Page 297 - Kolaj Sharodiya Review Edition

The Western Chalukyas of Kalyani, who succeeded the Rastrakutas, tried to throw out Cholas from Telugu country. So Satyasraya attacked Vengi and
destroyed the forts of Dharanikota and Yenamandala. But the Chola prince Rajendra Chola, defeated him and saved Saktivarman I. After the death of the
king in 1011 AD, his younger brother Vimaladitya ruled for seven years. He embraced the faith of Jainism in the later part of his life. The Chalukya-Chola
alliance was strengthened by the marriage of Vimaladitya with Kundavai, the daughter of Rajaraja Chola. Thus Vengi once again came under the control
of Eastern Chalukyas.

His elder son Rajaraja Narendra by queen Kundavvi, succeeded him as the king in 1019 AD. The second son Vijayaditya was through his second wife
Melamba, a daughter of Jatachoda Bhima. Accession of Rajaraja to the throne was followed by some struggles. Vijayaditya managed to seize the throne
with the help of Kalyani Chalukya ruler Jayasimha-II and Eastern Ganga king Madhukamavarma. With their helps Vijayaditya took Vengi under his control.
Being weak enough to fight alone, Rajaraja Narendra appealed to Rajendra Chola, for help. The later succeeded ultimately in crushing Jayasimha-II after
three years and reinstated Rajaraja. He then offered his daughter, Ammangi, in marriage to Rajaraja. But in later part of his reign, the repeated failures of
the Chola emperor to free Vengi from the Western Chalukyas yoke might have disillusioned him and Rajaraja Narendra concluded a treaty with Somes-
vara-I and accepted him as his overlord. His reign came to end in 1062 A. D.

Rajaraja Narendra made a great contribution to the development of Telugu language and literature. Nannayya Bhattaraka, who completed translation of
Adiparva, Sabha Parva and a part of Aaranya Parva of Sanskrit “Mahabharata” into Telugu, was patronized by Rajaraja Narendra. The Andhra Mahabhara-
ta is the first extent literary work in Telugu. Puvuluri Mallanna, contemporary of Nannayya, translated a Sanskrit treatise on mathematics named Sarasatigra-
haganita, written by Mahaviracharyulu.

He was followed by Saktivarman II, who ruled Vengi for a very short time in AD 1061 and then his father Vijaditya-VII ruled up to 1076 AD. Vengi then was
ruled by the sons of Kulottunga Chola, the son of Rajaraja Narendra. Chola king Virarajendra I married his daughter Madhurantaki to Rajendra (Kulotunga
Chola) and enthroned him as a prince of Chola dynasty. After the death of Virarajendra early in 1070 AD and the assassination of his son and successor
Adhirajendra, Rajendra left Vengi and went south, where he established himself on the Chola throne, assuming the title Kulottunga Chola-I. During his period
the Chalukyan-Chola kingdoms were under one unified umbrella in 1070 A.D. He ruled for five decades. Probably the longest reign from their maternal royal
home in Tanjore. His glorious reign actually brought about the cross-cultural contacts between the Eastern Chalukyas and Cholas. After Kulottunga Chola-I,
Vengi was ruled successively by his sons as viceroys. This tendency slowly paralyzed the administration, and the Eastern Chalukyan kingdom and dynasty
disappeared into oblivion.

Eastern Chalukya kings used decentralized general administration through a Council of Ministers. The kingdom was divided into Administrative divisions like
Rashtra, Vishaya and Kottams. Rastras were controlled by collateral branches like Chalukyas of Elamanchili, Mudigonda, Pisthapuram and Srikurmam.
Village administration was headed by the Grameyaka. There was no mention of Social tensions. The Eastern Chalukyas took interest in the construction of
temples. All the temples were dedicated to Siva.