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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Not to be confused with|Pulakeshin II}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Short description|Chalukya emperor from 543 to 566}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Pulakeshin I
| title = Satyashraya, Vallabha, Dharma-maharaja
| succession = [[Chalukya king]]
| reign = {{circa|543|566}}
| predecessor = [[Ranaraga]]
| successor = [[Kirttivarman I]]
| house = [[Chalukyas of Vatapi]]
| house-type = Dynasty
| father = [[Ranaraga]]
| issue = [[Kirttivarman I]]
}}
{{Chalukyas|Vatapi}}
'''Pulakeshin''' ([[IAST]]: Pulakeśin, c. 543–566) was the first sovereign ruler of the [[Chalukyas of Vatapi|Chalukya]] dynasty of [[Vatapi]] (modern Badami). He ruled parts of the present-day [[Maharashtra]] and [[Karnataka]] states in the western [[Deccan]] region of India. Pulakeshin established the city of Vatapi, and performed the [[Ashvamedha]] sacrifice to assert his sovereign status. The dynasty established by him went on to rule a major part of peninsular India in the subsequent years.

== Names and titles ==

Various variants of the name "Pulakeshin" appear in the dynasty's inscriptions, including Polekeshin (Polekeśin), Polikeshin (Polikeśin), and Pulikeshin (Pulikeśin). According to historians [[John Faithfull Fleet|J. F. Fleet]] and [[Dineshchandra Sircar|D. C. Sircar]], the name may be a [[Sanskrit]]-[[Kannada language|Kannada]] hybrid word meaning "tiger-haired". [[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri]], on the other hand, derived the name from the Sanskrit words ''pula'' or ''pola'' ("great") and ''keśin'' ("lion").{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=33}}{{sfn|K. V. Ramesh|1984|p=31}}

The Chalukya inscriptions confer a number of titles and epithets on Pulakeshin:{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=34}}

* ''Satyashraya'' (abode of truth)
* ''Rana-vikrama'' (valorous in war); appears in the [[Satara (city)|Satara]] copper-plate inscription of Vishnuvardhana and the [[Godachi]] copper plate inscription of Klrttivarman I
* ''[[Prithvi-vallabha (title)|Shri-prithvi-vallabha]]'' (the husband of the goddess of fortune and the Earth i.e. [[Vishnu]]), and its variants (''Vallabha'', ''Vallabha-raja'', ''Shri-vallabha''); this title indicates paramountcy
* ''Maharaja'' (great king)
* ''Raja-simha'' (lion among kings); appears in the Altem copper-plate inscription
* ''Dharma-maharaja'' (great king of ''[[dharma]]''); appears in the Godachi inscription

== Early life ==

Pulakeshin was the son and successor of [[Ranaraga]], and a grandson of [[Jayasimha (Vatapi Chalukya dynasty)|Jayasimha]], the earliest historically attested ruler of his family. His predecessors were vassal kings, probably that of the [[Kadamba dynasty|Kadambas]] or the early Rashtrakutas of Manapura (not to be confused with the later imperial [[Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta]]).{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|pp=27-32}} The records of the later [[Chalukyas of Kalyani|Kalyani Chalukyas]], who claimed descent from the Vatapi Chalukyas, name Pulakeshin's father as Vijayaditya. However, these records can be dismissed as unreliable, as the Vatapi Chalukya records explicitly name Ranaraga as Pulakeshin's father.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=33}}

== Reign ==

Pulakeshin was the first sovereign ruler of his dynasty, and as such, has been termed as the "real founder" of his dynasty.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=34}} Some scholars, such as [[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri]], theorize that Pulakeshin was initially a Kadamba vassal, and later declared independence by taking control of the area around Vatapi. Others, such as Durga Prasad Dikshit, theorize that he was a feudatory of the Rashtrakutas of Manapura, and captured the former Kadamba territory as their subordinate.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=36}}

The Chalukya inscriptions suggest that Pulakeshin made Vatapi his capital by constructing a fort there.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=35}} His earliest inscription, issued under the title ''Vallabheshvara'', has been discovered at Badami, and is dated to 543 CE ([[Shaka era|Shaka]] year 465). Pulakeshin probably ascended the throne a few years earlier, around 540.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|pp=34-35}}

According to his 543 Badami inscription, Pulakeshin performed [[Ashvamedha]] sacrifice.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=35}} However, the early records of the dynasty do not provide any specific details about his military achievements. Historian [[D. C. Sircar]] suggested that the Chalukya military successes achieved during his reign can be attributed to his son and commander-in-chief [[Kirttivarman I]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=36}} This suggestion is corroborated by the fact that the [[Chiplun]] inscription credits Kirttivarman I with founding the city of Vatapi.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|pp=36-37}} However, this statement can alternatively be explained by assuming that the construction of the Vatapi fort was started during Pulakeshin's reign and was completed during Kirttivarman's reign.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=37}}

== Inscriptions ==
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The following inscriptions dated to Pulakeshin's reign have been discovered:

* 543 CE ([[Shaka era|Shaka]] year 465) Badami rock inscription{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=34}}
* 566-567 CE (Shaka year 488, expired) [[Amminabhavi]] stone tablet inscription, records a grant to the shrine of the deity Kalideva{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=35}}

== Religion ==

Epigraphic evidence suggests that Pulakeshin followed the [[historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=37}} According to the [[Godachi]] inscription of his son [[Kirttivarman I]], Pulakeshin bore the title ''Dharma-maharaja'' (great king of ''[[dharma]]''). Historian [[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri]] theorized that this title suggests that Pulakeshin actively promoted the Vedic faith (''dharma'') against [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]]."{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=34}}

Pulakeshin's 543 CE Badami inscription states that he performed [[Ashvamedha]] and other sacrifices in accordance with the [[Shrauta]] (Vedic) tradition.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=35}} The [[Mahakuta Pillar]] inscription of his son Mangalesha states that he performed the Agnishtoma, Agnichayana, Vajapeya, Bahusuvarna, Paundarika, Ashvamedha, and Hiranyagarbha sacrifices. The inscription describes him as a person who upholds the teachings of the [[brahmins|brahmanas]] (''brahmaya''), heeds to the elders (''vriddhopadesha-grahi''), speaks the truth, and never breaks promises.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=37}}

The Nerur inscription of Mangalesha states that Pulakeshin was fully knowledgeable about the ''[[Manusmriti]]''; and had mastered the ''[[Puranas]]'', the ''[[Ramayana]]'', the ''[[Mahabharata|Bharata]]'', and other ''[[itihasa]]'' texts. It also states that he was like the deity [[Brihaspati]] in ''niti'' (politics). Other dynastic records compare him to the legendary kings of Hindu mythology, including [[Yayati]] and [[Dilīpa]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=37}}

Pulakeshin's 566-567 CE [[Amminabhavi]], issued under the title ''Satyashraya'', records the grants made by him to the deity Kalideva on the occasion of a [[solar eclipse]], on the new moon day, in the month of [[Vaisakha]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=35}} He had his son Kirttivarman make an endowment to the shrine of god Makuteshvara-natha at [[Mahakuta group of temples|Mahakuta]] near Badami.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=37}}

== Personal life ==

Pulakeshin married Durlabha-devi, who came from the Bappura lineage. The Mahakuta pillar inscription states that she was like the legendary [[Damayanti]] in her devotion to her husband.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=37}} The [[Aihole]] inscription states that Pulakeshin, "though he was the consort of Indukanti and though he was the favourite lord of [[Lakshmi|Shri]] (the goddess of fortune), had espoused the bride of Vatapi-puri (city of Vatapi)". According to various interpretations, "Induktani" (literally "lustre of the moon") is a poetic expression or means that before the foundation of Vatapi, Pulakeshin ruled a city called Indukanti. However, it is more likely that Indukanti was the name of Pulakeshin's another queen.{{sfn|K. V. Ramesh|1984|p=38}}

Pulakeshin was succeeded by his sons, first [[Kirttivarman I]], and then [[Mangalesha]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=37}} Pugavarman, a Chalukya prince attested by a [[Mudhol]] inscription, is sometimes thought to be a son of Pulakeshin, but this is not certain: he may have been a son of Mangalesha.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|pp=37-38}}

Kirttivarman's Badami inscription, issued during his 12th regnal year, is dated to the [[Shaka era|Shaka]] year 500. Thus, he must have succeeded Pulakeshin in the Shaka year 488-489, that is, 566-567 CE.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=39}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Durga Prasad Dikshit |title=Political History of the Chālukyas of Badami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lEB11tKmCgcC&pg=PA152 |year=1980 |publisher=Abhinav |oclc=8313041 }}
* {{cite book |author=K. V. Ramesh |title=Chalukyas of Vātāpi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JAwhAAAAMAAJ |year=1984 |publisher=Agam Kala Prakashan |oclc=567370037 }}
{{ref end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pulakeshin 01}}
[[Category:6th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Early Chalukyas]]
[[Category:Chalukya kings]]

Pulakeshin I - Revision history

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