DR.MD.NEYAZ HUSSAINDR.MD.NEYAZ HUSSAINDR.MD.NEYAZ HUSSAINDR.MD.NEYAZ HUSSAIN

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & HODASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & HODASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & HODASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & HOD

PG DEPARTMENT OF HISTORYPG DEPARTMENT OF HISTORYPG DEPARTMENT OF HISTORYPG DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

MAHARAJA COLLEGE, VKSU, MAHARAJA COLLEGE, VKSU, MAHARAJA COLLEGE, VKSU, MAHARAJA COLLEGE, VKSU,

ARA(BIHARARA(BIHARARA(BIHARARA(BIHAR)

POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE PALLAVAS, THE

RASHTRAKUTAS AND THE CHOLAS

PART-1

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INTRODUCTION

The period from 300 AD to 750 AD marks the second historicalphase in the regions south of theVindhyas. In the first phase wenotice the ascendency of theSatavahanasover the Deccan andthat of the Sangam Age Kingdoms in Southern Tamilnadu. Inthese areas and also inVidarbha from 3rd Century to 6th CenturyAD there aroseabout two dozenstateswhich are known to usAD there aroseabout two dozenstateswhich are known to usfrom their land charters.In Northern Maharashtra and Vidarbha (Berar) theSatavahanaswere succeeded by the Vakatakas.Their political history is ofmore importance to the North India than the South India. Butculturally the Vakataka kingdom became a channel fortransmitting Brahmanical ideas and social institutions to the South.

INTRODUCTION

The Vakataka power was followed by that of theChalukyas ofBadamiwho played an important role in the history of the Deccanand South India for about two centuries until 753 AD when theywere overthrown by their feudatories, the Rashtrakutas.The eastern part of the Satavahana Kingdom, the Deltas of theKrishna and the Godavari had been conquered by theIkshvakudynastyin the3rd CenturyAD. Theyleft behindmanymonumentsdynastyin the3rd CenturyAD. Theyleft behindmanymonumentsat Nagarjunakonda and Dharanikota. The Ikshvakus weresupplanted by the Pallavas. The authority of the early Pallavasextended over Southern Andhra and Northern Tamilnadu and setup their capital at Kanchi. The Kadambas of Banavasi, theGangas of Mysore, the Salankayanas of Vengi, the Vishnukundisof Indrapura, the Kalabhras of Tamilnadu were the importantcontemporary rulers of the early Pallavas.

INTRODUCTION

Eventually by the middle of 6th Century ADthe Pallavas ofKanchi, the Chalukyas of Badami and the Pandyas of Maduraiemerged to be thethree major states. The main interest in thepolitical history of South India from 6th to 8th Century AD centersround thelong struggle between the Pallavas of Kanchi and theChalukyas of Badami for supremacy to control the fertile tracts.The Pandyaswho werein control of Madurai joined this conflictThe Pandyaswho werein control of Madurai joined this conflictas a poor third power. Political conflict was, however, no obstacleto cultural growth. A vast and many sided Hindu revival checkedthe spread of Jainism and Buddhism, created a great volume ofsoul-stirring devotional literature and advanced philosophicspeculation. Numerous instances of the performance of Vedicsacrifices by the kings were found. Under the stimulus of thisreligious impulse, remarkable advances were registered inArchitecture; Sculpture, Painting and Music.

THE PALLAVAS

The Pallavas were one of the greatest dynasties of South India.Theyplayed significant role in the political, social and culturalhistory of South India.

Origin of the Pallavas:There are many views regarding the originof the Pallavas. B.L. Rice andothersidentified the Pallavaswithof the Pallavas. B.L. Rice andothersidentified the PallavaswithPahlavas or Parthians. But there is no evidence for the migrationof the Parthians into the South. Many others have sought toconnect them with Jaffna, identified with the island ofManipallavam mentioned in theManimekalai. According to themthe Pallavas were descended on one side from the Cholas and onthe other from the Naga rulers of the Jaffna.K.P. Jaiswalarguesthat the Pallvas belonged to the clan ofVakatakas as both ofthem belong to same gotra.

THE PALLAVAS

S.K. Aiyangarstates that the Pallavas were a family of feudatoriesof the Satavahanas. This theory has been accepted by many of thehistorians. He argued that the Pallavas migrated to Tamil Countryfrom the southern parts of Satavahana empire. The Pallavas usedPrakrit and Sanskrit, in their inscriptions, patronized Brahmanismandtheir inscriptionshavebeenfound both in Tamil andAndhraandtheir inscriptionshavebeenfound both in Tamil andAndhraregion. In the ancient Tamil literature they are mentioned as non-Tamils. It is thus evident that the Pallavas were originally therulers of the Andhra region. After the end of the Satavahanarule, the Pallavas asserted not only independence but also movedto Tondamandalam and settled there. From this region theyextended their sway over the entire Dravida country with Kanchias their capital.

EARLY PALLAVAS

Pallavas rose to the power during the later part of the Ikshvakurule in Andhra. Pallava king,Simhavarmadefeated the Ikshvakuking Rudrapurushadatta in 300 AD and established Pallava rule inCoastal Andhra ,which was known at that time as ‘ Karmarashtra’and started as a political power in south India. It is believed thatSimhavarma( 280- 335AD ) wasthe founder of this dynastyandSimhavarma( 280- 335AD ) wasthe founder of this dynastyandSivaskandavarmanwho ruled probably about the beginning of thefourth century AD seems to have been thegreatest of the earlyPallavas. His dominions extended from the Krishna to the SouthPennar and up to the Bellary district. He had performed severalVedic sacrifices.Vishnugopawas the next important Pallava ruler.During his reign Samudragupta invaded South India and defeatedhim. The‘Allahabad Pillar Inscription’ mentions that during the

EARLY PALLAVAS

annexation of Samudragupta during 345-350 AD. Vishnugopa wasthe Pallava ruler of Kanchipuram. The Pallava kingdom wasattacked by the Chola king Karikala Chola during the time ofTrilochna Pallava (350 – 360 AD).This resulted in establishingKarikala’sauthorityoversomepartsof theAndhraregion.Karikala’sauthorityoversomepartsof theAndhraregion.

Nandivarman I was thelast of the early Pallava kings. During histime the Pallava kingdom experienced the invasion of theKalabhras.

(To be continued)