Pulkesin II

Pulkesin II (610–642 CE) is the most celebrated ruler of the Chalukyas of Badami. His birth name was Ereya and he was born to Kirtivarman-I. Since, he was too young when his father died, his paternal uncle Mangaldesa was made the king. Some sources say that his uncle denied him his right to get the throne when he grown up and he rebelled against his uncle. Ereya organized an army near modern Kolar in Karnataka and defeated and killed Mangaldesa (Peddavadagur inscription). He defeated the Kadamabas of the Banavasi, Alupas of modern Southern Karnataka, Maurya of Konkan and after a naval war captured Island of Elephanta from the Mauryas of Konkan. He also defeated the Kosala, Kalinga etc. in the east. In down south, he defeated Mahendravarman-I. This was the time when Harsha was a major power in Northern India. Pulkesin II and Harsha engaged in a battle at the banks of the Narmada. This was a decisive battle in which Harsha lost a big part of his elephant army and had to retreat. This is mentioned in the Aihole Inscription. The same battle has been described by Huen Tsang too.

The battle ended with a treaty in which Harsha was made to recognize river Narmada as his southern border.

After this victory, Pulkesin II assumed the titles of Parmeshwara, Prithivivallabha, Satyashraya etc. and became the paramount power in modern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. He also assumed the title of Dakshinpatheshwara around the same time, on the lines of Harsha’s title Uttarpatheshwara. Pulkesin II was also the one of the first kings in South India to issue the Gold Coins.

The enmity of Pulkesin II with Pallavas of Kanchi finally took his life in 642 AD, when one of the Pallava Kings (Narsimhamvaraman) plundered his capital and probably put him to death. For next 13 years Pallavas dominated in South India including the Vatapi.

Diplomatic Relations with King of Persia

The fame of Pulkesin II spread beyond the geographical limits of India and reached the ears of Khusrau II the King of Persia. Khusrau II in 36th year of his reign i.e. 625 AD received a complementary embassy from Pulkesin II. He reciprocated the embassy with a Persian embassy which was welcomed with due honors in India. One of the large Frescoes of Ajanta Paintings in Cave Number 1 vividly represents the ceremonial attending the presentation of their credentials by the Persian Courts. This is a great record of India-Persia relations in those times.

Note: The most important literature of the Badami Chalukyas is the Aihole inscription of Pulakesi II written by his court poet Ravikirti in Sanskrit language and Kannada script.