The Pallavas emerged as one of the most important dynasties of early medieval South India. They were associated with Tondaimandalam, the region between the north Pennar and north Vellar rivers, with Kanchipuram as their capital. The Pallava period witnessed major developments in administration, irrigation, agriculture, trade, temple architecture, Bhakti movement, literature, maritime activities and social transformation.The period between the 6th and 9th centuries CE was marked by constant military conflicts between the Pallavas, Chalukyas and Pandyas, but at the same time it also saw remarkable cultural and architectural achievements.
There is no complete scholarly consensus regarding the origin of the Pallavas.Some early historians connected the word Pallava with Pahlavas (Parthians) who supposedly migrated from western India to the eastern coast during the conflicts between the Sakas and Satavahanas. However, many scholars consider the Pallavas as essentially native to South India, though influenced by northern traditions.The Pallavas were linked with Tondaimandalam and gradually established themselves as a major political power after defeating the Kalabhras.
The political history of the far south between 300–600 CE remains obscure. Pallava inscriptions in Prakrit and Sanskrit assigned to the period between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE mention kings such as:
The Allahabad Prashasti of Samudragupta refers to Vishnugopa of Kanchi among the southern rulers defeated and released by Samudragupta.The major expansion of Pallava power began under Simhavishnu, who:
Simhavishnu consolidated Pallava authority and laid the foundation of Pallava imperial expansion. He conquered the Chola country up to the Kaveri.
Mahendravarman I was:
Originally associated with Jainism, he later adopted Saivism under the influence of Appar.During his reign:
Mahendravarman introduced rock-cut architecture in South India.
Narasimhavarman I was among the greatest Pallava rulers.
He:
The victories over Chalukyas are recorded in the Kuram Copper Plates.
The port city of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) was developed during his reign.
Paramesvaravarman fought against the Chalukya ruler Vikramaditya with support from:
His reign marked the transition from:
Major constructions:
A Buddhist temple was also constructed at Nagapattinam during his reign at the request of a Chinese ruler.Chinese monk Wu-hing visited the monastery.
Nandivarman III defeated the Pandyas at the battle of Sripurambiyam with Chola and Ganga support.The anonymous Tamil work Nandikkalambakam praises his reign.
Aparajita was the last important Pallava ruler. He was defeated and killed by the Chola ruler Aditya I, after which Tondaimandalam passed under Chola control.
The Pallava-Chalukya conflict dominated peninsular politics during the 6th–8th centuries.
Pulakeshin II:
However:
The conflict continued intermittently for centuries.
The Pallava state was hereditary and monarchy-based.The king assumed high titles such as:
The king was assisted by:
| Official | Function |
|---|---|
| Rahasyadhikrita | Private secretary |
| Manikkappandaram-kappan | Treasury officer |
| Kodukkappillai | Officer of gifts |
| Dharmadhikarins | Judges |
| Kosa-adhyaksa | Treasury supervisor |
Judicial courts were called:
Fines included:
The Pallavas maintained a developed local administrative structure.
Village assembly handling:
Informal village gathering.
The Pallava equivalent of territorial clusters was known as Kottam.
Land ownership theoretically belonged to the king.
Granted to Brahmanas and exempted from taxes.
Granted to temples.
Paid land tax to the state.The famous Urrukkattukottam copper plates of Nandivarman record such grants.
Revenue mainly came from rural sources.
Collected from cultivators and varied from:
Taxes were imposed on:
Revenue was utilized for:
Irrigation formed the backbone of Pallava agrarian economy.
A special category called Eripatti referred to tank lands whose revenue funded tank maintenance.Features:
Water taken beyond the allotted share was taxed.Many inscriptions mention:
Agriculture remained the primary occupation.
The army consisted of:
Chariots had become almost obsolete.
The Pallavas maintained a navy and dockyards at:
Their maritime links connected:
Trade flourished with:
Exports included:
Merchant guilds included:
Guilds regulated:
Tamil merchant guilds established overseas bases in:
Coins with:
The bull became the Pallava royal symbol.
Later Chola copper plate seals displayed:
indicating supremacy over:
The Pallavas patronized:
Later Pallava rulers increasingly supported:
Several inscriptions record grants to:
Buddhist monasteries existed in:
Chinese travellers recorded Buddhist establishments.
The Pallavas strongly patronized the Bhakti movement.
The Bhakti movement transformed South Indian society between the 6th–9th centuries.
Saiva saints including:
Vaishnava saints including:
Bhakti:
Society became increasingly Brahmanized.
Enjoyed:
They worked as:
Held political and military authority.
Maintained guilds and private armed groups.
Worked in:
Some occupational groups remained outside the varna system.
Royal women occasionally played important roles.
Some Chalukya royal women:
Pallava queens:
Queen Rangapataka’s image appears in the Kailasanatha Temple inscription.Women saints included:
Kanchipuram emerged as a major centre of learning comparable to Nalanda.Education initially remained under:
Later Brahmanical institutions gained prominence.
Sanskrit became:
Major Sanskrit works:
Three important scripts emerged:
Tamil became a major inscriptional language under the Pallavas.
Many Pallava inscriptions were:
Usually:
Important works:
Patronized by southern dynasties.
Kalinkattupparani glorified Chola victories over Kalinga.
The Pallavas revolutionized South Indian temple architecture.
Introduced under Mahendravarman I.Examples:
Located at Mamallapuram:
Developed under Rajasimha.Examples:
Pallava sculptures display:
Important sculptural panels:
Early bronze Nataraja forms appeared during the Pallava period.Characteristics:
Later Chola bronzes evolved more elaborate circular forms.
Kaverippumpattinam was a major Chola port city with:
Excavations revealed:
Kanchi also developed as:
Important foreign accounts include:
They described:
The famous Pallavaram handaxe was discovered in 1863 by Robert Bruce Foote, marking the beginning of Indian prehistoric archaeology.Important Lower Palaeolithic sites:
The Pallavas faced pressure from:
The final blow came when:
The Pallavas nevertheless left a lasting contribution in: