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CHAPTER - 1
THE RĀȘTRAKŪTA MONARCHS - A
1.1. The origin of the Rāstrakūtas has been traced to Lātūr (Lattalūr/Lattanür/Rattanūr), a town in modern Osmānābād Dt, in the Marățhvāda region of the modern Mahārāstra. Lātūr situated in between Ellora and Maļkhēd lends support to this theory. Some epigraphs contain the expression of Lattalūra - Puravarādhisa, lord of the city Lattalür. It is suggested that the imperial family name Rāstrakūta’was professional designation meaning, the head of territorial division of Rāştra'.
1.1.1. But, difference of opinion regarding the original home and the location of their capital, still persists. Available data suggests that Govindarāja (C. 611 C.E.), the probable progenitor of the Rāştrakūta dynasty, was a vassal of Budharāja, the Kalacuri monarch, settled in Ēlāpura (Ellārā) area. Govinda migrated to south only after Pulakēsin-II accorded him a fief in C.E. 611, accepting the Cālukya suzerainty. For nearely a hundred years or more, they remained loyal to the Cālukyas of Bādāmi (Sk. Vātāpi), till Dantidurga became their chief. Thus, the period between C. E. 620 and 730 was unconsequential. Gökāk Plates
1.2. Gōkāk copper plates mention the name of Dējja Mahārāja of the Rāştrakūta dynasty. It states that
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