Tirucochi at 21:07, 27 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian dynasty}}
{{for|other Kalachuris dynasties|Kalachuri dynasty (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Kalachuris of Kalyani
| common_name = Kalachuri
| government_type = [[Absolute monarchy]]
| year_start = 1156–1181
| year_end =
| p1 = Western Chalukya Empire
| flag_p1 =
| s1 = Seuna (Yadava) dynasty
| flag_s1 =
| s2 = Hoysala Kingdom
| flag_s2 =
| image_map =
| image_map_caption =
| capital = Kalyani ([[Basavakalyana]])
| common_languages = [[Kannada]]<br>[[Sanskrit]]
| religion = [[Jainism]] (primary)<br>[[Hinduism]]
| currency =
| title_leader =
| leader1 =
| year_leader1 =
| stat_area1 =
| today =
| image_coat = Kalachuris of Kalyana. temp Bijjala.jpg
| coa_size = 280px
| symbol_type = Coinage of the Kalachuris of Kalyana, from the time of [[Bijjala II|Bijjala]]
}}
[[File:Old Kannada inscription (1172 A.D.) at the Jain temple in Lakkundi.JPG|thumb|upright|Old Kannada inscription of Rayamuri Sovideva dated 1172 CE at the [[Brahma Jinalaya, Lakkundi|Jain temple in Lakkundi]], Gadag district, Karnataka state]]
[[File:Kudalasangama.jpg|upright|thumb|200px|Sangamanatha temple at [[Kudalasangama]], [[North Karnataka]]]]
The '''Kalachuris of Kalyani''', also '''Southern Kalachuris''', were a 10th-12th-century Indian dynasty, who ruled over parts of present-day northern [[Karnataka]] and [[Maharashtra]]. This dynasty rose to its peak power in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] region between 1156 and 1181.

The rulers of the dynasty traced their origins to one Krishna, who is said to have conquered [[Kalinjar]] and [[Dahala]] in present-day [[Madhya Pradesh]] (see [[Kalachuris of Tripuri]]). Bijjala, a viceroy of the dynasty, is said to have established the authority over [[Karnataka]] after wresting power from the [[Chalukya]] king Taila III. Bijjala was succeeded by his sons Someshvara and Sangama but after 1181 CE, the Chalukyas gradually retrieved the territory. Their rule was short and turbulent and yet very important from a socio-religious point of view; a new sect known as the [[Lingayat]] or [[Virashaiva]] sect was founded during these times in a time extent of 25 years.<ref name="Students' Britannica India">Students' Britannica India By Dale Hoiberg, Indu Ramchandani.</ref>

A unique and purely native form of [[Kannada]] literature-poetry called the ''Vachanas'' was also born during this time. The writers of ''[[Vachanas]]'' were called ''Vachanakaras'' (poets). Many other important works like Virupaksha Pandita's ''Chennabasavapurana'', Dharani Pandita's ''Bijjalarayacharite'' and Chandrasagara Varni's ''Bijjalarayapurana'' were also written.

==History==

===Origin===

The Kalachuris of Kalyani overthrew the [[Kalyani Chalukyas]] in the early part of the ''12th century'', and had a relatively short but stormy rule.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/deccan/chalukya/kalyani.htm
|title=Chalukyas of Kalyana (973- 1198 CE)
|access-date=2009-03-31
}}</ref> The name "Kalachuri" is shared by multiple earlier dynasties, two of which ruled in central India. Some historians such as Dr. P.B. Desai believe that the southern Kalachuris of Kalyani are descendants of these central Indian dynasties. In the 6th century, before the rise of the [[Chalukyas of Badami|Badami Chalukyas]], the [[Kalachuris of Mahishmati]] had carved out an extensive empire covering areas of Gujarat, [[Malwa]], [[Konkan]] and parts of Maharashtra. However, after their crippling defeat at the hands of Chalukya [[Mangalesha]], they remained in obscurity for a prolonged period of time. Subsequently, the [[Kalachuris of Tripuri]] and their branches rose to power in central India.

An 1174 CE record says the Kalyani Kalachuri dynasty was founded by one Soma who grew beard and moustache to save himself from the wrath of Parashurama, and thereafter the family came to be known as "Kalachuris", Kalli meaning a long moustache and churi meaning a sharp knife. They migrated to the south and made Magaliveda or Mangalavedhe (Mangalavada) their capital. They titled themselves Kalanjara-puravaradhisvara ("Lord of [[Kalanjara]]"), which indicates their central Indian origin. Their emblem was Suvarna Vrishabha or the golden bull. They must have started as modest feudatories of the [[Chalukyas of Kalyani]]. They were also referred to as Katachuris (shape of a sharp knife) and ''[[Haihayas|Haihaya]]'' (or ''Heheya'').

The later records of the dynasty claim that they descended from [[Brahma]], the Creator of the universe.

=== Religion===
Prof., Ramaswami Ayangar asserts:

Many Pallava and Pandya records describe how the Kalabharas attacked the Tamil country, defeated the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas, and established their kingdom. Prof., Ramaswami Ayangar asserts that these valiant Kalabhara kings were the devoted followers of Jainism. Basically, The Kalachuri kings were followers of [[Jainism]] He proved it on the basis of copper plate of ''Veluikundi'' and The "Pāṇḍyapurāṇam" of tamil language. Shri Ayangar presumes that the [[Kalabhra dynasty| Kalabharas]] were a branch of the Kalachuri clan and that Jainism flourished after their arrival in the Tamil country. The Kalachuri kings themselves were known supporters of Jainism, The Kalachuri kings of ''Madhya Pradesh'' were related to the Rashtrakutas through familial ties. and the [[Rashtrakutas]] were originally Jain rulers. The influence of Jainism during the reign of the Kalachuris of Kalyani was notable. The prominent king Bijjala and several of his statesmen actively patronised Jainism. Bijjala and his minister Rechmayya set up an image of the Tirthankara [[Shantinath]] at [[Shravanabelagola]].
<ref>https://www.scribd.com/document/424085518/Bijjala-Kalachuris-History</ref>

===Decline===

The Southern Kaluchuri kingdom went into decline after the assassination of [[Bijjala II|Bijalla]]. The rulers who followed were weak and incompetent, with the exception of [[Sovideva]], who managed to maintain control over the kingdom. Western Chalukyas ended the Kalachuri Dynasty. Many Kalachuri families migrated to Kanara districts of Karnataka. The Kalachuris are the principal characters in the Andhra epic [[Battle of Palnadu|''Palnati Veera Charitra'']], as the in-laws of the king [[Malidevaraju]].<ref name="art">{{cite book |last1=Sadanandam |first1=P. |title=Art and Culture of Marginalised Nomadic Tribes in Andhra Pradesh |date=2008 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-212-0958-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nhu52oHk6r4C&dq=Palnati+Veera+Charitra&pg=PA128 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Palnati Veera Charitra |date=22 January 2003 |publisher=VENKAT RAMA & CO EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHERS |url=https://archive.org/details/palnativeerachar022033mbp}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bommareddi |first1=Aruna |title=Narrative Traditions of a Telugu Epic: Paln?tiv?rula Katha |date=29 October 2019 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64678-733-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AMW5DwAAQBAJ&dq=Malidevaraju&pg=PT20 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="mudiraja2">{{cite web |title=43. Rayamurari Sovideva |url=http://mudiraja.weebly.com/-43-rayamurari-sovideva.html |website=Great History Of Mudiraja Caste |language=en |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002055338/http://mudiraja.weebly.com/-43-rayamurari-sovideva.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Rulers ==
{{Karnataka History}}
* Uchita
* Asaga
* Kannam
* Kiriyasaga
* Bijjala I
* Kannama
* Jogama
* Permadi
* [[Bijjala II]] (1130–1167): proclaimed independence in 1162.
* [[Sovideva]] (1168–1176)
* Mallugi; overthrown by brother Sankama
* Sankama (1176–1180)
* Ahavamalla (1180–1183)
* Singhana (1183–1184)

==Inscriptions and coinage==

As per the ''1163 CE'' inscription which records a religious offering (mahadana) in the presence of [[Hampi]] ''Lord Virupaksha'' by Bijjala the Kalachuri King.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.india-seminar.com/2007/572/572_abha_narain_lambah.htm
|title=The cosmic site of Vijayanagara
|publisher=ABHA NARAIN LAMBAH
|access-date=2009-04-01
}}</ref>

The Southern Kalachuri kings minted coins with [[Kannada inscriptions]] on them.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kalachuris of Kalyani}}
*[http://www.lingayatreligion.com 12th Century Lingayat Religion]
* [https://www.scribd.com/document/424085518/Bijjala-Kalachuris-History]

[[Category:Medieval Karnataka]]
[[Category:Kalachuri dynasty]]
[[Category:Jainism in Karnataka]]

Kalachuris of Kalyani - Revision history

Tirucochi at 21:07, 27 February 2026