Pallava, were a South Indian dynasty who established their capital at Kanchipuram in the 4th cent. CE. They are of obscure origin, and grew wealthy and strong during the reign of Mahendravarman I (571 – 630 CE) and Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 CE). They dominated the northern parts of Tamil region till the end of the 9th century, for about six hundred years.

Throughout their reign they were in constant conflict with both Chalukyas in the north and the Tamil kingdoms of Chola and Pandyas in the south. The Pallavas engaged in constant warfare with the Chalukyas of Badami and were finally eclipsed by the Chola kings in the 8th century CE.

Pallavas are most noted for their patronage of Dravidian architecture, seen even today in Mahabalipuram. These powerful rulers, who left behind fantastic sculptures and magnificent temples, which survive to this very day, established the foundations of classical Dravidian architecture.

Origins

There have been a number of speculations regarding the origin of the Pallavas. There are some claims based on historical, anthropological, and linguistic evidence indicating that the Pallavas were related to the Pahlavas of Iran. See also: Dr. Samar Abbas, India's Parthian Colony, May 2003 ^*.

There are other opinions supporting their indigenous origins state that they were hereditary feudatory rulers under the Satavahanas.See Durga Prasad, History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D. , Nilakanta Sastri, K.A., A History of South India

Religion

The Early Pallavas claimed to be Brahmins of Bharadwaja gotra. The early Pallavas styled themselves as Brahma Ksnatriyas ( Brahmins in Pursuit of arms). Later by the fifth century CE, the Pallavas were regarded as Kshatriyas. They were followers of the Brahmanical religion. In line with the prevalent customs, some of the rulers performed the Aswametha and other Vedic sacrifices. They had made gifts of lands to gods and Brahmins.

Later Pallavas such as Mahendravarman I and probably his father Simhavishnu were adherents of the Jain faith. Mahendravarman later switched to Hinduism under the influence of the Saiva sint Appar.Appar - http://www.tamilnation.org/sathyam/east/saivaism/63nayanmars.htm#_VPID_31

Pallava Chronology

Early Pallava

The history of the early Pallavas has not yet been satisfactorily settled. The Prakrit and the Sanskrit charters on which we base our knowledge of these early Pallavas merely mention the royal names, their non-political grants and nothing about their reign or their political achievements. The earliest documentation we have on the Pallavas is the three copper-plate grants.Now referred to as the Mayidavolu, Hirahadagalli and the British Museum plates - Durga Prasad, History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D., P. G. Publishers, Guntur (1988) All three belong to Skandavarman I and written in the Prakrit language.

Skandavarman seems to have been the first great ruler of the early Pallavas. He extended his dominions from the Krishna in the north to the Pennar in the south and to the Bellary district in the West. He performed the Aswametha and other Vedic sacrifices. At the beginning of their rule. Manchikallu, Mayidavoiu, Darsi and Ongodu were the centres of their activity Kanchipuram gained prominence as the centre of their political and cultural activity by the second quarter of the fourth century CE.

Vishnugopa (350 - 355 CE), was defeated by Samudragupta around 350 CE. With Samudragupta's expedition, the Paliava eclipse set in.

In the reign of Simhavarman IV, who ascended the throne in 436 CE the fallen prestige of the Pallavas was restored. He recovered the territories lost to the Vishnukundins in the north up to the mouths of the Krishna. The early Pallava history from this period onwards is furnished by a dozen or so copper-plate grants. These are in the Sanskrit language. They are all dated in the regnal years of the kings.The absolute chronology for these dates is derived from the ^*] dates in the Jain manuscript on cosmology Lokavibhaga

With the accession of Nandivarman (480 - 500 CE), the decline of the early Pallava family was seen. The Kadambas had their aggressions and even the headquarters of the Pallavas was occupied by them. In coastal Andhra the Vishnukundins established their ascendency. The Pallava authority was confined to Tondaimandalam.

With the accession of Simha Vishnu father of Mahendravarma I. probably in 575 A.D., the glorious imperial Pallava phase begins in the south.

The following chronology is gathered from these three charters:See Nilakanta Sastry, K.A History of South India (OUP) reprinted 2000

• Simhavarman I 275 - 300 CE
• Skandavarman
• Buddhavarman
• Budhyankara
• Visnugopa 350 - 355 CE
• Kumaravishnu I 350 - 370 CE
• Skandavarman II 370 - 385 CE
• Viravarman 385 - 400 CE
• Skandavarman III 400 - 436 CE
• Simhavarman II 436 - 460 CE
• Skandavarman IV 460 - 480 CE
• Nandivarman I 480 - 510 CE
• Kumaravishnu II 510 - 530 CE
• Buddhavarman 530 - 540 CE
• Kumaravisnu III 540 - 550 CE
• Simhavarman III 550 - 560 CE

Later Pallavas

The incursion of the Kalabhras and the confusion in the Tamil country was broken by the Pandya Kadungon and the Pallava Simhavishnu. The Pallava kingdom began to gain both in territory and influence over the South Indian peninsula. Pallavas exercised control over their southern neighbours of Cholas and Pandyas. But their history is marked by the continuous conflict with the Badami Chalukyas. Narasimhavarman I and Paramesvaravarman I were the kings who stand out with glorious achievements in both military and architectural spheres.

• Simhavishnu 555 - 590 CE
• Mahendravarman I 590 - 630 CE
• Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) 630 - 668 CE
• Mahendravarman II 668 - 672 CE
• Paramesvaravarman I 672 - 700 CE
• Narasimhavarman (Raja Simha) 700 - 728 CE
• Paramesvaravarman II 705 - 710 CE
• Nandivarman (Pallavamalla) II 732 - 796 CE
• Thandivarman 775 - 825 CE
• Nandivarman III 825 - 869 CE
• Nirupathungan 869 - 882 CE
• Aparajithan 882 - 901 CE

Pallava architecture

Pallavas were pioneers of south Indian architecutre. The earliest examples of temples in the Dravidan style belong to the Pallava period. The earliest examples of Pallava constructions are rock-cut temples dating from 610 - 690 CE and structural temples between 690 - 900 CE. The greatest accomplishments of the Pallava architecture are the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram. There are excavated pillared halls and monolithic shrines known as rathas in Mahabalipuram. Early temples were mostly dedicated to Shiva. The Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram built by Nandhivarman is a fine example of the Pallava style temple.

Notes