Page 295 - Kolaj Sharodiya Review Edition

Mangiraja had three sons and one daughter, from two queens. All the three sons – Jayasimhaballava II, Kokkili Vikramaditya and Vishnuvardhana III
followed him as Kings. Jayasimha II ruled from AD 706 to 718, after which the internecine war started between the step brothers for the throne. His reign was
comparatively peaceful and prosperous. It seems that he also died childless. Though Kokkili Vikramaditya was the younger of the two step brothers,
crowned himself as the king, but died only after six months. Being a weak person and unsupported by the military commanders, he was driven out by his
elder brother Vishnuvardhana III. Kokkili’s son Mangi Yuvaraja II founded the Chalukyas of Elamanchili.

During the reign of Vishnuvardhana III for 37 years from 718 to 755 AD, Brahmanism and Jainism flourished. Buddhism was declining, though it actually started
from the end of Ikshaku dynasty of Dharanikota. During the final phase of his reign, Vishnuvardhana III completely crushed the Pallavas. After his death, one
of his several sons, Vijayaditya I ascended the Chalukya throne in AD 755 and ruled for 18 years till AD 772. But during his reign Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga
and his uncle Krishnaraja I defeated Western Chalukya kingdom. He also fought against the Rashtrakutas but could not defeat them. He was succeeded by
his son Vishnuvardhana IV, who ruled for 37 years up to 808 AD.

After 779 AD, the Pallava kingdom ceased to exist following the death of king Nandivarman II. This almost coincided with the decline of Western Chalukya
kingdom of Badami, which resulted into the strengthening of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi. Throughout his long reign, Vishnuvardhana IV continuously
fought against the Rashtrakutas. He had also indirectly taken part in the war of succession in Rastrakuta dynasty between Govinda II and Dhruva. This only
ignited enmity between the two dynasties. Chalukyas of Vengi became the most powerful kingdom of Deccan during his reign. Being defeated by Rashtra-
kuta king Dhruva, he offered his daughter Seelamahadevi to Dhruva in marriage.

Vishnuvardhana IV had four sons, out of which only three names are available – Vijayaditya II, Kokkili Bhima and Nripa Rudra. The eldest of them Vijayaditya
II became the king after his father’s death, in 808 AD and reigned for 39 years up to 847 AD. He was also known as Vijayaditya Narendra Mrigaraja. Rather
inexplicably, duration of his reign was indicated as forty to forty-eight years. His younger brother Kokkili Bhima rebelled with the help of Rashtrakuta king
Govinda III and Gangas. The fight between the two brothers continued for more than 12 years. He was invariably one of the greatest king of the Eastern
Chalukyas. He proved to be a powerful opponent of the Rashtrakutas, even when he was a prince. Vijayaditya II is said to have constructed 108 temples
and he donated many villages to the Veda and Vedanga scholars.

After the death of Vijayaditya II, his son Vishnuvardhana V, known as Kali Vishnuvardhana, ascended the throne and ruled for less than two years, up to 849
AD. Though he was powerful, he had his rule shortened due to the revived fight against the Rashtrakutas. Gunaga Vijayaditya III, the eldest surviving son of
Kali Vishnuvardhana, was the greatest conqueror and ruler of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi. He ruled from AD 849 to 892. He was assisted by his younger
brother Yuvaraja Vikramaditya. Vijayaditya-III came into conflict with the Rastrakuta king Amoghavarsha-I. He acquired the Pali banner, the Rashtrakuta
insignia, imperial title of Vallabha and proclaimed himself the Lord Paramount of the entire Dakshinapatha. Rashtrakuta king Krishna II was defeated several
times between 878 to 888 AD and accepted the Eastern Chalukyas sovereignty. Vijayaditya’s Satuluru copper plate grant records his victories over the
Pallavas and the Pandyas. His kingdom covered a vast territory from Pandya to Chedi and Rashtrakuta as well. Several changes occurred in South Indian
Politics during this period. Western Gangas and Pallavas were also gradually decimated. Gunaga Vijayaditya constructed the Rajarajeswara, Golingesvara
and Chandrasekhara temples at Biccavolu.