Post Gupta - Pallava Dynasty

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  • Pallava was a variant of Pahlava (Parthians)
  • Who moved from western India to the eastern coast of the peninsula, during the wars between the Sakas and the Satavahanas in the second century CE.
  • Some say they are native to south India or “with some mixture of north Indian blood”.
  • Associate with Thondaimandalam.                                        
Rulers
  • Simhavishnu (his father Simhavarman), vanquishing the Kalabhras, conquered the land of chola country up to the Kaveri.
Mahendravarman I
  • Simhavishnu’s successor Mahendravarman I (590-630), whom Appar, converted from Jainism to Saivism.
  • During Mahendravarman I, Pulikesin II annexed the northern part of Pallava kingdom.
Narasimhavarman I (630-668 CE)
  • Narasimhavarman I (630-668), several victories over the Chalukyas with the aid of their ally Manavarman, a Sri Lankan prince, who later became ruler of the island kingdom.
  • Narasimhavarman’s invasion of the Chalukyan kingdom and his capturing of the Badami.
  • Narasimhavarman claims to have defeated the Cholas, Cheras and Kalabhras.
  • Two naval expeditions despatched to help Manavarman were successful, but this Sri Lankan ruler subsequently lost his kingdom.
Paramesvaravarman I (670-700 CE)
  • Vikramaditya, chalukya king indaded pallava with support of ganga and pandyas. Result pallava conflict with pandyas.
Other Kings
  • Rashtrakuta king, Govind III invaded Kanchi during Dantivarman
  • Dantivarman’s son Nandivarman III aided by western Gangas & Cholas defeated pandyas (Battle of Sripurambiyam or Thirupurambiyam).
  • Aparajita, grandson of Nandivarman III, lost his life in a battle fought against Aditya I of the Chola kingdom who invaded Tondaimandalam.
  • Tondaimandalam passed into the hands of the Cholas.
  • Chera Perumals (6th to 9th Century)
Pallava Administration
  • King title maharajadhiraja.
  • Sanskrit - official language at the court.
  • Assisted by a group of ministers.
  • They were central officers under the Pallava king
  • mantri- generally understood to be a diplomat,
  • amatya - a counsellor.
  • Mantri Mandala - council of ministers.
  • Rahasyadhikrita - private secretary of the king.
  • Manikkappandaram-Kappan - officer in charge of the treasury (Manikka - valuables; Pandaram - treasury; Kappan – keeper).
  • Kodukkappillai - officer of gifts.
  • Kosa-adhyaksa- the supervisor of the Manikkappandaram-kappan.
  • Judicial courts - AdhikarnaMandapaand
  • Judges - Dharmadhikarins.
  • Fines are mentioned in the Kasakudi plates of Nandivarman Pallava as Karanadandam(fine in superior/ higher court) and Adhikaranadandam(fine in district level)
  • There were assemblies of villagers and also representatives of districts.
Land Grants
  • Latter was most common practice.
  • Leased out to tenants-at-will.
  • Village with an inter-caste population paid land revenue.
  • Brahmadeya villages were donated to a single Brahman or a group of Brahmans (No need to paid tax).
  • Devadana village, donated to a temple.
Village Life
  • Basic assembly, sabha.
  • The sabha was a formal institution but it worked closely with the urar.
  • District council worked with nadu or district administration.
  • Headman of the village link with village assembly and official administration.
Tank Irrigation
  • Eripatti or tank land (Special category of land).
  • Built through the cooperative effort of the village.
  • Special tank committee appointed.
  • Water taken in excess of allotted to a particular cultivator was taxed.
Revenue and Taxation
  • Two categories
    • For cultivator, 1/6th to 1/10th of produce.
    • Second category were local taxes.
  • Additional taxes on draught cattle, toddy-drawers, marriage parties, potters, goldsmiths, washermen, textile-manufacturers, weavers, brokers, letter-carriers, and the makers of ghee.
  • Loot and booty obtained in war (Pallava troops attacking a fort are seen in the Vaikunta Perumal temple at Kanchipuram).
Army
  • Foot-soilders, cavalry, small force of elephant.
  • Pallavas developed a navy and built dockyards at Mamallapuram and Nagapattinam.
  • Pallava navy was inconsiderable compared to the naval strength of the Cholas who succeeded them.
Trade
  • Kanchipuram (Important trading center). Merchant obtained license to market their goods. Mamallapuram was an important seaport.
  • Barter system prevailed, later pallavas issue gold & silver coins.
  • Manigramam – Merchant organisation.
  • Guilds - as sudesi, nanadesi, ainurruvar. (Chief of guild - pattanswamy, pattnakilar, dandanayaka. Members - ayyavole-parameswariyar).
  • Nanadesi – Foreign merchant (has separate flag). Right of issuing vira-sasanas.
Maritime Trade
  • Maritime trade with south-east Asia. Three major kingdom Kambuja (Cambodia), Champa (Annam), and Srivijaya (the southern Malaya peninsula and Sumatra).
  • On the west coast, the initiative in the trade with the West was gradually passing into the hands of the foreign traders settled along the coast, mainly Arabs.
  • Indian traders were becoming suppliers of goods rather than carriers of goods to foreign countries.
Society
  • Brahmins – Involve in Scholars in literature, astronomy, law, agriculture, trade & war.
  • Kshatryas - sat-kshatryas (Ruled the state - Quality Kshatriyas), some do trading.
  • Right to read Vedas, privilege denied to the lower varnas.
  • Caste structure. Sanskrit – High esteem.
Religion
  • Followers of Vedic religion were devoted to the worship of Siva. Mahendravarman first adopt workship of Siva.
  • Intolerant of Jainism and destroyed some Jain monasteries. Buddhism and Jainism lost their appeal
  • Nayanmars, Alwars, Saiva & Vaishanava poet-saints lived.
Growing influence of Brahmanism
  • Influence of Aryan culture in the south was the pre-eminent position given to Brahmins.
  • Early education controlled by Jains & Buddhists. Later Brahmin superseded.
  • Mahendravarma I lost intrest in Jainism and took Saivism. Jain develop few Jain education center Madurai & Kanchi.
  • Religious center, one at Shravanabelagola in karnataka.
Monasteries and Mutta
  • Period of intense conflict between orthodox and heterodox sects of Buddhist.
  • Royal protagonists of Vedic religions, Buddhists lacked.
  • 8th century the mathas (mutts) became popular – combination of Rest house, feeding centers & Education center.
Growing Popularity of Sanskrit
  • Mahendravarman I composed Mathavilasa Prahasanam in Sanskrit.
  • Two extraordinary Sanskrit work: Bharavi’s Kiratarjuniya and Dandin’s Dashakumaracharita.
  • Dandin of Kanchipuram (stayed in Pallava court for some time), author of the great treatise on rhetoric Kavyadarsa.
Rock-cut Temples
  • Mahendravarman I introduce rock-cut temple.
  • Rock temple are usually the mandapa type with a pillared hall or the mandapa in front and a small shrine at the rear or sides.
  • Both the Pallavas and the Chalukyas gave way to new rulers belonging to the Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasties,

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