VR Chennai | Shopping Mall in Chennai

language Tamil, Sanskrit, Prakrit
capital(s) Kanchipuram
emblem Simha (Lion) and Nandi (Bull)
major monuments Shaiva & Vaishnava Temples, Kanchipuram; Rock cut temples, Mahabalipuram; Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram

The Pallavas were the dominant force in the Northern parts of Tamilakam for over 600 years. They rose to prominence under the reign of the Kings Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I, both of whom were known for their patronage of the arts and architecture. The Pallava Kingdom was in constant conflict with the Chalukyas, Cholas, Kadambas and Pandyas. They were ultimately defeated by the Cholas in the 9th Century.

In the early part of their rule, Sanskrit and Prakrit were the languages of choice for the Pallava Kings. As time progressed, the use of Tamil rose in importance, with Sanskrit becoming a secondary language. The Pallavas used a unique form of the Grantha script for writing. It is thought that this 'Pallava Grantha' has had an influence on the scripts of most Southeast Asian languages.

The Pallava rule marked a transformative period in the architecture of South India. They were among the earliest to move away from rock-cut techniques and build stone temples. The stone temples in Mahabalipuram, the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram and the Nalanda Gedige in Sri Lanka are some of the finest existing examples of their craftsmanship.

Inscriptions on the Ulòka Gopuram

Mahabalipuram

The coastal town of Mahabalipuram (erstwhile Mamallapuram) in Tamil Nadu was one of two major trading ports under Pallava rule. It is home to some of the most spectacular rock-cut monuments in the world. Many of the rock reliefs in the city were built under the patronage of King Narasimhavarman I and his successor Rajasimhavarman. The ﬁrst phase of the Pallava architecture was inﬂuenced by Buddhist monasteries and chaitya halls.

The most famous open-air rock reliefs in Mahabalipuram built by the Pallavas include Arjuna's Penance – one of the largest of its kind in the world, the Five Rathas – monolithic temples carved in the form of chariots, and the Shore Temple (built by Narasimhavarman II). The Adivaraha Cave temple, one of the oldest of its kind in the area, is home to the oldest known epigraph listing the Dasavataram of Lord Vishnu.

To know more about the Dasavataram, the ten legendary incarnations of Lord Vishnu, sign up for the Kathai, Kalai, Parampariyam: Culture Walk.

Pandya

Kadamba

Inscriptions on the Ulòka Gopuram

Mahabalipuram

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