Reign c. 1130 – c. 1167 CE | Died 1167 | |
Bijjala II (1130–1167 CE) Kannada: ಇಮ್ಮಡಿ ಬಿಜ್ಜಳ was the most famous of the southern Kalachuri kings who ruled initially as a vassal of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI. He ruled as the Mahamandalesvara (chief or governor) over Karhada-4000 and Tardavadi-1000 provinces, designations given to territories within the larger Western Chalukya kingdom.
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He revolted against the Western Chalukya Empire, assumed imperial titles in 1157, and ruled along with his successors, the Deccan Plateau for a quarter of a century.
Bijjala's opportunism
After the death of Vikramaditya VI, seeing the weakening empire, Bijjala II declared independence. The Chikkalagi inscription refers to Bijjala as Mahabhujabalachakravarti, which in Kannada literally means king with powerful arms. By the time of Chalukya Taila III, Bijjala's attempts towards independence seems to have spread to other feudatories as well. Kakatiya Prola II broke free of Chalukya rule in the middle of the 12th century. By 1162 CE. Bijjala II had managed to drive Taila III out of Kalyani, the Chalukya capital. He assumed Chalukyan titles like Sriprithvivallabha and Parameshvara. He shifted his capital from Mangalavada to Kalyani also known as Basavakalyan.
Short-lived freedom
Bijjala's independence seems to have been short lived. He ruled only from 1162 CE. to 1167 CE. as a sovereign ruler. During these years he successfully clashed with the Hoysala Narasimha I, Pandya chief of Uchchangi, Suena's and the Chola's, and the chieftens of Andhra and Kalinga. Though some literature written at that time indicates that he was a Jaina, epigraphal records show he was a Hindu Shaiva. He however was an orthodox Shaivite and hence did not fully agree with Basavannas revolutionary ideas.
Bloody end
His rule was marked with turbulence, both domestic and social. According to the historian Dr. P.B. Desai, Bijjala II became very unpopular with the Virashaiva followers and was assassinated by them. Dr. Desai however does confirm that Basavanna himself was not responsible for this incident.