HISTORY ONE-LINER (Harsha Vardhana, Chalukyas of Badami, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas, Palas, Senas, Chauhans, The Chandelas of Bundelkhand, Cholas)

 

ONE-LINER HISTORY NOTE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

  

Harsha Vardhana (606 - 647AD)

 

1.       The last Hindu Emperor of North India was Harshavardhana (Last Hindu king of Delhi was Prithviraj Chauhan)  

2.      Harshavardhana belonged to the Pushyabhuti Dynasty, also known as Vardhana Dynasty.  

3.      The Pushyabhuti dynasty was founded by Pushyabhuti.  

4.      Harsha came to power in 606 AD (Harsha Era)  

5.      He made Kanauj his new capital from Taneswar.  

6.      Original name of Harsha was Siladitya.  

7.      Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited India during his reign.  

8.      Harsha summoned a religious assembly at Prayag.  

9.      Hieun Tsang said Indians were ‘‘Truthful people although quick tempered’’  

10.    Harsha’s biography ‘Harsha Charita’ was written by his court poet Banabhatta. He also wrote ‘Kadambari’.  

11.      Harsha Vardhana was a poet and dramatist. Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagananda are the works of Harshavardhana.  

12.    Harsha Vardhana was defeated by the Chalukyan king Pulikeshin II in AD 634.  

13.    Harshavardhanas empire was the last Buddhist empire in India.  

14.    After Harsha, the Karkotas of Kashmir established their power.  

15.    Mahendravarman I and Pulikeshin II were the contemporaries of Harshavardhana.  

16.    Matanga, Divakar, Jayasena and Bhartrihari were the famous scholars in the court of Harshavadhana.  

17.     Harsha founded the Harsha Era in 606 AD.

 

Chalukyas of Badami

 

1.       In 535 Pulikeshin I founded a small kingdom with the Capital at Vatapipura (Modern Badami)  

2.      He was succeeded by Kirtivarman and Mangaleshna.  

3.      Pulikeshin II was the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty.  

4.      The greatest achievement of Pulikeshin II was the defeat he inflicted on Harshavardhana.  

5.      The Pallava king Narasimhavarman captured Vatapi and adopted the title ‘Vatapikonda’.  

6.      Pulikeshin II defated the Pallavas and captured Kanchi. He also defeated Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.  

7.      Kirtivarman, the last ruler of this dynasty was defeated by the Rashtrakutas and the Chalukyan rule came to an end in 757 AD.  

8.      The magnificient temples of Belur and Halebid and the Elephanta caves were constructed during the Chalukyan period.  

9.      From the Chronological point of view Chalukyas can be divided into four The Chalukyas of Vatapi (535 - 642 AD) The later Chalukyas of Vatapi (655 - 753 AD) The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi (615 - 1076) The Later Western Chalukyas of Kalyani (973- 1190 AD)

 

Pallavas

 

1.       Simhavishnu was the founder of the Pallava dynasty.  

2.      Narasimhavarman , a Pallava ruler, defeated Pulikeshin II and adopted the title Vatapikonda.  

3.      Narasimhavarman I was called Mahamalla which meants a wrestler.  

4.      The book Mattavilasa Prahasana was written by Narashimvarman I.  

5.      The Ratha temples at Mahabalipuram (Seven Pagodas) were created by Narasimhavarman I.  

6.      Dandin the author of Dasakumaracharitam, lived in the court of Narasimhavarman II.  

7.      Narasimhavarman II was the most important ruler of the Pallava dynasty.  

8.      He founded Kailasanatha Temple and the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram.

 

Rashtrakutas

 

1.       Rashtrakuta dynasty was founded by Dandidurga in 753 AD. With the capital at Manyakhed or Malkhed.  

2.      Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha I wrote ‘Kavirajamarga’ which is the earliest Kannada work on poetics. He also wrote Prasnottarmalika.  

3.      The Kailasanath Temple at Ellora was founded by the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna I.  

4.      Krishna III (940 -968) was the last great ruler of Rashtrakuta dynasty.  

5.      The Rashtrakuta power was overthrown by Thiala II.

 

Pratiharas  

 

1.       The Pratiharas are also called Gurjara - Pratiharas - belonging to the 36 clans of Rajputs.  

2.      The dynasty was founded by Nagabhatta I (725- 740)  

3.      Nagabhatta II made Kanauj his capital.  

4.      Pratihara ruler Mihir Bhoja adopted the title ‘Adivaraha’.  

5.      Yashpal was the last ruler of this dynasty.  

6.      Sulthan Muhammed of Ghazni entred Kanauj during the period of the Pratiharas.

 

Palas

 

1.       The Pala dynasty was founded by Gopala in 750 AD.  

2.      Famous Odandapuri University was founded by Gopala.  

3.      The Vikramsila and Sompur Universities were founded by the Pala king Dharmapala.  

4.      The Pala power was destroyed by Vijayasena who founded the Sena dynasty.

 

Senas  

 

1.       The Sena dynasty was founded by Vijayasena towards to end of 11th century. (1093)  

2.      Senas had a capital in Vikrampura and another in Vijayapura.  

3.      About the middle of 13th century the senas were overthrown by the Deva dynasty.

4.      Jayadeva, the author of Gitagovinda was patronized by Sena ruler Lakshmana Sena.

 

Chauhans  

 

1.       The four Agnikula Rajputs were the Pratiharas, Chau-hans the Solankis and Paramaras.  

2.      Chauhans had their capital at Ajmer and Delhi.  

3.      Ajayaraya established the city of Ajayameru or Ajmer.  

4.      The most prominent ruler was Prithviraj III (1177- 1192). He defeated Muhammed of Ghore in the First Battle of Tarain (1191). But Ghore defeated and killed him in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192).  

5.      Prithviraj Chauhan III was the last Hindu ruler of Delhi.  

6.      Prithvi Raj Rao is the historical Kavya written by Chand Bardai.

 

The Chandelas of Bundelkhand  

 

1.       The Chandela dynasty was founded by Yasovarman with Mahobas as the Capital  

2.      The Khajuraho temples are the best examples of the Chandela art.

 

Cholas  

 

1.       Vijayalaya was the founder of the Chola empire. He was a feudatory of the Pallavas of Kanchi.  

2.      Raja Raja I (985 - 1014) adopted the titles of Arumudivarman, Mammudichodadeva, Jaykonda, Marthanda Chola, Mamudichola etc.  

3.      He built the Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjavur. which is called the RajaRajeswara temple.  

4.      Rajendra I led an expedition to North India, defeated the Pala ruler Mahipala I and adtoped the title, Gangaikondachola and established a new Capital, Gangai Konda Cholapuram.  

5.      Cholas maintained a well established local - self government system. Ur, Sabha or Mahasabha - and Nagaram were the assemblies for local administration.  

6.      The Uttaramerur inscription of Dantivarman Pallava gives details about the local self government.

 

 

Temples and Builders

 

Kailas Temple at Ellora --- Krishna I Chunnakesava Temple, Belur ---Vishnuvardhana Rathas at Mahabilipuram ---Narashimhavarman I Brihadeswara Temple, Tanjavur --- RajaRaja Chola Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram ---Narasimha VarmanII Lingaraja Temple, Bhavaneswar --- Eastern Gangarubs, Karjuraho Temples ---Chandellas, Rajarajeshwara Temple, Tanjavur ---Raja raja I, Meenakshi Temple at Madhurai ---Nayaka Rulers, Shiva Temple at Tanjavur ...........Raja Raja Chola