects on account of his various misconducts as a monarch, including excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures. This according to the historian Kamath is evident from the Karhad plates of [[Krishna III]].<ref name="sensual">Kamath (2001), p75</ref> The Dhulia grant of 779 and Garugadahalli inscription of 782 proclaim Dhruva the emperor. Though some historians claim that Dhruva revolted and grabbed the throne,<ref name="rebel">[[Bisheshwar Nath Reu|Reu]] (1933), p62</ref> other historians feel the transition of the throne from Govinda II to Dhruva was peaceful and may have happened willingly.<ref name="peace">[[Dr. P. B. Desai]] and K. V. Subrahmanya Aiyar in Kamath (2001), p75</ref> He earned titles like ''Kalivallabha'', ''Srivallabha'', ''Dharavarsha'', ''Maharajadhiraja'' and ''Parameshvara''.

==Success in north and east==
{{see also | Tripartite Struggle#First Tripartite War (AD 785–790)| l1= Tripartite Struggle}}

Dhruva Dharavarsha had a high political aspiration and he actively pursued the goal of expanding the frontiers of Rashtrakuta dominion. In [[North India|Northern India]], he subjugated the rulers of [[Kannauj|Kanyakubja]]. In central India, he defeated [[Vatsaraja]] of the [[Gurjara-Pratihara|Gurjara Prathihara Empire]],<ref name=sen>{{cite book|last1=Sen|first1=Sailendra Nath|title=Textbook of medieval Indian history|date=2013|publisher=Primus Books|isbn=9789380607344|page=20}}</ref> and [[Dharmapala of Bengal|Dharmapala]] of the [[Pala Empire]] (who was eager to rule Kanyakubja) in a battle in the [[Ganges]] - [[Yamuna]] doab. However, these great victories brought him no permanent land gains but only a lot of material gain and fame.<ref name="fame">A.S. Altekar in Kamath (2001), p75</ref> However another historian has claimed that Dhruva's empire stretched from [[Ayodhya]] in the north to [[Rameshvaram]] in the south.<ref name="rebel"/>

==Victories in the Deccan and the South==
He humbled [[Vishnuvardhana IV]], an Eastern or Vengi [[Chalukya]] king in 784 and forged an alliance by marrying his daughter named Silabhattarika as per the Jetvai grant of 786. Thereafter, he defeated [[Shivamara II]], the [[Western Ganga Dynasty]] ruler of [[Mysore state|Gangavadi]], and imprisoned him and appointed his own son, the Prince [[Kambarasa]] as the governor. He also forced the [[Pallava]] monarch [[Nandivarman II]] to accept the suzerainty of the Rashtrakutas who paid him handsomely with many elephants. He undertook campaigns to [[Kanchi]] in 785 and again against the [[Western Ganga Dynasty]] in 788.<ref name="sensual"/>

==Religion==
'''Dhruva Dharavarsha's''' inscriptions use titles such as "Shri Vallabha", "Kali Vallabha", "Maharajadhiraja", "Dharavarsha", and "Parameshvara".<ref name="ReferenceA">Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XVIII (1925–26), Archaeological Survey of India.</ref> These titles were standard royal epithets commonly used by medieval Indian kings, but are also found in Jain donor inscriptions across the Deccan,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> suggesting a cultural environment that included Jain influences. "Vallabha" itself appears as an honorific in Jain inscriptions and donor records.<ref name="Desai, P.B. 1957 pp. 20">Desai, P.B. (1957). ''Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs''. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.</ref> Dhruva Dharavarsha is recorded to have patronised the Jain [[Virasena|Acharya Virasena]], under whose guidance the famous Jain text [[Dhavala]] a commentary on Jain canon [[Shatakhandagama]] was written, and work on "Jayadhavalaa" and "Mahadavala" also Started which was completed by his disciples [[Gunasena|Acharya Gunasena]]<ref name="Desai, P.B. 1957 pp. 20">Desai, P.B. (1957). ''Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs''. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.</ref> Epigraphic evidence from his reign shows sustained royal patronage of Jain monks, temples, and scholars across the Deccan.<ref>Altekar, A.S. (1934). ''The Rashtrakutas and Their Times''. Poona: Oriental Book Agency. pp. 28–35.</ref>

Rastrakuta rulers, despite their deep ties with Jainism, maintained a tradition of religious tolerance and supported various faiths, including Hindu sects like Shivism and Vaishnavism. Many of their inscriptions begin by specifying the temple or religious institution to which the grant or donation is being made, rather than invoking a single deity. This inclusive approach helped lay the groundwork for the dynasty's reputation.<ref name="Desai, P.B. 1957 pp. 20">Desai, P.B. (1957). ''Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs''. Sholapur: Jaina Samshodhana Sangha. pp. 20–25.</ref>

==Pan-Indian power==
During his reign, the Rashtrakutas emerged as a true pan-Indian power, controlling large regions across the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref name="says">A. S. Altekar in Kamath 92001), p76</ref> He was succeeded by his third son, [[Govinda III]] whose reign was also marked by brilliant military success and exploits.

==Notes==
<references/>

==References==
*{{cite book |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}}
*{{cite book |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}}
*{{cite book |last=Reu|first= Pandit Bisheshwar Nath |title=History of The Rashtrakutas (Rathodas)|orig-year=1933|year=1997|publisher= Publication scheme|location= Jaipur|isbn= 81-86782-12-5}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061104095148/http://www.ourkarnataka.com/history.htm History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Govinda II]] |
title= [[Rashtrakuta|Rashtrakuta Emperor]] |
years= 780–793 |
after= [[Govinda III]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dharavarsha, Dhruva}}
[[Category:793 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Rashtrakuta emperors]]
[[Category:8th-century Indian monarchs]]

Dhruva Dharavarsha - Revision history

Greensobhacondo at 18:01, 25 March 2026