Durvinita
Encyclopedia
Durvinita is seen as the most successful ruler of the Western Ganga Dynasty. Son of the previous ruler, Avinita
, Durvinita's assession to the throne was disputed by his brother, who had gained the support of the Pallavas and Kadambas
. There are Nallala and Kadagattur inscriptions that refer to this dispute. However, Durvinita managed to grab the throne by virtue of his valour.
to the north to tame Durvinita, the Gummareddipura inscription hails that Durvinita overcame his enemies at Alattur, Porulare and Pernagra. It is possible that these victories enabled him to extend his power over Kongudesa and Tondaimandalam regions of Tamil country. He may have also made Kittur his capital.
or from the Nagara record to Pulakesi II
, though the latter is unlikely owing to the difference in their eras. The Chalukyas were an emerging power at this time. When the Pallavas attacked the Chalukyas, he fought on the Chalukya side and cemented a long lasting friendship with the Chalukyas that lasted through the rule of both the Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Kalyani Chalukyas, covering a period of over 600 years.The Gummareddipura and the Uttanur plates describe Durvinita as the Lord of Punnata.
and his court was adorned with several Jaina scholars. This tolerance was common among later Ganga kings, who actually took up Jainism.
While Durvinita was an able warrior he was also a man of letter and art. Kavirajamarga
hails him as one of the early writers in Kannada, though his Kannada works are thought to be extinct. The renowned Sanskrit poet Bharavi
is said to have visited the Ganga court during this period. Durvinita wrote a commentary on the fifteenth canto of Bharavi's Kiratarjuniya
. He translated into Kannada Vaddakatha and sanskrit Brihatkatha of Gunadya originally written in Prakrit. He also authored a work called Sabdavatara still under dispute of language viz Kannada or Sanskrit. His prowess in the battle field, knowledge of war instruments and arms, political science, medicine, music and dance has been written about in the Nallala grant.
Avinita
Avinita was the Western Ganga Dynasty king who ascended the throne after King Madhava III. He was followed to the throne by his son, Durvinita, though Durvinita was not his choice.-References:...
, Durvinita's assession to the throne was disputed by his brother, who had gained the support of the Pallavas and Kadambas
Kadambas
The Kadamba Dynasty was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present day Uttara Kannada district. The dynasty later continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires for over five hundred years during which time they...
. There are Nallala and Kadagattur inscriptions that refer to this dispute. However, Durvinita managed to grab the throne by virtue of his valour.
Hostilities with Pallavas and Kadambas
During Durvinita's rule, the hostilities between the Pallavas and Gangas came to forefront and several pitched battles were fought by the two kingdoms. Durvinita defeated the Pallavas in the battle of Anderi. Though the Pallavas sought the assistance of the KadambasKadambas
The Kadamba Dynasty was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present day Uttara Kannada district. The dynasty later continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires for over five hundred years during which time they...
to the north to tame Durvinita, the Gummareddipura inscription hails that Durvinita overcame his enemies at Alattur, Porulare and Pernagra. It is possible that these victories enabled him to extend his power over Kongudesa and Tondaimandalam regions of Tamil country. He may have also made Kittur his capital.
Ties with Chalukyas
Durvinita was a clever king. In order to keep the Pallavas at bay, he gave his daughter to Chalukya VijayadityaVijayaditya
Vijayaditya followed his father, Vikramaditya I on to the Chalukya throne. His long reign was marked by general peace and prosperity. Vijayaditya also built a number of temples....
or from the Nagara record to Pulakesi II
Pulakesi II
Pulakesin II is the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. In his reign the Chalukyas of Badami saw their kingdom extend over most of the Deccan.-Early life and accession:...
, though the latter is unlikely owing to the difference in their eras. The Chalukyas were an emerging power at this time. When the Pallavas attacked the Chalukyas, he fought on the Chalukya side and cemented a long lasting friendship with the Chalukyas that lasted through the rule of both the Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Kalyani Chalukyas, covering a period of over 600 years.The Gummareddipura and the Uttanur plates describe Durvinita as the Lord of Punnata.
Religion & Literature
The early Gangas were worshipers of Vishnu. However he had a Jaina guru called PujyapadaPujyapada
Ācārya Pūjyapāda who lived in the 5th century of the Common Era was a renowned grammarian and saint belonging to the Digambara tradition of Jains. Before initiation as a Jain ascetic, he was known as Devanandi. Since it was believed that he was worshiped by demigods on account of his vast...
and his court was adorned with several Jaina scholars. This tolerance was common among later Ganga kings, who actually took up Jainism.
While Durvinita was an able warrior he was also a man of letter and art. Kavirajamarga
Kavirajamarga
Kavirajamarga is the earliest available writing on rhetoric, poetics and grammar in the Kannada language. It was written by the famous Rashtrakuta King "Nripatunga" Amoghavarsha I and some say that it is based partly on an earlier Sanskrit writing, Kavyadarsa...
hails him as one of the early writers in Kannada, though his Kannada works are thought to be extinct. The renowned Sanskrit poet Bharavi
Bharavi
Bharavi was a Sanskrit poet known for his Mahakavya , the Kirātārjunīya in 18 cantos based on an episode from the Mahabharata.-Time and place:...
is said to have visited the Ganga court during this period. Durvinita wrote a commentary on the fifteenth canto of Bharavi's Kiratarjuniya
Kirātārjunīya
Kirātārjunīya is a Sanskrit kavya by Bhāravi, written in the 6th century or earlier. It is an epic poem in eighteen cantos describing the combat between Arjuna and lord Shiva in the guise of a kirāta or mountain-dwelling hunter. Along with the Naiṣadhacarita and the Shishupala Vadha, it is one of...
. He translated into Kannada Vaddakatha and sanskrit Brihatkatha of Gunadya originally written in Prakrit. He also authored a work called Sabdavatara still under dispute of language viz Kannada or Sanskrit. His prowess in the battle field, knowledge of war instruments and arms, political science, medicine, music and dance has been written about in the Nallala grant.