History of Bidar

Bidar is a historic place located in the north-eastern part of the South Indian state of Karnataka. Bidar enjoys a picturesque situation, having been situated and built on the brink of a plateau, and thus commanding lovely views of the lowlands (talghat) towards the north and the east. Its latitude is 17°55'N., its longitude 77°32' E., and the height above the sea-level 2,330 feet (710 m). The climate is bracing and the temperature in the hottest season does not usually rise above 105 °F (41 °C). The Bidar plateau is an irregular oblong, 22 miles (35 km) in length and 12 miles (19 km) in extreme breadth.^[1]:1

Ancient Period

Traditional tales describe Bidar as the place where Vidura (one of the central character in the hindu epic Mahabharata) lived and the place was thus known as Viduranagara.^[2] Legend has associated Bidar with the ancient kingdom of Vidarbha, to which references are found in early Hindu literature.^[3] But the situation of the latter kingdom has been determined by modern research, and it is now considered that Vidarbha occupied the country which was called Berar. The rulers of the kingdom are supposed to have been vassals of the Andhra rajas, whose dominions covered the plateau of the Deccan and at times extended over a much wider area. Bidar, which is some 200 miles (320 km) south-east of Paithan, the ancient capital of the Andhra kings, must have been included in the territory of the latter, and it has been associated with Vidarbha apparently on account of the similarity in names Bidar and Vidarbha. The identity of Bidar with Vidarbha was, however, a common belief in Firishta's time, for he, when referring to the romances of the early rulers of Bidar, describes the love-story of Nala and Damayanti (daughter of Raja Bhima of Vidarbha).^[1]:3

The ancient megalithic culture began from about 1200 B.C.-1100 B.C., flourished up to about 3rd and 2nd century B.C. and survived up to c. 100 B.C. The megalithic culture of the region perhaps had intrusions of two Megalithic strains of different sort from the Vidharba region and eastern India, indicating respectively by certain pottery types particularly lids and also by horse-bits & copper objects on the one hand and the stone alignments on the other in north-eastern part of Karnataka.^[2]:214

This region formed the southern part of Mauryan Empire as attested by the edicts of Ashoka. It came to be a part of Mauryan empire by the fact that Mauryas defeated the Nandas and became the heirs to the Nanda Empire in which Karnataka was also included. Bindusara ruled over the Deccan including the parts of Karnataka.^[2]:215

Satavahanas dominated the post-Mauryan period for about four centuries. Gautamiputra Satakarni established his reign which was succeeded by his son Vashishtiputra Pulumāyi. Coins of this period are found in plenty in the deccan region which can be dated to a period from the 1st century A.D. to 3rd century A.D.^[2]:217

Classical Period

During the Kadamba's reign, the rule of Mayurasharma (325-345 A.D.) and that of Kakusthavarma (405-430 A.D.) were prominent.^[2]:220 Their rule was confined up to the southern part of Bidar district. Kadambas extended their patronage to Shaiva, Vaishnava and Jaina dharmas.^[2]:221 Their rule lasted for over 200 years.

The history of the (Deccan) region in general and Karnataka in particular assumes special significance with the commencement of the rule of the Chalukyas of Badami (c. 500-757 A.D.) also called as the Early Western Chalukyas to distinguish them from the Later Chalukyas who ruled from their Capital at Kalyana.^[2]:231 The Chinese traveller Hieun-Tsang visited the Chalukyan kingdom during 634-635 A.D. under the reign of Pulakeshi II and has paid a handsome tribute to the king and the prosperity of the kingdom.^[2]:234 Kirtivarma II (c.745-757 A.D.) was the last ruler of the dynasty which was established by Jayasimha who ruled between 500 A.D. and 520 A.D.

Rashtrakutas established their rule from early 750s which lasted till early 970s. They were highly distinguished dynasties of the Deccan & Karnataka. Some accounts relate them to Latur as the place of their origins.^[2]:238 Krishna I and Govinda III were the great kings of the period. Amoghavarsha I moved the capital to Manyakheta (present day Malkhed) and beautified it. He patronised many religions including Buddhism.^[2]:242 After a long reign of 64 years, he died in 878 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Krishna II, who later developed friendly relations with the Arabs.

The Rashtrakuta Empire was perhaps the most extensive than any of their Hindu successors in the Deccan. In no other period of ancient Indian history did the Deccan enjoy their political prestige which it did during the time of Rashtrakutas. The remarks of Arab traveller Sulaiman (851 A.D.) that this empire was one of the four great empires of the world and they were the most feared rulers of India.^[2]:243 Temple building saw a great boom in this period. Ellora and other rock-cut / cave temples have been built under this dynasty.

The Chalukyas of Kalyana were so called because they ruled from their capital Kalyananagara (modern day Basavakalyan) and are considered to be the descendants of the Chalukyas of Badami. The first king of the dynasty was Taila II (Tailapa II) who ruled from 973-997 A.D. after overthrowing Karka II, the last king of Rashtrakutas. The famous kannada poet Ranna also mentions of him belonging to Badami lineage. Taila II fought against the Cholas and defeated Rajaraja Chola in 992 A.D. and later his son Ahavamalla (Satyashraya) in 995 A.D. again defeated Chola's Army.^[2]:245

Satyashraya who had the titles of Ahavamalla, Irivabedanga, Sahasabhima and Sattiga ruled from 997 A.D. to 1008 A.D. The hostility between Chalukyas and Cholas continued during this period also. Rajaraja Chola I and later his son Rajendra Chola marched against Satyashraya. The Cholas came up to Bijapur (present day Vijayapura) and ransacked the whole kingdom causing great violence. But Satyashraya drove them back. Ranna was patronised by Satyashraya.^[2]:246

In 1051 A.D. Someshwara I defeated and perhaps killed Paramara Bhoja with the help of Chaulukya Bhima and Kalachuri Karna. Later he also defeated Kalachuri Karna, Dharavarsha of Chakrakota, and Marasimha of Karahata. Despite of these military engagements, he built his capital Kalyana and made it famous.^[2]:247

The fifty-year rule of Vikramaditya VI (1076-1127 A.D.) was a glorious period in Karnataka's history. Many temples were built in this period which have some of the finest sculpture. In the temple at Jalsangi (Jalasangvi) is a beautiful sculpture which depicts a young woman writing an inscription paying great tribute to Vikramaditya VI. Thus Karnataka became a great centre of cultural activities.^[2]:248 He was succeeded by Someshvara III (father of Taila III)

During the reign of Taila III (1149-1162 A.D.), the Kalachuri Bijjala II was first to rebel against the Chalukyans and was largely responsible for the downfall of Chalukyas. By 1153 A.D., he proclaimed independence and occupied many parts of the Chalukyan kingdom. Thus was the southern Kalachuri established.^[2]:249

The Kalachuris belonged to the Kattacchhuri family which ruled in Madhya Pradesh. Bijjala II was son of Permadi. Kalachuri chiefs were subordinates to the Chalukyans and were also in matrimonial alliances with them. Bijjala II was also a grandson of Vikramaditya VI. In about 1162 A.D., Bijjala II defeated Taila III replacing him as King. But his rule came to an end after 5 years due to opposition by the loyal feaudatories of Chalukyas. In all his political activities, Bijjala II was greatly helped by his able General Kasapayyanayaka. Bijjala's treasurer was the celebrated religious leader Basaveshwara. Bijjala II died in 1167 A.D.^[2]:250 Singhana was the last king of Kalachuri Dynasty which ended in 1184 A.D.^[2]:252

Someshvara IV (successor of Taila III) who had left the kingdom and ruled in nominal capacity re-captured the kingdom from Kalachuris in 1184 A.D. with the help of his able General Brahma and ruled until 1186. He was then challenged by the Hoysalas and Seunas. He lived up to 1198 A.D. as testified by the inscriptions but he was no longer the Chalukyan monarch. Hoysala Ballala II took over the Basavakalyan fort.^[2]:253

During all this period it was political supremacy and cultural development moving hand in hand. In administration it evolved new principles which made the people happy and kingdoms prospered. Some of the luminaries in Kannada and Samskrita flourished in this era. The period also marked inauguration of a new social and religious movement under the leadership if Basaveshwara. This helped the growth of Vachana literature in Kannada.^[2]:253

In the excavations carried out by the Archaeological Department, State of Hyderabad , some sculptures and broken tablets bearing inscriptions have been found in the Bidar fort; but they do not carry back the history of the place earlier than the 10th century A.D., when it was apparently included in the kingdom of the later Chalukyas (A.D. 974-1190), whose capital, Kalyani (present day Basavakalyan) is only 36 miles (58 km) west of Bidar. The power of the Chalukyas, however, rapidly declined during the rule of the last three kings of the dynasty, and a large portion of their territory was occupied by the Yadavas of Deogiri and the Kakatiyas of Warangal, whose kingdoms were at the zenith of their glory in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Bidar was apparently annexed to the Kakatiya kingdom, for in A.D. 1322, when Prince Ulugh Khan marched upon Warangal, he besieged and conquered the town of Bidar, which was on the frontiers of Telangana.^[1]:3

An inscription of Ghiyath-ud-Din Tughluq, dated A.D. 1323, recently found at Kalyani, shows that the latter town was also conquered by Ulugh Khan in this expedition, but the absence of Kalyani's name in this connexion in contemporary history shows that Bidar at that time was a more important town than Kalyani, the glory of which seems to have faded with the decline of the Chalukyas. In this inscription Kalyani is mentioned as only a qasba, or minor town.^[1]:3

References

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