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Pallava dynasty
- 1. Pallava Dynasty |Pallava Kings | Pallavas of Kanchi
- 3. •The Pallavas foundedtheir Capital at Kanchipuram. • Kanchipuram is popularly called “Kanchi”.
- 4. Origin of Pallavas Thedecay of the Satavahana Empire facilitated the emergence of a number of new kingdoms on its ruins.
- 5. Among them the Kingsof Pallava Dynasty were the most noted, who occupied the south-eastern part of the Satavahana Empire and founded their capital at Kanchipura, popularly called “Kanchi. The Pallava Kings did not patronage Tamil language and in their early administrative system they followed the Satavahana style instead of the Tamil style.
- 6. The Pallavas ruledin Mysore, Karnatka, and southern India (incorporating the modern regions of Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadhu, and parts of southern Karnataka). Later on, they conquered vast areas of the sub-continent, expanding across much of it intoAfghanistan during the reigns of Dharmapala and Devapala.
- 7. The origins ofthe Pallavas have always been an issue of speculation. There have been claims that they were the former governors of the Satvahanas, while some claim they descend from the Cholas. In truth, they probably benefited from the collapse of both powers and emerged following their fall.
- 8. However, in Sanskritthe word 'Pallava' actually means a 'twig' and their Tamil lineage is, by and large, accepted by all. There is also one rather bizarre theory which states that 'Pallava' is an adulteration of the word 'Pahlava' for the Parthians of Central Asia and Iran.
- 9. Pallava rule canbe categorised as 1. 'Early Pallava Rule' (up to around AD 550 and the arrival on the scene of Simhavishnu, their great king), and 2. 'Later Pallava Rule' (from Simhavishnu onwards).
- 10. The one byR C Majumdar, a highly respected Indian historian, seems to be the most complete, and the dates of rule he gives make more sense. Too many of the other lists appear to be too short to cover the given time span, even though they may be correct in the names they list. Majumdar is largely followed here for the early Pallavas, thanks to Stephen Barr's work in narrowing down the available options for a complete list of rulers (known as the Barr List).
- 11. Early Pallavas AD 3rdCentury - c.550 • The Pallavas at the zenith of their power ruled present day Andhra Pradesh, the northern parts of Tamil Nadu, and parts of southern Karnataka. • Their capital was at Kanchipuram (the region around Kanchi known as Tondaimandalam).
- 12. They gained prominenceafter the decline of the Satvahanas and the Cholas, as they gained a foothold in the territories of both former powers. The genealogy of the early Pallava kings is very confusing, but in the book 'Early Pallavas', author D C Sircar provides a highly useful summary to sit alongside the list by R C Majumdar.
- 13. Simhavarman 275 -300 Father of Sivaskandavarman. Began the kingdom. Sivaskandavarman 300 - 330 Son. Issued Prakrit grants. At this time the Pallava realm includes the Andhra country in the north and the Bellary district in the north-west. It is possible that the Western Gangas acknowledge his suzerainty. He issues the Hirahadagalli grant (in his eighth year), which is an honorific grant for a garden situated on the southern boundary of Cillarcacodumka.
- 14. Skandavarman I Skandavarman issuesa grant during his reign that is now at the British Museum. He performs the Ashwamedha Sacrifice after increasing the borders of his kingdom, extending the territory under his rule from Krishna to the South Pennar and Berar districts.
- 15. The Pallavas arefamous for their magnificent temples in present day Tamil Nadu, one of the most famous being the Ratha Temple at Mamalapuram
- 16. Visnugopa/ Vishnugopa/ Virakurcha330 - 375 Vishnugopa comes in conflict with the great Gupta king, Samudragupta, and is defeated. Despite this, it is around this period that the Pallavas count the Western Gangas as their vassals.
- 17. Skandavarman II Son. KumaravishnuI Son. Buddhavarman Son. Kumaravishnu II Son. Issued the Chendalur grant. Viravarman Reign in some doubt. Not on the Barr List. ? - 436 Skandavarman IV (I) Son of Kumaravishnu. Alternatively numbered lower in some lists. 436 - 458 Simhavarman I Son. Skandavarman V (II) Son. Ruled jointly with his father, perhaps from another capital. c.480 - 500 Nandivarman Ruled from Kanchi. Issued the Udayendiram grant. c.480 - 500 Vishnugopavarman Joint ruler, but from Palakkada.
- 18. Candadanda .510 •Comes intocontact with the Kadamba king, Ravivarma, in the first quarter of the sixth century (before 519). •The Kadamba attack is thwarted, but Pallava power is declining anyway, and the Western Gangas declare their independence about 529.
- 19. The son ofSimhavarman II is Simhavishnu, and it is he who leads the revival of Pallava power, beginning what is subsequently known as the Later Pallava period.
- 20.
- 21. Simhavishnu reigned aroundAD 550 (a reign of thirty-plus years), beginning the Pallava revival. He recreated a strong Pallava kingdom by subduing many kings in the south (such as the Kalabhras, Pandyas, Cholas, Cheras, and the king of Ceylon). His kingdom soon extended beyond Kanchi (as far as the River Kaveri).
- 22. Through his navalexpeditions he subdued Malaya (Indo-China) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Simhavishnu also patronised literature and poetry. He was said to be a patron of the great Sanskrit poet, Bharavi, and was himself a Vaishnavite Hindu by religion.
- 23. Simhavishnu c.560s Sonof Simhavarman II. Ruled for about 30 years. Mahendravarman I .600 - 630 Mahendravarman wards off an attack on Kanchipuram by Chalukya king Pulakeshi II, though he has to cede areas of his northern territories to the Chalukyas (Vengi province).
- 24. Mahendravarman contributed greatlyto architecture and promoted rock-cut temples in his kingdom such as the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram
- 25. NarsimhavarmanI c.630 -668 642- Narsimhavarman I defeats the Chalukyas under Pulakeshi II and wrests back the territories lost by his father. He also attacks and plunders Vatapi (Badami), the capital of the Chalukyas, killing Pulakeshi II in the process. He later subdues the Cholas and the Cheras, and is said to help the Ceylonese prince, Manavamma, in gaining his kingdom.
- 26. MahendravarmanII 668 -670 670- During the reign of Mahendravarman II, King Manavarma of Ceylon is deposed and driven into exile, going to the Pallava court. Mahendravarman himself is killed in a collective attack by the Chalukyas, the Gangas and thePandyas.
- 27. Parameshvaravarman / Paramesvaram670- 695 670 – 674 As soon as he gains the throne, Parameshvaravarman continues fighting the Chalukyas under the leadership of Vikramaditay I. He captures Kanchi and advances south to the River Kaveri. In 674 he fights the Battle of Peruvalanallur, near Trichinopoly, and is victorious despite facing a huge coalition.
- 28. 677 – 680Parameshvaravarman occupies Chalukyan territories from which he withdraws only after the Chalukyan rulers agree to pay a yearly tribute and accept Pallava overlordship, but not before the occupation army annihilates several Chalukyan princes, nobles and citizens. This victory enables the Pallavas to assert t heir hegemony over the subcontinent.
- 29. Narsimhavarman II Rajasimha695- 722 695 - At his accession, Narsimhavarman is the ruler of the most powerful military force in the subcontinent. Rajasimha is a great militarist, exchanges with China, and offers 'to certain rulers in their war againstArabs'. His reign is comparatively free from any political disturbance so great progress is made in the direction of temple building.
- 30. Parameshvaravarman / ParmeswaramII722 - 730 The reign of Parameshvaravarman II signals the turn of the tide in Pallava fortunes. Kanchi is invaded by theChalukyas and Parameshvaravarman has to surrender and accept humiliating conditions. He attacks the Chalukyas but is defeated and killed, dying without an heir.
- 31. 730 - 731A war of succession is avoided as military leaders (dandanayakas), scholars, and representatives of the merchant class and the peasantry form an entourage and undertake 'a long journey' to reach the kingdom of Kambujadesa (modern Cambodia and Vietnam). They are ruled by a certain Kadavesa Hari Varma, who is a sixth generation descendant of Bhimavarman, brother of the great Simhavishnu.
- 32. Of his sons,only the youngest, Nandivarman, accepts his request to return to the Deccan to govern the Pallava kingdom as successor to the deceased Parameshvaravarman. During the absence of a ruler in the Deccan, the Pallava's regional enemies mobilise as if they are about to invade but, as the Pallavas wait and watch, nothing occurs.
- 33. NandivarmanII 730– 796 734- The awaited Chalukya invasion takes place, with Vikramaditya II occupying Kanchi. The Pallavas soon recover, having to fight the Cholas, Pandyas and Gangas in quick succession. Eventually defeated by Dantidurga of the Rashtrakutas, Nandivarman still loses none of his kingdom.
- 34. Dantivarman / Dandivarman796 - 840 During the reign of Dantivarman the kingdom is in noticeable decline. The Pandyas and the Rashtrkutas defeat the Pallavas under his command. His successor, Nandivarman III, tries to regain the lost glory of the Pallavas but is also defeated by the Pandyas, who have become the new enemy to be feared by the weakening Pallavas
- 35. . Nandivarman III840 – 869 Nandivarman is a powerful monarch who tries to reverse the Pallava decline. He makes an alliance with the Rashtrakutas and the Gangas, and defeats the Pandyas at Thellar, near Kanchi.
- 36. He then pursuesthe retreating army as far as the River Vaigai. The Pandyan ruler, Srimara Srivallabha, however, recovers most of his territories and even defeats the Pallavas at Kumbakonam
- 37. The Kailasnatha templeat Kanchi was perhaps the last great Pallava construction
- 38. 869 - UponNandivarman's death, differences arise between Nripatunga and his step-brother, Aparajita, probably owing to the latter's ambition to rule the kingdom in his own right. Both sides look for allies. and for the time being, it is Nripatunga who rules the kingdom.
- 39. Nripatunga / Nripatungavarman869- ? Nripatunga manages to turn the tables on the Pandyas and inflict a defeat on them under their king, Srimara Srivallabha, as one last salve to Pallava pride.
- 40. Aparajita/ Aparajitavarman 879-891 Last Pallava king. 891 - Aparajita tries to revive the the fortunes of the Pallavas by defeating the Pandyas again, with the help of the Cholas who are his vassals, but in 891 the Chola king, Aditya, breaks the yoke of his Pallava overlords and completely defeats them. This allows the Cholas to established their own supremacy in southern India.
- 41. •During the thirteenthand fourteenth centuries, the Kadava dynasty comes to prominence. •It claims descent from the Pallavas. •Its most notable kings, Koperunchinga I (1216-1242) and Koperunchinga II (1243-1279) are said to be instrumental in the destruction of the Chola dynasty.
- 42. The Declineof Pallava •Fromhis successors the decay of the Pallava authority began. •Aggression from the Pandyas in the South and that of the Rashtrakutas in the North had eclipsed their glory. •The Pallava king Nripatunaga made a last attempt to oust the enemies of the Pallava Empire with assistance from the feudatory powers like Cholas and Gangas. • It was successful. •The Pandyas were totally defeated.
- 43. •But that exhibitedthe internal weakness of the Pallavas and energized Aditya Chola a feudatory of the Pallavas to make a coup and seize the authority of Tondamandalam from the Pallavas. •Thus the Pallava rule in Tondamandalam came to an end. •This is so far the achievements of the Pallavas in the history of India are concerned.