Sripurusha was a
Western Ganga Dynasty
Western Ganga was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India which lasted from about 350 to 1000 CE. They are known as "Western Gangas" to distinguish them from the Eastern Ganga Dynasty, Eastern Gangas who in later centuries ...
king who ruled from 726 - 788 CE. According to the Javali inscription Sripurusha ruled for 62 years. He had marital relations with the
Badami Chalukyas and used titles such as ''Muttarasa'', ''Rajakesari'', ''Bhimakopa'' and ''Ranabhajana''. An able warrior and a scholar, he authored the Sanskrit work ''Gajasastra''. He is known to have undertaken significant irrigation projects such as the construction of a dam (''Katta'').
Politics of the South
The rule of Sripurusha Muttarasa seems to have been filled with conflicts with the
Pallavas
The Pallava dynasty existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling a significant portion of the Deccan, also known as Tondaimandalam. The dynasty rose to prominence after the downfall of the Satavahana dynasty, with whom they had formerly served as ...
of Kanchi, Pandyas, later the
Rashtrakutas who overthrew the
Vatapi Chalukyas
The Chalukya dynasty () was a Classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynast ...
. The victory of Sripurusha over the Pallava Paramesvaravarman II and assumed the title ''Permanadi''. He had good relations with Chalukyas and had helped them fight the Pallavas during the rule of
Vikramaditya II and later he fought the Pandyas during the rule of Chalukya
Kirtivarman II but suffered reversal at Venbai.
When the Rashtrakutas rose to power, though betrayed by the
Nolambas, Sripurusha had many victories against
Krishna I and occupied some Ratta territories. This resistance to Rashtrakutas continued for some time before the Gangas normalised their relationship with martial alliances.
References
;Notes
;Sources
* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, Concise history of Karnataka, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprint 2002)
{{refend
External links
History of Karnataka by Dr.Arthikaje
8th-century Indian monarchs
History of Karnataka