Pallava Dynasty: Mahendravarman, Narasimhavarman, Mamallapuram, and Kanchipuram

The Pallavas ruled from Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) between the 3rd and 9th centuries CE. They are best known for rock-cut and structural temples at Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram — a favourite PSC topic.

1. Origin and Timeline

Period	Phase	Key Detail
275-340 CE	Early Pallavas	Sivaskandavarman — Prakrit inscriptions, performed Ashvamedha
340-560 CE	Intermediate Pallavas	Decline; contested by Kadambas and Gangas
560-630 CE	Revival	Simhavishnu revived the dynasty; patron of Sanskrit
630-668 CE	Golden Age I	Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I
668-730 CE	Golden Age II	Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) — built Shore Temple
730-895 CE	Decline	Repeated Chalukya and Chola attacks; dynasty ended under Aparajitavarman

2. Important Pallava Rulers

Ruler	Reign (approx.)	Title(s)	Key Contributions
Simhavishnu	560-590 CE	Avanisimha	Defeated Kalabhras; revived Pallava power; patron of poet Bharavi
Mahendravarman I	590-630 CE	Vichitrachitta (curious-minded), Mattavilasa	Pioneer of rock-cut temple architecture; wrote Mattavilasa Prahasana (Sanskrit farce); converted from Jainism to Shaivism under influence of Appar
Narasimhavarman I	630-668 CE	Mamallan (great wrestler), Vatapikonda	Defeated Chalukya Pulakeshin II; captured Vatapi (642 CE); built Mamallapuram monuments; sent naval expedition to Sri Lanka
Paramesvaravarman I	668-690 CE	—	Fought Chalukya Vikramaditya I; maintained territory
Narasimhavarman II	690-728 CE	Rajasimha	Built Shore Temple at Mamallapuram and Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram; sent embassy to China
Nandivarman II	730-795 CE	—	Built Vaikuntha Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram; last strong ruler
Aparajitavarman	879-895 CE	—	Last Pallava king; defeated by Chola Aditya I

3. Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) — UNESCO World Heritage Site (1984)

Monument	Type	Description
Five Rathas (Pancha Rathas)	Monolithic rock-cut	Named after the Pandavas (Dharmaraja, Bhima, Arjuna, Draupadi, Nakula-Sahadeva); each ratha is carved from a single granite boulder
Arjuna’s Penance / Descent of the Ganges	Open-air bas-relief	Largest open-air rock relief in the world (29 m x 13 m); depicts gods, animals, ascetics
Shore Temple	Structural (built stone)	Built by Narasimhavarman II; earliest structural temple of South India; three shrines (two Shiva, one Vishnu)
Mahishasuramardini Cave	Rock-cut cave	Depicts Durga slaying Mahishasura; fine Pallava sculpture
Krishna Mandapa	Rock-cut cave	Depicts Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill
Tiger Cave	Rock-cut	Near Mamallapuram; yali (mythical lion) carvings

PSC Favourite: “Who built the Shore Temple?” — Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), NOT Narasimhavarman I.

4. Kanchipuram — City of Thousand Temples

Temple	Builder	Deity	Style
Kailasanatha Temple	Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)	Shiva	Earliest structural Pallava temple in Kanchipuram; sandstone; Dravidian vimana
Vaikuntha Perumal Temple	Nandivarman II	Vishnu	Panels narrating Pallava history
Ekambareswarar Temple	Ancient (Pallava patronage)	Shiva	One of the Pancha Bhuta Sthalas (Earth element)
Kamakshi Amman Temple	Ancient (Pallava era)	Kamakshi (Parvati)	One of the 51 Shakti Peethas

5. Pallava Art and Architecture — Evolution

Phase	Style	Examples
Phase 1 (600-625 CE)	Rock-cut caves (mandapas)	Mandagapattu cave (Mahendravarman I) — first rock-cut cave temple without brick, timber, or metal
Phase 2 (625-674 CE)	Monolithic rathas + open-air reliefs	Pancha Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance (Narasimhavarman I)
Phase 3 (674-800 CE)	Structural stone temples	Shore Temple, Kailasanatha Temple
Phase 4 (800-900 CE)	Later structural temples	Vaikuntha Perumal Temple (Nandivarman II)

PSC Tip: The progression is: Rock-cut caves then Monolithic rathas then Structural temples.

6. Pallava Administration

Feature	Detail
Capital	Kanchipuram
Port city	Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) — major trade hub with Southeast Asia
Administrative units	Kingdom divided into Kottam (district), Nadu (province), Ur (village)
Village assemblies	Sabha (Brahmin villages), Ur (general villages) — highly autonomous
Revenue	Land tax (bhaga), trade tax; irrigation wells and tanks maintained
Military	Strong navy; sent naval expeditions to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia

7. Pallava Literature and Learning

Contribution	Detail
Court language	Sanskrit (primary) and Tamil
Pallava Grantha script	Ancestor of many Southeast Asian scripts (Khmer, Thai, Javanese)
Mattavilasa Prahasana	Sanskrit farce by Mahendravarman I; satirizes Buddhist and Shaiva monks
Kiratarjuniya by Bharavi	Epic poem; Bharavi was patronised by Simhavishnu
Nayanars and Alvars	Bhakti saints flourished under Pallava patronage; Appar converted Mahendravarman I
Dandin	Sanskrit poet (Dashakumaracharita) at the Pallava court

8. Pallava Relations with Other Dynasties

Dynasty	Relationship
Chalukyas of Badami	Bitter rivals; Narasimhavarman I sacked Vatapi (642 CE), defeating Pulakeshin II
Cholas	Initially subordinate; later Chola Aditya I defeated the last Pallava king
Pandyas	Periodic conflicts; Pallavas often allied with Cheras against Pandyas
Kadambas	Early rivals in the Deccan
Southeast Asian kingdoms	Cultural and trade connections; Pallava script influenced Khmer and Indonesian scripts

9. Decline of the Pallavas

Factor	Detail
Chalukya invasions	Repeated attacks from the western Deccan weakened the kingdom
Rise of the Cholas	Chola Vijayalaya and Aditya I captured Tanjore and defeated the Pallavas
Internal feudalism	Subordinate chiefs became powerful and asserted independence
Final defeat	Aparajitavarman defeated by Chola Aditya I (c. 895 CE)

10. Previous Year PSC-Style Questions

Question	Answer
Who founded Mamallapuram?	Narasimhavarman I (Mamallan)
Which Pallava king wrote Mattavilasa Prahasana?	Mahendravarman I
The Shore Temple was built by?	Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)
Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram was built by?	Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)
Which Pallava king defeated Pulakeshin II?	Narasimhavarman I
Pallava capital was?	Kanchipuram
Which title means “great wrestler”?	Mamallan (Narasimhavarman I)
Pancha Rathas are located at?	Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
Mamallapuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since?	1984
Which Pallava king was converted from Jainism to Shaivism?	Mahendravarman I (by saint Appar)