KALACHURI DYNASTY (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: In a small village of Madhya Pradesh, a group of archaeologists brushes off centuries of earth from layer bricks being uncovered from under two mounds. 

oThe dig sites are in Nachne village, merely 30 metres from another archaeological wonder a Gupta-era Parvati temple — and close to Chaumukhi temple, built by the Kalachuri Dynasty (6th-7th centuries CE).

Kalachuri Dynasty

• Founder: The dynasty was founded by Kokalla I (850-885 AD).
• Rule of Extent: They governed parts of central India, encompassing regions like Gorakhpur, Ratnapur, and Rajpur in eastern Gujarat.
• Sources: The Karitalai inscription of Lakshmanaraja I portrays them as Rashtrakuta feudatories.
• The Gyaraspur inscription traces their lineage back to Kartavirya Arjuna.
• Territorial Extent and Capital: Initially, the Kalachuris ruled over northern Maharashtra, Gujarat, Malwa, and parts of the Western Deccan. Their capital was located at Mahishmati, situated in the Narmada River Valley.
• Southern Expansion: Another branch of the Kalachuri Dynasty, known as Haihaya, extended its rule to Southern India, particularly Karnataka, during the 10th to 12th centuries.
• The Kalachuri Dynasty has various branches; some of the most prominent branches of Kalachuri are

oKalachuri of Mahishmati

oKalachuri of Tripura

oKalachuri of Kalyani

oKalachuri of Ratanpur

• Religion: They primarily followed Shaivism but also supported Jainism.
• Decline: Subsequent rulers, weaker in governance, struggled to manage the empire, facing frequent invasions, resulting in a gradual loss of territory and influence.