HOYSALA DYNASTY

family that ruled from about 1006 to about 1346 in the southern Deccan and for a time in the Cauvery Valley. The first kings came from the hills northwest of Dorasamudra (modern Halebid), which became their capital about 1060. With their hardy, hill-dwelling, Kanarese-speaking followers, they gradually absorbed Gangavadi (Mysore state) and the rich lands beyond the Tungabhadra toward Dharwar and Raichur. The imperialistic programs of the Calukyas of Kalyani helped them, for under the Hoysala rulers Vinayaditya (reigned c. 104798) and his grandson Visnuvardhana (reigned c. 111041) they gained wide experience as feudatory generals. Visnuvardhana won much territory from the tough Kadambas of Hangal, but his weak son Narasimha I lost it. Yet Visnuvardhana's expulsion of the Colas from the plateau succeeded. His grandson Ballala II (reigned 11731220) was invited into the plains to help the Colas. He agreed because his northern gains in 11891211 from the Calukya dynasty beyond the Malprabha and Krishna rivers proper had diminished under pressure from the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri. He extended his dominions to the north of Mysore and defeated the Yadavas, making the Hoysala dynasty the dominant power in southern India. Ball ala II's grandson Somesvara (reigned c. 123554) resided in the principality on the Cauvery given by the Colas, and his son Ramanatha (reigned 125495) was allowed to remain there by the Pandya emperor. On his eviction, however, his attempt to take the plateau kingdom from his brother Narasimha III weakened Hoysala resources. Ballala III (reigned c. 12921342), who helped the sultan of Delhi against the Pandyas, brought about the dynasty's downfall by his futile ambitions. The Vijayanagar dynasty succeeded the Hoysalas. Hoysala architecture and sculpture, especially ornate and intricate, are best seen at Halebid, Belur, and Somnathpur. The family liberally patronized Kanarese and Sanskrit letters.