Indian history · Kings and empires · South India
Pulakeshin II (c. 610–642 CE): The Chalukyas of Badami, Victory over Harsha, the Aihole Inscription and the Pallava Wars
Pulakeshin II was the most powerful ruler of the Deccan in the 7th century — the king who stopped Harsha's advance south and made the Narmada the boundary between north and south. He fought a long struggle with the Pallavas of Kanchi that ended with the capture of his own capital. His dynasty also left behind some of India's earliest stone temples. This guide arranges the facts for exams.
Pulakeshin II at a glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Dynasty | Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi), Karnataka |
| Reign | c. 610–642 CE |
| Founder of the dynasty | Pulakeshin I, who fortified Vatapi and performed the Ashvamedha |
| Main source | Aihole inscription (634–35 CE), composed by poet Ravikirti |
| Greatest victory | Over Harshavardhana on the Narmada |
| Great rival | Pallavas of Kanchi — Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I |
| Death | c. 642 CE, when Narasimhavarman I captured Vatapi |
| Visitor | Hiuen Tsang visited his kingdom (Maharashtra) |
The early Chalukyas
The Chalukyas rose in northern Karnataka in the 6th century. Pulakeshin I made Vatapi (Badami) a fortified capital. His sons Kirtivarman I and Mangalesha extended the kingdom. When Kirtivarman died, his son Pulakeshin was a minor and his uncle Mangalesha ruled; when Mangalesha tried to pass the throne to his own son, civil war followed. Pulakeshin won, killed Mangalesha and became king around 610 CE.
Conquests
The Aihole inscription lists victories in all directions:
- Kadambas of Banavasi, Gangas of Talakad and Alupas of the coast;
- the Mauryas of Konkan, whose island capital Puri (near Mumbai) he took with a fleet;
- the Latas, Malavas and Gurjaras of Gujarat and Malwa, who accepted his overlordship;
- the eastern Deccan (Vengi), which he gave to his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana, founder of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi.
He took the title Dakshinapatheshvara — lord of the south — and "Parameshvara" after defeating Harsha.
Victory over Harsha
Harshavardhana, master of the north, marched south with his elephant army. Pulakeshin II met him on the Narmada and defeated him (usually dated c. 618–619 CE, some scholars c. 630–634). The Aihole inscription says Harsha's harsha (joy) melted away through fear when his elephants fell. The Narmada was fixed as the boundary between the two empires — a rare instance of a southern king checking a northern emperor.
The Aihole inscription
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Meguti Jain temple, Aihole, Karnataka |
| Date | 634–635 CE (Saka 556) |
| Language / script | Sanskrit, in an early Kannada-Telugu script |
| Author | Ravikirti, a Jain poet |
| Contents | Chalukya genealogy, Pulakeshin's victories, and the defeat of Harsha |
| Literary note | Mentions Kalidasa and Bharavi, helping to date Kalidasa before 634 CE |
Foreign relations
Arab and Persian sources mention an exchange of embassies between Pulakeshin II and the Sasanian king Khusrau II of Persia. A painting in Ajanta Cave 1 was once believed to show the Persian embassy, though this identification is now doubted.
Hiuen Tsang visited Pulakeshin's kingdom around 641 CE and praised the warlike people of "Mo-ho-la-cha" (Maharashtra) and their king, whose authority, he said, was respected far and wide.
The Chalukya–Pallava wars
The Chalukyas and the Pallavas of Kanchipuram were rivals for the fertile lands between the Krishna and the Kaveri.
- Pulakeshin II defeated Mahendravarman I and reached the outskirts of Kanchi, annexing northern Pallava territory, including Vengi.
- Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla), Mahendravarman's son, defeated Pulakeshin in several battles, including at Manimangala.
- Around 642 CE, Narasimhavarman captured and sacked Vatapi; Pulakeshin II probably died in the fighting. Narasimhavarman took the title Vatapikonda — "conqueror of Vatapi".
The Chalukyas recovered under his son Vikramaditya I, and the struggle continued for another century, until the Chalukyas were overthrown by the Rashtrakutas in 753 CE.
Chalukyan art and architecture
The Badami Chalukyas were pioneers of stone temple building in the Deccan, combining northern (nagara) and southern (dravida) styles.
| Site | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Aihole | Called a "cradle of Indian temple architecture"; Durga temple, Lad Khan temple, Meguti temple |
| Badami | Four rock-cut cave temples (Vaishnava, Shaiva and Jain) |
| Pattadakal | UNESCO World Heritage Site (1987); Virupaksha temple built by Queen Lokamahadevi to celebrate Vikramaditya II's victory over the Pallavas; Papanatha temple in nagara style |
Exam traps
- Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha; he was later defeated by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, not by Harsha.
- The Aihole inscription was written by Ravikirti, not Harishena (who wrote Samudragupta's Prayag inscription).
- The Chalukya capital Vatapi = Badami; Kanchi was the Pallava capital.
- Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi were founded by his brother Vishnuvardhana.
Key points to remember
- Chalukyas of Badami; Pulakeshin II c. 610–642 CE.
- Defeated Harsha on the Narmada; title Dakshinapatheshvara.
- Aihole inscription (634 CE) by Ravikirti; mentions Kalidasa and Bharavi.
- Embassy with Khusrau II of Persia; visit of Hiuen Tsang.
- Killed when Narasimhavarman I took Vatapi (c. 642); Vatapikonda.
Practice questions
Q1. The Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II was composed by:
- (a) Harishena
- (b) Ravikirti
- (c) Banabhatta
- (d) Bilhana
Show answer
Answer: (b) Ravikirti — Ravikirti, a Jain poet, composed it in 634–35 CE.
Q2. Pulakeshin II defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the:
- (a) Godavari
- (b) Krishna
- (c) Narmada
- (d) Tapti
Show answer
Answer: (c) Narmada — The Narmada became the boundary between the two kingdoms.
Q3. Which Pallava king captured Vatapi and took the title Vatapikonda?
- (a) Mahendravarman I
- (b) Narasimhavarman I
- (c) Nandivarman II
- (d) Simhavishnu
Show answer
Answer: (b) Narasimhavarman I — Narasimhavarman I captured Vatapi around 642 CE.
Q4. The Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal was built by:
- (a) Pulakeshin II
- (b) Queen Lokamahadevi
- (c) Mangalesha
- (d) Rajaraja Chola
Show answer
Answer: (b) Queen Lokamahadevi — Queen Lokamahadevi built it to commemorate Vikramaditya II's victory.
Q5. The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi were founded by:
- (a) Kirtivarman I
- (b) Kubja Vishnuvardhana
- (c) Vikramaditya I
- (d) Mangalesha
Show answer
Answer: (b) Kubja Vishnuvardhana — Pulakeshin II's brother Vishnuvardhana founded the Vengi branch.
Q6. The capital of the early (Badami) Chalukyas was:
- (a) Kanchi
- (b) Vatapi
- (c) Manyakheta
- (d) Kalyani
Show answer
Answer: (b) Vatapi — Vatapi, modern Badami, was their capital.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Aihole inscription important?
It records Pulakeshin II's victories, including over Harsha, and by mentioning Kalidasa and Bharavi helps date those poets.
Who ended the Badami Chalukya dynasty?
The Rashtrakuta ruler Dantidurga, around 753 CE.
Which Chalukya site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, listed in 1987.
Official sources
Rules, dates and figures can change. Always check the latest official notification or government release before relying on a detail.