Political and Cultural History of the Pallavas of Kanchipuram
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Political and cultural history of the Pallavas of Kanchipuram Sources for the History of the Pallavas The sources for the history of the Pallavas may be classified as native and foreign sources. The native sources may further be classified as literary and archaeological sources. The literary sources for the study of Pallavas include both Tamil and Sanskrit literature. They provide a lot of information about the Pallavas. Tamil Literature The Tamil literature consisted of the songs composed by Azhalvars and Nayanmars. They had lived during the Paliava period. The compositions of Azhalvars are known as Nalayira Divya Prabhandam. The songs of Nayanmars are compiled into Panniru Thirumurais. These works describe the social and religious life of the people during the Pallava rule. The Periyapuranam written by Sekizhar is also another important literary source for this period. Sanskrit Literature The Sanskrit works Avani Sundari Katha written by Dandin and Loga Vibagam written by Sarva Nandi provide a lot of information about the importance of Simhavishnu and his rule, The famous Pallava monarch Mahendravarman I he wrote the Mathavilasa Prakasanam in Sanskrit language. It provides information regarding the social and religious condition during the Pallava period. Archaeological Sources Copper plates, inscriptions, monuments and coins remain the important archaeological sources: for the study of the Pallavas. The Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta mentions about the Pallava king Vishnu Gopa. The Aihole Inscription of the Chalukyan king, Pulakesin II gives details about the Pallava Chalukya conflict. The Kenthoor Stone Carving of Keethivarman also belonged to the Pallava period Apart from these popular inscriptions; there exist hundreds of Pallava inscriptions throughout South India. They depict the military achievements of the Pallava kings. These inscriptions also explain the social and economic conditions of the Pallava period. The copper plates of the Pallava period remain useful historical sources. The Kuram Copper Plates issued by Parameshwaravarman and the Velurpalayam copper plates of Nandivarman III record their military achievements. The temples, sculptures and other monuments of the Pallava period also provide valuable historical information. The coins of the Pallava period remain important sources to study the economic conditions of this period. Foreign Sources The foreign sources for the Pallava period include the Sri Lankan books, namely, Deepavamsa and Mahavamsa. These books are written in Pali language. They describe about the relationship between the Pallava kings Narasimhavarman I and the Sri Lankan king Manavarman. The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang had visited the Pallava kingdom and his travel accounts are known as Siyuki. He had given a detailed account of the capital city of the Pallavas, Kanchipuram. He also mentioned about the Buddhist Viharas in Kanchi and described the social and economic conditions of the Pallava kingdom. The Ikshvakus of the Krishna – Guntur region were supplanted by the Pallavas. The term Pallava means creeper, and is a Sanskrit version of the Tamil word tondai, which also carries the same meaning. The Pallavas were possibly a local tribe who established their authority in the Tondainadu or the land of creepers. The earliest records of the Pallavas are inscriptions in Prakrit followed by inscriptions in Sanskrit and subsequently in both Sanskrit and Tamil. The Prakrit inscriptions were made when the Pallavas were still a local dynasty ruling at Kanchipuram (200–575 A.D.). The latter inscriptions had carried by what historians have called the Imperial Pallavas (570-800 A.D.) when the dynasty controlled Tamilnadu and became the first Tamil dynasty of real consequence. The Pallava Dynasty was one of the South Indian ruling dynasties which gained prominence after the eclipse of the Satavahanas dynasty, whom the Pallavas served as feudatories. They were patronage of architecture, the finest example being the Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mahabalipuram. They developed the Pallava script from which Grantha ultimately descended that gave rise to several other Southeast Asian scripts. Here we are giving the list of Pallavas Rulers of Kanchipuram and their contributions for general awareness. List of Pallavas Rulers of Kanchipuram and their contributions Name of Pallavas Contribution (s) Rulers of Kanchipuram Simhavishnu 1. Founder of the dynasty 2. He was the first Pallava monarch who extended his authority beyond Kanchipuram (Kanchi) in the South. 3. A drama written by his son Mahendravarman I in which he was portrayed as a great conqueror in Mattavilasa Prahasana (drunken revelry). Mahendravarman I 1. He was the son of Simhavishnu, who defeated the Kalabhras and re- established the Pallava kingdom. 2. Tamil literature flourished under his rule, with the rise in popularity of Tevaram written by Appar and Sambandhar. 3. He was the author of the play Mattavilasa Prahasana and another play called Bhagavadajjuka. 4. He built five-celled cave temple at Pallavaram, the Kokarneswarar Temple, and Thirukokarnam of Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu. 5. He was initially a patron of the Jain faith but under the influence of the Saiva saint Appar patronised the Saiva faith. Narasimhavarman I 1. He was also known as Mamallan (great wrestler), and Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) was named after him. 2. He shared his father Mahendravarman I's love of art and completed the work started by Mahendravarman in Mamallapuram. 3. During his reign, the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram in 640 AD. Mahendravarman II 1. He was the son of Narasimhavarman I who ruled from 630-668 AD. 2. He was succeeded by his son Paramesvaravarman I. Paramesvaravarman 1. He was an efficient and capable ruler, I known for his military exploits, his love for poetry and his devotion to Siva, to whom he erected many temples. 2. He was succeeded by his son Narasimhavarman II also called Rajasimha in 695 AD. Narasimhavarman II 1. He was one of the greatest rulers of Pallavas like Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I. 2. He constructed the Shore Temple, Isvara and Mukunda Temples in Mahabalipuram, the Panamalai Temple in South Arcot, plus the Kailasanathar Temple and Vaikuntha-Perumal Temples in Kanchipuram. 3. He was a great devotee of Shiva and constructed the Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram. Paramesvaravarman 1. He ruled from 728 to 731. II 2. He was killed by the Chalukya king Vikramaditya II. 3. He was the last ruler of the Simhavishnu line of Pallavas. Nandivarman II 1. He was Pallava ruler but not come from Simhavishnu family lineage. 2. He ruled from 720 – 796 AD. 3. He built the Vaikuntha-Perumal Temple. 4. He was an intellectual with aptitude in many arts like writing, poetry, music and philosophy. 5. He is credited with augmenting temple dramatized dance worship like Kutiyattam and chakyar koothu with many plays of his own. Dantivarman 1. He was the son of Nandivarman II. 2. He ruled for 51 years. Nandivarman III 1. He was the son of Dantivarman and grandson of Nandivarman II. 2. He was a powerful monarch who tried to reverse the decline that began in the reign of his father. 3. He had a powerful navy and maintained trade contacts with Siam and Malaya. Aparajitavarman 1. He was the last ruler of Pallavas Dynasty. 2. The last known use of stylistic tradition of was commissioned by him. 3. He was killed by Aditya I (Chola Ruler) in 897 AD at the battle field. Political History: Amongst the later group of Pallava rulers, Simha Vishnu’s (575-600 A.D.) career was long and eventful. He waged war against the Cholas, the Pandyas and their allies. He put an end to the Kalabhra interregnum in Tondaimandalam (Kanchi region) and extended his kingdom southward up to the Kaveri delta. He was also known as Avanisimha. A sculptural representation of this war-like king, attended by his two queens is found in bas-relief in the northern niche of a cave temple, known as the Adivaraha Mandapa at Mahabalipuram. His son and successor, Mahendravarman II (600-630A.D.) was the most remarkable of the Pallavas monarch. An ardent Jaina in his earlier life, he was later persuaded by one Appar, a Saiva saint, to worship Siva. He was contemporary of Harshavardhana and was also a dramatist, musician and poet of same standing. He was the author of a play, Mattaritasa-Prahasana (The Delight of the Drunkards) and was also associated with the so-called ‘musical inscription’ at Pudukkottai. His various birudas such as Mattavilasas, Gunabhara, Vichitra – chitta, Lattankura and the like, seem to allude to those accomplishments. He introduced the cave style of architecture. Mahendravarman-I suffered severe defeats at the hands of Chalukya Pulakesin – II. The territory of Vengi was lost to Pulakesin who sent his brother, Vishnuvardhana, there to start the line of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi. Narasimhavarman I, surnamed Mahamalla (630-660 A.D.), the son and successor of Mahendravarma I am considered the greatest of the Pallava rulers. He is credited with repelling the second invasion of Pulakesin II, killing him and capturing the Chalukyan capital Vatapi and won thereby the title of Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi). It was possibly in his struggle with Pulakesin II that he received aid from the Simhalese Prince Mana-Vamma whom he afterwards assisted in securing the crown of Ceylon. Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchi about the year 642 A.D. during the reign of Narasimhavarman I. He was an ardent lover of art and consecrated cave-temples at different places such as Trichinopoly and Pudukkotai. His name is, however, best known in connection with the so-called Rathas of Mahabalipuram. The original name of the place, Mahamallapura commemorates its royal founder, Mahamalla, i.e., Narasimhavarman I. Mahendravarman II (668-670A. D.) ruled for a very short period, since he was killed by Vikramaditya I the Chalukya king. The Pallava power began to dwindle during the reign of Narasimhavarman’s grandson Parameshwaravarman I (670-680A.D.) He lost his capital (Kanchi) to the Chalukya prince Vikramadity I, but seems to have recovered it soon.