Ready Reckoner of Ancient History 2020 Causes of decline of Gupta empire: Society and Economy: • Hun invasion which made north-west • The four-fold division of the society – Brahmin, vulnerable. Kshatriya, Vysya and Sudra – was prevalent. • System of land grants and feudatories who The Brahmins were the privileged section of the declared independence. society and they were given land grants by the kings. • Financial crisis. • The position of women was not satisfactory. The institution of Swyamvara (the choice of choosing her husband) had declined. 13. Pushyabhuti Dynasty • Remarriage of widows was not permitted, particularly among the higher castes. • The system of dowry had also become common. • Founder: Narvardhana The practice of sati was also prevalent. • Capital city: Thaneswar and Kanauj • Hiuen Tsang mentions three ways of disposal of the dead – cremation, water burial and Harsha Vardhana (606 AD- 647 AD) exposure in the woods. • Greatest ruler also called Siladitya and started • The trade and commerce had declined during Harsha Era in 606 AD. Harsha’s period. This is evident from the decline of trade centres, less number of coins, • Defeated Gauda Sasanka (desecrated bodi and slow activities of merchant guilds. tree) who had killed his brother in law Grihavarma. • He was defeated by Pulikeshi second of Chalukyas in battle of Narmada. 14.Chalukyas Of Badami • He was converted to Mahayana Buddhism by Hieun Tsang, who wrote Si-yu-Ki (Experience of traveller). • Founder: Pulakesin first • He also conducted Dharmayatras like Ashoka. • Capital: Badami • He himself scholar wrote Naganandam, Ratnavali and Priyadarsika. Pulakesin II: • Banabhatta his court poet wrote • The most important ruler of this dynasty was Harshacharita, Parvati Parinayam and Pulakesin II. The Aihole inscription issued by Kadambari. Ravikirti gives the details of his reign. Kanauj Assembly: • Notable achievement of Pulakesin II was the • Harsha organized a religious assembly at defeat of Harshavardhana on the banks of the Kanauj to honour the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen river Narmada and took title of Parameswara. Tsang. • He sent ambassador to court of Persian King • To propagate doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism. Khusrau. • Participations of people from many religions in • He was defeated and killed by Narasimha Assembly. Varman I of Pallavas. Allahabad Assembly: Administration and Society: • Harsha gave away his enormous wealth as gifts to the members of all religious sects. www.laex.in 31 www.laex.in/testprep n Ready Reckoner of Ancient History 2020 • Highly centralized unlike that of the Pallavas • The Mandagappattu inscription hails him as and the Cholas. Village autonomy was absent Vichitrachitta who constructed a temple for under the Chalukyas. Brahma, Vishnu and Siva without the use of • Pulakesin I performed the Asvamedha bricks, timber, metal and mortar. sacrifice. • He had also authored the Sanskrit work • A number of temples in honour of Vishnu, Siva Mattavilasa Prahasanam. and other gods were also built during this • The title Chitrakarapuli reveals his talents in period. painting. • He is also regarded as an expert in music. The Art and Architecture: music inscription at Kudumianmalai is ascribed to him. • They developed the vesara style in the building of structural temples which reached its culmination only under the Rastrakutas and the Narasimhavarman I (630-668 A.D.) Hoysalas. • Narasimhavarman I was also known as • No cement or mortar was used stones were Mamalla, which means ‘great wrestler’. aligned together to form edifice. • He killed Pulakesin II and assumed title of • Two stage in temple construction Vatapikonda. Aihole group • He founded city of Mahamallapuram and • Meguti temple constructed seven pagodas temple there. • Vishnu temple • Hiuen Tsang visited the Pallava capital Kanchipuram. His description of Kanchi is • Ladh khan temple vivid. He calls it a big and beautiful city, six • Durga temple miles in circumference. Pattadakal group • Papanath temple Administration: • Virupaksha temple • The Pallavas had a well-organized • Sangamesvara temple administrative system. The Pallava state was divided into Kottams. The Kottam was administered by officers appointed by the king. • Number of irrigation tanks were dug by the 15. Pallava of Kanchi Pallava kings. The irrigation tanks at Mahendravadi and Mamandoor were dug during the reign of Mahendravarman I. • Pallavas were the natives of Tondaimandalam. • Land tax was the primary source of the They are also identical with the Pulindas government revenue. The Brahmadeya and mentioned in the inscriptions of Asoka. Devadhana lands were exempted from tax. Mahendravarman I (600 – 630 A.D.) • The Pallava inscriptions throw much light on • Mahendravarman I was a follower of Jainism in the village assemblies called sabhas and their the early part of his career. He was converted to committees. They maintained records of all Saivism by the influence of the Saiva saint, village lands, looked after local affairs and Thirunavukkarasar alias Appar. managed temples. • He assumed a number of titles like Gunabhara, Satyasandha, Chettakari (builder of temples) Society and Education: Chitrakarapuli, Vichitrachitta and Mattavilasa. www.laex.in 32 www.laex.in/testprep n Ready Reckoner of Ancient History 2020 • The Pallava period also witnessed the rise of Saivism and Vaishnavism and also the decline of Buddhism and Jainism. Fine Arts: • The Saiva Nayannars and the Vaishnava • Music, dance and painting had also developed Alwars contributed to the growth of Saivism under the patronage of the Pallavas. The and Vaishnavism. Mamandur inscription contains a note on the • Their capital Kanchi (Dakshina kasi) was an notation of vocal music. ancient centre of learning. The Ghatika • The Kudumianmalai inscription referred to (centres of learning) at Kanchi was popular and musical notes and instruments. it attracted students from all parts of India and • The Alwars and Nayannars composed their abroad. hymns in various musical notes. • The Sittannavasal paintings belonged to this Literature: period. • Mahendravarman I composed the Sanskrit play • The commentary called Dakshinchitra was Mattavilasaprahasanam. compiled during the reign of Mahendravarman • The Devaram composed by Nayannars and the I, who had the title Chitrakarapuli. Nalayradivyaprabandam composed by Alwars represent the religious literature of the Pallava period. • Perundevanar was patronized by 16. Developments In Nandivarman II and he translated the Philosophy Mahabharata as Bharathavenba in Tamil. • Dandin wrote Dasakumarcharita on birth of • Ancient thinkers thought that man should Kartikeya. attain four goals of Arta, Dharma, Kama and • Bharavi wrote Kiratarjuniyyam. Moksha in life. Art and Architecture: • Salvation became the main subject of texts on darshana or Philosophy. • It was a great age of temple building. The Pallavas introduced the art of excavating temples from the rock. • Temple architecture developed in 4 stages Mahendravarman Bhairavakonda temple, Group under Ananteswara temple at Mahendravarman I Undavalli Mamalla group under Seven pagodas and rathas Narasimhavarman I at Mahabalipuram Rajasimha group Shore temple, kailasanath under and vaikuntaperumal Narasimhavarman II at Kanchi Mukteshwar and Aparajit group under Matangeswar temple at Nandivarman Kanchi, Parshurameswar at Gudimallam. www.laex.in 33 www.laex.in/testprep n Ready Reckoner of Ancient History 2020 Year of Original Darshans Authors Theme Beginning Book Nyaya Gautama 6th BC Nyaya It is a logical quest for God. It tells that the material power (spiritualist) Sutra Maya, with the help of God, becomes the universe. Vaisheshika( Kanada 6th BC Vaisheshi It aims is to receive happiness in this life and finally ultimate materialist) ka Sutra liberation through the attachment of true knowledge of Divine. Sankhya Kapila 6th BC Sankhya It explains that the aim of Sankhya is to eliminate all kinds of (Materialist) Sutra physical and mental pains and to receive liberation. Yoga Maharishi 2nd BC Yog Sutra It has 4 chapters and accepts three kinds of (spiritualist) Patanjali evidences for determining the aim of life. Purva Jaimini 4th BC Purva It is condensed explanation of Vedic theme and at the same Mimansa Mimansa time, the classification of its issues. (spiritualist) Sutra Vedanta Maharishi 4th BC Uttara It explains that Brahma Sutra is for that person who has a (Uttara Vyasa Mimansa real deep desire to know God. True liberation could only be Mimansa) Sutra attained by lovingly surrendering to Him. (spiritualist) Lokayata: • Propunder: Charvaka • Most extreme materialistic • Opposed quest for spiritual salvation. • Denied existence of supernatural being. • Accepted only those things experienced by human senses and organs as reality. For Holistic Coverage of Art and Culture Segment refer La Excellence Art and Culture Notes. www.laex.in 34 www.laex.in/testprep n .