The founder of the Vakataka dynasty of the Deccan was:

The Vakataka dynasty, which ruled the Deccan from about the mid-3rd century to the late 5th century CE, was founded by Vindhyashakti.

About Vindhyashakti:

• He founded the dynasty around 250 CE, after the decline of the Satavahanas.
• His name may be linked with the Vindhya mountains, where the family may have had its original home.
• He is mentioned in the inscriptions of the Ajanta caves (Cave 16), where he is described as a great warrior.
• The Puranas also mention him.
• The Vakatakas were Brahmanas, belonging to the Vishnuvriddha gotra.

Important Vakataka rulers:

• Pravarasena I: the son of Vindhyashakti; he was the only Vakataka king to take the title "Samrat" (emperor), and he performed many Vedic sacrifices, including four Ashvamedhas.
• After Pravarasena I, the kingdom was divided into two branches: the main (Nandivardhana) branch and the Vatsagulma (Basim) branch.
• Pravarasena II: wrote the Prakrit poem "Setubandha" (Ravanavaho); he founded the city of Pravarapura.
• Harishena (5th century, Vatsagulma branch): the last great Vakataka ruler; several of the Ajanta caves (such as Caves 16 and 17) were made during his reign by his minister Varahadeva and his feudatories.

Importance of the Vakatakas:

• They were the most important power in the Deccan between the Satavahanas and the Chalukyas.
• They had close relations with the Guptas through a marriage alliance.
• They were patrons of Brahmanical religion and of art.
• The finest paintings and sculptures of Ajanta belong to their period.

Their decline:

The Vakataka kingdom came to an end in the late 5th or early 6th century CE, and their territory came under the Kalachuris and later the Chalukyas.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Pravarasena I was the son of Vindhyashakti.
• ✗Rudrasena II was a later ruler.
• ✗Harishena was the last great ruler.