Hinduism: Details about 'Pallavas'
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The Pallavas are believed to be hereditary Hindu rulers who dominated southeastern India between the 4th and 9th centuries. One view is that they belonged to Kuruba(Kurumbar) Clan. Second view is that they were an offshoot from the Cholas. It is claimed that the Pallavas were a lineage of the Chola kings who went on a maritime journey and begot a child who formed a seperate branch (Pallavam,meaning bud in Sanskrit)
Persian OriginsBut recent historical, anthropological, and linguistic evidence indicates that the Pallavas were of Parthian origin and the name Pallava is just a variant of a well known Sanskrit Pahlava. According to Dr Carnegy, the Pahluvas were the peoples who spoke Pehlvi, a language of Persia. And according to Dr Buhler, Pahlava and its Iranian prototype Pahlav are corruptions of Parthava. It is also notable that for the same people, the different recensions of Puranas interchangeably write Pahlava as well as PallavaBrahmanda Purana (12.16.46), Calcutta edition; Markendeya Purana (57.35), Calcutta edition; Matasya Purana (12.16.46) Calcutta as well as Bombay editions; Vamana Purana (13.37); Harivamsa (XIII.763-64).The Pallavas represent a section of the Pahlavas who, in alliance with Sakas and Kambojas, had encroached into India during second/first century BCE and settled in south-western and southern India around the beginning of Christian era. The Markendeya Purana and Brhat SamhitaMarkendeya Purana (58.30-32) and Brhat Samhita (14.17-19)indeed attest Pahlava and Kamboja settlements in south-western India (i.e. nairRtyAM dizi dezAH Pahlava-KAmboja...Brhat Samhita) . Yasovarman, the eighth century king of Kanauj fought with the king of Magadha, killed the king of Vanga, reached the eastern shore, defeated the kings of Deccan, crossed the Malaya mountains (east coast of Malabar,southern Mysore), reached the southern sea and fought with the Parasikas. He then received tribute from Western Ghats and moved to the north, reaching the banks of Narbada. Ancient India, 2000, p 630, Dr V. D. Mahajan. This evidence shows that a section of Pahlavas (Parasikas) were also residing in southern India as late as first quarter of the 8th century AD. Thus, it appears that the Pallavas of Kanchi were indeed a branch of the Iranian Pahlavas, who with passage of time, had embraced Hinduism and become followers of Brahmanical way of life. French scholar George Coedes, among numerous others, identifies the Pallavas with the Iranian Pahlavas and further also sees close affinity between the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Kambuja rulers of Cambodia Indianised States of South-east Asia, 1968, p 47,66, G Coedes. This implies that some adventurous families from among the southern Indian Kambojas (allies of Pahlavas) had sailed to Indo-China and founded the Kambuja kingdom in the north of Funan around fifth/sixth century CE. Kamboja settlements are also attested in ancient Sinhala since as early as third c BCE . There is said to be a clan called "Palav" among the 96 clans of the Marathas in Maharashtra. This holds a clue that a section of the Pahlavas (Parsikas) may have been absorbed into the population-mass of Maharashtra around fifth-sixth century AD or earlier. Documented evidence exists that following the Christian era, the Parsikas and the Kambojas had been in occupation of the regions adjoining modern Maharashtra. Pallava KingdomThe Pallava dynasty’s greatest kings were Simhavisnu (ruled 575-600) and Narasimhavarman I (ruled 630-668). Their main capital was Kanchipuram, a town southwest of Madras. It is believed that they had two other working capitals in Bhavathri, in Andhra, and in Palakkad, in eastern Kerala. At its peak the Pallava Empire stretched over most of south India, bounded by the Cholas on the south and Cheras on the west and the Chalukyas on the north. At its height it covered an area larger than France, England and Germany combined. It encompassed all the present-day Dravidian nations, including the Tamil, Telugu, Malayali and Kannada tracts within its far-flung borders. The foundations of classical Dravidian architecture were established by these powerful rulers, who left behind fantastic sculptures and magnificent temples which survive to this very day. The Pallava dynasty was a time of significant change in South India -- in particular, the growth of Jainism, decline of Buddhism and emergence of Bhakti movement. Both the Alvars and the Nayanmars were active during this time. Under the Pallavas, maritime trade with Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia flourished, as did music, painting, literature, and architecture. Structural stone temples replaced rock buildings, the most impressive example being the sculptured Shore Temple at the seaport of Mahabalipuram, dedicated to the god Shiva. The Pallavas engaged in constant warfare with the Chalukyas of Badami and were finally eclipsed by the Chola kings in the 8th century.As Pallava rule declined, the Kuruba people scattered over a wide area of southern India and became culturally distinct. During this time, the Kurubas survived by hunting, gathering forest produce, or small-scale farming. In time, the majority of Kurubas settled on the plains as small landowners or herdsmen Classification of Pallava dynasty as "Early", "Middle" and "Later" is based on the language used in their copper and stone engravings. Early Pallavas used Prakrit, middle Pallavas used Sanskrit, and later Pallavas used Tamil in their engravings. List of Pallava Kings
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