Description

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Context:

The text on the copper plates is written in Sanskrit and early Telugu-Kannada (Archaic variety) characters of the 5th-6th century C.E.

About Pallavas dynasty

The Pallavas dynasty ruled parts of what is now South India from 275 to 897 AD. The Pallavas dynasty was an offshoot of the Satavahana kingdom where the Pallavas served as feudatories.
The Pallavas dynasty established their empire at Tondaimandalam with Kanchipuram as its capital. The Pallavas dynasty dominated until the end of the ninth century AD, when the imperial Cholas conquered and annexed Tondaimandalam.
The Pallavas dynasty became the dominant power during the reigns of Mahendravarman I (571–630 AD) and Narasimhavarman I (630–668 AD).
They ruled the Telugu and northern parts of the Tamil region for about 600 years. The Pallavas dynasty was engaged in constant hostilities with the Chalukyas of the Badami north and the Cholas and Pandyas of the south.

History of the Pallavas Dynasty

There are many opinions about the origin of the Pallavas. Some identify them with the Persian tribe. Some believe that the Pallavas dynasty were the original inhabitants of the South related to the Kurumbas and related by blood to the marauding Kallar tribes.
It was believed that they were feudatories of the Satavahanas and belonged to the Naga family. Another view was that the Pallavas dynasty were descendants of the Cholas on the one hand and the Naga rulers on the Jaffna Peninsula of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on the other.
This view is based on the facts mentioned in the Tamil epics that a Chola king married a Naga princess of Manipallavam (identified with Jaffna).
The son born of this marriage became the king of Tondaimandalam and the Pallavas dynasty he founded became known as the Pallavas. Therefore, many scholars have accepted the view that the Pallavas were natives of Tondaimandalam itself.
After the Satavahanas conquered Tondaimandalam, the Pallavas became their feudatories. The Pallavas dynasty became independent after the Satavahanas ended in the third century AD.
It is believed that the Pallavas issued their earlier inscriptions in Prakrit and Sanskrit because of their Satavahana association. The Pallavas were followers of Hinduism and patronized Brahmins.
Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese traveller, visited the Pallava capital Kanchipuram and praised their benevolent rule.

Founder of the Pallavas Dynasty

Simhavishnu is considered the founder of the Pallava dynasty. He ruled around the end of the 6th century AD. l. and is considered the first significant ruler of the dynasty.
During Simhavishnu's reign, the Pallavas dynasty expanded their kingdom and established their capital at Kanchipuram, marking the beginning of their prominence in South Indian history.

Important Rulers of the Pallavas Dynasty

Ruler	Reign Period	Major Achievements/Events
Sivaskandavarman	3rd Century AD	First great Pallava king according to early Prakrit records. Ruled Kanchi, Andhrapatha, and surrounding districts. Performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice. Introduced a hierarchy of secret officials.
Vishnugopa	4th Century AD	Defeated by Samudragupta in the mid-4th century. Pallavas fell into obscurity for over a century and a half.
Simha Vishnu	575–600 AD	Restored the Pallava dynasty. Expanded domain beyond Kanchi. Defeated Pandyas, Cholas, and Cheras. Conquered the ruler of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Represented in the Adivaraha Mandapa bas-relief at Mahabalipuram.
Mahendravarman I	600–630 AD	Engaged in the Pallava-Chalukya struggle. Defeated by Pulakesin II, losing Vengi in 610 AD. Pioneered rock-cut temples. Built temples at Pallavaram, Dalavanur, and other sites. Authored Mattavilasa Prahasanam and Bhagavada Jjuka. Converted from Jainism to Shaivism. Titles: Gunabhara, Satyasandha, Chitrakarapuli, etc.
Narasimhavarman I	630–668 AD	Avenged his father’s defeat by defeating Pulakesin II and capturing Vatapi. Assumed the title Vatapikonda. Conducted a naval expedition to Sri Lanka and restored Manavarma’s throne. Founded Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram). Host to Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, who described Kanchi as a learning center.
Narasimhavarman II	695–722 AD	Known as Rajasimha. Period of peace and focus on art and architecture. Built the Kailasanatha Temple (Kanchipuram) and Shore Temple (Mamallapuram).
Nandivarman II	730–795 AD	Renewed the Chalukya-Pallava struggle. Defeated by Chalukya king Vikramaditya II in 740 AD, losing Kanchi. Marked the beginning of Pallava decline.
Aparajitavarman	880–897 AD	Last Pallava ruler. Defeated by Chola king Aditya I. Kanchi region seized, ending the Pallava dynasty’s rule.

The capital of the Pallavas dynasty

The capital of the Pallava dynasty was Kanchipuram (also spelled Kanchi), located in present-day Tamil Nadu, India.
Kanchipuram was a major center of culture, art, and architecture during the Pallava rule and became known for its temples, educational centers, and flourishing traditions in literature and spirituality.
The Pallavas were great patrons of the arts and their architectural contributions such as the Shore Temple and the rock monuments at Mahabalipuram reflect the importance of their capital city.

The polity of Pallavas Dynasty

The king was theoretically the only source of authority. The Pallavas claimed that kingship was of divine origin and hereditary because they were descendants of Brahma.
In general, kings adopted high-sounding titles such as Maharajadhiraja, Dharmartiaharajadhiraja, and the more unusual Agnistoma-Vajapeya-Aswamedhayaji.
All these titles indicate the influence of Aryan culture and the process of assimilation that took place during this period. During this period, Vedic performances had a special political connotation as they legitimized the right to rule independently of the Pallava rulers.
- Due to the change in the religious environment, the ideal of kingship changed and kings stopped performing Vedic sacrifices.
Kings followed the practice of appointing a Yuvaraja or crown prince, and as we learn from contemporary epigraphs, he generally played an active role in administration or warfare.
Apart from the ministers and the Yuvaraja, we meet several officials of various ranks who perform many duties on behalf of the king.

Administration	Economy	Society
King was the focal point, assisted by ministers.	Agriculture was the primary activity; irrigation facilities developed under Mahendravarman’s reign.	Caste system became rigid, with Brahmins occupying a high position in society.
King was the supreme judge and commander of the Pallava army.	Encouraged crafts such as weaving, stone cutting, pottery, and carpentry.	Land grants to Brahmins and temples (Devadhana, Brahmadeya), exempt from taxes.
Administrative division into Kottams.	Growth in trade and commerce, both internal and external.	Ghatikas (educational institutions) attached to temples; supported the monarchy.
Village assemblies called Sabhas, with committees managing local affairs and maintaining records of village lands.	Exported spices, cotton textiles, precious stones, and medicinal plants to countries like Java, Sumatra, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, and Burma.	University of Kanchi was a prominent educational institution.
Tax system mainly based on land tax; traders and artisans paid taxes.	Major seaports: Mamallapuram, Vasavasamudram, Mylapore.	Mathas played an important role in spreading sectarian education by the 8th century.
Three territorial assemblies: Ur (non-Brahmanical), Sabha, and Nagaram (mercantile).	Barter system prevalent initially; later, gold and silver coins were issued.	Bhakti saints popularized Tamil through hymns, songs, and devotion to deities Siva and Vishnu.
Regular meetings of local assemblies; Variyam (committee system) for governance in Brahmin settlements.	Merchants formed associations like Manigramam.	Kings legitimized their power through religious ceremonies (Hiranyagarbha, Tulabhara, Gosahastra).

Aspect	Details
Religion	Pallavas followed Hinduism, performing yajnas and building temples for gods like Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Lakshmi.
	Rise of Shaivism and Vaishnavism due to contributions from Shaiva Nayanars and Vaishnava Alwars.
	Bhakti movement emerged with hymns composed in Tamil focusing on devotion (Bhakti).
	Construction of temples facilitated the spread of Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
	Buddhism and Jainism declined.
	Pallava kings were liberal towards other religions and sects.
Literature	Kanchipuram was a hub of learning, attracting students from across India and abroad.
	Prominent scholars: Mayurasarman, Dinganaga, Dharmapala.
	Bharavi and Dandin were notable Sanskrit scholars in the Pallava court.
	King Mahendravarman I composed the Sanskrit play Mattavilasaprahasanam.
	Tamil literature flourished with religious hymns by Nayanars and Alwars, and translations of the Mahabharata.
Art and Architecture	Pallava architecture and sculpture are key contributions to South Indian art.
	Kanchi temples are notable examples of Pallava architectural achievements.
	Seven Pagodas (Raths) at Mamallapuram, carved from large boulders, are significant works.
	Pallavas pioneered the Dravidian style of temple architecture.
	Temple architecture evolved from cave temples to monolithic rathas and finally structural temples.
	Temple architecture can be divided into two phases: rock-cut temples and structural temples.

Conclusion:

The contribution of the Pallavas dynasty to the history of South India is profound, from their political dominance to the promotion of religion, art, and architecture. Their legacy, especially the magnificent rock temples at Mahabalipuram, continues to be celebrated around the world.

The Pallavas dynasty strengthened Hinduism by building temples and cultivated a unique artistic tradition that shaped the Dravidian architectural style. Through this comprehensive study, the importance of the Pallavas as cultural pioneers and their role in shaping the history of South India is demonstrated.

Source:

The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Discuss the administrative, economic, and cultural contributions of the Pallava Dynasty to South Indian society. How did their religious patronage shape the socio-political landscape of the period? (150 words)