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HISTORY
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VISHNUKUNDINS
Before passing on to the reign of Taila II of later Chalukyas over Satara, a reference to the Vishnukundins from Andhra is necessary. These Vishnukundins [For details see the article of Prachin Maharashtratil Vishnukundi Rajavat
 from Sanshodhanamuktavali Part II
 Of Maha Mahopadhaya Dr. V. V. Mirashi.] appear to have hailed from Vishnukonda, a place at a distance of fifty miles to the south of the river Krshna in Andhra Pradesh. This place even now retains fragmentary remains and a fort, in ruinous condition. Vikramamahendra, the progenitor of this race seems to have flourished somewhere in 450 A.D. His son, Govinda Varma has been the contemporary of the illustrious Vakataka king Harisena who after having conquered the
Andhra country [Inscription from Ajanta Cave No. 16.] appears to have put Govindavarma on the throne. Govindavarma was the first among the Vishnukundins to assume the title Maharaja, indicative of his rule over the territory. The fact that Madhavavarma I, his son, has married a Vakataka princess, is envisaged by inscriptions. He appears to have helped Harisenas grandson in getting control over Vidarbha. After Harisena, the Vakataka empire, however, suffered from a downfall, ultimately helping this scion of the Vishnukundins in establishing his rule over southern Maharashtra and Kuntala. Two copper-plates of Madhavavarma have been found. Copper-plates of his descendants also give good information about him. He was a champion of Vedic religion and distinguished himself by performing 11 Ashavamedha sacrifices, certainly a rare feat among ancient kings of his land. Along with Andhra, Kuntala and southern Maharahshtra, he appears to have brought under his thumb the southern Kosala i.e. modern Chhattisgad as is clear from the title in one of his Copper-plates, viz. 'trivaranagarbhavanagataparanayuvatinandanah' or trivaranagarabhavanagataparam-yuvatijamaviharanarati'. The king of Trivaranagara is identical with Tivaradeva whose copper-plates have been found in Rajim and Phulzar near Chhattisgad. Madhavavarma had defeated him. Another copper-plate found at Khanapur in Sangli district [Published by Shri Y. R. Gupte in the Quarterly Volume VIII, p. 163, Bharat Itihasa Samshodhaka Mandal (V 8, p. 163).] refers to the gift of a village, on the bank of Krshna-venna named Ratturak along with the houses in the vicinity, to a Brahman on the full-moon day in the month of Vaishakha by the king Madhavavarma. The copper-plate was attributed to the 5th or 6th century A.D. on the basis of calligraphic evidence. This has also been finally attributed to this king Madhavavarma of Vishnu-kundins [Prachin maharashtratil visnukundi rajavat' Samsodhan Muktavali sar 2, p. 106-107 (Maha Mahopadhaya Dr. Mirashi)]. This was issued in the 40th year of his reign. As his sons had predeceased him, the kingdom was divided between his grandsons. One of these namely Madhavavarman II is styled as ' trikuta-malayadhipatih' in his copper-plate. After Madhavavarman II, the Rashtrakutas became powerful in southern Maharashtra and at about 550 A.D. Kalachuris of Mahishmati came to establish then power in northern Maharashtra as well as Vidarbha. This leads to the inference that the Vishnukundins lost their power; although they continued to rule in their province namely Andhra till the 7th century A. D. before being vanquished by the illustrious Chalukya ruler Pulkeshin II.
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