The Rashtrakutas

Origin and Development:

• The Rashtrakutas in Deccan were of Kannada origin and Kannada language was their mother tongue.
•  Dantidurga was the founder. He defeated the Gurjaras and captured Malwa from them. 
• Then he annexed the Chalukya kingdom by defeating Kirtivarman II and established independent Kingdom at Ellora. 
• Krishna 1 defeated Gangas and Chalukyas of Vengi. He built the magnificent rock-cut monolithic Kailasa temple at Ellora.
• The next important king of this dynasty was Govinda III. He achieved victories over north Indian kingdoms.
• Amoghavarsha I, peace loving king, had lost contol over Malwa and Gangavadi.
• Amoghavarsha built a new capital Malkehd or Manyakheta.
• Krishna III (936-968 A.D.) was famous for his expeditions. He marched against the Cholas and defeated them at Takkolam. He marched further south and captured Tanjore. He went as far as Rameswaram and occupied it for sometime. He built  the Krishneswara temple at Rameswaram.
• Karka II was last ruler.
• Village administration is main . 

Social and Economic Development:

• The Hindu sects of Vaishnavism and Saivism flourished during the period of Rashtrakutas.
• College at Salatogi, situated in modern Bijapur district.
• Encouraged trade with Arabs.
• Muslims permitted to construct Mosques.
• The Rashtrakuta kings promoted the Arab trade by maintaining friendship with them.

Art and Culture:

• Sanskrit and Kannada literature widely spread  
• Trivikrama wrote Nalachampu and the Kavirahasya was composed by Halayudha. 
• Gunabhadra wrote the Adipurana.
• Sakatayana wrote the grammer work called Amogavritti.
• The great mathematician of this period, Viracharya was the author of Ganitasaram.
• Amogavarsha’s Kavirajamarga was the first poetic work in Kannada language.
• Pampa was the greatest of the Kannada poets. His famous work was Vikramasenavijaya. 
• Ponna was another famous Kannada poet and he wrote Santipurana.
• At Ellora, the most remarkable temple is the Kailasa temple. It was excavated during the reign of Krishna I.
• Elephanta is an island near Bombay. It was originally called Sripuri.
• The Portuguese after seeing the large figure of an elephant named it Elephanta.