Pallava

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality

Persian Origins

The Pallavas represent a section of the Pahlavas who, in alliance with Sakas and Kambojas, had encroached into India during second/first century BCE and settled in south-western and southern India around the beginning of Christian Era. The Markendeya Purana and Brhat Samhita indeed attest Pahlava and Kamboja settlements in south-western India (i.e. nairRtyAM dizi dezAH Pahlava-KAmboja.....Brhat Samhita) . Yasovarman, the eighth century king of Kanauj fought with the king of Magadha, killed the king of Vanga, reached the eastern shore, defeated the kings of Deccan, crossed the Malaya mountains (east coast of Malabar,southern Mysore), reached the southern sea and fought with the Parasikas. He then received tribute from Western Ghats and moved to the north, reaching the banks of Narbada. This evidence shows that a section of Pahlavas (Parasikas) were also residing in southern India as late as first quarter of the 8th century AD. Thus, it appears that the Pallavas of Kanchi were indeed a branch of the Iranian Pahlavas, who with passage of time, had embraced Hinduism and become followers of Brahmanical way of life. French scholar George Coedes, among numerous others, identifies the Pallavas with the Iranian Pahlavas and further also sees close affinity between the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Kambuja rulers of Cambodia. This implies that some adventurous families from among the southern Indian Kambojas (allies of Pahlavas) had sailed to Indo-China and founded the Kambuja Kingdom in the north of Funan around fifth/sixth century CE. Kamboja settlements are also attested in ancient Sinhala since as early as third c BCE .

Pallava Kingdom

At its peak the Pallava Empire stretched over most of south India, bounded by the Cholas on the south and Cheras on the west and the Chalukyas on the north. At its height it covered an area larger than France, England and Germany combined. It encompassed all the present-day Dravidian nations, including the Tamil, Telugu, Malayali and Kannada tracts within its far-flung borders. The foundations of classical Dravidian architecture were established by these powerful rulers, who left behind fantastic sculptures and magnificent temples which survive to this very day. The Pallava dynasty was a time of significant change in South India -- in particular, the growth of Jainism, decline of Buddhism and emergence of Bhakti movement. Both the Alvars and the Nayanmars were active during this time. Under the Pallavas, maritime trade with Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia flourished, as did music, painting, literature, and architecture. Structural stone temples replaced rock buildings, the most impressive example being the sculptured Shore Temple at the seaport of Mahabalipuram, dedicated to the god Shiva. The Pallavas engaged in constant warfare with the Chalukyas of Badami and were finally eclipsed by the Chola kings in the 8th century.As Pallava rule declined, theKuruba people scattered over a wide area of southern India and became culturally distinct. During this time, the Kurubas survived by hunting, gathering forest produce, or small-scale farming. In time, the majority of Kurubas settled on the plains as small landowners or herdsmen

Classification of Pallava dynasty as "Early", "Middle" and "Later" is based on the language used in their copper and stone engravings. Early Pallavas used Prakrit, middle Pallavas used Sanskrit, and later Pallavas used Tamil in their engravings.

List of Pallava Kings

Notes

• 1.  Brahmanda Purana 12.16.46, Calcutta edition; Markendeya Purana 57.35, Calcutta edition; Matasya Purana 12.16.46 Calcutta as well as Bombay editions; Vamana Purana, 13.37.
• .  Markendeya Purana Chapter 58 and Brhat Samhita(14.17-19)
• 3.   Ancient India, 2000, p 630, Dr V. D. Mahajan.
• 4.   Indianised States of South-east Asia, 1968, p 47,66.