 However , the Rashtrakuta kings also patronized <unk> , followers of the Shaiva , Vaishnava and Shakta faiths . Almost all of their inscriptions begin with an invocation to god Vishnu or god Shiva . The Sanjan inscriptions tell of King Amoghavarsha I sacrificing a finger from his left hand at the Lakshmi temple at Kolhapur to avert a calamity in his kingdom . King Dantidurga performed the <unk> ( horse sacrifice ) and the Sanjan and Cambay plates of King Govinda IV mention Brahmins performing such rituals as <unk> , <unk> and <unk> . An early copper plate grant of King Dantidurga ( 753 ) shows an image of god Shiva and the coins of his successor , King Krishna I ( 768 ) , bear the legend Parama <unk> ( another name for Shiva ) . The kings ' titles such as <unk> showed their Vaishnava leanings . Their flag had the sign of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers , perhaps copied from the Badami Chalukyas . The famous <unk> temple at Ellora and other rock @-@ cut caves attributed to them show that the Hinduism was flourishing . Their family deity was a goddess by name <unk> ( also known as <unk> , Manasa <unk> ) who took the form of a falcon to save the kingdom . They built temples with icons and ornamentation that satisfied the needs of different faiths . The temple at <unk> was meant for followers of Shiva and Vishnu and the temple at <unk> was meant for worshipers of Shiva , Vishnu and Bhaskara ( Surya , the sun god ) . 
