Chaulukyas of Gujarat (Solankis)
c. 940 CE–1244 CE
A Chaulukya-Paramara coin, circa 950–1050 CE. Stylized rendition ofChavda dynasty coins:Indo-Sassanian style bust right; pellets and ornaments around / Stylised fire altar; pellets around.[1]
Map of the Chaulukyas circa 1150 CE[2]
Capital	Anahilavada (modernPatan)
Religion	Hinduism,Jainism
Government	Monarchy
History
• Established	c. 940 CE
• Disestablished	1244 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Chavda dynasty Chalukyas of Lata Vaghela dynasty Cutch State
Today part of	India

TheChaulukya dynasty (IAST:Caulukya), alsoSolanki dynasty, was a dynasty that ruled parts of what are nowGujarat andRajasthan in north-western India, betweenc. 940 CE andc. 1244 CE. Their capital was located atAnahilavada (modern Patan). At times, their rule extended to theMalwa region in present-dayMadhya Pradesh. The family is also known as the "Solanki dynasty" in the vernacular literature. They belonged to theSolanki clan ofRajputs.^[3][4][5]

Mularaja, the founder of the dynasty, supplanted the last ruler of theChavda dynasty around 940 CE. His successors fought several battles with the neighbouring rulers such as theChudasamas, theParamaras and theChahamanas of Shakambhari. During the reign ofBhima I, theGhaznavid rulerMahmud invaded the kingdom and raided theSomnath temple during 1024–1025 CE. The Chaulukyas soon recovered, and the kingdom reached its zenith under the rule ofJayasimha Siddharaja andKumarapala in the 12th century. Several minor dynasties, such as theChahamanas of Jalor and theChahamanas of Naddula, served as Chaulukya vassals during this period. After Kumarapala's death, the kingdom was gradually weakened by internal rebellions; uprisings by feudatories; and invasions by theParamaras, theGhurids, theYadavas and others. Taking advantage of this, theVaghelas, who had earlier served as Chaulukya generals, usurped the power and established a new dynasty in the 1240s.

Severalprincely state rulers of theSolanki clan claimed descent from the Chaulukyas.

The dynasty used the self-designation "Chaulukya" in all but four of its records.^[6] The four exceptions are:^[7]

• "Chaulukika" in theKadi grant ofMularaja
• "Saulkika" in a grant ofChamundaraja
• "Chaulakya" in theSambhar inscription ofJayasimha
• "Chaullakya" in theJalor inscription ofKumarapala

Hemachandra, a Jain scholar in the Chaulukya court, generally used the terms "Chaulukya" and "Chulukya".^[7] HisDvyasraya Mahakavya mentions the variants "Chulakya", "Chalukka", and "Chulukka"; hisKumarapala-Charita mentions another variant "Chuluga". The Chaulukya court poetSomeshvara describes the dynasty as "Chaulukya" (inKirti-Kaumudi) and "Chulukya" (in theAbu inscription ofVastupala and Tejapala).^[8]

"Solanki" or "Solankhi" is a vernacular form of the term.^[9]

Find spots of inscriptions issued during the Chaulukya rule^[10]

The word "Chaulukya" is thought to be a variant of the word "Chalukya". Several other dynasties were known by the name "Chalukya", including the Chalukyas ofVatapi,Navasarika,Vemulavada,Kalyani,Vengi andLata. These dynasties are sometimes thought to be branches of the same family, but the relationship between all of them is not certain. Unlike the Chalukyas of Kalyani and Vengi, the Chaulukyas of Gujarat never claimed a shared descent or any other association with the earliest Chalukya dynasty—the Chalukyas of Vatapi. Moreover, they never used the term "Chalukya" to describe themselves.^[6]

However, the Chaulukyas of Gujarat shared a myth of origin with the Chalukyas of Kalyani and Vengi. According to this legend, the progenitor of the dynasty was created byBrahma.^[6] The version of the legend mentioned in theVadnagarprashasti inscription ofKumarapala is as follows: thedeities once asked the creator godBrahma to protect them from thedanavas (demons). Brahma then created a hero from hischuluka (pot or folded palm inSanskrit), which was filled withGanges water. This hero was named "Chulukya", and became the progenitor of the dynasty. A variation of this legend is mentioned by Abhayatilaka Gani in his commentary onHemachandra'sDvyashraya-Kavya. According to this version, Brahma produced the hero to support the earth, after his other creations disappointed him. These stories are of no historical value, as it was customary for contemporary royal houses to claim mythical and heroic origins. TheKumarapala-Bhupala-Charita of Jayasimha Suri presents Chulukya as a historical warrior, whose capital was Madhupadma. Mularaja was his descendant, with nearly a hundred generations separating the two.^[11] This account may be partly historical: Madhupadma has been identified variously as a location outside Gujarat, including present-dayMathura.^[12]

C. V. Vaidya theorized that the Chaulukyas were different from the Chalukyas.G. H. Ojha opposed this theory, pointing out that an inscription of the Lata Chalukya ruler Kirtiraja describes his family as "Chalukya", while an inscription of his grandson Trilochanapala describes the family as "Chaulukya".^[8] According to Asoke Majumdar, while these similar-sounding names suggest a common origin for all these dynasties, there is no concrete evidence to draw any definitive conclusion.^[6] Majumdar theorized that the Chaulukyas were connected to the Sulikas or the Chulikas, a tribe mentioned in several ancient records. This tribe is described as living on the northern frontier of ancient India. However, Majumdar admitted that there is not enough evidence to regard this theory as conclusive.^[13] According to theAgnikula myth mentioned in a 16th-century recension of the legendary epic poemPrithviraj Raso, four Rajput clans including the Chaulukyas were born from a fire-pit onMount Abu. A section ofcolonial-era historians interpreted this mythical account to suggest that these clans were foreigners who came to India after the decline of theGupta Empire around the 5th century CE, and were admitted in theHindu caste system after performing a fire ritual.^[14][15]

The Chaulukya rulers have been called "Gurjararāja" and "Gurjareśvara" ("ruler of Gurjara").^[16] Based on this legend,D. R. Bhandarkar and others theorized that the Chaulukyas were a branch ofGurjaras, whom they believed to be a tribe of foreign origin.^[17] Bhandarkar andAugustus Hoernle also believed that the name of the "Lata" region changed to "Gurjaratra" (later Gujarat) during the Chaulukya reign, presumably because they were Gurjaras.^[18]

However, this foreign-origin theory is weakened by a number of factors. The Chaulukyas did not claim an Agnikula origin for themselves:^[19] it was the neighbouringParamara rulers who used the legend to explain their own origin.^[20] The inscriptions from the reign ofBhima II prove that the Chaulukyas knew about the Agnikula legend, but associated it with the Paramaras, not themselves.^[21] The earliest copies ofPrithviraj Raso do not mention this legend either.^[21] The legend that includes the Chaulukyas among the fire-born clans is first mentioned by the 16th century poets, who may have extended the Paramara legend to include other dynasties, in order to foster Rajput unity against theMughals.^[22] Moreover, there is no evidence that the Chaulukya territory area came to be known as "Gurjaratra" during the Chaulukya reign.^[18] "Gurjara" and "Lata" were two distinct historical regions in northern and southern parts of present-day Gujarat respectively, and the term "Lata" was never used to describe the whole of Gujarat.^[23] The Chaulukya kings were called "Gurjararāja" and "Gurjareśvara" because they ruled the territory which was already called Gurjara by their time.^[16][24] Several other kings who held similar epithets had earlier ruled this territory: these include theGurjara-Pratiharas and theGurjaras of Nandipuri.^[25] Historian Asoke Kumar Majumdar points out that even the southernGanga chief Marasimha II assumed the title "king of Gurjaras" after defeating a northern king on behalf of theRashtrakutas.^[24]

The Chaulukyas were one of the several dynasties that rose to power amid the decline of theGurjara-Pratihara and theRashtrakuta empires.^[26] In the mid-tenth century CE, the dynasty’s founderMularaja supplanted Samantasimha, the lastChavda king.^[27] According to legends, he was a nephew of Samantasimha.^[28] According to the 12th century chroniclerHemachandra, Mularaja defeatedGraharipu, the king ofSaurashtra.^[29] He also defeated theLata Chalukya chief Barapa, aided by his sonChamundaraja.^[30]Chamundaraja succeeded Mularaja around 996 CE. During his reign, theParamara kingSindhuraja appears to have invaded theLata region, which was under Chaulukya suzerainty. Mularaja forced Sindhuraja to retreat; the 14th century chronicler Jayasimha Suri claims that Chamundaraja killed Sindhuraja in a battle, but this claim appears to be doubtful, as it does not appear in any earlier source.^[31] Sometime before 1007 CE, the Lata region was captured by theChalukyas of Kalyani led bySatyashraya.^[32]Around 1008 CE, Chamundaraja retired after appointing his sonVallabharaja as the next king. Legendary accounts state that he set out for a pilgrimage toVaranasi. During this journey, he was insulted by a ruler whose kingdom lay on the way to Varanasi. He returned to the Chaulukya capital, and asked his son to avenge his insult. Vallabharaja died ofsmallpox during a march to the enemy kingdom, which is identified as theParamara kingdom ofMalwa by some chroniclers.^[33]Chamundaraja’s other sonDurlabharaja became the next king in c. 1008 CE. He invaded the Lata region, and defeated the Lata Chalukya ruler Kirtiraja (or Kirtipala), who was a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas. However, Kirtiraja regained control of the region within a short time, before being defeated by the Paramara kingBhoja.^[34]

Durlabharaja was succeeded by his nephewBhima I, who faced an invasion from theGhaznavid rulerMahmud during 1024–1025 CE. Bhima fled toKanthkot, as Mahmud entered the Chaulukya territory unopposed andsacked the Somnath temple.^[35] After Mahmud’s departure, Bhima restored the Chaulukya rule. He crushed revolts by theParamara chiefs of Arbuda, who used to serve as Chaulukya vassals.^[36] Bhima also defeated and imprisoned Krishnadeva, a ruler of the Paramara branch ofBhinmal. He unsuccessfully fought against theNaddula Chahamana rulerAnahilla. Anahilla’s sonsBalaprasada andJendraraja defeated Bhima and forced him to release Krishnadeva.^[37] Later legendary accounts credit Bhima with a victory against Hammuka, a ruler ofSindh, although the accuracy of this claim is not certain.^[38]Semi-legendary accounts suggest that Bhima formed an alliance with theKalachuri kingLakshmi-Karna, and the two played an important role in the downfall of theParamara kingBhoja around 1055 CE. According to the 14th century chronicler Merutunga, Bhima and Lakshmi-Karna invaded Bhoja’s kingdom ofMalwa from two opposite directions, and Bhoja died of a disease during this invasion.^[39] Some Chaulukya chroniclers boast that Bhima annexed Bhoja’s capitalDhara or that he captured Bhoja alive, but these claims are not corroborated by historical evidence.^[40] After Bhoja’s death, a rivalry developed between the Bhima and Lakshmi-Karna over sharing the spoils of their victory.^[41]Bhima’s sonKarna succeeded him around 1064 CE. Bhoja’s brotherUdayaditya, supported by theShakambhari Chahamana kingVigraharaja III, forced Karna to retreat from Malwa.^[42][43] Meanwhile, the Kalachuris managed to capture theLata region. By 1074 CE, Karna evicted the Kalachuris from Lata, and annexed the region to the Chaulukya kingdom, before losing it to one Trivikramapala within three years.^[44]The Naddula Chahamana rulerPrithvipala defeated Karna, and his successorJojalladeva occupied the Chaulukya capitalAnahilapataka, possibly when Karna was busy at another place.^[45] The Shakambhari Chahamana kingDurlabharaja III also appears to have achieved some military success against Karna, although the Chahamana descriptions of this victory are highly exaggerated.^[46] According to legendary chronicles, Karna also defeatedBhil andKoli tribals, who used to raid the Chaulukya territories. He established a city called Karnavati after defeating a Bhil chief named Asha (Āśā). Karnavati is identified with modernAhmedabad by some, but this is not certain.^[47]

Karna’s sonJayasimha Siddharaja (r. c. 1092–1142 CE) greatly expanded the Chaulukya power. He defeated Khangara alias Navaghana, theChudasama king ofSaurashtra.^[48] TheNaddula Chahamana rulerAsharaja, who had been dethroned by his rivalRatnapala, became a vassal of Jayasimha sometime before 1143 CE.^[49]Jayasimha defeated theShakambhari Chahamana rulerArnoraja.^[50] Later, however, Jayasimha accepted Arnoraja as an ally, and the Chahamana ruler married Jayasimha’s daughter Kanchanadevi.^[51] The couple’s son (and thus Jayasimha’s grandson)Someshvara, was brought up at the Chaulukya court.^[52] Someshvara’s sonsPrithviraja III (better known as Prithviraj Chauhan) andHariraja were also born in Gujarat.^[53]During 1135–1136 CE, Jayasimha annexed theParamara kingdom ofMalwa, with support from Asharaja and Arnoraja. The Paramara kings defeated by him wereNaravarman and his successorYashovarman.^[54] Jayasimha continued his eastward march, and reached as far as theChandela kingdom ruled byMadanavarman. The Chaulukya-Chandela conflict was inconclusive, with both the sides claiming victory.^[55] Jayasimha also defeated several minor rulers, including Sindhuraja, who was probably aSoomra king ofSindh.^[56]

Jayasimha was succeeded by his relativeKumarapala, who spent his early life in exile to avoid persecution by Jayasimha.^[57] After Jayasimha’s death, Kumarapala came back to the Chaulukya capital and ascended the throne in 1043 CE, with help of his brother-in-law Kanhadadeva.^[58] Arnoraja opposed Kumarapala’s ascension to the throne, but Kumarapala defeated him decisively.^[59] Kumarapala seems to have helped Asharaja’s sonKatukaraja capture the throne of Naddula.^[60] Katukaraja’s younger brother and successorAlhanadeva continued to rule as Kumarapala’s vassal.^[61] Arnoraja’s sonVigraharaja IV subdued Kumarapala’s Chahamana feudatories at Naddula.^[62] The Shakambhari Chahamana-Chaulukya relations seem to have become more cordial when Arnoraja’s son (and Jayasimha’s grandson) Someshvara became the Chahamana king in later years, possibly with support from Kumarapala.^[63]After Jayasimha’s death, the Paramara kingJayavarman I regained control of Malwa, but he was soon dethroned by an usurper named Ballala. Kumarapala captured Malwa from Ballala, who was killed by Kumarapala’sArbuda Paramara feudatory Yashodhavala in a battle.^[64] Kumarapala subdued a rebellion by his vassal Vikramasimha, a Paramara chief of Arbuda.^[65] The Paramara branch atKiradu continued to acknowledge Kumarapala’s suzerainty.^[66]In the early 1160s, Kumarapala sent an army againstMallikarjuna, theShilahara king of northernKonkana. This campaign was probably triggered by a Shilahara raid in southern Gujarat, and ended with Mallikarjuna’s death.^[67] Kumarapala’s Naddula Chahamana feudatory Alhana put down disturbances in Saurashtra at Kumarapala’s request.^[68]Historical evidence suggests that Kumarapala’s empire extended fromChittor andJaisalmer in the north to theVindhyas and theTapti river in the south (ignoring his raid of theShilahara kingdom of northernKonkana). In the west, it includedKachchha andSaurashtra; in the east, it extended up to at leastVidisha (Bhilsa).^[69]Kumarapala was succeeded byAjayapala, who retained Kumarapala’s territories, but died after a short reign.^[70] Ajayapala’s young sonsMularaja II andBhima II succeeded him one after other. During this period, theGhurid kingMuhammad of Ghor invaded the Chaulukya kingdom in 1178 CE. In the ensuing battle at Kasahrada (or Kayadara), Muhammadwas defeated by a large army, which included loyal Chaulukya feudatories such as theNaddula Chahamana rulerKelhanadeva, theJalor Chahamana rulerKirtipala, and the Arbuda Paramara ruler Dharavarsha.^[71][72]

South Asia
1175 CE

KARAKHANID
KHANATE

QARA KHITAI

GHURID
EMPIRE

CHAULUKYAS

CHAHAMANAS

LATE
GHAZNAVIDS

PARAMARAS

WESTERN
CHALUKYAS

KAKATIYAS

SHILA-
HARAS

CHOLAS

CHERAS

PANDYAS

KADAMBAS

HOYSALAS

GAHADAVALAS

GUHILAS

KACHCHAPA-
GHATAS

CHANDELAS

KALACHURIS
(TRIPURI)

KALACHURIS
(RATNAPURA)

SENAS

KARNATAS

KAMARUPAS

EASTERN
GANGAS

GUGE

MARYUL

LOHA-
RAS

SOOMRA
EMIRATE

MAKRAN
SULTANATE

class=notpageimage|

The Chaulukyas and main South Asian polities in 1175, on the eve of theGhurid Empire invasion of the subcontinent^[73][74]

Taking advantage of the young age of Bhima II, some provincial governors rebelled against him in order to establish independent states. His loyalVaghela feudatory Arnoraja came to his rescue, and died fighting the rebels. Arnoraja’s descendants Lavanaprasada and Viradhavala became powerful during Bhima’s reign.^[75]During Bhima’s reign, theHoysala rulerVeera Ballala II seems to have raided theLata region.^[76] TheYadava rulerBhillama V also invaded Gujarat, but was forced to retreat by Bhima’s feudatory Kelhanadeva.^[76] TheShakambhari Chahamana kingPrithviraja III also fought with the Chaulukyas, but Bhima’s general Jagaddeva managed to conclude a peace treaty with Prithviraja sometime before 1187 CE.^[77]By the mid-1190s CE, the Ghurids defeated the Prithviraja and the other major Hindu kings of northern India. On 4 February 1197 CE, the Ghurid generalQutb al-Din Aibak invaded Bhima’s capitalAnahilapataka, and inflicted a massivedefeat on the Chaulukyas.^[78] Bhima’s generals Lavanaprasada and Shridhara later forced the Ghurids to retreat, and the capital was back under the Chaulukya rule by 1201 CE.^[79]Subhatavarman, theParamara king of Malwa, invaded the Lata region around 1204 CE, taking advantage of the turmoil caused by the Ghurid invasions. He probably also sacked the Chaulukya capital Anahilapataka.^[80] Once again, Lavanaprasada and Shridhara saved the kingdom by forcing Subhatavarman to retreat.^[81] During 1205–1210 CE, Bhima’s relative Jayantasimha (or Jayasimha) usurped the throne. In the early 1210s, Subhatavarman’s successorArjunavarman defeated Jayantasimha, and later established a matrimonial alliance with him.^[81] Bhima managed to regain control of the throne during 1223–1226 CE.^[82]Meanwhile, the Yadavas invaded the southern part of the Chaulukya kingdom, led by Bhillama’s successors Jaitugi and Simhana. During these invasions, the Chaulukya feudatories in the northern region ofMarwar rebelled. Lavanaprasada and Viradhavala warded off the Yadava invasions, and also subdued the rebellions.^[83] TheGuhilas of Medapata (Guhilots ofMewar) also rebelled against Bhima sometime between 1207 and 1227 CE, and declared their independence.^[84]By the end of Bhima’s reign, Lavanaprasada and Viradhavala assumed regal titles such as ‘’Maharajadhiraja’’ ("king of great kings") and ‘’Maharaja’’ ("great king"). However, the two continued to nominally acknowledge Bhima (and his successorTribhuvanapala) as their overlord. After Tribhuvanapala, they seized the throne, establishing the Vaghela dynasty.^[85]

Māru-Gurjara architecture, or "Chaulukya style",^[86][87][88] is a style of north Indian temple architecture that originated inGujarat andRajasthan from the 11th to 13th centuries, under the Chaulukya dynasty (or Solaṅkī dynasty).^[89][90] Although originating as a regional style inHindu temple architecture, it became especially popular inJain temples and, mainly underJain patronage, later spread across India and todiaspora communities around the world.^[90]

• 
  Sun Temple, Modhera, constructed by Bhima I
• 
  Rudra Mahalaya Temple, renovated or rebuilt by Jayasimha
• 
  Taranga Jain temple, constructed by Kumarapala
• 
  Dilwara Temples, constructed by Chaulukya ministers

Most of the dynasty's rulers wereShaivaite, although they also patronizedJainism.^[92] The dynasty's founder Mularaja is said to have built Mulavasatika temple forDigambara Jains and the Mulanatha-Jinadeva temple for theSvetambara Jains.^[27] The earliest of theDilwara Temples and theModhera Sun Temple were constructed during the reign of Bhima I. According to popular tradition, his queen Udayamati also commissioned theQueen's step-well.^[93] Kumarapala started patronizingJainism at some point in his life, and the subsequent Jain accounts portray him as the last great royal patron of Jainism.^[69] The Chaulukya rulers also endowed mosques to maintain good relationship with theMuslim traders.^[94]

TheVaghela dynasty, which succeeded the Chaulukyas, claimed descent from a sister ofKumarapala.^[95]

Variousprincely state dynasties calling themselvesSolanki (the vernacular form of Chaulukya) claimed descent from the Chaulukyas as well. These included the rulers of theLunavada State, which was a tributary to theMarathas before coming under the British rule.^[96]

The Chalukya rulers of Gujarat, with approximate dates of reign, are as follows:^[97][98]

• Chahamanas of Naddula
• Chahamanas of Jalor

• Media related toChaulukya dynasty at Wikimedia Commons

• Chaulukya dynasty
• 940s establishments
• 10th-century establishments in India
• Rajput history
• 1240s disestablishments in Asia
• History of Gujarat
• 1244 disestablishments
• Rajput dynasties
• 13th-century disestablishments in India
• Kingdom of Gujarat

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