The main source of information about the Pallava dynasty is its inscriptions. The initial inscriptions are in Prakrit language but most of the inscriptions are in Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit language, Pallava means ‘creeper’ and in Tamil language, Pallava means ‘robber’. Pallava rulers celebrate their origin from Brahma and consider themselves descendants of Ashwadhuma and Brahmins of Maradwaja gotra.
The original place of the Pallavas was Tondaimandalam, the area of Artak and Chittoor districts of present Karnataka. But later they shifted their capital to Kanchi (Tamil Nadu). The Pallavas have been called Tondai in the inscriptions. Simhavarma founded the Pallava dynasty.
Vishnugopa was the fourth ruler of this dynasty who is mentioned in Paryagpurasti of Samudragupta.
Singh Vishnu (575-600 AD)
He assumed the title of Avani Singh.
Bharavi, the author of Kiratajuniyam, was his court writer. Each of his verses begins with the word Shri and ends with the word Lakshmi. Bharavi is famous for his wealth.
Mahendravarman – I (600-630 AD)
Initially, he was a Jain but became a Shaivite under the influence of Pahanthu Nayanar saint Appar.
Krishna – Conflict had started between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas over the Doab of the Tungabhadra river and the Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II had defeated Mahendravarman I.
Mahendravarman has written a book called Matvilasprahasan in which he has satirized Buddhists and Kapatikas. Rudracharya was his music teacher. Mahendravarman has written a book called Kudmimalay on music.
Mahendravarman has assumed titles like Vichitra Chitra, Gunabhara and Chetkeri.
During the time of Mahendravarman, the first temple of the Dunidha style was built in Mandagatta (Arcot – Karnataka). Here, a Shiva temple was built by cutting the rock and the picture of Shiva on the rock was made by Mahendravarman himself.
Narasimhavarman – I
He avenged the defeat of his father Mahendravarman and defeated and killed the Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II of Vatapi (Karnataka) on the battlefield in 642 AD. This has been mentioned in an inscription written on the wall of the Mallikarjuna temple of Vatapi.
Narasitvarman assumed the title of Vatapikonda i.e. conqueror of Vatapi. At the time of this invasion, his commander was Shirutondar who later became a famous Nayanar saint.
Narasimhavarman removed the deposed ruler of Sri Lanka, Manavaarma, and helped against Sri Lanka’s King Hatthadat. He sent his armies to conquer Sri Lanka and made Manavaarma the ruler of Sri Lanka. For this reason, Narasimhavarman has been compared to Shri Ram in the Kasapudi inscription (Tamil Nadu).
In 641 AD, Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited the Pallavas’ capital Kachi. Narasimhavarman took the title of Mahamalla, i.e., great wrestler and founded a city called Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram – Tamil Nadu) and built the monolithic chariot temples of Mahabalipuram. There are a total of 8 temples in it. The largest is the temple of Dharmaraja (Yudisthra) and the smallest is the temple of Draupadi.
Mahendravarman-II (668-70 AD)
Parameshwaravarman-I (670-700 A.D.)
The title of Vidyavinit was assumed by him. He was defeated by Vikramaditya-I, son of Pulakeshin II.
Narasimhavarman II (700-28 AD)
Dandin was his court writer who wrote the books named Dashkumarcharit, Kavyarsh and Avantisundari.
Sanskrit schools were rebuilt by him. Narasimhavarman-II built the Kailashnath temple of Kachi and the Sor temple of Mahabalipuram. Rajasinha was his famous title. A Vihar (Buddhist Vihar) was built in Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu) for the Buddhist monks of China.
Parameshwaravarman (728-31 A.D.)
He has been called the incarnation of Kali and has been compared to Brihaspati and Manu.
He was defeated and killed by the Chalukya ruler Vikramaditya II. With this the main branch of the Pallavas came to an end.
The people made Prince Nandivarman II, the sixth generation prince of Bhimvarma, brother of Simha Vishnu, the ruler.
Nandivarman II (771-800 AD)
Vikramaditya II defeated him and took over Kanchi, so he took refuge with the Rashtrakuta ruler Dantidurg. Dantidurg married his daughter Reva to Nandivarman and made him the ruler of Kanchi again.
He built the Mukteshwara and Venkunthaperumal temples of Kanchi. Alwar saint Tirumangai was his contemporary and his songs and biography were written on the walls of the Venkunthaperumal temple.
Aparajita was the last ruler of the Pallava dynasty who was murdered by Shataka Adityavarman of the Chola dynasty.