History of Asia

Rashtrakuta Ruler Indra III (Rashtrakuta Ruler Indra III, 914-929 AD)

Krishna II was succeeded by his grandson Indra III (914–929 AD) as the king, as his Karhad and Devali copper plates show that his son Jagattunga died during his lifetime. It had just happened. Although the ceremonial coronation of Indra III in February, 915 AD at Kurundak shrine It was done, but probably before that, in the latter part of 914 AD, he had been established on the Rashtrakuta throne. Indra III Rajmartand (Sun among kings), Rattakandap (beautiful as Cupid among Rashtrakutas), Nityavarsha and Kirtinarayan.

Achievements of Indra III

Govardhan's salvation: It is said that just before his accession to the throne, Indra destroyed Meru And the one who conquered Govardhan (in Nashik district) ruler named Upendra By defeating Govardhan was saved-

Kritagovadnodharam Helonmulitmeruna.

Upendramindrarajen Jitva Yen Ch Vismitham.

There is controversy regarding the identity of Meru and Upendra. Keelhorn and Vishwanath Reu have identified Meru with Kannauj, while Dr. According to Bhandarkar Upendra was another name of Pratihara ruler Mahipala. AS Altekar identifies Upendra with Krishnaraja, a feudatory of the Pratiharas, because according to the Udaipur Prashasti, another name of Krishnaraja was Upendraraj.

Meru's equation with Kanauj is not logical, as it was not possible for Indra III to attack the remote Pratihara capital immediately after his ascension. Altekar believes that initially the Parmars were probably feudatories of the Pratiharas and on his orders, Parmar Krishnaraj (Upendraraj) attacked Nashik and surrounded Govardhan.

In any case, Indra III defeated Upendra and took control of Govardhan and forced Upendra to accept his dominion. It is also known from the Harsola inscription that the Paramaras accepted the suzerainty of the Rashtrakutas.

North Indian Campaign: The defeat and subjugation of Upendraraj paved the way for Indra III's invasion of northern India. Incidentally, after the death of Pratihara ruler Mahendrapala I in 908 AD, a civil war for succession started between Bhoja II and Mahipala. Bhoj attained the throne for some time with the help of the first Chedi ruler Kokkal, but later Mahipala succeeded in overthrowing Bhoja with the help of Chandela ruler Harsha and capturing the throne.

In this favorable political situation, Indra III left for North India in the Hemant season of 916 AD. According to the Cambay copper plates, he first attacked Ujjayini and subdued it. After this his army is probably going to Jhansi and Bhopal. reached Kalpi, where he crossed the Yamuna river and attacked the Doab region of the Ganges-Yamuna rivers. Pratihara ruler Mahipala fled the capital possibly to Mahoba and Indra captured Kanauj-

Yanmadydvipadantghatavisham Kalpriya Praganam.

Tirna Yatturagadhayamuna Sindhupratishpardhini.

Yenedam hi ma'amarinagaram nirmoolamunmilitam.

Namnadayapi Janai:Kushalamiti Khyati Paran Niyate.

After taking control of Kanauj, Indra III put his Vemulvad dynasty feudatory Narasimha II behind Mahipala. Poet Pump, dependent of Narasimha's son Arikesari, wrote his Kannada poem 'Pumpabharata ’ It is said that Narasimha kidnapped the Pratihara king’s Rajalakshmi, followed her, bathed his horses in the confluence of the Ganges and established his fame. From this description it seems that Mahipal was probably driven to Prayag.

The capture of Kanauj was the greatest military achievement of Indra. Although before that Dhruva and Govind had also defeated the Pratihara rulers, but they could not fly their flag on Kanauj. Thus, this victory of Indra greatly increased the prestige of the Rashtrakutas, but even this victory did not bring regional or any other benefit to the Rashtrakutas.

In fact the north Indian campaign of Indra III was surprising, yet a mere foray. According to Altekar, he came with Narasimha to Prayag and Kashi, after that he returned home in the early summer of 916 AD. Perhaps after the return of Indra III, Mahipala recaptured Kannauj. An article from Khajuraho It is said that Emperor Harsha (Chandela) had placed Kshitipal ((Mahendrapal) on the throne of Kanauj. Alamsudi who visited India in 915-16 AD. He also praised the power and prosperity of the Pratihara ruler. It is clear from this that by 917 AD, Mahipal was fully established on Kanauj.

Right on Wengie: In the last days of the reign of Krishna III, the Chalukya ruler Bhima of Vengi expelled the Rashtrakuta armies from his kingdom. After the death of Bhima at the time of Indra, his son and successor Vijayaditya IV was ruling Vengi.

After conquering North India, Indra III attacked Vengi. According to Chalukya inscriptions Virjapuri (South of Krishna) Vijayaditya IV was successful in the battle of AD, but in the end he himself was killed. Despite being defeated, the Rashtrakutas captured a part of Vengi

After Vijayaditya IV, Amma I ruled Vengi unimpeded until about 925 AD. But Vijayaditya V, the son and successor of Amma I, was deposed by Yuddhamalla's son Tadap. He probably got help from the Rashtrakuta ruler Indra III.

But after some time Tadap also got another claimant to the throne Bhima I's son Vikramaditya (Bhima II) ousted and killed. After this, with the help of Indra III, Tadapa's son Malla II deposed Bhima II and put him to death and took control of the Chalukya throne. Malla II with the help of Rashtrakutas ruled Vengi till 934 AD Keep doing it.

Apart from this, no other significant event is reported from the reign of Indra III. Some historians believe that when Indra III was busy in his campaign for northern India, his general Jain Srivijaya defeated the enemies of the Rashtrakutas in South India. But its detailed description is not available.

Indra kills Bijamba, daughter of Kalachuri ruler Amandev (Anangadev) was married to. Damayanti Katha and a Champu named Madalsa Author of Trivikrambhatta Indra He was a contemporary of Saka Samvat 836 and composed the Kurundhaka inscription did.

Earlier it was believed that Indra III ruled for only three years, but later inscriptions show that he ruled till at least December 927 AD. His death is estimated around 928-29 AD It happened.

Indra III had two sons-Amoghvarsha II and Govind IV , After the death of Indra III in 929 AD, his eldest son Amoghvarsha II succeeded the Rashtrakuta dynasty Happened.