VISHNUKUNDINS
Founder of Dynasty - Indravarma
Royal Insignia - Lion
Considered as Sriparvataswamy bhaktulu
Capial - Amarapuram and later Denduluru
Religion - Vaishnava sect.
Great king among Vishnukundins - Madhavavarma-2
Last king - Manchana Bhattarakudu.
Indravarma Built Indrapuram
[Maharajendravarma] Issued Ramateertha inscription
Title: Priyaputrudu
Madhavavarma-1 Married vakatakas queen
Title: Vikramamahendra (According to
Palamuru inscription)
He carved many caves
Govindavarma Title: Vikramasrayudu
According to Prakrit Chaitanyapuri
inscription he built a vihara.
He married Mahadevi daughte of
Prudhveemula of Mularaja vamsa.
Mahadevi built a mahavihara for Baudha
bikshus. Govindavarma donated Penkapura
and Enmadala
Madhavavarma-2 Titles: Trivaranagarabhuvanisundari
(Palamuru inscription), Abhinata
vividasya, Janasraya, Trimudradipati
Shifted capital to Denduluru from
Amarapuram
He defeated and occupied salankayanas and
Anandagotrajas
He defeated Pallavas too.
His copper inscription was found at
Khanapur, Satara dt, Maharashtra.
He installed a linga at Keesaragutta for each
battle he won. He also built the
Ramalingeswara Temple at each of those
victory sites.
He conducted the Rajasuya Yaga 16 times,
the Vajapeya Yaga, the Ashvamedha Yaga 11
times, and the Naramedha Yaga.
Carved Purnakumbha in undavalli caves.
Vikrayendravarma Title: Mahakavi according to
Indrapalanagara inscription.
Indrabhattarakavarma Built Ghatikeswara ghatika stana at
(Indravarma-2) keesaragutta according to Uddankudu’s
Somaveda
Vikrayendrabhattarakavarma Title:
(Vikrayendravarma-2) ‘Sakalabhuvanarakshabharanaikaasraya’.
He issued Tummalagudem inscription in
the year 566 AD
He also issued Indrapalapura tamra
inscription and Chikkulla copper
inscription.
He donated Irundera village for mahadevi
mahavihara.
He donated Tundi village to Brahmins.
Manchanabhattarakavarma He ruled for only one year according to B.N.
Shastri
According to Taandivada inscription he was
defeated by Pruthvi maharaj
Simhapuris ruled over srikakulam area. They are the contemporaries of
Vishnukundins. First king Uma varma, last king: Nanda prabhanjana varma.
Devarashtras: capital - Devapuri. First king- Gunavarma, last king-
Anantavarma, Kubera king of Devarastra was the contemporary of
Samudragupta which. He was mentioned in the Allahabad inscription by
Harisena.
Mataras : Capital - Pistapuram , Mahendra was the king mentioned in the
Allahabad inscription.
Madhavarma- 2 occupied all the three of the above and appointed Ranadurjaya
to look after these areas.
Ranadurjaya names his son vikrayendravarma on the love of Vishnukundins
ADMINISTRATION UNDER VISHNUKUNDINS
Rajyam -> Rashtram -> Vishayam -> Gramam
King -> Rashtrikudu -> Vishayadipati -> Gramini
Vishyadipatis are called Mahottarulu.
Important officials :
Hastikosha - Elephantry head
Veerakosa - Infantry head
Phaladarudu - The official who decides king share in panta phala
Akshapataladrikutudu - Chief Archiver
Sasana agnaptulu - writer of king rules.
The judicial system of Vishnukundins was very strong.
King was considered as Daivamsasambuta.
Divya parikshas were part of the Judicial system.
Madhava Varma II ordered the execution of his son due to reckless driving that
resulted in the deaths of common people by his chariot..
According to Bejawada inscription , Mallikarjuna swamy bestowed
Kanakavarsha. Same was mentioned in three later texts : Nachiketopakyanam,
Prabhoda chandrodayam and Panchatantram.
According to Velpuru inscription Ganapati was installed by Madhavavarma -2
Akkanna, Madonna caves were built by Madhavavarma-2 and he built
trayambakanatha temple too. For its maintenance Vikrayendravarma donated
Regonra temple.
Pruthvimula built Tokavikata Mahavihara at Gunapasapuram. Havivarma of
Mula vamsa built another mahavihara and donated Kattacheruvu village for its
maintenance.
Dignagudu lived in Vengi and kareemnagar (Kalidasa’s Meghasandesam). He
introduced Yogacharavadam and written a Sanskrit book called “ Pramana
Samucchayam”
According to Dharmamrutam of Nayanasena , Srisailam was Jaina khetra and
it converted into Saiva kshetra during vishunukundin time.
Indravarma was jain religion follower who converted to Hinduism later.
Pruthvumula donated to Jainavihara of Vaddamanu.
Koduru and Motupalli ports are important ports during Vishnukundins.
According to Fahein shells were used for monetary purposes.
Accoring to Hieun Tsang on Sriparvata Niluvettu Gold statues were there.
The first telugu sentence “ Vijaya Rajya Samvatsarambul” found in Chikkulla
inscription
Vishnukundins were the first to build hindu cave temples in India
Mogalrajapuram caves: 1-3 were ancient caves, 4th cave has arthanareeswara
image. 5th cave(sivatandava cave) - has nataraja sculpture (First in India).
We also find trivikramavaatara sculpture. These caves also have lion and
purnakumbha images.
Akkanna , madanna caves near Indrakeeladri belong to vishnukundins.
Bojjanakonda caves: It was buddhist place. Lingaala metta near bojjalakonda
has many Uddesika stupas.
Undavalli caves: Four stair caves. It has three caves. Second cave is four stairs.
Second cave has anantapadmaswamy sculpture. In the same cave we found lion
punched coin of vishnukundins. On top of the 4th cave there was a word
engraved:”Utpatti pidugu’, Many historians believe that it is the sreni of
sculptures who engraved these. On stone pillars of these caves we find vishnu
avatara stories and lingodbava stories.
Bhairavakonda caves: (Nellore)- total 8 caves - all belong to siva. 7,8 caves
believed to be carved by Renati cholas.
