Dantidurga
Topic: Early Medieval North India: Harsha to the Rajputs · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 3 "Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries"
Meaning
Dantidurga founded the Rashtrakuta dynasty of the Deccan. He began as a samanta (a vassal, or junior ruler who served a bigger king) of the Chalukyas of Badami. In the mid-8th century (c. 753 CE), he overthrew his overlords and became an independent ruler. His rise shows how fragile a samanta's loyalty could be in this period.
Example
In the mid-8th century, Dantidurga defeated the Chalukyas of Badami and started Rashtrakuta rule. The capital later became Manyakheta. His successor, Krishna I, built the Kailasanatha temple at Ellora.
Don't confuse with
- Chaulukyas (Solankis): a separate dynasty of Gujarat with its capital at Anahilavada. They were not the Deccan Chalukyas whom Dantidurga overthrew.
Related concepts
- Tripartite struggle
- Matsyanyaya
- Gopala
- Pala dynasty
- Dharmapala
- Devapala
- Vikramashila
- Odantapuri
- Somapura Mahavihara
- Atisha Dipankara