17 Facts About Western Gangas

Western Gangas Ganga was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India which lasted from about 350 to 1000 CE.

The general belief is that the Western Gangas began their rule during a time when multiple native clans asserted their freedom due to the weakening of the Pallava empire in South India, a geo-political event sometimes attributed to the southern conquests of Samudra Gupta.

Politically, the Western Gangas were feudatories and close allies who shared matrimonial relations with the Chalukyas.

The Western Gangas thereafter became staunch allies of the Rashtrakutas, a position they maintained till the end of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta.

Western Gangas helped the Rashtrakutas win decisive victories in Tamilakam in the battle of Takkolam against the Chola Dynasty.

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In return for their valour, the Western Gangas were awarded extensive territories in the Tungabhadra river valley.

Chavundaraya, a minister in the Western Gangas Ganga court was a valiant commander, able administrator and an accomplished poet in Kannada and Sanskrit.

Western Gangas served King Marasimha II and his successors ably and helped King Rachamalla IV suppress a civil war in 975.

Western Gangas gave patronage to all the major religions of the time; Jainism and the Hindu sects of Shaivism, Vedic Brahmanism and Vaishnavism.

Western Gangas Ganga rule was a period of brisk literary activity in Sanskrit and Kannada, though many of the writings are now considered extinct and are known only from references made to them.

Western Gangas's writings seem to be influenced by the writings of his predecessor Adikavi Pampa and contemporary Ranna.

Western Gangas's writings are considered extinct but references to these writings are found in later years.

Western Gangas is known to have been patronised by King Ereganga Neetimarga II.

Western Gangas wrote one of the earliest available romance classics in Kannada called Karnataka Kadambari in sweet and flowing champu style.

Western Gangas built many Hindu temples with impressive Dravidian gopuras containing stucco figures from the Hindu pantheon, decorated pierced screen windows which are featured in the mantapa along with saptamatrika carvings .

Western Gangas used Kannada and Sanskrit extensively as their language of administration.

The Western Gangas minted coins with Kannada and Nagari legends, the most common feature on their coins was the image of an elephant on the obverse and floral petal symbols on the reverse.