# Malkheda

Malkheda originally known as Manyakheta (IAST: Mānyakheṭa, Prakrit: "Mannakheḍa"), and also known as Malkhed, is a town in Karnataka, India. It is located on the banks of Kagina river in Sedam Taluk of Kalaburagi district, around 40 km from Kalaburagi.
The city reached the peak of its prosperity during the 9th and 10th centuries, serving as the Imperial capital of the Rashtrakutas. At Manyakheta, there is a historical fort whose restoration is in progress based on a proposal submitted by HKADB (Hyderabad Karnataka Area Development Board).

## Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Malkheda had a population of 11,180 with 5,679 males and 5,501 females and 2,180 households.

## History

Manyakheta rose to prominence when the capital of Rashtrakutas was moved from Mayurkhandi in present-day Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the reign of Amoghavarsha I. He is said to have built the imperial capital city to "match that of Lord Indra". The capital city was planned to include elaborately designed buildings for the royalty using the finest of workmanship. After the fall of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, it remained the capital of their successors, the Kalyani Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas until about 1050 CE. According to Dhanapāla's Pāiyalacchi, the city was sacked by the Paramāra king Harṣa Sīyaka in CE 972-73, the year he completed that work.
Manyakheta is home to two ancient institutions.
* The Uttaradi Matha of the Dwaita School of philosophy of Madhvacharya. The remains of one of its most prominent saints, Sri Jayatirtha's Brindavana is here. He wrote many commentaries on Madhvacharya's works but was well known for the commentary on celebrated work "Anuvyakhyana" of Madhvacharya which itself is a commentary upon the "Brahma Sutras". For this commentary called Nyaya Sudha, he is popularly known as Teekacharya.
* The Jain Bhattaraka Math. The temple of Neminath (9th century CE). The pillars and walls of the temple date back to between the 9th and 11th centuries. The idols include tirthankaras, choubisi (24 tirthankaras), Nandishwar dvipa and idols of yakshi. There is a famous panchdhatu shrine with 96 images. In the same temple, there are other historical images. The last bhaṭṭāraka of the Malkheda seat who reigned during the year 1950–61, was Bhaṭṭāraka Devendrakīrti.
The famous Mahapurana (Adipurana and Uttarapurana) was composed here by Acharya Jinasena and his pupil Gunabhadra in the 9th century. The mathematics text Ganita Saara Sangraha was written here by Mahaviracharya.
The renowned Apabhramsha poet Pushapadanta lived here.
From 814 CE to 968 CE Manyakheta rose to prominence when the capital of Rashtrakuta Empire was moved from Mayurkhandi in present-day Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the reign of Amoghavarsha I (Nrupatunga Amoghavarsha), who ruled for 64 years and wrote Kavirajamarga the first classical Kannada work. Amoghavarsha I and the scholars mathematician Mahaveeracharya,and intellectuals Ajitasenacharya, Gunabhadracharya and Jinasenacharya, he helped to spread Jainism. According to Dhanapāla's Pāiyalacchi, the city was sacked by the Paramāra king Harṣa Sīyaka in 972–73 CE, the year he completed that work. In the year 1007 CE, Rajendra Chola destroyed the capital as per inscription in Tanjore Big Temple. After the fall of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, it remained the capital of their successors, the Kalyani Chalukyas or Western Chalukyas until about 1050 CE. It was later ruled by the Indic Kalyani Chalukyas, Southern Kalachuris, Cholas, Yadavas, Kakatiyas and the Turko-Persian Delhi Sultanate, Bahmani Sultanate, Bidar Sultanate, Bijapur Sultanate, Mughal Empire and Nizam of Hyderabad by 1948.

## Economy

Malkheda is the home to one of the biggest cement factories by name Rajashree Cements owned by the Aditya Birla Group. The village is now developing into a business centre for food grains, dairy and livestock trading . Malkheda has got the biggest livestock trading centre in the entire region. The main crops grown here are mostly rainfed crops like different varieties of pulses pigeonpea, greengram, blackgram. Though water is plenty, it is rarely utilised for agriculture. The masonry here in Malkheda is basically stone masonry and the thatching of the roofs are done by square blocks of stone which are placed in a slanting way so that the rain water gets easily drained off.

## Transport

Malkheda is well connected by road and rail. Malkheda lies on State Highway 10. Malkaheda is 40 km southeast to the District Headquarters Kalaburagi district and 12 km west to the Taluk Headquarters Sedam. There is also a railway station near the village, Malkhaid Road.