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Home , Kirtivarman II, Krishna I, Krishna II, Lakkundi, Mahendravarman I, Mamallapuram

Unit 4 South Indian Kingdoms

Learning Objectives

• To know the southern Indian states that emerged after the fall of the Mauryan Empire • To acquire information of the ruling dynasties such as Pallavas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas and their domains • To understand their contribution to society and culture with reference to literature, art and architecture • To become familiar with the artistic and architectural splendour of , Ellora monuments and Elephanta cave temples

South Indian Kingdoms control over the greater part of in this period. By the early 7th century, synchronising with the ’s reign in the north, the The Pallavas far south had come under the control of The Pallava kings ruled around the the Pallava kings of . Pallava prosperous agrarian settlement and sovereignty included the domains of the important trade centre of Kanchipuram on Cholas and the Pandyas. The latter were the southeast coast of India. Kanchipuram then emerging as ruling dynasties in their was well known to Chinese and Roman respective river valley regions. Much of the merchants. From the flourishing trade centre central and eastern Deccan was under the of Kanchipuram, the later Pallavas extended Chalukyas of (Vatapi), who were their sovereignty over all the Tamil-speaking then pushed away by the Rashtrakutas. regions during the 7th and 8th centuries. The medieval period in India was marked The central part of their kingdom, however, by thee mergence of regional centres of was Thondaimandalam, a large political power. There was no single imperial power region comprising northern parts of Tamil like Mauryas or Guptas who exercised Nadu and the adjoining Andhra districts.

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 128 22-11-2018 16:00:49 PALLAVA TERRITORIES

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Sources

Inscriptions Mandagapattu Cave, Inscription of Pulakesin II

Copper Kasakudi Plates Plates Literature Mattavilasa Prahasana, Avanthi Sundarakatha, Kalingathu Parani, Periya Puranam, Nandi Kalambagam Foreign Accounts of Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang Notice

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 129 22-11-2018 16:00:50 Pallava Genealogy (Prominent Kings) ’s army general was . Popularly known as There were early Pallava rulers who were Siruthondar (one of the 63 Nayanmars), feudatories of Satavahanas. , son Paranjothi led the Pallava army during of Simhavarman II (around 550 AD (CE), created the invasion of Vatapi. After the victory a strong Pallava kingdom after destroying the he had a change of heart and devoted Kalabhras. He defeated many kings in the himself to Lord Siva south including the Cholas and the Pandyas. –PeriyaPuranam His able son was . He was succeeded by his son Narasimhavarman I. Narasimhavarman II (c. 695–722), The other prominent Pallava rulers were also known as Rajasimha, was a great Narasimhavarman II or Rajasimha and military strategist. He exchanged Nandivarman II. The last Pallava ruler was ambassadors with China. His reign was . comparatively free from any political Mahendravarman (c.600–630AD disturbance. Therefore, he could (CE)) contributed to the greatness of the concentrate on temple-building activities. Pallava kingdom. Mahendravarman I was During his reign, the famous Kailasanatha a follower of in the early part of his temple at Kanchipuram was built. rule. He was converted to Saivism by the Saivite saint (Tirunavukkarasar). Name of the King Title/s Adopted He was a great patron of art and Simhavishnu Avanisimha architecture. He is known for introducing Mahendravarma I Sankirnajati a new style to , Mattavilasa which is referred to as ‘Mahendra style’. Gunabhara Mahendravarman also wrote plays, Chitrakarapuli including (c.620) MattavilasaPrahasana. Vichitra Chitta (The Delight of the Drunkards) in , Narasimhavarma I Mamallan, Vatapi which denigrates . Kondan Mahendravarman’s reign involved Pallava’s Contribution constant battles with the Western Chalukya to Architecture kingdom of Badami under Pulakesin II. Pulakesin seems to have defeated Pallava period is known for architectural Mahendravarman in one of the battles and splendour. The Shore Temple and various taken over a large part of his territory () other temples carved from granite in the north. His son Narasimavarma I monoliths and the cave (7th (c. 630–668) avenged the defeat by century) at Mamallapuram, are illustrious capturing Vatapi, the capital of Chalukyas. examples of Pallava architecture. In 1984, He set Vatapi on fire, killing Pulakesin in the Mamallapuram was added to the list of process. UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 130 22-11-2018 16:00:50 Pallava architecture can be classified as The most important among the Mamalla style of architecture is the open 1. Rock-Cut temples – Mahendravarman style art gallery. Several miniature such as the figure of lice-picking monkey, 2. Monolithic and Sculptural elephants of huge size and the figure Mandapas – Mamallan style of the ascetic cat have been sculpted 3. Structural Temples – Rajasimhan beautifully on the wall of a huge rock. style and Nandivarman style The fall of the River Ganga from the head Mahendra Style of Lord Siva and the ’s penance are The best example of MahendraVarma notable among them. The Great Penance style monuments are cave temples at panel is considered to be the world’s Mandagapattu, , Mamandur, largest open-air bas . Dalavanur, Tiruchirapalli, Vallam, Tirukazhukkundram and Siyamangalam.

Arjuna’s Penance

Cave Temple Mandagapattu Rajasimha Style Mamalla Style Narasimhavarma II, also known as The five rathas (), popularly called Rajasimha, constructed structural temples Panchapandavar rathas, signify five different using stone blocks.The best example for style of temple architecture. Each has been the structural temple is Kailasanatha carved out of a single rock. So they are called temple at Kanchipuram. This temple was monolithic. The popular mandapams (pillared built by using sand stones. Kailasanatha pavilions) they built are Mahishasuramardhini temple is called Rajasimheswaram. mandapam, Thirumoorthi mandapam and Varaha mandapam.

Panchapandavar Rathas Kanchi Kailasanatha Temple

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 131 22-11-2018 16:00:51 Nandivarma Style times and it attracted students from all parts of India and abroad.Vatsyaya who The last stage of the Pallava architecture wrote Nyaya Bhashya was a teacher at is also represented by structural temples Kanchi (Gatika). built by the later Pallavas. The best example is Vaikunda Perumal temple at „„The treatise on Dakshin Chitram Kanchipuram. (Paintings of ) was compiled during the reign of Mahendravarma I. „„The great Sanskrit scholar, Dandin, lived in the court of Narasimhavarma I. Dandin composed Dashakumara Charita. „„Bharavi, the great Sanskrit scholar, lived in the time of Simhavishnu. Bharavi wrote Kiratarjuniya, an epic in verses. Kanchi Vaikunda Perumal Temple „„ had also flourished during the Pallava rule. Thevaram Society and Culture composed by Nayanmars and The Pallavas supported Jainism, Buddhism Nalayradivyaprabantham composed and the Vedic faith. They were great patrons by Azhwars, which are still chanted of music, painting and literature. Some of by devout people. Perundevanar, who the Pallava kings patronised the Azhwars was patronized by Nandivarman II, and Nayanmars. These exponents of Bhakti translated the into Tamil Cult preached a new form of as Bharathavenba. and Saivism. Among the Saivites were Appar and Manikkavasakar. Among the Pallava Art Vaishnavites were Nammazhvar and Andal. The Bhakti movement aimed at preaching a The Pallava kings had also patronised fine popular faith, in which prayers in Tamil were arts. The music inscriptions in Kudumianmalai preferred to those in Sanskrit. Women were and Thirumayam temples show Pallavas’ encouraged to participate in the religious interest in music. The famous musician congregations. The Tamil devotional cult Rudracharya lived during Mahendravarma I. was competitive with Buddhism and Jainism. The sculptures of this period depict many Therefore the latter suffered a gradual images in dancing postures. decline in most parts of Tamil country. The Chalukyas Education and Literature The Chalukyas ruled larger parts of west „„Gatika (monastery or centre of learning) and centre of South India, consisting of at Kanchi was popular during the Pallava country with Vatapi (Badami) as

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 132 22-11-2018 16:00:51 their capital. There were three distinct but The Chalukyas of Vatapi closely related and independent Chalukya Pulakesin I, a petty chieftain of dynasties. They were (1) Chalukyas of in the district, took and fortified Badami, (2) Chalukyas of Vengi (Eastern the hill fort of Vatapi around 543 AD (CE). Chalukyas) and (3) Chalukyas of Kalyani He soon conquered the territory between (Western Chalukyas). These Chalukyas the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers and held Harsha in the north, the Pallavas the . His son Kirtivarman I in the south and Kalinga () in the (c. 566 to 597) brought the coast east. under Chalukya control. Pulakesin II (c.610 to 642) emerged as the most Sources powerful ruler of the dynasty. The Inscriptions Badami Cave Inscription Persian () king Khusru II sent an of Mangalesha embassy to the court of Pulakesin II. Pulakesin succeeded in seizing parts of Kanchi Kailasanatha and . He defied the North Temple Inscription Indian ruler Harsha and according to an Pattadakal Virupaksha agreed understanding Temple Inscription was fixed as the boundary between the Aihole Inscription of two. About 624, Pulakesin II conquered Pulakesin I the kingdom of Vengi and gave it to his Foreign Accounts of Chinese brother , the first Eastern Notice traveller Hiuen Tsang Chalukya ruler. During 641–647 the Pallavas ravaged the Deccan and captured Vatapi, Aihole Inscription: It is found at but the Chalukyas had recaptured it Meguti Temple in Aihole (, by 655. I (655 to 680) ). It is written in Sanskrit by and Vikramaditya II, the successor of Ravikirti, a court poet of Chalukya king captured Kanchipuram Pulakesin II. It makes a mention of the but spared the city. Kirtivarman II, defeat of Harsha Vardhana by Pulakesin II. the successor of Vikramaditya II was defeated by , the founder of the .

Western Chalukyas of Kalyani They were the descendants of Badami Chalukyas ruled from Kalyani (modern- day ). In 973, Tailapa II, a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta ruling from Bijapur region defeated Parmara of

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 133 22-11-2018 16:00:51 Malwa. Tailapa II occupied Kalyani and his dynasty quickly grew into an empire under Somesvara I. Somesvara I moved the capital from Manyakheta to Kalyani. For over a century, the two empires of southern India, the Western Chalukyas and the of Thanjavur, fought many fierce battles to control the fertile region of Vengi. During the rule of Vikramaditya VI in the late , vast areas between the Narmada River in the north and River in the south came under Chalukya control.

Contributions to Art and Architecture As supporters of both Saivism and Vaishnavism, the Chalukyas contributed Cave Temple Badami richly to art and architecture. A new style of architecture known as was developed. Vesara is a combination of south Indian (Dravida) and north Indian (Nagara) building styles. They perfected the art of stone building without mortar. They used soft sandstones in construction. They built a number of rock-cut cave-temples and structural temples Kalleshwara Temple - Bagali dedicated to Siva, and . Vikramaditya II. Their cave temples are The structural temples of Chalukyas exist found at Ajanta, Ellora and Nasik. at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal. The important stone temples are the Vishnu The cave temples at Badami contain temples at Badami and Aihole and the fine sculptures of Vishnu reclining on Sesha Virupaksha or Siva Temple at Pattadakal in Nag; Varaha, the Boar; Narasimha or the Bijapur district in present-day Karnataka. lion-faced man; and , the dwarf. The Vishnu temple at Badami was built The Kasi Vishweshvara Temple at , by Mangalesa of the the Mallikarjuna Temple at Kuruvatti, the and contains the Aihole inscription of Kalleshwara Temple at Bagali and the

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 134 22-11-2018 16:00:52 Mahadeva Temple at represent well- Badami. succeeded Dantidurga. He known examples of the architecture of consolidated and extended the Rashtrakuta Western Chalukyas of Kalyani. power. He was a great patron of art and Chalukyas adopted the Vakataka architecture. The Kailasanatha temple at style in paintings. Some of the frescoes of Ellora was built by him. the caves of Ajantha were created during Rashtrakuta Kings the reign of Chalukyas. The reception given to the Persian embassy by Pulakesin II is The greatest king of the Rashtrakuta depicted in a painting at Ajanta. dynasty was Amogavarsha. He built a new capital at Manyakheta (now Malkhed Pattadakal (UNESCO World Heritage in Karnataka) and Broach became the Site) is a small village in Bagalkot district port. Amogavarsha (c. 814–878) was of Karnataka. It has ten temples. Out of converted to Jainism by , a Jain them, four were built in northern style monk. Krishna II, who succeeded his (Nagara), while the rest six are in the father Amogavarsha, suffered a defeat in southern (Dravida) style. Virupaksha the battle of Vallala (modern Tiruvallam, Temple and Sangameshwara Temple are in Dravida Style and Papanatha temple is Vellore district) at the hands of Cholas in Nagara style. The Virupaksha temple is under Parantaka in c. 916. Krishna III built on the model of Kanchi Kailasanatha (c. 939–967) was the last able ruler temple. Sculptors brought from Kanchi of Rashtrakuta dynasty. He defeated were employed in its construction. the Cholas in the battle of Takkolam (presently in Vellore district) and captured Thanjavur. The Chalukyas under Krishna III contested with other ruling dynasties of for the control of Kanauj. He built Krishneshwara temple at Rameshwaram.Govinda III was the last ruler to hold the empire intact. After his death, the Rashtrakuta power declined.

Contribution of The Rashtrakutas Rashtrakutas to literature, art and architecture The Rashtrakutas ruled not only the Deccan but parts of the far south and the Literature plain as well from 8th to 10th century AD(CE). language became more They were of Kannada origin and their mother prominent. composed by tongue was Kannada. Dantidurga was the Amogavarsha was the first poetic work in founder of Rashtrakuta dynasty. He was an Kannada language. Court poets produced official of high rank under the Chalukyas of eminent works in Kannada. The three

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 135 22-11-2018 16:00:52 gems of during the Elephanta Island period were Pampa, Sri and . Originally known as Sripuri and called Adikavi Pampa was famous for his creative Gharapuri by the local people, Elephanta works Adipurana and Vikramarjunavijaya. is an island near . The Portuguese The life of Rishabadeva, the first Jain named it as Elephanta, after seeing the is depicted in Adipurana. huge image of an elephant. The Trimurthi In Vikramarjunavijaya Pampa’s patron, (three-faced) Siva icon is an illustrative Chalukya Arikesari, is identified with of the sculptural beauty portrayed in Arjuna, epic hero of Mahabharatha. the Cave Temple of Elephanta. There are impressive images of dwarapalakas Art and architecture (entrance guards) at the entrance of the The Rashtrakutas made significant Temple. contribution to . The art and architecture of the Rashtrakutas can be found at Ellora and Elephanta.

Kailasanatha Temple – Ellora (near , ) Kailasanatha Temple was one of the 30 temples carved out of the hill at Ellora. It was built during the reign of Krishna I. The temple is known for its architectural Elephanta Cave grandeur and sculptural splendour. The temple covers an area of over 60,000 Pattadakal sq. feet and vimanam (temple tower) Rashtrakutas built temples in the complex rises to a height of 90 feet. This temple of Pattadakal. The Jain Narayana temple has resemblance to the shore temple at and the Kasi Vishwesvara temple were Mamallapuram. The Kailasanatha temple built by Rashtrakutas. portrays typical Dravidian features.

Kailasanatha Temple – Ellora Jain Narayana Temple

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 136 22-11-2018 16:00:52 Elsewhere

Leshan Giant Buddha Baghdad (71 metre tall) The greatest city of Islamic Empire Built during Tang dynasty in China, of 8th to 10th centuries AD (CE). (713 and 803 AD (CE)).

Summary „„By the early 7th century, South India „„The Chalukyas contributed richly to had come under the control of Pallavas art and architecture. A new style of of Kanchi and Chalukyas of Badami architecture known as Vesara style „„Pallava period is known for architectural developed during their period splendour. Pallava architecture can „„The Rashtrakutas also made significant be classified as rock-cut temples, contribution to Indian art. Their art and structural temples. monolithic rathas architecture can be found at Ellora cave and mandapams and Elephanta island

GLOSSARY

feudatories being subject to a sovereign 殿ற㞱ரசர㞕쿍 ambassador envoy 鏂鏁வர granite a very hard rock க쏁ங㞕쯍 ravaged severely damaged 毂றையா羿ய descendants offspring வ펿த்தோன㞱ல㞕쿍 reclining leaning back சா뿍ꏍ鎿쏁க㞕க埂羿ய

EXERCISE

I. Choose the correct answer

1. Who among the following built the VaikundaPerumal temple?

a. Narasimhavarma II b. Nandivarma II c. d. Parameshvaravarma

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VI History 3rd Term_English version CHAPTER 04.indd 137 22-11-2018 16:00:53