To the Mauryas in the north succeeded the Sanga dynasty (B.C. 

 188 — 76) and this was followed by the short Kanva dynasty (B.C. 76 — 

 31). The last of these kings being murdered, the Andhra or Andhra- 

 britya dynasty succeeded, and ruled from B.C. 31 to A.D. 436. They 

 were Buddhists, and it was by them that the magnificent marble stupa 

 at Amaravati was erected. About this period, «.e., the fifth century 

 A.D., began to grow into importance the Chalukyan sovereignty of the 

 Western Dakhan, and it is in connection with the early Chalukyas that 

 we hear of the Nalas (probably a Western Coast tribe), the Mauryas 

 (possibly descendants of the earlier Mauryas) who inhabited part of the 

 Konkana, the Sendrakas, Matangas (apparently a barbarous tribe, 

 j)erhaps aboriginal), the Katachchuris, the Grangas of Maisur, and the 

 Alupas or Aluvas, a tribe or dynasty apparently living to the south or 

 south-west of the present Bombay Presidency. Early Chalukyan grants 

 mention a number of other tribes* such as the Latas (of Latadeia in the 

 north of Bombay), Malavas (of Malwa), Gurjaras (of Q-uzerat), &c. 



The Chalukyas divided into two branches in the beginning of the 

 seventh century, an eastern branch conquering the Pallava kings of 

 the Vengi country, or tract between the Krishna and G-odavari rivers, 

 and settling in that locality which they governed till A.D. 1023, the 

 western remaining in their original home in the Western Dakhan. 



The Chinese pilgrim Hiouen Thsang, who visited India, A.D. 629 

 to 645, gives a graphic account of the state of the country in his time. 



The Kadambas now began to grow ijito importance, and they 

 fought with and defeated the Pallavas of Kanchi and were perpetually 

 at feud with the Chalukyas and their other neighbours. Their territory 

 was in the south-west Dakhan and north Maisur. About the same 

 period we find the Rashtrakutas giving great trouble to the Chalukyas. 

 It is as yet uncertain whether these Rashtrakutas were " an Aryan 

 Kshatriya, i.e., Rajput, race which immigrated into the Dakhan from 

 the north like the Chalukyas or a Dravidiyan family which was 

 received into the Aryan community after the conquest of the Dakhan " 

 {Dr. Buhler). The wars with the Rashtrakutas seem to have resulted 

 in the complete downfall for two centuries (A.D. 757 — 58 to 973 — 74) 

 of the Western Chalukyas and the consequent accretion of great power 

 to the Rashtrakutas. The latter do not appear, however, to have 

 attempted any conquests in the south. They were completely over- 

 thrown by the Western Chalukyas in A.D. 973—74, when the latter 

 once more rose to great eminence. The overthrow of the Rashtrakutas, 

 too, enabled the Ratta Mdhdmandolesvaras to assert themselves, and 

 their dynasty lasted till about A.D. 1253. About the same period we 

 find the Silaharas and Sindas rising into importance, and, like the 

 Rattas, establishing independent dynasties which lasted for several 

 centuries. The Silaharas were overthrown by the Yadavas of Devagiri 

 about A.D. 1220, and the Sindas ceased to be heard of about A.D. 

 1182—83. 



Little is known of the history of Southern India for two or three 

 centuries immediately preceding the sudden rise of the Cholas to great 

 power, which took place in the middle of the eleventh century. At 

 the beginning of that century the Eastern Chalukyas held all the 



