Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga

The royal dynasty, Rashtrakuta, is one of the foremost empires of the world. They ruled vast parts of the Indian sub continent between the 6 th and 10 th century. It is a matter of great pride that the Rashtrakutas are Kannadigas. Under their patronage, the social, cultural and literary ethos of the Kannadigas flourished and reached its pinnacle. Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga, (800 A.D to 878 A.D) of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, is one of the most illustrious monarchs in the history of Karnataka. He was the son of Govinda III. He was enthroned at a tender age of 14 and his reign of 64 years is unparalleled and the longest monarchical reign on record. He is referred to by historians as the “Ashoka of the South”. A valorous and scholastic Nrupathunga was equally tolerant and devout making him the most revered and admired ruler of all times. It was the golden era of Kannada and Sanskrit literature wherein the two languages were used for administrative purpose and writers like Jinasena, Veerasena, Shakatayan and Sri Vijaya received patronage of the celebrated monarch. Mahaviracharya, a great mathematician and scholar was also present in his court. He became the most cherished ruler with his all-inclusive and compassionate understanding of his subjects which ushered peace and prosperity in his kingdom. He held titles such as Nrupathunga, Athishayadhavala , Veeranarayana, Rattamarthanda and Sree Vallabha which coronates his innate brilliance. The rich and distinct heritage of Karnataka is evoked sublimely by the poet SriVijaya in his work “Kavirajamarga”. It is the earliest available work on rhetoric, poetics and grammar in Kannada. Historians believe that the work was inspired and co-authored by Amoghavarsha himself. The title literally means, “Royal path for poets”, which served as a reckoner and manual for aspiring scholars. During his rule, the kingdom extended from Cauvery in the South to Godavari and Narmada in the North. The society, under his aegis, reflects the calm and mature behaviour of the Kannadigas, their mental prowess and progress in various sciences. The greatness of this ruler has always stayed in the hearts of kannadigas and as a tribute to him, our government has named one of the most prominent roads in Bangalore after him as Nrupathunga Road which also houses the newly established Nrupathunga University. Nrupathunga University which is named after this versatile ruler, firmly believes that students walking through its portals emulate the ideals and virtues of this benevolent monarch.