Pallavas

The Pallava Dynasty was located in the South Indian subcontinent. The span of Pallavas’s reign was from 275 CE to 897 C.E. They were the most influential rulers of South India and contributed enormously in the fields of religion, philosophy, art, coins and architecture. Pallavas were at their peak during the reign of Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I. Throughout their rule in Tondaimandalam, they were in constant conflict with both Chalukyas of Badami in the north and the Tamil kingdom of Cholas and Pandyas in the south. They are most remembered for their shore temple architecture.

Political History of Pallava Dynasty

The Pallavas emerged as a formidable power in South India around the fourth century AD and reached their zenith in the seventh century AD. They were able to maintain their rule for approximately 500 years. They built great cities, centers of learning, temples, and sculptures, and influenced the culture of much of Southeast Asia.

• The rise of the Pallavas in South India coincided with the fall of the Satavahanas.
• Initially, the Pallavas were the Satvahanas’ subordinate rulers. But, like the Abhirs, Kadambas, and Vakatakas, the Pallavas established themselves as independent rulers, and by the sixth century, they had gained control of a large portion of India.
• Some historians thought they were Pahlavas or Parthians who settled as Pallavas on the Tondaimandalam coast of the Indus. Few historians believed that they were also related to the Vakatakas.
• Because few intellectuals believed they were Nagas, there is no clear evidence about the authenticity of the Pallavas’ origin. Tondaimandalam is thought to be their place of origin.
• Pallavas were the feudal lords of Satvahans; when Satvahanas declined, Pallavas declared themselves independent.
• Singhvishnu is thought to be the Pallava dynasty’s first historical ruler. He was a powerful administrator who earned the title ‘Avnisingha.’ He conquered the entire Cholamandalam and extended his empire all the way to the Kaveri River.
• As a result, he is regarded as the true founder of the Pallava dynasty. He was a devotee of Vaishnavism. Bharvi, the author of Kiratarjuniyam, lived in his court.

Political History with Reference to the Rulers

• SivaskandaVarman was the first important ruler, and he performed an Aswamedha and other Vedic sacrifices. Kanchi was his capital.
• Samudragupta compelled the Pallava king, Vishnugopa, to recognise Gupta suzerainty.
• The Pallavas reappeared at the end of the sixth century. Simhavishnu (575–600 AD) conquered Chola territory and humbled the pride of his neighbours, including Ceylon.
• The magnificent reliefs depicting Simhavishnu and two of his consorts in the Varsha cave at Mamallapuram attest to his vaishnava faith.
• With Mahendravarman I, Simhavishnu’s son and successor, began the titanic three-way conflict with the Chalukyas of Vatapi and the Cholas.
• Pulakesin II, the Chalukya king, conquered Kanchi. Pulakesin II triumphed in the pitched battle at Pullalur, fifteen miles north of Kanchi.
• However, Narsimhavaram I, Mahendravarman I’s son and successor, defeated Pulakesin II in numerous battles and most likely killed Pulakesin himself. In addition, he defeated the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandavas. He even dispatched two naval expeditions to Ceylon and installed his protégé on the throne. Narasimhavarman, I was also a great builder.
• During his reign, Mamallapuram was adorned. Hiuen-Tsand came to his kingdom.
• He claims that the soil was fertile and produced an abundance of grain; that flowers and fruits were plentiful; that precious gems and other luxury items were known; and that the people were brave and deeply committed to learning, honesty, and truth.
• Narasimhavarman II, also fought against the chalukyas. He was succeeded by Paramesvaravarman I, during whose reign Vikramaditya I of the Chalukyas, in alliance with the Pandyas, reigned again.
• He most likely conquered the city of Kanchi. Later, Vikramaditya II was defeated by Paramesvarvarman I. According to the Pallava records, the Chalukya attack was repulsed.
• Yet, as we know, the Chalukyas swept through the Pallava dominions once more in the 8th century A.D., led by Vikramaditya II, defeating Nandivarman and capturing Kanchi.
• By that time, the Pallavas were facing a serious challenge from the south’s rising dynasties. The Pandyas advanced along the Kanchi River’s banks.
• Aditya Chola drove the final nail in the coffin when he defeated Aparajita Pallava and took possession of his kingdom near the end of the ninth century A.D.

Chalukya-Pallava Conflict

• The Chalukya-Pallava war began with Pulakesin II and ended with the significant collapse of both dynasties; the power that rose afterwards, the Rushtrakutas and the cholas, continued the same type of struggle.
• This was due to the fact that the Chalukya-Pallava conflict was heavily influenced by the geographical location of the Chalukya and Pallava kingdoms.
• Following the conclusion of the first bout, the Pallavas avenged their defeat during the reign of Narasimhavarman I. He reclaimed the lost territories. He was helped in this by the King of Ceylon.
• In 642 A.D., he entered Bademi’s capital and assumed the title of Vatapikonda, which means “conqueror” or “Vatapi.”
• After that, the Pallavas were involved in naval wars while supporting the Ceylonese kings, and the Chalukyas were troubled by their feudatories.
• After the Chalukyan house was restored in 655, they re-occupied the territories lost to the Pallavas. This was the third stage of the process.
• The tables were soon turned. The Chalukyan royal family had a schism. Taking advantage of this, the Pallavas returned to Badami. Details about this campaign can be found in the Pallava grant near Kanchi. This was the fourth and final phase.
• The fifth phase began in 731, when the Chalukyas and Gangas joined forces to attack the Pallavas. The reigning Pallava king was assassinated, and Kanchi was taken over. Later, the ministerial council chose Nandivarman II.
• The ball was in Pallavas’ court at the end of the game. At this point, the Pallavas’ southern neighbours, the Pandays, joined the conflict. The Madura Pandyas had a negative attitude toward the Pallavas.
• Meanwhile, the Chalukyas were threatened by the Arabs, who were already in control of Sind.
• While the Chalukyas were preoccupied with the threat from the north, one of their feudatories, Dantidurga, broke away from them but they, too, perished within a century, the last of the Pallavas was assassinated by the son of a feudatory.

Extent of the Pallava Dynasty

• Kanchipuram was the Pallava capital.
• At the height of their power, their territories stretched from northern Andhra Pradesh to River Kaveri in the south.
• The Pallavas’ authority reduced the Cholas to a marginal state in the seventh century.
• The Pallava king Narasimhavarman occupied Vatapi (Badami) after defeating the Chalukyas.
• The Pandyas, Chalukyas, and Pallavas all worked together to crush the Kalabhra uprising.
• The Kalabhras were protesting against the Brahmanic rulers of the three dynasties’ numerous land grants (Brahamadeya) to Brahmanas.

Rulers of Pallava Empire

The Pallavas emerged as a formidable power in the South around the fourth century AD and reached their zenith in the seventh century AD. They were able to maintain their rule for approximately 500 years. The Pallava Dynasty supplanted the Ikshvakus, who arose on the ruins of Satavahanas in the Eastern Peninsula. The Pallava Dynasty was established in Tondaimandalam with Kanchipuram as its capital. 

About Pallava Dynasty

• From 275 CE to 897 CE, the Pallavas established themselves as a formidable power in South India.
• Pallavas rose to prominence following the demise of the Satavahana dynasty, for whom the Pallavas served as feudators.
• During the reigns of Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I, the Pallavas rose to prominence.
• They built and developed great cities, centres of learning, temples, and sculptures, and influenced the culture of much of Southeast Asia.
• Pallavas were finally defeated in the 9th century CE by Chola ruler Aditya I.

Sivaskanda Varman (4th Century AD)

• The Pallava dynasty ruled over a large region of southern India known as Tondaimandalam from 275 to 897 CE.
• Sivaskandavarman of Kanchi was a Pallava king who reigned from 275 to 300 CE and issued a charter in 283 CE, his ninth year in power.
• The Pallavas rose to power in Andhra during the final years of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
• In 300 CE, Pallava king Simhavarma defeated Ikshvaku king Rudrapurushadatta, establishing Pallava rule in Coastal Andhra, which was known as “Karmarashtra” at the time.
• It is thought that Simhavarma (280-335 CE) founded the Pallava dynasty, and Sivaskandavarman, reigning around the early 4th century CE, was the greatest of the early Pallavas.
• Sivaskandavarman‘s authority stretched from the Krishna river to the southern Penner and Bellary regions.
• The Ashwamedha Yagya was performed by Sivaskandavarman during his reign, marking a significant event in his kingdom.
• Mayidvolu and Hirahadgalli inscriptions are associated with Sivaskandavarman, with the Guntur copper plate mentioning the crown prince Buddhavarman and his son Budhyankur.
• The rest of the history regarding Sivaskandavarman‘s reign is somewhat unclear or dismal.

Simhavarman/Simhavishnu (575-600 AD)

• Simhavishnu, also known as Avanisimha, was the son of Simhavarman III and one of India’s Pallava kings.
• He is credited with the revival of the Pallava dynasty and was the first Pallava king whose domain extended south of Kanchipuram (Kanchi).
• In the play Mattavilasa Prahasana by his son Mahendravarman I, Simhavishnu was portrayed as a great conqueror.
• When Simhavishnu ascended the throne, the Pallava dynasty was reclaiming its throne, and five dynasties ruled the southern peninsula of India at the time: the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Cheras, and Chalukyas.
• Simhavishnu was known for his gallant martial courage and judicial wisdom from a young age.
• He overthrew the Kalabhras and conquered regions up to the Kaveri, where he clashed with the Pandyas and Ceylon.
• Simhavishnu sent a naval expedition to occupy Malaya and Sri Lanka, making Kanchipuram his capital.
• The Pallavas‘ early presence in regions like Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia is evidenced by art resembling Pallava style and inscriptions in the Grantha script.
• Simhavishnu led the Pallavas’ revival, and the period beginning with him is known as the Greater Pallavas or Later Pallavas dynasty.
• During his reign, the Pallava-Chalukya conflict began, which would last over two centuries.
• Simhavishnu ruled the Pallava Kingdom from 575 to 600 AD and is considered the real founder of the Pallava dynasty.
• He defeated the Kalabhras, who were considered evil rulers.
• Simhavishnu also defeated the Ikshvakus, laying a firm foundation for the Pallava Empire.
• By ending the political disturbances caused by the Kalabhras, he conquered land up to the Kaveri and established Kanchi as his capital (south of Chennai).
• He fought and defeated the Cholas.
• He bore the title Avanisimha (Lion of the Earth).
• Simhavishnu was a Vishnu worshipper, and his opponent was Avni Singh.
• Idols of Simhavishnu and his two queens are carved on the stone in Mahabalipuram’s Varaha cavity.
• Simhavishnu is said to have been the patron of the Sanskrit poet Bharavi, who wrote about the duel between Siva and Arjuna in the Kirata Arjuneeya, where Lord Shiva bestows the divine ‘Pasupata’ missile on Arjuna.
• Bharavi’s plays were structured for koodiyattam performances in temples during festivals, and the Kirata Arjuneeya is still used as a subject for koodiyattam performances.

Mahendravarman (600-630 AD)

• Mahendravarman I (600–630 AD) was a Pallava emperor who ruled the southern portion of modern-day Andhra Pradesh and the northern regions of modern Tamil Nadu in the early 7th century.
• He was the son of Simhavishnu, who defeated the Kalabhras and restored the Pallava kingdom.
• During his reign, the long-running Pallava–Chalukya conflict began, with Pulakesin II marching against the Pallavas and conquering the northern half of their kingdom.
• A Pallava inscription mentions Mahendravarman I’s victory at Pullalur, but he was unable to reclaim the lost territory.
• In the early stages of his career, Mahendravarman I practised Jainism but later converted to Shaivism after being influenced by the Shaiva saint Appar.
• He constructed a Siva temple in Tiruvadi.
• Mahendravarman I was known by several titles, including Gunabhara, Satyasandha, Chettakari (temple builder), Chitrakarapuli, Vichitrachitta, and Mattavilasa.
• He was an expert in the construction of cave temples, with Mandagappattu inscription honoring him as Vichitrachitta for building a temple for Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva without using bricks, wood, metal, or mortar.
• His rock-cut temples can be found in Vallam, Mahendravadi, Dalavanur, Pallavaram, Mandagappattu, and Tiruchirappalli.
• Mahendravarman I wrote the Sanskrit work Mattavilasa Prahasanam, and his name, Chitrakarapuli, reflects his artistic abilities.
• He was also regarded as a music expert and is credited with the music inscription at Kudumianmalai.
• Mahendravarman I supported literature and architecture, building the Mahabalipuram Lighthouse and Kanchi University, where he taught Vedas, Buddhism, Jainism, painting, music, and dance.
• He pioneered rock-cut architecture among the Pallavas.
• The Mandagapattu Tirumurti Temple’s inscription honors him as Vichitrachitta, claiming he built the temple without the use of wood, brick, mortar, or metal.
• He also built the five-celled cave temple at Pallavaram, the Kokarneswarar Temple, and the Thirukokarnam Temple in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu.
• Kudumiya malai Inscription was created by him, and his works are also found in the Sittanavasal Cave (Tamil Nadu).
• Mahendravarman I was the author of the farce Mattavilasa Prahasana about Buddhist and Saiva ascetics and is also credited with writing another play, Bhagavadajjuka.
• Some inscriptions found at Mamandur cave shrines (near Kanchipuram) attribute this play to him, although there is an alternate view that attributes it to Bodhayana.
• Initially a Jain patron, Mahendravarman I converted to Shaivism after being influenced by Appar.
• According to Dhivyacharitam, a Sanskrit work, Yatotkara perumal (Mahavishnu), enshrined in Kancheepuram, left the city along with his devotee Thirumalisai Alvar due to persecution by Mahendravarman I, who had temporarily come under the influence of Jainism.
• Pulakesin II, the Chalukya King, defeated Mahendravarman I at Pullalur, near Kanchi.
• Pulakesin II advanced toward the Pallava capital, but Mahendravarman I bought peace by ceding the northern provinces to Pulakesin II.
• In 642 AD, Narasimhavarman I, the son of Mahendravarman I, avenged his father by defeating and killing Pulakesin II in the Battle of Vatapi, capturing the Chalukyan capital of Vatapi.

Narasimhavarman I (630-668 AD)

• Narasimhavarman I ruled South India from 630 CE to 668 CE and shared his father Mahendravarman I’s love for art and continued his work in Mamallapuram.
• During his reign, the famous Pancha Rathas Temple (also known as the Rock Cut Temple) was built and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Narasimhavarman I was also known as Mahamalla or Mamalla, meaning “great wrestler.”
• His father, Mahendravarman I, started the Pallava-Chalukya conflict, which Narasimhavarman I successfully continued, aiming to avenge his father’s defeat by Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II.
• Narasimhavarman I defeated Pulakesin II in three battles, including one at Manimangalam near Kanchi in 642 CE, leading to Pulakesin II’s death and Narasimhavarman taking the title Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi).
• Narasimhavarman I led a daring expedition to Sri Lanka, re-establishing the Sinhalese prince Manavarman.
• During his reign, Hiuen Tsang visited the Pallava capital of Kanchi and noted that in addition to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism flourished there.
• Hiuen Tsang also mentioned that Kanchi was the birthplace of Dharmapala, who became the abbot of Nalanda and that Ghatika of Kanchi was a prominent center of learning.
• Narasimhavarman I was a great builder, continuing and improving upon his father’s work in Mamallapuram, constructing monolithic temples, rock-cut mandapas, and portrait sculptures that showcased the glory of Pallava art and architecture.
• He carved cave temples at Kudumiyamalai and the Perumal temple at Thirumaiyam near Pudukottai.
• His monolithic temples, rock-cut mandapas, and sculptures, including Kannan holding Govardhanagiri as an umbrella and Arjuna’s penance scene carved into the rocks, were a significant achievement.
• He constructed the Mahishasura Mandabam and Trinity Gods’ Hall in Mamallapuram.
• The temples carved from separate rocks became known as the Pandavas’ cars.
• Narasimhavarman I’s forts at Pallavaram near Lalgudi and Kanchi were the best among his forts.
• He was given titles such as Mamalla, Sriparan, Srimohan, Srinidhi, Ranajayan, Adhyanthakaman, Ameyamayan, and Badami conqueror.
• His contemporaries included Pulakesin II, Vikramadityan, Durvinedhan, the King of Ganga, and Nedumaran.
• Narasimhavarman I ruled for about 40 years, successfully and efficiently continuing his father’s legacy while being tolerant of other religions despite adhering to Shaivism.
• He is regarded as one of the few Indian kings who never lost a battle to his adversaries.
• Pulakesin II, the Chalukya king, previously raided several northern Pallava provinces and forts but failed to capture the Pallava capital of Kanchipuram.
• In 642 CE, Narasimhavarman I defeated Pulakesin II in several battles, including one at Manimangalam, and eventually captured Vatapi, the Chalukya capital.
• Narasimhavarman I’s general, Paranjothi (also known as Vikrama Kesari), played a key role in destroying the city of Vatapi under Narasimhavarman’s command.
• Paranjothi is credited with defeating the evil Kali as manifested by the Deccan enemy of the Pallavas in Sekkizhaar’s work (the 12th Tirumurai).
• Narasimhavarman I helped Manavarman, a Sinhalese prince living at his court, to invade Sri Lanka twice.
• The second invasion of Sri Lanka was successful, and Manavarman seized control of Sri Lanka, ruling from 691 to 726 CE.
• Narasimhavarman’s conquest of Sri Lanka is mentioned in the Kasakudi copper plates and confirmed by the Mahavamsa, a historical chronicle of Sri Lanka.