Kings, Prasasti, and Perceptions: A Survey of Kalachuri Inscriptions

Abstract

The ruling dynasties during the post-Gupta centuries played a very crucial role in the transformation of space and the extension of political frontiers. In this quest, they encountered a variety of agencies, and thus arose the need to establish an idealized notion of kingship generally acceptable to the subjects. This led to sincere efforts in the creation of self-images of Royalty through which the Kalachuri rulers reached out to other subjects in Central parts of the Indian subcontinent. The present paper is an overview of the many ways through which popular perceptions of kings were created through the Prasasti in the inscriptions.