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The Pallava dynasty was an Indian dynasty which existed from 275 CE to 897 CE. They gained prominence after the eclipse of the Satavahana dynasty, whom the Pallavas served as feudatories. Pallavas  became a major power during the reign of Mahendravarman and Narasimhavarman.  They dominated the southern parts of the Telugu  region and northern parts of the Tamil region for about 600 years until the end of the 9th C.  Throughpiut their reign , they were in constant conflict with both Chalukyas of Badami in the north and the Tamil kingdoms of Chola and Pandyas in the south.  They were finnaly defeated by the Chola ruler Aditya-I in the 9th C. CE

there are different views regarding the origin of the Pallavas.  It is generally held that they originally lived in Palnadu in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.  They went to Tondaimandalam as officers of the Satavahanas.  There they consolidated their position through matrimonial alliances with local Naga princes.  On the decline of the Satavahanas, they became independent.  

There were four branches of Pallavas namely Pallavas of Prakrit Charters, Pallavas of Sanskrit Charters, Greater Pallavas and Nandivarman and his successors.  

Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas.  Chinese travellers such as Xuanzan and Hiuen Tsang visited their kingdom.  

Narasimhavarman-I , son and successor of Mahendravarman-I was probably the greatest of the Pallava kings.  

Contribution of the Pallavas in the field of architecture is noteworthy. the best example of their architectural contribution relates to the Shore temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Mamallapuram.  The foundation of south Indian sculpture and architecture is laid by the Pallavas.  Their  political and cultural history is a significant aspect of Indian history and worth studying  



 

This episode relates to the Sangam Age and Sangam Literature.  The area which is to the south of river Krishna and Tungabhadra is called South India.  During the Sangam Age from First Century BC to the end of Second Century AD in South India, three dynasties ruled namely Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.  it is named after the Sangam academies during that period.  Academies esteem the Sangam period as the Classical age and Golden age of the Tamils and it is compared to the ancient glory of Greece and Rome.   According to the Tamil legends, there were three Sangams ( Academy of Tamil Poets) held in the ancient South India popularly called 'Muchchangam'.  These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai.

The Cheras ruled over the hilly country in the west with Vanji (karur) as the capital and their hegemony relate to the area of modern Kerala.  The Cholas controlled the fully irrigated fertile Kaveri basin with their capital at Uraiyur; the Pandyas exercised their authority over the pastoral and coastal parts with the capital at Madurai.

Udayan Cheralandan was the first ruler of the Chera kingdom.  Nedum Chenguttuvan, son of Udayan took up the title 'Adi Raja' after he extended his kingdom to the Himalayas.  His military exploits have been chronicled in the epic Silapathikaram.

The Cholas had their capital at Uraiyur and later shifted to PUhar /Tanjore.  According to the Sangam literature, the Cholas were the earliest kingdom which exercised sovereignty over Tamilakkam.  KIng Karikala Chola was the greatest Chola king.  His life and military conquests are portrayed in Pattinappalai and Battle of Venni was a turning point in the career of Karikala Chola. Through the military exploits. he became the overlord of the whole of Tamil country.

Mudukudimi Peruvalludi was the earliest known Pandyan king who was a heroic soldier, great patron of literature and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. the distinguished ruler of the Pandyas was king Neduncheliyan also known as Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan.  Korkai was the flourishing seaport of the Pandyas.

Sangam literature relates to those works in verse which are controlled  in the academic and literary compositions such as Ettuthogai,Pattupattu , Pattinenkilkanakku were  produced during 150 to 250 CE.   Five epics namely Chintamani, Silappadhikaram, Manimekalai, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi showcase the socio-economic, cultural conditions of the Sangam Age.  The variable count of the Sangam anthology comes to 2279 poems of changing lengths ,  composed by  473 poets among whom were 50 women; there are 102 which are unsigned.

This episode relates to the Sangam Age and Sangam Literature.  The area which is to the south of river Krishna and Tungabhadra is called South India.  During the Sangam Age from First Century BC to the end of Second Century AD in South India, three dynasties ruled namely Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.  it is named after the Sangam academies during that period.  Academies esteem the Sangam period as the Classical age and Golden age of the Tamils and it is compared to the ancient glory of Greece and Rome.   According to the Tamil legends, there were three Sangams ( Academy of Tamil Poets) held in the ancient South India popularly called 'Muchchangam'.  These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai.

The Cheras ruled over the hilly country in the west with Vanji (karur) as the capital and their hegemony relate to the area of modern Kerala.  The Cholas controlled the fully irrigated fertile Kaveri basin with their capital at Uraiyur; the Pandyas exercised their authority over the pastoral and coastal parts with the capital at Madurai.

Udayan Cheralandan was the first ruler of the Chera kingdom.  Nedum Chenguttuvan, son of Udayan took up the title 'Adi Raja' after he extended his kingdom to the Himalayas.  His military exploits have been chronicled in the epic Silapathikaram.

The Cholas had their capital at Uraiyur and later shifted to PUhar /Tanjore.  According to the Sangam literature, the Cholas were the earliest kingdom which exercised sovereignty over Tamilakkam.  KIng Karikala Chola was the greatest Chola king.  His life and military conquests are portrayed in Pattinappalai and Battle of Venni was a turning point in the career of Karikala Chola. Through the military exploits. he became the overlord of the whole of Tamil country.

Mudukudimi Peruvalludi was the earliest known Pandyan king who was a heroic soldier, great patron of literature and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. the distinguished ruler of the Pandyas was king Neduncheliyan also known as Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan.  Korkai was the flourishing seaport of the Pandyas.

Sangam literature relates to those works in verse which are controlled  in the academic and literary compositions such as Ettuthogai,Pattupattu , Pattinenkilkanakku were  produced during 150 to 250 CE.   Five epics namely Chintamani, Silappadhikaram, Manimekalai, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi showcase the socio-economic, cultural conditions of the Sangam Age.  The variable count of the Sangam anthology comes to 2279 poems of changing lengths ,  composed by  473 poets among whom were 50 women; there are 102 which are unsigned.

This episode relates to the Sangam Age and Sangam Literature.  The area which is to the south of river Krishna and Tungabhadra is called South India.  During the Sangam Age from First Century BC to the end of Second Century AD in South India, three dynasties ruled namely Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.  it is named after the Sangam academies during that period.  Academies esteem the Sangam period as the Classical age and Golden age of the Tamils and it is compared to the ancient glory of Greece and Rome.   According to the Tamil legends, there were three Sangams ( Academy of Tamil Poets) held in the ancient South India popularly called 'Muchchangam'.  These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai. 

The Cheras ruled over the hilly country in the west with Vanji (karur) as the capital and their hegemony relate to the area of modern Kerala.  The Cholas controlled the fully irrigated fertile Kaveri basin with their capital at Uraiyur; the Pandyas exercised their authority over the pastoral and coastal parts with the capital at Madurai.

Udayan Cheralandan was the first ruler of the Chera kingdom.  Nedum Chenguttuvan, son of Udayan took up the title 'Adi Raja' after he extended his kingdom to the Himalayas.  His military exploits have been chronicled in the epic Silapathikaram.  

The Cholas had their capital at Uraiyur and later shifted to PUhar /Tanjore.  According to the Sangam literature, the Cholas were the earliest kingdom which exercised sovereignty over Tamilakkam.  KIng Karikala Chola was the greatest Chola king.  His life and military conquests are portrayed in Pattinappalai and Battle of Venni was a turning point in the career of Karikala Chola. Through the military exploits. he became the overlord of the whole of Tamil country.

Mudukudimi Peruvalludi was the earliest known Pandyan king who was a heroic soldier, great patron of literature and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. the distinguished ruler of the Pandyas was king Neduncheliyan also known as Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan.  Korkai was the flourishing seaport of the Pandyas.  

Sangam literature relates to those works in verse which are controlled  in the academic and literary compositions such as Ettuthogai,Pattupattu , Pattinenkilkanakku were  produced during 150 to 250 CE.   Five epics namely Chintamani, Silappadhikaram, Manimekalai, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi showcase the socio-economic, cultural conditions of the Sangam Age.  The variable count of the Sangam anthology comes to 2279 poems of changing lengths ,  composed by  473 poets among whom were 50 women; there are 102 which are unsigned.