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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Tailapa
| title = Ahavamalla
| image = Old Kannada inscription dated Shaka 913 (c.991 AD) of Kalyani (Western) Chalukya King Ahvamalla Tailapa II.JPG
| alt = Tailapa II
| caption = Old Kannada inscription dated c. 991 of Tailapa II
| succession = Founder of [[Western Chalukya Empire]]
| reign = {{circa|973|997}} (24 years)
| predecessor = [[Karka II]]
| successor = [[Satyashraya]]
| consort = Jakavve
| issue = [[Satyashraya]], Dashavarman
| dynasty = [[Western Chalukya Empire|Chalukya]]
}}
{{Chalukyas|Kalyani}}
'''Tailapa II''' (r. c. 973-997), also known as '''Taila II''' and by his title ''Ahavamalla'', was the founder of the [[Western Chalukyas|Western Chalukya dynasty]] in southern India. Tailapa claimed descent from the earlier [[Chalukyas of Vatapi]], and initially ruled as a [[Rashtrakuta]] [[vassal]] from the Tardavadi-1000 province in the modern [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur district]] of [[Karnataka]]. When the Rashtrakuta power declined following an invasion by the [[Paramara]] king [[Siyaka]], Tailapa overthrew the Rashtrakuta king [[Karka II]], and established a new dynasty.

Tailapa spent several years consolidating his control over the western [[Deccan]] region between the [[Narmada river|Narmada]] and the [[Tungabhadra river|Tungabhadra]] rivers. Gradually, several former Rashtrakuta feudatories, including the [[Shilahara]]s, acknowledged his suzerainty. Tailapa successfully resisted [[Chola]] and [[Paramara]] invasions, and imprisoned and killed the invading Paramara king [[Vakpati Munja|Munja]]. His general Barapa captured the [[Lata (region)|Lata]] region in present-day [[Gujarat]], establishing the [[Chalukyas of Lata|Lata Chalukya]] line of chiefs. Tailapa's successors continued to rule the western Deccan region until the 12th century.

== Ancestry ==

The records of Tailapa's dynasty trace his patrilineal ancestry to the [[Chalukyas of Vatapi]], and also connect him to the [[Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta]] and the [[Kalachuris of Chedi]] through matrilineal descent. The Vatapi Chalukya king [[Vijayaditya]] was succeeded by his son [[Vikramaditya II]]: the records of Tailapa's family claim that Vijayaditya had another (unnamed) son, from whom the family descended.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=72}}

The Chalukya court poet [[Ranna (Kannada poet)|Ranna]] provides the following genealogy connecting Tailapa to the earlier Chalukya dynasty:{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|pp=72-73}}

* Vijayaditya II, Chalukya king of Vatapi
* Unnamed prince who was as strong as Bhima I
* Kirtivarman
* Taila I (Tailapa I)
* Bhima II (or Bhimaraja)
* Vikramaditya III
* Ayyana I, who married daughter of Krishna (identified as the Rashtrakuta king [[Krishna II]])
* Vikramaditya IV, who married Bontha Devi, a daughter of the Kalachuri king Lakshmana-raja
* Taila II (Tailapa II)

The 11th century inscriptions of Tailapa's descendants (such as the Kauthem grant) provide a similar genealogy, but they state that Vikramaditya III was the son of Taila I and that Bhima II was the son of Vikramaditya.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|pp=72-73}} However, the Vatapi Chalukya records make no mention of Vijayaditya's unnamed son. The differences between the genealogies provided by Ranna and the later inscriptions also cast doubt on the claim that Tailapa's family was connected to the earlier Chalukya royals.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=73}}

Tailapa's immediate ancestors appear to have been feudatories of the Rashtrakutas, who had displaced the earlier Chalukyas of Vatapi. The marriage of Tailapa's grandfather Ayyana I to a Rashtrakuta princess probably raised the family's political status. A [[Devihosur]] inscription of the Rashtrakuta king [[Krishna III]] (r. 939-967) mentions one Vikramaditya, who can be identified with Tailapa's father Vikramaditya IV.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=73}}

== Early life ==

Like his father, Tailapa served as a feudatory to the [[Rashtrakuta]] king [[Krishna III]]. He finds a mention in the 957 Karjol inscription and the 965 Narasalagi inscriptions issued during the reign of Krishna.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=73}} The 957 inscription calls him Tailapayya, and states that he ruled a ''nadu'' (administrative unit) as Krishna's subordinate. The 965 inscription calls him ''Maha-samantadhipati Ahavamalla'' Tailaparasa of Satyashraya family (''Satyashraya-kula-tilaka''), and states that Krishna had granted him the fief of Tardavadi-1000.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=319}}

At this time, he also held the title "Chalukya [[Rama]]", and had a subordinate from the Khachara family.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=73}}

== Rise to power ==

Tailapa's Rashtrakuta overlord Krishna III died around 967, and was succeeded by [[Khottiga]]. In 972, the [[Paramara]] ruler [[Siyaka]], who had earlier served as a feudatory to the Rashtrakutas in [[Malwa]], invaded and sacked their capital [[Manyakheta]].{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=297}} As a result, the political status of the Rashtrakutas declined greatly. Khottiga died without an heir shortly after Siyaka's raid, and was succeeded by his nephew [[Karka II]].{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=298}} Karka had sidelined Krishna's grandson Indra IV to ascend the throne, thus alienating Indra's maternal uncle Marasimha, who was a powerful Rashtrakuta feudatory from the [[Western Ganga dynasty|Ganga]] family.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}} The records of Tailapa's dynasty suggest that Karka was a weak ruler, and that the vicious nature of two of his principal ministers had led to dissatisfaction among his subjects.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}}

Tailapa used this opportunity to usurp the throne. He was supported by his [[Yadavas of Devagiri|Yadava]] feudatory [[Bhillama II]] and the Chalukya chief Baddega II of [[Lakshmeshwara]].{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}} He may also have been supported by the [[Kalachuris of Tripuri]], the family of his mother: an enmity had developed between the Rashtrakutas and the Kalachuris during the reign of Krishna III.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=298}}

In 973, Tailapa dethroned Karka and established a new dynasty. His records state that he became a sovereign after a fierce battle, in which Karka's two "wicked" ministers were killed.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}} Karka's ally Ranakambha, a member of the Rashtrakuta family, was also killed in the battle. According to one theory, Karka was killed in the battle,{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=320}} but according to another theory, he escaped and ruled a small principality around [[Soraba]] until 991.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}}

After this victory, Tailapa marched to the Rashtrakuta capital Manyakheta, and occupied the throne.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}} Krishna's grandson Indra, supported by the Ganga chief Marasimha, disputed Tailapa's ascension. Tailapa defeated them decisively: both men ultimately retired as [[Jain]] monks, and died by ''[[sallekhana]]'' (death by starvation) - Marasimha in 975, and Indra in 982.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}}

Marasimha's successor Panchaladeva also fought against Tailapa, and described himself as ''Chalukya Panchanana'' ("Lion to the Chalukyas") in his 975 [[Mulgund]] inscription. The inscription claims that he ruled the entire peninsular territory to the south of the [[Krishna River]], which is an obvious exaggeration.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=320}} Tailapa ultimately defeated and killed Panchaladeva: several Chalukya inscriptions boast that Tailapa cut off his head on the battlefield.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}} These inscriptions also give Tailapa the title ''Panchalamardana Panchanana'' ("Lion who killed Panchala").{{sfn|Pandurang Bhimarao Desai|1970|p=156}} Tailapa must have defeated Panchaladeva around 975-976, because Tailapa's inscriptions dated to around 976 have been found in the neighbouring region.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}}

Tailapa married a Rashtrakuta princess Jakavve, the daughter of Bhammaha Ratta, possibly to strengthen his political position.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=299}}{{sfn|Kamath|2001|pp=100-101}} Gradually, many former Rashtrakuta feudatories accepted his suzerainty:

* Shantivarma, who ruled in the present-day [[Soraba]] area, and belonged to the Brahma-Kshatriya Mātūr-vaṃśa family.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=320}}
* Kannapa, who ruled the [[Banavasi]] area: he was one of the first chiefs to recognize Tailapa's suzerainty. His younger brother and successor Sobhanarasa served Tailapa as a loyal general, and received the titles ''giri-durga-malla'' (wrestler with hill forts) and ''samanta-chudamani" (the crest-jewel among the feudatories).{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}}
* [[Ratta dynasty|Rattas]] of [[Saundatti]]: The 980 [[Sogal]] inscription of Karttavirya and the Saundatti inscription of ''Mahasamanta'' Shantivarma acknowledge Tailapa as the overlord of the Rattas.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}}
* The Sinda ruler Pulikala, who ruled the [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur area]], as well as his successors of the Bagadage branch.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}}
* The [[Nolamba dynasty|Nolambas]], as attested by a 981 grant of the Nolamba queen Revaladevi, which was confirmed by Tailapa.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=73}}

== Conflicts with neighbouring rulers ==

=== Shilaharas ===

''Gadayuddha'', composed by the Chalukya court poet Ranna, states that by Tailapa's order, prince [[Satyashraya]] chased the ''Konkaneshvara'' (the [[Shilahara]] ruler of [[Konkan]]) to the sea. The Shilaharas ultimately transferred their allegiance from the Rashtrakutas to the Chalukyas, as attested by the 997 Bhadana inscription of ''Mahamandaleshvara'' [[Aparajita]].{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}}

=== Lata ===

According to ''Gadayuddha'', prince [[Satyashraya]] also conquered the [[Gurjara]] region on Tailapa's orders.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}} Tailapa's commander Barapa, who captured the [[Lata (region)|Lata]] region in present-day [[Gujarat]], established the [[Chalukyas of Lata|Lata Chalukya]] branch of the family.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=321}} A 980 inscription that describes Tailapa as a lion to the Lata elephant probably refers to Barapa's conquest of Lata.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}}

=== Paramaras ===

Tailapa seems to have inherited the Rashtrakuta enmity with their northern neighbours, the [[Paramara]]s.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}} Tailapa's conflict with the Paramara ruler [[Vakpati Munja|Munja]] (Siyaka's successor) finds a mention in several inscriptions and literary works.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}}

According to the 14th century Jain scholar [[Merutunga]], whose ''[[Prabandha-Chintamani]]'' account of Munja is based on a now-lost [[Apabhramsa]] poem called ''Munja-rasa'',{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|pp=103-104}} Tailapa harassed Munja by raiding his kingdom on multiple occasions. Munja defeated him six times (sixteen times, according to one manuscript).{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}} Ultimately, Munja decided to launch a decisive war against Tailapa, and against the advice of his prime minister Rudraditya, crossed the [[Godavari river]] to invade the Chalukya kingdom. During this campaign, Tailapa defeated and captured Munja.{{sfn|Kailash Chand Jain|1972|pp=339-340}} Merutunga further states that Munja and Tailapa's sister Mrinalavati fell in love during his imprisonment. Meanwhile, Munja's ministers entered the Chalukya kingdom in disguise, and managed to get in touch with Munja. They made a rescue plan, which Munja divulged to Mrinalavati, because he wanted to take her with him. Mrinalavati told her brother about Munja's escape plan. As a result, Tailapa humiliated Munja by forcing him to beg door-to-door, and then had him executed.{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|pp=103-104}}

While Merutunga's account may not be entirely accurate from a historical perspective, there is little doubt that Munja was killed in Deccan in the mid-990s, as a result of his campaign against Tailapa.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=323}} The 1003 Kauthem inscription records Tailapa's imprisonment of Utpala (another name for Munja).{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}}

In his victory against Munja, Tailapa appears to have been aided by his [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Yadava]] vassal [[Bhillama II]].{{sfn|Krishna Narain Seth|1978|p=102}} The 1000 [[Sangamner]] inscription of Bhillama II poetically boasts that Bhillama thrashed the goddess of prosperity [[Lakshmi]] on the battlefield because she had sided with Munja, and forced her to become an obedient housewife in the palace of king Rana-ranga-bhima (a synonym of Tailapa's title ''Ahavamalla'').{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}}

=== Cholas ===

As a Rashtrakuta vassal, Tailapa may have participated in his overlord Krishna III's campaigns against their southern neighbours, the [[Chola]]s.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=323}} A 980 inscription describes Tailapa as [[Indra]]'s [[vajra|thunderbolt]] to the strong Chola mountain.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}} At that time, the Chola king was [[Uttama Chola|Uttama]], and it is possible that his attempts to recover the territories captured by Krishna brought him into conflict with Tailapa.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=74}}

Uttama's successor [[Rajaraja Chola I|Rajaraja I]] invaded and captured several territories in present-day Karnataka, as attested by a 991 [[Mysore]] inscription and other inscriptions that mention his conquest of [[Western Ganga dynasty|Ganga]] and [[Nolamba dynasty|Nolamba]] territories 993 onwards.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=323}} Tailapa's 992 [[Kogali]] inscription states that he stayed at a military camp at Rodda (in present-day [[Anantapur district]]) after defeating the Chola king and seizing 150 [[war elephant]]s from the enemy.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=323}}

== Successors ==
[[File:Western-chalukya-empire-map.svg|thumb|Extent of Western Chalukya Empire in 1121, over a century after Tailapa's death]]
Tailapa died around 997.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1957|p=74}} He and his queen Jakavve had two sons: [[Satyashraya]] and Dashavarman (alias Yashovarman). Tailapa was succeeded by his elder son Satyashraya, and then by Dashavarman's son [[Vikramaditya V]].{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=323}}

Tailapa maintained his headquarters at the former Rashtrakuta capital [[Manyakheta]]. His son and successor Satyashraya ruled Rattapadi, and the contemporary [[Chola]] inscriptions often use the term Rattapadi to describe the Chalukya kingdom. The later Chalukya rulers ruled from [[Basavakalyan|Kalyani]].{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}}

== Cultural activities ==

The Chalukya court poet Ranna composed his ''Gadayuddha'' during the reign of ''Ahavamalla'', who is identified as Tailapa II by some scholars. However, the text refers to his son [[Satyashraya]] as an emperor, and the title ''Ahavamalla'' was also held by Satyashraya. Because of this, other scholars believe that the ''Gadayuddha'' was composed during Satyashraya's reign.{{sfn|Pratipal Bhatia|1970|p=370}} [[M. Govinda Pai|Govinda Pai]], a 20th-century Kannada poet, theorized that Ranna composed the first version of ''Gadayuddha'' in 982 (during Tailapa's reign). To explain the text's mention of a mid-990s battle and its comparison to a 993 [[solar eclipse]], Pai theorized that Ranna must have revised the text at a later date.{{sfn|Neerkaje Thirumaleshwara Bhat|1993|p=104}}

The [[Kalleshvara Temple, Bagali|Kalleshvara temple]] complex at Bagali, originally consecrated during the late Rashtrakuta rule, was completed during Tailapa's reign. In 987, an individual named Duggimayya consecrated the shrine, and a feudatory named Mahasamanta Adityavarma commissioned a garden in the temple complex.{{sfn|Michael W. Meister|Madhusudan A. Dhaky|1996|p=23}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=A. S. Altekar |author-link=Anant Sadashiv Altekar |chapter=The Rāshtrakūtas |editor=Ghulam Yazdani |title=The Early History of the Deccan Parts |volume=1 (Parts I-IV) |year=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lllDAAAAYAAJ |oclc=59001459 |pages=315–468 }}
* {{cite book |author=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |chapter=The Chāḷukyas of Kalyāṇi and the Kalachuris of Kalyāṇi |editor=Ghulam Yazdani |title=The Early History of the Deccan Parts |volume=1 (Parts I-IV) |year=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lllDAAAAYAAJ |oclc=59001459 |pages=315–468 }}
* {{cite book |author=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |chapter=The Cāḷukyas of Kalyāṇa |editor=R. S. Sharma |title=A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206 |volume=4 (Part 1) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahFuAAAAMAAJ |year=1957 |publisher=Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House | isbn=978-81-7007-121-1 |pages=72–102 }}
* {{cite book |author=Kailash Chand Jain |title=Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3O7q7cU7k0C&pg=PA158 |year=1972 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0824-9 }}
* {{cite book |author=Krishna Narain Seth |title=The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Q4dAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Progress |year=1978 }}
* {{cite book |author1=Michael W. Meister |author1-link=Michael W. Meister |author2=Madhusudan A. Dhaky |author2-link=Madhusudan Dhaky |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture |volume=1 (Part 3) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p1GzJRNhnnsC |year=1996 |publisher=American Institute of Indian Studies |isbn=978-81-86526-00-2 }}
* {{cite book |author=Neerkaje Thirumaleshwara Bhat |title=Govind Pai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FgvHhDqmJw8C&pg=PA104 |year=1993 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-7201-540-4 }}
* {{cite book |author=Pandurang Bhimarao Desai |title=A History of Karnataka: From Pre-history to Unification |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YAgeAAAAMAAJ |year=1970 |publisher=Kannada Research Institute, Karnatak University }}
* {{cite book |author=Pratipal Bhatia |title=The Paramāras, c. 800-1305 A.D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5gcAAAAMAAJ |year=1970 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal |oclc=776890380 }}
* {{cite book |first=Suryanath U. |last=Kamath |author-link=Suryanath U. Kamath |title=A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present|orig-year=1980|year= 2001|publisher= Jupiter books|location= Bangalore|oclc= 7796041 |lccn= 80905179 }}
{{ref end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tailapa 02}}
[[Category:997 deaths]]
[[Category:Western Chalukya Empire]]
[[Category:10th-century Indian monarchs]]

Tailapa II - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article