They emerged as an independent power during the reign of Madhava Varma, who conquered coastal Andhra from the Salankayanas and established their capital at Denduluru near Eluru.

However, their reign ended with the conquest of eastern Deccan by the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II, who appointed his brother, Kubja Vishnuvardhana, as viceroy.

The dynasty is usually referred to as the Viṣṇukuṇḍins, but the question was reviewed by S. Sankaranarayanan who closely examined the philogical evidence and concluded that Vishṇukuṇḍi was the gramattically correct form of the name.

[2] Although this is technically correct, historians continue to use Viṣukuṇḍin because it is well established in the literature, having been used by K. A. Nilakanta Sastri and Dineshchandra Sircar.

[4] During the reign of Madhava Varma, they became independent and conquered coastal Andhra from the Salankayanas and established their capital at Denduluru[5] near Eluru, West Godavari district.

This alliance enabled them to extend their influence to the east coast and vanquish the petty chieftains lingering on in that area.

Madhava Varma II led his arms against Ananda Gotrikas who were ruling over Guntur, Tenali and Ongole, probably enjoying subordinate position under the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.

After occupying these areas from the Ananda Gotrikas, Madhava Varma II made Amarapura (modern Amaravati) his capital.

The next two and half decades also experienced the constant strife and dynastic struggles during the reign of Indra Bhattaraka Varma (528–555).

To have immediate access to the Kalinga region, he shifted his capital from Bezwada to Lenduluru (modem Denduluru in the West Godavari district).

The Vishnukundina empire set about again to imperial expansion and cultural prosperity under its able ruler Janassraya Madhava Varma IV (573–621).

In his 37th regnal year, he suppressed the revolt of his subordinate chief the Durjaya Pruthvi Maharaja in Guddadivishya (modern Ramachandrapuram in the East Godavari district).

By about 616, Pulakeshin II and his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana conquered Vengi from the Vishnukundinas and the Pithapuram area from their subordinate Durjayas.

[citation needed] Madhava Varma III appointed members of the royal family as Viceroys for various areas of the kingdom.

From the time of the accession of Madhava Varma II, an aggressive self-assertion[citation needed] of the Vedic Hinduism occurred.

Learned Brahmins were encouraged by gifts of lands and colleges were established for the propagation of Vedic studies.

Further, an incomplete work on Sanskrit poetics called 'Janasraya Chando Vichiti' was attributed to Madhava Varma IV who bore the title of 'Janasraya'.