Vishnukundina dynasty

The Vishnukundina dynasty (IAST: Viṣṇukuṇḍina, sometimes Viṣukuṇḍin) was an Indian dynasty that ruled over parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha and other parts of southern India between the 5th and 7th centuries. They emerged as an independent power during the reign of Madhava Varma, who conquered coastal Andhra from the Salankayanas and established their capital at Denduluru near Eluru. Their rule significantly shaped the history of the Deccan region. However, their reign ended with the conquest of eastern Deccan by the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II, who appointed his brother, Kubja Vishnuvardhana, as viceroy. Vishnuvardhana later declared independence, founding the Eastern Chalukya dynasty.

Etymology

The dynasty is usually referred to as the Viṣṇukuṇḍins, but the question was reviewed by S. Sankaranarayanan who closely examined the philogical evidence and concluded that Vishṇukuṇḍi was the grammatically correct form of the name. Although this is technically correct, historians continue to use Viṣukuṇḍin because it is well established in the literature, having been used by K. A. Nilakanta Sastri and Dineshchandra Sircar.

Origin

The early rulers of the dynasty migrated from eastern Deccan to the west Deccan in search of employment and under the Vakatakas they might have attained feudatory status.

During the reign of Madhava Varma, they became independent and conquered coastal Andhra from the Salankayanas and established their capital at Denduluru near Eluru, West Godavari district. Some modern historians from Telangana suggest that the dynasty initially ruled from Indrapalanagara (in present-day Nalgonda district of Telangana), and later shifted to Denduluru, and Amaravathi.