Pallava Dynasty: Ancient India

• Text contains study notes about dynasties in ancient India

Pallava Dynasty

• Singhvishnu (575-600 CE) was the founder of the Pallava Dynasty
• Kanchi (Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu) was its capital
• Singhvishnu was a follower of Vaishnavism
• Singhvishnu assumed the title of Avani Singh
• Singhvishnu constructed the Adi Varaha Temple in Mamallapuram
• Bharavi, the author of Kiratarjuneeyam, lived in the court of Singhvishnu
• Prominent rulers of the Pallava dynasty were Mahendra Varman I (600-630 CE), Narasimhavarman I (630-668 CE), Mahendra Varman II (668-670 CE), Parameswara Varman I (670-700 CE), Narasimhavarman II (700-728 CE), and Nandivarman II (730-800 CE)
• Mahendravarman composed Matavilasa Prahasana
• Mahendravarman was initially a follower of Jainism, but later became a Shaivaite under the influence of Tamil saint Appar
• The monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram, known as Rathas, were built by Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, which numbers seven.
• Draupadi Ratha is the smallest of the Ratha temples, lacking any decoration.
• Narasimhavarman I assumed the titles of Vatapikonda and Mahamalla
• During his reign, Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchi
• Parameswara Varman I was a follower of Shaivism, and had the titles of Lokaditya, Ekamalla, Ranajaya, Atyantakama, Ugradanda, Gunabhajana
• Parameswara Varman I constructed the Ganesha Temple in Mamallapuram
• Parameswara Varman I was a lover of knowledge and held the title of Vidyavinita
• Narasimhavarman II was the Pallava ruler during the Arab invasions
• Narasimhavarman II held the titles 'Rajasimha' (Lion among Kings), 'Agampriya' (Lover of Scriptures), and Shankarbhakta (Devotee of Shiva)
• Narasimhavarman II constructed the Kailashnath Temple in Kanchi, also known as Rajasiddheshwar Temple, marking the beginning of Dravidian architecture where the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram was also built by Narasimhavarman II
• Life-size portraits of Pallava kings and queens are installed in the Kailashnath Temple of Kanchi
• Dandi, the author of Dashakumaracharita, lived in the court of Narasimhavarman II
• Nandivarman II constructed the Mukteswara Temple and Vaikuntha Perumal Temple in Kanchi
• The famous Vaishnava saint Tirumangai Alvar was a contemporary of Nandivarman II

Chola Dynasty

• Rajaraja I defeated and drove out the Sri Lankan ruler Shilanka
• Rajaraja I built a Shiva temple
• Rajendra-II assumed the title of Prakesari
• Vikram Chola abolished toll tax in chidambaram
• Kulottunga-II threw Govindaraja Vishnu statue into sea

Other Information

• Vellal caste and nadu
• The term 'Lokapala' is mentioned for provincial rulers in Harshacharita
• Mathura was famous for the production of cotton clothes during Harsha's time
• Harsha, while on the way to conquer, had taken
• Shiladitya became king at the age of
• Rajadhani was killed by Parajitaka in the battle of Takkolam
• Rajaraja-I Srilanka
• The Chola kingdom came into being after Rajendra.
• There is a huge lake in
• Vellanavag comprised non-Brahmins
• Brahmadeya was a land grant to Brahmins
• Shallabhog refers to land for
• Devadana or Tirunmadukkini meant land gifted to temples
• Pallichandam was land given to Jain institutions
• Note: Mahmud of Ghazni