This name is used by two kingdoms who had a secession of dynasties from the 10th-12th century AD, ruling over areas in Central India (west Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan) and were called Chedi or Haihaya (Heyheya) (northern branch) and the other Kalachuri (southern branch). They are disparately placed in time and space. Apart from the dynastic name and perhaps a belief in common ancestry, there is little in known sources to connect them. An official language is a language that is given a privileged legal status in a state, or other legally-defined territory. ... Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation : ) is a classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ... Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... The Tripuri people are the original inhabitants of the state of Tripura in North East India. ... A raga in the Carnatic music of South India. ... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... The Chalukya Dynasty was a powerful Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th century C.E. They began to assert their independence at the decline of the Satavahana empire and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesi... The Yadava Dynasty ruled a kingdom in what is now Maharashtra, India from the 12th century to the 14th century. ... The Hoysala Empire ruled part of southern India from 1000 to 1346. ... Madhya Pradesh (मध्य प्रदेश) is a state in central India. ... Rajasthan (राजस्थान) is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ...

The earliest known Kalachuri family ruled from 550–620AD in central and western India; its power ended with the rise of Badami Chalukyas. The rise of another Kalachuri dynasty (1130–84AD), centered in Karnataka. The Chalukya Dynasty was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled parts of southern India between 550 and 750, and again between 973 and 1190. ... It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ...

Northern Kalachuri family ruled in central India with its base at the ancient city of Tripuri (Tewar); it originated in the 8th century AD, expanded significantly in the 11th century, and declined in the 12th–13th centuries.

Southern Kalachuri Kingdom (1130 - 1184AD) at their peak ruled parts of the deccan extending over regions of present day northern Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra. Their rule was a short and turbulent and yet very important from a the socio - religious movement point of view. A new sect called the Lingayat or Virashaiva sect was founded during these times. 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). The Virashaiva people today are politically the most powerfull people of North Karnataka. It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ... Maharashtra (Devanagari: महाराष्ट्र, literally: Great Nation)( (help· info)) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Virasaivism is a religious movement of Hinduism in India. ... Lingayatism is a religious movement in India. ... Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ... Vachanas are a form of kannada poetry and, according to the 20th century scholars, closely linked to the social revolution lead by Basaveshvara, Allama Prabhu and Akka Mahadevi. ...

Origin of Kalachuris

Natives of Central India

Historians such as Dr. P.B. Desai are emphatic about the central Indian origin of the Kalachuris. Before the arrival of Badami Chalukya power, they 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 Badami Chalukya Magalesa, they remained in obscurity for a prolonged period of time. A 1174 CE. record says the 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 "Kalachuri". The Chalukya Dynasty was a powerful Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th century C.E. They began to assert their independence at the decline of the Satavahana empire and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesi...

Legends

According to legends, Kalli meaning "long moustache" and Churi meanoing "Sharp knife" is the source of their dynastic name. They were also referred to as Katachuris (shape of a sharp knife), Kalanjarapuravaradhisvara (Lord of Kalanjara) and Haihaya (Heheya). Mount Kalanjara is in north central India, east of the Indus Valley floodplain.

This name Haihaya is supposed to be derived from haya (a horse). Other theories are,

• A prince of the Lunar race, and great-grandson of Yadu.
• A race or tribe of people to whom a Scythian origin has been ascribed. The Vishnu Purana represents them as descendants of Haihaya of the Yadu race, but they are generally associated with borderers and outlying tribes.
• In the Vayu and other Puranas, five great divisions of the tribe are named as Talajanghas,

Vitihotras, Avantis, Tundikeras, Jatas, or rather Sujatas.

Historians have also pointed out that several Kalachuri kings were related to Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas by matrimonial alliances and ruled from places like Tripuri, Gorakhpur, Ratnapur, Rajpur. They migrated to the south and made Magaliveda or Mangalavedhe (Mangalavada) their capital. They called themselves Kalanjarapuravaradhisvara, which indicates their central Indian origin. Their emblem was Suvarna Vrishabha or the golden bull. They started out as modest feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The Chalukya Dynasty was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled parts of southern India between 550 and 750, and again between 973 and 1190. ... The Rashtrakutas were a dynasty which ruled the Deccan during the 8th-10th centuries. ...

Immigrants in Karnataka

The first notable chief of the Kalachuri family of Karnataka was Uchita. While there were several kings who followed him ruling as feudatories of the Kalyani Chalukya, it was Jogama who became an influential vassal of Vikramaditya VI, being related to the great Chalukya king by matrimony. It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ... The Chalukya Dynasty was a powerful Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th century C.E. They began to assert their independence at the decline of the Satavahana empire and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesi... Vikramaditya VI was a king of the Kalyani Chalukya clan. ...

The Kalachuri Clan (feudatory of Kalyani Chalukya)

• Uchita
• Asaga
• Kannam
• Kiriyasaga
• Bijjalla I
• Kannama
• Jogama
• Permadi
• Bijjalla II (1130-1167 A.D): proclaimed independence in 1162AD.
• Sovideva (1168 - 1176A.D)
• Mallugi --> overthrown by brother Sankama
• Sankama (1176 - 1180 A.D.)
• Ahavamalla (1180-83 A.D)
• Singhana (1183-84 A.D)

The Chalukya Dynasty was a powerful Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th century C.E. They began to assert their independence at the decline of the Satavahana empire and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesi...

Virashaiva Movement and Emergence of Basavanna (or Basaveshvara, Basava)

The Virashaiva movement evolved in a attempt to simplyfy religion and create social order. Tradition claims that the sect was started by five saints namely, Renuka, Daruka, Ekorama, Panditaradhya and Vishwaradhya. But it was Basavanna, the prime minister of king Bijjalla who gave it momentum and inspirational direction. Lingayatism is a religious movement in India. ... Basaveshvara Shree Basava (also known as Basaveshwara or Basavanna) is known as the reviver of the Veerashaiva (Lingayats) religion in India. ...

Basavanna was born in 1105AD in the town of Bagavadi in present day Bijapur district in Karnataka state. He was born to Brahmin parents and studied Kannada and Sanskrit during his childhood. From an early age, Basava disliked religious rituals and tried to distance himself from it. He refused to undergo the brahminical "thread ceremony". He left Bagevadi and went to Kudala Sangama, a near by town to study spirituality under Isanya Guru. He found employment in the treasury of king Bijjalla and his efforts and hard work did not go unnoticed. He married the daughter of minister Baladeva. He often gathered around him large number of devotees of lord Shiva. Much to the discontent of the orthodox Bhramins of Kalyani, Basava preached his casteless beliefs even in the regal capital, Kalyani. The Anubhava Mantapa, an academy of mysticism, a great centre of religious discussions, was founded at Kalyani. It was from here the Basavanna tought his teachings to a growing number of devotees of lord Shiva. During this time, he conducted a marraige between a lower caste man and a brahmin girl, something the orthodoxy in Kalyani could not accept. They complained to King Bijjalla II about this and wanted the parties involved punished. The king had Haralayya and Madhuvayya, the fathers of the groom and the bride executed. This atrocity of the ruler stunned the followers of Basavanna, and soon it became a signal for a widespread anger and discontent. In order not to kindle a raging fire among his followers, Basavanna moved back to Kudala Sangama. In the capital however, chaos reigned. King Bijjalla was assasinated by Jagadeva, a cousin of Basavanna. This lead to widespread resentment against the Virashaiva community which seemed to have suffered a setback, though only temporarily. The movement that had been inspired by Basavanna would regain its regal patronship during the days of the Vijayanagar Empire. Basaveshvara Shree Basava (also known as Basaveshwara or Basavanna) is known as the reviver of the Veerashaiva (Lingayats) religion in India. ... Bijapur (Kannada: ವಿಜಾಪುರ) is a district headquarters of the Bijapur district in the state of Karnataka. ... It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ... Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation : ) is a classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ... This article is about the Hindu God Åšiva. ... This article is about the Hindu God Åšiva. ... Vijayanagara (often written Vijayanagar), in northern Karnataka, is the name of the now ruined capital city of the historic Vijayanagar empire in the Southern part of India. ...

Virashaiva Saints and Vachanakaras

A unique feature of the Virashaiva movement was the large number of woman saints and poetesses it produced. Basavanna believed in equality of both sexes. The contribution of Basavanna to Kannada language and literature is immense and enduring. He couched his teachings in simple, terse, verse forms of rare felicity known as Vachanas. They were frank, vigorous and incisive. Dr. Mugali regards the Vachanas as "Spiritual lyrics" and "springs of beauty flown from the peak of devotion". Basavanna is considered as one of the great saints of Karnataka, who rose above caste, creed, religion and sex. His vigourous yet simple teachings endeared to him people of "lower castes" and "lower creed". It is for this reason that Dr. Arthur Miles called him Martin Luther of Karnataka. Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ...

Some well known and saints and poets were

• Renukacharya
• Darukacharya
• Ekoramacharya
• Panditaradhyacharya
• Vishwaradhyacharya
• Akkamahadevi +
• Nilambike
• Gangambike +
• Allama Prabhu
• Siddarama
• Chennabasava
• Madivala Machayya
• Madara Channayya
• Sakalesha Madarasa
• Ramanna
• Sujikayakada Ramitande
• Medara Ketayya
• Kayakada Basappa

(+ poetess)

Decline Of Kalachuris

The kingdom went into decline after the assasination of Bijjalla. The rulers who followed were weak and incompetant, with the exception of Sovideva, who managed to maintain control over the kingdom.

Links

• Brief history of Kalachuris
• Life of Basavanna