Krishna I

Krishna I (; 711–774) was the Rashtrakuta emperor from 756 to 774.

Life Campaign against the Pallavas According to A. S. Altekar, an expression in the Talegaon plates of Krishna I may refer to his defeat of the Pallava ruler of Kanchi, although he notes that there is no other evidence to confirm this interpretation. He was an uncle of Dantidurga. He took charge of the growing Rashtrakuta Empire by defeating the last Badami Chalukya emperor Kirtivarman II in 757. This is known from the copper plate grant of Emperor Govinda III of 807 and a copper plate grant of Gujarat Rashtrakuta ruler Karka from Baroda.

His eldest son, Govinda II succeeded him.

Religion The Nerur copper-plate inscription issued by Krishna I records a royal grant of land to Acharya Aryanadi, a Jain. The inscription opens with a description of the king’s genealogy and then notes the donation of a village for the maintenance of a Jain shrine or monk. This inscription is early epigraphic evidence for Rashtrakuta patronage of Jainism during Krishna I. Epigraphic evidence from his reign shows sustained royal patronage of Jain monks, temples, and scholars across the Deccan. He is known for commissioning the monumental Kailasa or Kannadeswara temple, Ellora, dedicated to Shiva.