Telangana History Vishnukundina Dynasty

Contents

Until recently, it was thought that the Vishnukundina dynasty was a small ruling family which ruled the Telugu region. But, after studying the Indrapala nagara (Tummalagudem) inscriptions and their coins, archaeologists came to the conclusion that theirs was not a small dynasty’ As their coins were found at Eleswaram in Nalgonda district, Kondapuram in Medak district, Karimnagar district and at Keesaragutta near Hyderabad, it was proved then they ruled the whole of Telangana region once. Their coins were found not only in Telangana, but also at panar, Bhrahmapuri, Prakasa and Nevasa regions of Madhya Pradesh and at Nasik and Nagpur of Maharashtra. An inscription issued by Madhava Varma was found at Khanapur in Maharashtra. Their inscriptions proye their claims that their dynasty ruled the whole area between three oceans. The chief sources of the history of vishnukundina dynasty were their inscriptions. Ten of their inscriptions were found, including the Indrapalanagara (Tummalagudem in Nalgonda district) ones, which were found recently.

But these inscriptions did not give lot of details and some were badly ruined. That is why several details of especially those details pertaining to the extent of their kingdom, expansion to their kingdom and battles fought by them. The inscriptions only revealed the names of the donor king and his ancestors of two or three generations before him and also the receivers name. So, they are not useful to know the details of their political history.

Also, vishnukundinas did not give the number of the saka year in which they issued the inscriptions, except in the tummalagudem one. They only revealed the names of kings and the year of their rule (ruling year). Only tummalagudem inscriptions revealed not only the year of rule of the particular king but also the number of the saka year, which helped to decide the time period of their rule. Some inscriptions noted the seasons and month of the moon (paksha). This system was followed in the prakrit inscriptions of that period. The inscription, issued by Madhava Varma and found at Khanapur did not have any year on it, only the month and day of the week were given in it .

The early inscriptions of Vishnukundinas mentioned the Tithi (day in Telugu calender), pakfsha (fortnight) am} month in which they were issued. Later kings mentioned the year of rule of the king also. Two systems were followed at that time. In the beginning, inscriptions were issued mentioning the ruling year of the kings and later, the practice to mention Tithi, stars and others was started. All the vishnukundina inscriptions were written in Sanskrit prose.

First inscription of Tummalagudem

Inscriptions, found at Tummalagudem in Telangana region reveal some more history of the Vishnukundina dynasty. Two inscriptions were found at Tummalagudem. The first one was issued by Govinda Varma. It was the first one issued by him. It has 32 sentences. He issued it on his 37th ruling year in the Telugu month Vaisakha on Pumima (full moon) day. It started with prayers to Lord Buddha (not with prayers to lord Sri Parvata swamy) and later on, the names of Vishnukundin dynasty were given
Indra Varma
Madhava Varma
Govinda Varma

It also described the characteristics like victories, truthfulness, sincerity, sacrifice, knowledge and talents of Vishnukundina kings. The above kings were described as Maharajas only. Govinda Varma, who issued the inscription, described himself as a great king, Jewel to the Vishnukundina dynasty, that he conquered many regions and made them into his subordinate kingdoms, that he was very generous towards his servants, relatives and people, that he treated all castes and creeds of his kingdom equally, that he made thousands of donations, built several temples and viharas to beautify the kingdom; that he sacrificed all his fairly earned money to scholars, warriors and noble people; that he studies several spiritual system and acquired enormofts knowledge. He had this inscription written after donating two villages to a Buddhist Vihara, built by his wife Parama bhattarika mahadevi. The names of villages he donated were Embudala and Penkapara. The seals of this inscriptions were lost.

Second Tummalagudem inscription

This inscription was issued by Vikramendra Bhattaraka Varma. He and the Vikramendra Varma, who issued the chikkulla inscription are the same. This inscription was released in his 11th ruling year in Telugu month Kartika, in the second fortnight. This helped a lot in determining the line of Vishnukundina dynasty. There were 55 sentences in it. The 12 lines between 17-28, gave details of Parama Bhattarika Mahadevi. It started with the description of uttamasraya, son of satyasraya who lighted this Earth as sun, with his victories. It narrated that the vishnukundina dynasty earned their kingdom by worshipping lord Sri Parvataswamy. It was described that the rulers of Vishnukundina dynasty were great as Brahma Kshatriyas and also very justice rulers like lord Vishnu. This inscription gave names and ruling periods of 5 kings Govinda Varman
Madhava Varman
Vikramendra Varman-I
Iodrabhattaraka Varman
Vikramendra Bhattaraka Varman
Govindavarma, great grandfather of vikramen- dra Bhattaraka Varma, was described as he himself described in the first Tummalagudem inscription. It said that Govinda Varma worshiped Buddha; built great temples and viharas and etc. It said that his son Madhava varma conducted thousands of rituals and sacrifices like Ashwamedha, Bahusuvama, Poundraka and vajapeya. It also narrated that. Madhava Varma ruled the region between the three- oceans in the southern India upto river reva in the Northern region.
Vikramendra Bhattaraka Varma described his grandfather vikraihendra Varma as a great worshippers of lord Buddha and as the son of vakataka princess. He described his father Indra bhattaraka varma as a great warrior who is a number of battles like sun, and had become an emperor with his dominance over cousins and competitors and protected his kingdom. Vikramendra Varma, who issued the inscription described himself as great warrior like his father and also as a noble saint, who had borne the responsibility of the kingdom from a very young age; that he won many victories in righteous battles and that his subordinates lowed their heads to him.
Vikramendra Varma-II donated a village named Irundera to the Buddhist Vihara built by Parama bhattarika Mahadevi at Indrapura. This was donated after he won a battle against a pallava king called simha and was going back to his capital; and issued an inscription then and there. It was written by a person called mularaju, who belonged to a noble family, the name of which was not revealed. This inscription narrated that wars were being fought between pallavas and vishnukundinas and also gave a detailed account of parama bhat- tarikadevi, who built a Buddhist Vihara, describing her birth, marriage, maternal status and others.
Devi followed Buddhism and sacrificed earthly desires and built a vihara to beautify Indrapura. She gave birth to the handsome and courageous Madhava Varma and brought luck to the vishnukundina dynasty. Thus the Second Tummalagudem inscription gave a lot of details about the vishnukundina dynasty.

Bit Bank

★ Who was the founder of Vishnukundina dynasty? – Indravarma
★ Who was the greatest ruler of Vishnukundina dynasty ? Madhava Varma-II
★ Which ruler of the dynasty ruled for the longest period ? – Madhava Varma – IV
★ Which dynasty rulers built cave teinples in front of hills/ mountains ? – Vishnukundinas
★ The inscriptions of vishnukundina dynasty were mostly written in – Sanskrit
★ Whom did the vishnukundinas worship ? – Sri Mallikaijuna
★ Name the vishnukundina ruler who fought a battle with Trilochana pallava ? – Madhava Varma – II
★ Which ruler of the dynasty not only conducted Rajasuya and Ashwamedha, but also the Naramedha sacrifice ? – Madhava Varma – II
★ The Buddhist stupa at Amaravati was lost by Buddhists to Hindus during the reign of this – Madhava Varma – II
★ Which dynasty ruled the vengi kingdom after salankayana dynasty ? – Vishnukundina
★ What are the sources of the history of vish- nukundinas in the Telangana region ? – Inscriptions of Tummalagudem, Nalgonda district (found recently)
★ Which king of the dynasty married a vakataka princess? . – Madhava Varma -1
★ Which Buddhist religious construction (kshetra) was influenced and guided the construction of Buddhist Aarama at Borobudur of Java ? – Lingala metta
★ Name the vishnukundina ruler who conducted “Ashwamedha sacrifices ? . – Madhava Varma- II
★ Which ruler resurrected the name and fame of vishnukundina dynasty by fighting battles with pallavas ? – Madhava Varma- II
★ Vikramendra Varma – II shifted his capital from Amarapuram to – Dendulur.
★ What title did Madhava Varma – II give himself after the victory over southern Andhra region ? – Trikuta Malayadhipati
★ Who was the last of vishnukundina ruler ? – Manchana Bhattaraka varma
★ The mention of ’Ghatikas or Ghatikasthanas1 was first seen in the inscriptions of this dynasty ? – Vishnukundina dynasty.
★ Divisions of the kingdom were called as by vish-nukundina dynasty – Rashtram or Vishayam
★ Officers called ‘Hastikosa and Veerakosa’ were present in the kingdom of ? – Vishnukundina dynasty
★ What was the title of Madhava Varma – I ? – Vikrama Mahendra
★ Name the only vishnukundina ruler who con¬verted to Buddhism ? – Govinda Varma
★ The Inscription issued by Govinda Varma ? – First inscription of Tummalagudem
★ Which metal was used to make coins by Vishnukundinas ?- Iron coins coated with copper.
★ Who ended the Vishnukundina dynasty ? – Durjayas and Pallavas
★ Which ruler had the title – ‘Avisita Vividha Divya’? – Madhava Varma- III
★ Which region was frequently mentioned the the inscriptions of Vishnukundinas ? – Sriparvata region
★ Who was the family lord of Vishnukundinas? – Sri Parvataswamy
★ Name the ruler who had the title- ‘Mahakavi’? – Vikramendra Varma -1
★ Which Vishnukundina ruler was defeated by Ishanavarma, last king of kannauj ? – Indrabhattaraka Varma
★ .Which king formed the system of ‘Ghatikas’ in education for the first time ? – Indrabhattaraka Varma
★ Which ruler ascended the throne with the help and support of the council of ministers ? – Vikramendra Varma- II
★ Who was the vishnukundina ruler that had the title – ‘uttamaasraya’ ? – Vikramendra Varma – II
★ Which vishnukundina ruler had the title ‘Janasraya’? – Madhava Varma- IV
★ What was the first capital of vislmukundinas? – Indrapura (Tummalagudem of Nalgonda district at present)
★ Who built the Indrapura ? – Indra Varma -1
★ What was the later capital of Vishnu kundinas ? – Trivaranagara ( Tiruvur at present)
★ Which king transferred the capital from Indrapura to Trivaranagara ? – Madhava Varma – IV
★ Early rulers who conducted Naramedha sacri-fices ? – Vishnukundinas
★ Evidences were found in excavations in Telangana, that the Vishnukundina rulers con-ducted Naramedha sacrifices at this region keesaragutta. . – Indravarma
★ Who were the pioneers and guides of pallavas in the resurrection of vedic faith and temple building ? – Vishnukundina dynasty
★ Which dynasty rulers built the kesari Ramalingeswara temple at keesaragutta in ’Telangana ? – Vishnukundinas
★ Where in Telangana region found coins of vish- nukundina period ?- Dondapadu, Eleswaram, Bhuvanagiri, Tummala gudem and phani- giri in Nalgonda district, kondapur in Medak district, Hyderabad and karimnagar district.
★ Name the Vishnukundina rulers, who issued the Tummalagudem inscriptions which helped to reveal the history of their dynasty ? –Govinda Varma (first) and Vikramendra ‘ Bhattaraka Varma (second).
★ Name the ruler who built the Govinda Vihara on the banks of river musi at chaitanyapuri in Hyderabad ? – Govinda Varma.
★ Bhattarika Mahadevi, queen of Govinda varma built the Parama Bhattaraka Vihara after her name at this place – Indrapalanagara (Tummalagudem)
★ Which villages were donated by Govinda varma to the Parama Bhattaraka Vihara – Embadala and Penkapara.
★ Which inscription mentioned lord Sriparvata swamy ? – Tummalagudem inscription.
★ Which inscription mentioned the family line and prayers of Buddha ? – Tummalagudem inscription
★ Ramalingeshwara temple of this place in Telangana was built during the reign of Vishnukundinas ? – Keesara (Rangareddy dt.)

Objective Bits

1. The inscriptions, which were the chief sources of Vishnukundina history were found at this place in Telangana ?
1. Tummalagudem (Nalgonda dt)
2. Keesara (Rangareddy dt)
3. Kotilingala (Karimnagar dt) –
4. Kondapur ( Medak dt)
Ans 1

2. Historians believe that this was the first capital of Vishnukundina dynasty
1. Indrapuram
2. Bhattiprolu
3. Vijayapuri
4. Sriparvata
Ans 1

3. Who was the founder of Vishnukundina dynasty?
1. Indravarma-1
2. Devavarma
3. Vikramendra Varma -1 4- Indrabhattaraka Varma
Ans 1

4. Which ruler issued the first inscription of Tumualagudem ?

1. Govinda Varma
2. Indra Varma
3. Madhava Varma-I
4. Madhava Varma-III
Ans 1

5. Which ruler described himself as Trikuta malayadhipati ?
1. Madhava Varma – II ,
2. Govinda Varma
3. Vikramendra Varma
4. Indrabhattaraka Varma
Ans 1

6. The reign of which king was considered as the ‘Golden era’ of vishnukundina dynasty?
1. Madhava Varma – II
2. Govinda Varma
3. Vikramendra Varma
4. Indrabhattaraka Varma
Ans 1

7. Name the ruler who conducted 100,000 Agnishtoma and eleven Ashwamedha sac-rifices ?
1. Madhava Varma – II
2. Devavarma
3. Vikramendra Varma -1
4. Indra Bhattaraka Varma
Ans 1

8. Which ruler had the titles – ‘Avasita Vividha divya, Janasraya and Parama Brahmanya’ ?
1. Madhava Varma – II
2. Madhava Varma – III
3. Manchana Bhattaraka
4. Govinda Varma
Ans 2

9. Which king ruled for the longest period in the Vishnukundina dynasty ?
1. Govinda Varma
2. Manchana Bhattaraka Varma
3. Madhava Varma- IV
4. Madhava Varma -1
Ans 3

10.Whowasthe last of Vishnukundina ruler,?
1. Madhava Varma – II ;
2. Madhava Varma – III
3. Manchana Bhattaraka Varma
4. Govinda Varma
Ans 3

11 Which inscription narrates that prtdhvi Maharaja occupied the Vishnukundina kingdom after defeating Manchana Bhattaraka?
1. Vipparla 2. Tandiwada
3. Chejerla 4. Amaravati
Ans 2

12. The mention of ‘Ghatikas or Chakisthanas’ was first seen in the inscriptions of
1. Pallavas 2. Vishnukundinas
3. Brihatpalayanas 4. Salankayanas
Ans 2

13. What is a ‘Ghatika’?
1. Bathing place
2. A Sanskrit educational centre
3. Buddhist text
4. Court of a king .
Ans 2

14. Who first built Hindu cave temples in the Telugu region ?
1. Pallavas 2. Chalukyas
3. Vishnukundinas 4. Salamkayanas
Ans 3

15. Coins of vishnukundina period were found at the following place in Telangana
1. Nalgonda district
2. Karimnagar district
3. Medak district and Hyderabad
4. All the above places
Ans 4

16. What was the royal symbol of Vishnukundina dynasty ?
1. Pig 2. Lion 3. Bull 4. Rat
Ans 2

17. Which ruler donated embadala and penka- para villages to the Parama Bhattaraka Vihara, built by Bhattarika Mahadevi ?
1. Govinda varma
2. Madhava varma
3. Indravarma
4. All the above
Ans 1

18. Temples of Vishnukundina period were located in this place in Telangana
1. Keesara 2. Phanigiri
3. Pedda Bankuru 4. Dhulikatta
Ans 1

19. Historian* and archaeologists believe that this was the first Sanskrit inscription found in the telangana region
1. Copper inscription of Tummalagudem
2. Bayyaram inscription
3. Manchikallu inscription
4. Vilasa copper inscription
Ans 1

20. One and only vishnukundina ruler who converted into Buddhism
1. Madhava Varma – II
2. Govinda Varma
3. Madhava Varma
4. Indra Varma •
Ans 2

21. Which among the following is considered as the first book on the Sanskrit grammar from Telangana region ?
1. Madhyamika Karika
2. Kreedabhiramam
3. Janashraya Chandovichithi
4. Yayati charitra
Ans 3

22. Which among the following inscriptions described the characteristics of Bhattarika Mahadevi, queen of Govinda Varma ?
1. First inscription of Tummalagudem
2. Second inscription of Tummalagudem
3. Bayyaram inscription ^
4. Kaluvacheru inscription
Ans 2

23. The prakrit inscription found at chai- tanyapuri, Hyderabad on the banks of river Musi gives details about the vihara built by which vishnukundina ruler ?
1. Indravarma
2. Madhava Varma
3. Govinda Varma
4. Vikramendra Varma
Ans 3