INTRODUCTION Th« Rultt of Th« Chalulcyas of Badaxnl Was One of Th« Most Important and Eventful Periods As Far As the History of the Deccan Goes

INTRODUCTION Th« rultt of th« Chalulcyas of Badaxnl was one of th« most Important and eventful periods as far as the history of the Deccan goes. They ruled for a little over two centuries i«e« from the middle of the 6th century A.D* to the middle of the 8th century A.D* <C* 540 A«D« * 757 A«D«)« During this period# they brought a vast area under their political sway* \mlfied it and carved out a great onpire for then* selves* This political unification not cmly brought about an interaction between different ethnic groups but also their varied cultural traits* Moreover this empixe served as a link between northern India and southern India* Being strategically placed# it experienced the flow of the cultural movement from either side* The amalgamation of different cultiiral ideas had a bearing on the indigenous cultural mov«nent of th(» period and region* This resulted in the emergence of a new era which is unique by itself in the cultural scene of Deccan in particular and India in general* we see it reflected in the art# architecture# religious A lot of vork has been done In the field of political history# art and architecture of the period which we will review in the subaequant pages* However# a comprtthensive study has not been made from the cultural point of view* The vast amount of data available from various sources such as epigraphs# mmuments# archaeo* logical findings along with references and data from contemporary literature# will enable us to understand to soroe extent the cultural life of the period* Therefore this dissertatim was undertaken with a view to derive • • * a picture of the Socio-cultural# economic and religious life of ths people during the period* Along with the other cultural aspects which we will be dealing later# a stxidy of art and architecture of the period would have enhanced the understanding of the cultural life of the people* The monuments# the art and architecture of the period are an embodiment of the motivations# cultural values# cultural and economic set-up# religious thoughts and ideas of the people* This being a vast subject# it is out of the scope of this present work* However the above mentioned sources will be taken into consideration from a different perspective to study the social life# material culture and the religious movement of the period* 3 S:) the following pages we will try to take a note of the Mork already done on the Chalu)eyas of Badaml which will enable us in the ftirtheranoe of our study* In the Initial stage# with limited resources# scholars like Fleet# Bhandarkar and others made herculean efforts in pursuing the study of history of the ChaluJcyan dynasty and putting forth before us valuable works which will be discussed below* These scholars may be considered as pioneers in the field who paved the %my for further research* we shall evaluate sane of these works with the help of which other aspects of the history can be worked out* Art and Architecture as mentioned earlier# was always a subject of keen interest* This is to be seen in "History of Indian And Sastem Architecture" by James Fergusson# which was published as early as 1876* Hare he has made but a cursory report on the architecture of the Early Chalukyas# giving the ground plans of the few major temples at Aihole# Badaml and Pattadakal* NO doubt it was an humble beginning that paved the way for further serious research in this field* The next to follow waa "Tha Cave Temples of India" by James Fergusson and James Burgess (1880)• Zt Is a work on art and architecture of the cave temples. They have given a good description of the caves of the period including all their salient architectural features# their orientation; they also mentis the vcurious art motifs and iconographical forms depicted on the temple walls and pillars postulating date and giving a chronology which though controversial is of imnense help* "The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency" from the earliest historical times to the Musalman Conquest by J«P* Fleet (1896) contained in the Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency Vol« Z# Part ZZ« is the first noteworthy research work done on the history of Karnataka* Zt is still a book to be reckoned with for reference purpose* B*L* Rice in his "Mysore and Coorg from the Inscription" (1909) has devoted but only five pages to the political history of the chalukyan dynasty* This in itself is sufficient to suggest that it is a brief outline of its history with references to some important inscriptions of the period* sven though in the latter part of the book, the author has dealt with administration and sane aspects of culture# he has not said much on the period of our study* ■Ancient History of the Deccan" (1920) by G. Joveau-Debreull gives a brief and Inccxnplete outline of the political history of Chalukyas which Is not substantial even for drawing a clear picture of the political atmosphere prevailing in those times. He only gives the history upto PulaXe&l ZZ* "The Chalulcyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts" by Henry cousens (1926) has shown the gradual development of the Chalukyan style frcws the earlier to the later form, with the basic inspiration being traced to the older Dravidian or Pallava temples of the south. He does not consider the CSialukyan style as indigenous or having an origin of its own. To quote him "Zn other words the Chalulcyan is but an outgrowth of the earlier Dravidian style# so modified in its developnent by western temple builders as to have eventually attained a separate style in their hands. The different steps in the transition from the purely Dravidian of the seventh and eighth centuries are easily traced." The book covers the temples from the early to the later Chalukyan period. It is illustrated with very good photographs and plates projecting the temples for a better visual 6 understanding of the architecture In its minute details* aonsidering that this is a work on ChaluJcyan architecture# it does not seem adequate enough for it has failed to cover all the temples which come under this dynasty as well as those at satyavolu# Alamp\ir« Mahanandi, etc* "fiarly History of the Dekkan Down To Mahomedan Conquest” by R.O* Bhandarkar brought out its second edition in 1928* Though the main intention of this book in one of its chapters# is to give the political history of the Chalukyas the author has been aware o£ the importance of the cultural side of the dynasty* Keeping this in view# he has to a small extent (3 pages) dealt with the religions of the period namely Jainism# Buddhism and Brahmanism* (Xi Jainism# he has referred to Ravikirti# the Jaina poet and the grants made to the followers of Jainism for the maintenance of Jaina temples* A passing referance has been made to Buddhism, Regarding Brahmanism ha refers to the list of Brahman devotees# the puranic side of Brahmaniaro like the temple made in honour of the Puranic triad# Brahma# Visnu• • and Mahe&vara# worship of Siva and the use of cave architecture for the purpose of Puranio religion like the cave t«nplo8 of Badami dedicated to Visnu* "The Baa Reliefs of Badaml" by R.D. Banerjl in the Mtfnolrs of the Archaeological survey of India (1928) Is a good study of the Iconography of the sculptures In the caves of Badaml* The author has also done something on the lines of a conparatlve study# cccnparlng the Iconographlc foxroa to the rules as laid do%m In the scriptures, so as far as the Iconography study goes this work Is commendable* "The Heritage of iCamatalca (In Relation to India)" by R»s* Mugall (1946) maXes an evaluation of KamataXa history and Its culture in all forms and Its contribution to the richness of the Indian culture. As far as the ChaluJcya dynasty Is concerned# It mentions In a few lines Its political history# the maKlal qualities of Its Kamata army and makes a passing reference to other aspects of Its culture* "Ancient India" (1952) by Majumdar Is again basically a history of the dynasties# with a general backgzround on the administrative system and cultural movement of a range of time. It does not speak specifically on any particular dynasty except for a reference here and there. This book gives information right from Prehistoric times upto 12th Century A.D.# which is again given region- wise. By this we mean all aspects of culture like religion# 8 literature# educational Syct«n# economic condition and art and architecture* Even though it does not give a clear imdersteuiding of the social conditicms during the period we are dealing with# it does give a fairly good idea of the cultural evolution of the period in general. "The Art and Architacture of India" by Benjamin Rowland (1953) was followed by "Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu) by Percy Brown (1959)• The latter is a coherent and lucid description of the architecture of India along with chalukyan architecture written in a systematic manner with a rational and scientific approach. The book is basically an architectural work* Mention should be made of the book "Archaeology of Kamatak" by R.S* Panchmukhi (1953)# which is of a general nature* "The Classical Age" of the Miaratiya Vidya Bhavan series# edited by R*c* Majumdar (1954) is similarly an essay on the political history of the dynasties from the time of the Ouptas upto the time of Chaliikyas and Pallavas including the dynasties of the Northern India and the Deccan with a general study on all aspects of culture including the administrative patterns of the periods* In other woipds# it is similar to the kind of work done by Majiamdar in "Ancient India" 9 but In a more

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