The Pallavas were a prominent South Indian dynasty ruling mainly between the 4th and 9th centuries CE, with their capital at Kanchipuram. They were known for constant conflicts with the Chalukyas and the Tamil kingdoms like Cholas and Pandyas.
The Pallavas are famous for pioneering Dravidian temple architecture, seen in monuments like the Shore Temple and rock-cut caves at Mahabalipuram.
Great kings like Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I strengthened the kingdom culturally and militarily. Under Pallava rule, Sanskrit and Tamil literature flourished, and Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism coexisted peacefully.Founder: Simhavarman Region: The pallavas ruled over South Andhra Pradesh and north of Tamil Nadu Capital: Their capital was Kanchipuram which became an important temple town and the centre of trade and commerce.

The pallavas expanded during the reign of Mahendraverman & Narsinghverman I.

Their reign coincided with the growth of Tamil bhakti literature and the Dravidian style of art and architecture in the South India.

Political History

The early Pallava rulers from 250 A.D. to 350 A.D. issued their charters in Prakrit.

Important among them were Sivaskandavarman and Vijayaskandavarman.

The second line of Pallava rulers who ruled between 350 A.D. and 550 A.D. issued their charters in Sanskrit. The most important ruler of this line was Vishnugopa who was defeated by Samudragupta during his South Indian expedition.

The rulers of the third line who ruled from 575 A.D. to their ultimate fall in the ninth century issued their charters both in Sanskrit and Tamil. Simhavishnu was the first ruler of thisline. He destroyed the Kalabhras and firmly established the Pallava rule in Tondaimandalam. Other great Pallava rulers of this line were Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I, and Narasimhavarman II.

Mahendravarman I (600 CE – 630 CE)

• Important battle: He was defeated by Chalukya King Pulkeshin II.
• Titles: Gunabhara, Satyasandha, Chettakari (temple-maker) Chitrakarapuli (painter), Vichitrachitta and Mattavilasa were titles used for Mahendravarman I.
• Activities: He was a versatile genius having expertise over painting, music and literature; composed a satirical drama Mattavilasa Prahasanam in Sanskrit.

• Mahendravarman I was a follower of Jainism in the early part of his career. He was converted to Saivism by the influence of the Saiva saint, Thirunavukkarasar alias Appar. He built a Siva temple at Tiruvadi.
• The Mandagappattu inscription hails him as Vichitrachitta who constructed a temple for Brahma, Vishnu and Siva without the use of bricks, timber, metal and mortar.
• His rock-cut temples are found in a number of places like Vallam, Mahendravadi,Dalavanur, Pallavaram, Mandagappattu and Tiruchirappalli.
•  Inscriptions:
  • Mandagapathu inscriptions mentions beginning of rock cut temples constructions.
  • Music inscriptions at Kudumiamalai were ascribed to him.

Narasimhavarman I (630-668 A.D.)

• Narasimhavarman I was also known as Mamalla, which means ‘great wrestler’.
• His victory over Pulakesin II in the Battle of Manimangalam near Kanchi is mentioned in Kuram copper plates.

• The Pallava army under General Paranjothi pursued the retreating Chalukya army, entered Chalukya territory, captured and destroyed the capital city of Vatapi.
• NarasimhavarmanI assumed the title ‘Vatapikonda’. He regained the lost territory.
• Achievement of Narasimhavarman I was his naval expedition to Sri Lanka. He restored the throne to his friend and Sri Lankan prince Manavarma.

• During his reign, Hiuen Tsang visited the Pallava capital Kanchipuram. His description of Kanchi is vivid. It had 100 Buddhist monasteries in which about 10,000 Buddhist monks lived.

• According to his account the people of Kanchi esteemed great learning and the Ghatika at Kanchi served as a great centre of learning.
• Narasimhavarman I was the founder of Mamallapuram and the monolithic rathas were erected during his reign.

Narasimhavarman II or Rajasimha (695 -722 A.D.)

• He was also known as Rajasimha. His regime was peaceful and he evinced more interest in developing the art and architecture.
• The Shore temple at Mamallapuram and the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram were built in this period. He was also a great patron of art and letters.
• The famous Sanskrit scholar Dandin is said to have adorned his court. He sent embassies to China and the maritime trade flourished during his reign.

• Rajasimha assumed titles like Sankarabhakta, Vadhyavidyadhara and Agamapriya.
• He was succeeded by Parameswaravarman II and Nandivarman II. The Pallava rule lasted till the end of the ninth century A.D.
• The Chola king Aditya I defeated the last Pallava ruler Aparajita and seized the Kanchi region. With this, the rule of Pallava dynasty came to an end.

Salient features of Pallavas:

Administration

• Pallavas promoted agriculture and sea-trade and collected huge wealth which is reflected in grand temple-architecture of this time.
• Pallava kingdom was divided into Kottams. In pallava administration land grants were given to Brahmans (Brahmadeya) and to temples Devadhana and were exempted from taxation.
• Group of villages were called as ‘Nadu’
• Group of Nadus were called as ‘Nagaram’ (Organisation of merchants)
• Group of Nagarams were called as ‘Manadalam’
• Sabhas (assemblies) consisting of brahmin land owners functioned through smaller assemblies/committees that looked after irrigation, agriculture, roads, and temples.
• Non- brahmin land owners’ assemblies were called ‘Ur’.
• The Pallava inscriptions throw much light on the village assemblies called sabhas and their committees.

Society

• Four–fold caste system became rigid
• Period witnessed the growing effects of Aryan culture.
• There were three types of places during this time:
  • Ur: Peasants lived here and it was headed by a headman who collected and paid the taxes to the government.
  • Sabha: THese were the land granted to the Brahmins, also called as Agrahara villages. These were tax-free.
  • Nagaram: Merchants and traders resided at this place.
• During the Pallava period, the Brahmins replaced the Jains and the Buddhists in formulating policies.

• Kanchipuram was a great centre of learning.
• The University of Kanchipuram played a great role in the spreading of Aryan culture in the South.
• It is said that the aryanisation of southern India was fulfilled during the Pallava reign.

Religion

• Brahmana occupied dominant position as Pallava were orthodox Brahmanical Hindus.

• Bhakti Movement received promotion under Pallavas.
• Shaiva and Vaishnav sages promoted Shiva and Visnu bhakti (devotion).
• Shaiva sage-poets were called as Nayanars (Important Nayanars: Thirunavukkarasar or Appar, Sundarar or Sundarmurti, Sambandar, Manikkavsagar) Vaishnav sage-poets were called Alvars (Important Alvars: Perialvar, Andal-poetess, Nammalvar, Kulashekhar).

• Pallava period witnessed rise of Saivism & Vaishnavism and decline of Jainism & Buddhism.
• In contact with the frequent customs, some rulers performed the Aswamedha and other Vedic sacrifices.

Literature, Art and Architecture

• Kanchi developed as a great centre of education, culture and trade. The Ghatika (centres of learning) at Kanchi was very popular.

• Tamil language and literature along with Sanskrit flourished under Pallavas.
• Patronage to the saints yielded in the form of development of religious literature.
• Periyapuranas: Collection of songs in love and devotion of Shiva.
• Nalayir-Divya-Prabandham: Collection of songs in love and devotion of Vishnu.
• Under Pallavas, the basic features of the Dravidian architecture i.e., Vimana,
• Mandapam and Gopuram became vividly developed.
• Vaikuntha Perumal at Kanchipuram was built by Nandivarman II.
• Painting: The Sittannavasal paintings belonged to this period.
• Literature: Dakshinchitra (Commentary) was compiled during the reign of Mahendravarman I.

• During Pallavas rule temple architecture developed in 4 styles under various kings:

Mahendravarman I:

• Small rock-cut temples were made and were called as ‘manadapas’; examples are Bhairavakonda temple and Ananteswara temple at Undavalli.

Narsimhavarman I

• ‘Mandapas’ became bigger, Mahabalipuram/ Mamallpuram city was founded and a number of monolithic Ratha (Chariot) temples were constructed like the Panchapanadava rathas.
• Important Mandapams are of Varaha, Mahishasuramardhini and Tirumurthi.

Rajasimha

• Free-standing or structural temples started to be built. Shore, Olakkaneshwara and Mukundanayanar Temples in Mahabalipuram and Kailashnath Temple and Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram were constructed with this feature.

Nandivarman and later Pallavas

• Temples continue to be constructed in Rajsimha style. Matagenswara and Muktheeswara temples are examples of this.

Decline of Pallavas

• After Narasimhavarman the Pallava fortune declined.
• The Chalukyan army invaded the Pallava kingdom and even threatened its Capital Kanchipuram.
• During the first half of the 8th century the Pallava king Narasimhavarman Pallavamalla had to wage wars simultaneously against three powers, namely, the Chalukyas, the Pandyas and the Rashtrakutas.
• Aparajitavarman was the last king of the Pallava dynasty, with his defeat by the Chola king the Pallava power finally came to an end about the close the 9th century.