Later Gangas Mandali Thousand

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 50

Prolegomena / 7
Gangas and the Rāṣṭrakūtas friendship developed into virtually collateral branches of the royal line with marital status. Candrobalabbe was married to Būtuga-l, and Revakanimmaḍi-I was married to the Ganga prince Ereyanga, both were daughters of Amoghavarṣa. Revakanimmaḍi-II, daughter of Baddega and sister of Krişṇa-III, was the wife of Būtuga-II. Kriṣṇa-III presented the 'Madanavatara', royal umbrella of rare honour, to Maruladeva, son of his sister and Būtuga-ll, on the auspicious occasion of the latter's coronation. Kriṣṇa-III himself came to the Ganga capital to attend the coronation ceremony of Mārasimha-ll. Thus, the Gangas had their saving grace in their adverseries, because the Rāṣṭrakūtas cleared the uneasiness by showering on them the warmth of royal treatment, sharing their moments of joy and distress. However, the Gangas while under the aegis of their soverigns, maintained the dignity and identity, and served on the basis of equality. Besides, the Gangas and the Rāṣṭrakūtas were bound together by bonds of a common religion, culture and language.
But, when the things were going smooth, the imperial Rāṣṭrakūtas suffered a set back, never to come back. Ceasing the opportunity, Taliapa-Il heralded and renewed the Calukya dynasty, captured the capital Manyakheța, crowned himself as the emperor. The death of the champion Mārasimha (C.E. 974) led to a greater crisis in the Ganga family, symbolised the disintegration and migration of the forlorn Gangas. Indra-IV terminated his life (982 C.E.) in despair by the rite of Sallekahanā, a slow starvation, at Śravanabelagola. That was the end of the Rāṣṭrakūța rule, and the whole of their kingdom became the Calukya territory. After that those, who were rather reluctant also acknowledged the suzerainty of Tailapa-II. The Rāṣṭrakūtas had gone totally destroyed but, some how the Ganga candle did not extinguish and continued to burn, casting its light on a limited zone of the Mandalināḍ, who could strike a deal with which they were restored to their throne, but never to raise above the Calukya imperialism; the Gangas had no option but to acknowledge their suzeranity. There after, as the efficient torch-bearer of the Ganga