Butuga II
| Butuga II | |
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| 21st Western Ganga King | |
| Reign | c. 938 – c. 961 CE |
| Predecessor | Rachamalla III |
| Successor | Marulaganga Neetimarga |
| Dynasty | Western Ganga |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Western Ganga kings (350–999) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Butuga II (reigned c. 938 – c. 961 CE) was one of the great rulers of the Western Ganga dynasty in southern India. He became the ruler of the Western Ganga Dynasty after his elder brother Rachamalla III. He served as an ally and feudatory of the Rashtrakuta dynasty under emperor Krishna III.
Butuga II is widely known for his decisive role in the Battle of Takkolam and killing of the Chola king Rajaditya with a well aimed arrow when the Chola king was seated on his elephant Butuga shot him with an arrow Rajaditya was struck and killed instantly. his death caused panic and collapse in the Chola army. which led to a major Rashtrakuta–Ganga victory against the Cholas. This achievement established Butuga II’s reputation as one of the most celebrated Ganga kings.
He was a disciple of the Jain monk Ajitasena Bhattaraka.