Kalachuri Dynasty History: Founders, Rulers, Reason for Decline and Important Facts

History of Kalchuri Dynasty and List of Important Facts:

Kalachuri was a famous dynasty of ancient India. The Kalachuri dynasty was founded by Kokal I in about 845 AD. He made Tripuri his capital. The Kalchuri were probably Chandravanshi Kshatriyas. Kokal defeated Pratihara ruler Bhoja and his feudatories in the battle. He had also captured Turushka, Vanga and Konkan. Out of the 18 sons of Kokalla, his eldest son Shankaragan became the next Kalchuri ruler.

Karnadev defeated Raja Bhoj of Malwa around 1060 AD, but later Kirtivarma Chandela defeated him. This weakened the power of the Kalachuris and by 1181, for unknown reasons, the dynasty had declined. The Kalchuri rulers used to use 'Trakutak Samvat', which became prevalent in 248-249 AD.

Rulers of the Kalachuri Dynasty:

Kokkal-I (875-925): Kokkal-I was the founder of the Kalachuri dynasty and the first historical ruler who established marriage relations with the Rashtrakutas and Chandelas. Kokkal-I had friendly relations with the Pratiharas. In this way he also strengthened his power through friendship and marriage with the powerful states of his time. Kokkal-I was one of the famous warriors and conquerors of his time.

Gangeydev: Gangeydev sat on the throne of Tripuri in about 1019 AD. Gangeydev also got failure in his military efforts, but he won many victories and succeeded to a great extent in expanding his kingdom. Despite not accepting the exaggerated details of his inscriptions, it is believed that Gangeydev invaded north India up to Kir Desh or Kangra Valley and extended his kingdom in the east to Benaras and Prayag.

He extended further east from Prayag and Varanasi. With his army he successfully reached the eastern seaboard and conquered Orissa. Because of his victories, he assumed the position of Vikramaditya. Defying the strength of the Palas, he attacked Anga. He got success in this attack. It is possible that for some time Gangeydev had kept his authority over Mithila or northern Bihar also.

Laxmikarna: After Gangayadev, his illustrious son Lakshmikarna or Karnaraja sat on the throne. Like his father, he was a brave soldier and a winner of thousands of wars. He developed the Kalachuri power through extensive and significant victories. Karna defeated the Parmara king Bhoj after getting help from the rulers of Kalyani and Anhilvad. He conquered the Chandelas and the Palas. His records have been found in Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, which proves that he had authority over these parts. Karna's kingdom extended from Gujarat to Bengal and from the Ganges to the Mahanadi. He took the title of Kalingapati.

Yashkarna: Yash Karna ascended the throne of Tripuri around 1703. He raided the state of Vengi and as far as northern Bihar. In the last days of his father, the condition of his kingdom had become quite turbulent and in this turbulent condition he had stepped on Rajasinasan. But without considering this messy condition of his kingdom, Yashkarna continued the military-conquest sequence like his father and grandfather. At first he had some success, but soon his kingdom itself became the focus of many invasions. The states which had been damaged by the aggressive imperialist policy of his father and grandfather, all began to think of taking retribution.

The Chalukyas of Deccan attacked his kingdom and they were also successful in their attack. The rise of the Gahadavalas adversely affected his position in the Gangetic plain. The Chandelas also successfully challenged his power. The Parmars looted the capital of Yash Karna. All these defeats shook his power. The cities of Prayag and Varanasi came out of his hands and the pride of his lineage became shrihat.

Yashahkarna's successor and the decline of the Kalachuri dynasty: Yash: After Karna, his son Gaya Karna ascended the throne, but he could not stop the political decline of his dynasty that began during the reign of his father. During his reign, the Kalachuri branch of Ratnapuri became independent in South Kaushal. Gayakarna married the granddaughter of Malwa-king Udayaditya. Her name was Alhanadevi. After the death of Gayakarna, Alhanadevi rebuilt Vaidyanath's temple and monastery at Bherghat. Jai Singh, the unique son of Gayakarna, was somewhat majestic.

He succeeded to some extent in restoring the pride of his dynasty. He defeated Solanki Naresh Kumarpal. Jai Singh died sometime between 1175 and 1180. His son Vijaysinh was the last king of the dynasty of Kokkal-I who ruled over Tripuri. Vijay Singh was killed between 1196 and 1200 by Jaitugi-I, the king of the Yadavas of Devagiri, and abolished the Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri.

Important facts about Kalachuri dynasty:

From which king the lineage of Kalachuris begins, it is estimated that it would have started with Kokaldev. The descendants of Kokaldeva were called Kalachuri.
Kalchuri is a branch of the Hydayas. The Haidayans ruled in Ratanpur and Raipur from the tenth century to the eighteenth century.
Kokal was a majestic king, but among his descendants Jajalladeva (first), Ratnadev (second) and Prithvidev (second), it is said that he was not only a mighty king, but also tried for the cultural advancement of Chhattisgarh.
Jajalladeva (1st) had established his dominion up to present day Vidarbha, Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Although he spent a lot of time on the battlefield, but construction works were also done. The ponds were dug, temples were built. During his reign there were gold coins - coins bearing his name. It is believed that Jajalladeva was a lover of learning and art, he was spiritual. Gorakhnath was the guru of Jajalladeva. The disciples of Gorakhnath were Bhartrihari and Gopichand in the tradition - whose story is still sung in Chhattisgarh.
It is said about Ratandev that he founded a new capital which was named Ratanpur and which came to be known later. Ratandev too wasted time in very violent wars, but was a lover of learning and art. That's why scholars were appreciated. Ratandev got many temples built and ponds dug.>
Prithvidev II was also a great warrior. He was an art lover. Gold and copper coins were issued during that time.
The Kalachuris used to encourage scholars and encourage them. There were famous poets like Rajasekhar at that time. Rajshekhar ji's Poetry Mimamsa and Karpoormanjari Natak are very famous. In the time of the Kalachuris, the learned poets had the royal shelter. That's why maybe he couldn't write anything openly. Whatever the king wanted, it was written.
The Kalachuri rulers believed in Shaivism. Due to his being a total Shiva-worshiper, his copper leaf always starts with "Om Namah Shivay". It is said that the Kalachuris never interfered, never interfered in the religion of others. Buddhism spread during his reign.
The Kalachuris built many temples, dharamshalas
Ramanand propagated Vaishnavism in India, which spread in Chhattisgarh. The Bairagi Dal was formed by Ramanand, whose slogan was: - "Jaat-pat ask nahi koi, hari ko bhajai so hari ka hoi".
Due to lack of ability and will power in the last ruler of Haiday-dynasty, the condition of Haiday-rule gradually deteriorated and finally in 1741 AD, Bhonsla commander Bhaskar Pant attacked Chhattisgarh and gave power to Haiday ruler. reputation destroyed.