Indra III

Indra III (914–929 CE) was the grandson of Rashtrakuta Krishna II and son of Chedi princess Lakshmi. He became the ruler of the empire due to the early demise of his father Jagattunga.^[1] He had many titles such as Nithyavarsha, Rattakandarapa, Rajamarathanda and Kirthinarayana. He patronised Kannada poet and commander SriVijaya and Sanskrit poet Trivikrama. Indra III was married to princess Vijamba of the Kalachuri dynasty of central India (Chedi).

Capture of Kannauj [edit]

Immediately after coming to power, Indra III had to fight a Paramara ruler, a feudatory of Gurjara Prathihara and routed him out of Govardhana near Nasik. Thereafter the Paramaras became feudatories of the Rashtrakutas.^[2] The Gurjara Pratihara ruler Mahendrapala I was experiencing some family feuds and this gave Indra III an opportunity to attack Kannauj in the Ganges - Yamuna doab.^[3] Kannauj at this time was under the control of the Pratihara empire. From the writings of Kannada poet Adikavi Pampa it is known that Indra III sent his feudatory, Chalukya King Narasimha of Vemulavada (Andhra region) in pursuit of Mahipala I the incumbent ruler who fled the area.^[4][5] The northern campaign of Indra III produced more dramatic results then during the rule of Dhruva Dharavarsha and Govinda III as the Rashtrakutas were actually able to hold Kannauj until 916.^[6]

Trouble in Vengi [edit]

A civil war like situation prevailed in Vengi after the defeat of Eastern Chalukya Bhima at the hands of Baddega, a Rashtrakuta feudatory from Vemulavada. A period of intense politics continued when the Rashtrakutas tried to install the king of their choice in Vengi. Indra III's Jain general Sri-Vijaya who was also a poet won may wars for his king in the eastern Deccan and the bulk of Vengi was brought under the rule of Indra III for a few years.^[7]

Notes [edit]

1. ^ from the Sangli, Karhad, Deoli and Bagumra inscriptions (Kamath (2001), p80)
2. ^ Kamath (2001), p80
3. ^ From the Cambay plates (Kamath 2001, p80)
4. ^ From the notes of Adikavi Pampa; "Mahipala fled as if struck by lightning" and "Chalukya Narasimha bathed his horses in the Ganges river" (Kamath, 2001, p81)
5. ^ From the copper plate grant of his son Govinda IV (Reu1933, p78)
6. ^ A.S. Altekar in Kamath 2001, p80
7. ^ Kamath (2001), p81

References [edit]

• Sastri, Nilakanta K.A. (2002) [1955]. A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. New Delhi: Indian Branch, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-560686-8. 
• Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 8095179. OCLC 7796041. 
• Reu, Pandit Bisheshwar Nath (1997) [1933]. History of The Rashtrakutas (Rathodas). Jaipur: Publication scheme. ISBN 81-86782-12-5. 

External links [edit]

• History of Karnataka, Mr. Arthikaje