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Major Dynasties of South India (Part I)

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After the conclusion of the Sangam era, Kalabhrarule lasted 250 years. After that, the Pallavas controlled Tondaimandalam, with Kanchipuram as their capital. Their rule endured until the Imperial Cholas entered Tondaimandalam in the early 10th century AD and seized it. There are various perspectives on the Pallavas’ origins. The most widely accepted opinion is that they were Tondaimandalam natives who were related to Pulindas, who was mentioned in Ashoka’s inscriptions. After the Satavahanas conquered Tondaimandalam, the Pallavas became their feudatories. After the Satavahanas were defeated in the third century AD, they became independent.

Major dynasties of South India:

  • Chola Dynasty
  • Pallava Dynasty
  • Chalukyas Dynasty
  • Rashtrakutas Dynasty

Pallavas:

Between 250 and 350 AD, the early Pallavas Sivaskandavarman and Vijayaskandavarman governed, issuing charters in Prakrit. Between 350 and 550 AD, the second line of Pallava emperors produced Sanskrit charters. Vishnugopa was one of them, and during Samudragupta’s South Indian expedition, he was vanquished by him. From 575 AD, the 3rd line monarchs produced charters in both Sanskrit and Tamil languages. The first ruler in this family was Simhavishnu, who defeated the Kalabhras and founded Pallava power. He also defeated the Cholas, extending Pallava control all the way to the Kaveri River.

Mahendravarman I (600–630 AD)-

During his reign began the long-running Pallava–Chalukya conflict. Pulakeshin II marched against the Pallavas and conquered the northern portion of the kingdom. In his early years, Mahendravarman I was a Jainist, but eventually turned to Saivism under the influence of Thirunavukkarasar alias Appar, a Saiva saint. Gunabhara, Satyasandha, Chettakari (temple builder), Chitrakarapuli (painting), Vichitrachitta, and Mattavilasa were some of the names he was given. In addition, he erected temples in caves. He is referred to as Vichitrachitta in the Mandagapattu inscription for constructing temples for Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva without the use of bricks, wood, metal, or cement. Vallam, Mahendravadi, Dalavanur, Pallavaram, Mandagapattu, and Tiruchirappalli are just a few of the places where his rock-cut temples may be found. Mattavilasa Prahasanam is a Sanskrit text he wrote. He also has a strong musical background.

Narasimhavarman I (630-668 AD)-

Mamalla, which means “great wrestler,” was another nickname for him. In the Battle of Manimangalam near Kanchi, he avenges his father’s defeat by defeating Pulakeshin II. As he restored lost land, he took the title ‘Vatapikonda.’Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram, the Pallava capital, during his reign and characterised it as vibrant, massive, and magnificent, with a large number of Buddhist monks. Kanchi’s Ghatika, he claimed, was an excellent learning facility. Mamallapuram saw the construction of monolithic rathas during his reign. The Pallava-Chalukya dynasty was continued under the reigns of Narasimhavarman I, Mahendravarman II, Parameswaravarman I, and Pallava-Chalukya.

Narasimhavarman II or Rajasimha (695-722 AD)-

Successor to Parameswaravarman I was Narasimhavarman II, popularly known as Rajasimha. He was an expert on the development of art and architecture. The Mamallapuram Shore Temple and the Kailasanatha Temple in Kanchipuram are two examples. His court was graced with the eminent Sanskrit scholar Dandin. During his reign, he established embassies in China and expanded marine trade. Sankarabhakta, Vadhyavidyadhara, and Agamapriya were some of the titles he adopted. Until the 9th century AD, the Pallava dynasty ruled. Kanchi was taken by Aditya I, the Chola monarch, who defeated Aparajita, the last Pallava ruler.

Art and Architecture:

The Pallava era was known as the “Great Age of Temple Construction.” They demonstrate how to excavate temples out of rock. With Pallava hegemony came the beginning of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. Cave temples gave way to monolithic rathas, which were eventually replaced by structural temples. There were four stages to the temple’s design.

1. Mahendravarman, 1st stage Mandagapattu, Mahendravadi, Mamandur, Dalavanur, Tiruchirappalli, Vallam, Siyamangalam, and Tirukalukundram are only a few of the areas where I introduce rock-cut temples.

2. At Mamallapuram, Narasimhavarman I unearthed monolithic rathas and Mandapas, which are representative of the second stage. The Panchapanadava rathas, or five rathas, symbolise five different architectural styles of temples.

3. In the third stage, Rajasimha introduces soft sandstone temples as structural temples. The Kailasanatha temple in Kanchi, for example, and the Mamallapuram Shore temple in Mamallapuram.

4. The fourth stage represents a Pallava temple that was built later. At Kanchipuram, for example, the Vaikundaperumal, Mukteswara, and Matagenswara temples.

The Chola Empire: (850-1279 AD)

Cholas were feudatories in Uraiyur after the Sangam period ended. They reappeared in the 9th century AD and established an empire with Tanjore as its capital. A group of people known as the Imperial Cholas ruled over Sri Lanka and the Malay Peninsula.

Vijayalaya-

Vijayalaya, who was initially a feudatory of the Pallavas, founded the chola dynasty. Rajaraja I was the actual founder. In 850 AD, he took Tanjore. In Tanjore, he constructed a Durga temple.

Vijayalaya established the Imperial Chola line. In 815 AD, he defeated the Muttaraiyars and took Tanjore for himself.

Aditya I (871-907 AD)-

Thondainadu Kondaruliya, Rajakesari were his titles. At first, he was the Pallava ruler Aparajitavarman’s feudatory. In the battle of Thirupurambiyam, Aditya killed Aparajitavarman and won control of Tondaimandalam in 890 AD, effectively ending the Pallava kingdom. 

Parantaka I (907-955)-

He took various titles, including Maduraintak, Maduraikonda, and Parakesari Varma. The first all-powerful ruler was Parantak I. Paratank II (956-973) succeeded him to the throne.

Parantaka I was an early Chola emperor who beat the Pandyas and became the ruler of Ceylon, but was defeated by the Rashtrakutas in the Battle of Takkolam. The capital of this empire was Tanjore, Gangaikondacholapuram.

Uttama Chola (973-985 AD)-

The oldest gold and silver coins of cholas belong to Uttama Chola. 

Rajaraja I (985-1014 AD)-

Arumolivarman was his given name at the time. He liked music a lot. arumolivarman Rajaraja, Vanavan Mahadevi’s son, succeeded to the chola kingdom in 985 AD. He is often regarded as the Chola Empire’s founder.

His son Rajendra I was tasked with invading Sri Lanka. The Cholas captured the northern half of Sri Lanka after Sri Lanka’s monarch Mahendra V fled. It was under his command that the Cholas defeated the expanding strength of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani. Chola power was extended to the Tungabhadra River as a result of this. As a devout follower of Saivism, he completed the famous Rajarajeswara temple, also known as Brihadeeswara temple, in Tanjore in 1010 AD. He also aided in the construction of a Buddhist monastery at Nagapattinam.

Rajendra I (1014-44 AD)-

He was dubbed “Napoleon of the South” by historian Smith. Rajaraja and his son Rajendra I were the greatest Chola rulers (985-1014 AD). At Tanjore, Rajaraja constructed the Brihadeshwara/ Rajarajeswara temple, which is dedicated to Shiva.

Orissa, Bengal, Burma, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands were all conquered by Rajendra I. During his reign, the Chola reached its apex. Rajendra I took the name Gangaikondachola and founded Gangaikondacholapuram. Rajendra III was the last king of the Chola dynasty.

Chola supremacy over the Chera and Pandya kingdoms was re-established by him. The river Tungabhadra formed the Chola-Chalukya border after he defeated Western Chalukya King Jayasimha II. He was a pious Saiva like his father and built a Saiva temple in Gangaikondacholapuram, the new capital. The Chola Empire had reached its pinnacle when Rajendra I died. Kulottunga I (via his daughter Ammangadevi, Rajendra’s grandson) and Kulottunga III continued the Chola empire’s splendour.

Administration:

The king, assisted by a council of ministers, was in charge of central authority, although the administration was democratic. The Chola empire was split into Madalams (provinces), which were subdivided further into Valanadu (commissionary), Nadu (district), and Kurram (region) (a group of villages). Chola administration is characterised by its organisation of local self-government. The major sources of income were land revenue and trade tax.

Art and architecture:

Dravida is the name given to the architectural style that became popular during this time, such as the Kailashnath temple in Kanchipuram. Another part was image-making, which culminated in Shiva’s Nataraja, a dancing figure. Kambana, the author of Ramavataram, is regarded as one of Tamil poetry’s greatest figures. Kamba Ramayana is his Ramayana. ‘Three Gems of Tamil Poetry,’ according to Kambana, Kuttan, and Pugalendi.

In temples, the Vimana, or three-story pyramidal tower, dominates the shrine’s entire structure and bestows a sense of majesty. The other two major structures are the Gopuram and Garbhagriha. Vijayalaya, Choleshwara, Nageshwara, Koranganatha, and Muvarakovitha temples are among the finest examples.



Last Updated : 23 Dec, 2022
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