MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

MjczODY3NGVmOWJm
MjczODY3NGVmOWJm
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 The Pallavas were the 1st well-known

dynasty in the history of South India after the
fall of the Satavahanas.
 Their origin is shrouded in mystery.
 According to some scholars they came
from the north and were of Brahmanical
origin.
 But most of the scholars think that the
Pallavas were the original settlers of South
India.
 The earliest Pallava king referred to in a
north Indian record was Vishnugopa of
Kanchi who was captured and then
liberated by Samudragupta.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 He was the 1st great and powerful king of

the Pallava dynasty.
 He was a versatile genius.
 He was famous for his many public works,
 But he was defeated by the Chalukyan
king Pulakesin II who wrested Vengi from
him.
 It started the long-drawn Pallava-
Chalukya hostilities.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Succeeded his father Mahendravarmana.

 He was the most successful and distinguished king of this
dynasty.
 He avenged the defeat of his father and won back
Vengi.
 He defeated the powerful Chalukya king Pulakesin II
and occupied his capital Vatapi.
 In this struggle Pulakesin was killed. After this,
Narasimhavarman I assumed the title of “Victor of
Batapi”.
 This victory made the Pallavas the most dominant
power in southern India.
 Like his father, Narasinhavarmana also was a great
patron of art and architecture.
› He laid the foundation of a new city which is known as
Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) and which he adorned
with beautiful rock-cut Rathas or ‘Seven Pagodas’.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Land tax- primary source of revenue

 State was divided into Kottams
 Well-trained army
 Devadhana-land grants to temples (free
from tax)
 Brahmadeya- land grants to Brahmans
(free from tax)
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Rigid caste system, The Brahmins

occupied a high place in the society.
 The Pallava period also witnessed the rise
of Saivism and Vaishnavism and also the
decline of Buddhism and Jainism.
MjczODY3NGVmOWJm
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 The Chola dynasty was one of the

ancient ruling dynasties of the far South.
The dynasty maintained its power and
prestige during the Sangama age but
afterwards it was reduced to feudatory
status. In turn, the Cholas remained
subordinate chiefs of the Rashtrakutas,
the Chalukyas and the Pallavas.
 During the middle of the ninth century
A.D., they got the opportunity not only to
revive their independence but to
establish themselves as a supreme
power of the far south.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Vijayalaya (Founder)
 Prantaka I (Uttaramerur inscription)
 Rajaraja I (985 – 1014)
 Rajendra I (1014 – 1044)
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 He invaded and annexed N Sri Lanka

 He installed the statue of himself and his
wife in temple – (1st Indian to do so)
 Eulogy of Kings on stone was started
 He built a massive temple at Tanjore –
Brihaddeshwara temple (90m)
 It is the first granite temple in the world.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Annexed entire Sri Lanka

 He invaded Java and Sumatra (not
annexed)
 It is claimed that he won battles in North
India near Ganga. That’s how he gained
the title Gangaikonda Chola.
 He built a city Gangaikonda
Cholapuram near Tanjore
 He also built a grand temple in this city
named Brihadeshwara temple.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 It was second largest employer after

agriculture
 It gave loans to traders and kings with
interest varying from 3% – 30%. Eg. For kings
and external trade interest rate was high.
 Temples helped in urbanisation
 They promoted local art, dance, music and
craftmenship.
 They patronised ‘Devdasis’ and ‘Ganikas’.
 Ganikas were independent dancers hired
for special occasions.
MjczODY3NGVmOWJm
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Shiva has been shown balancing himself on

his right leg and suppressing the apasmara,
the demon of ignorance or forgetfulness,
with the foot of the same leg.
 There is an oval ring around the original
figure of Shiva Nataraja. It represents the
cosmic fire he uses to destroy the universe
as part of the cycle
 Shiva’s third eye represents his cosmic
knowledge.
 On Shiva’s right ear is an earring depicting
a makara, a mythical water creature. His
left ear is adorned with a circular earring
worn by women. The pair represents Shiva’s
male and female aspects (Ardhnarishwar).
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 The open palm of Shiva’s right hand forms the

abhayamudra, or hand gesture, signifying that
the worshipper need have no fear.
 In one hands, he has Damaru, that Shiva beats
a rhythm that brings the universe into creation.
 Shiva takes the snake and coils it around
himself, thereby neutralizing it as a weapon.
 flame of the cosmic fire he uses to end the
universe in its cycle of creation and destruction.
 The tiny figure perched in Shiva’s hair is the
River Ganga (Ganges) in the form of a
goddess.

 he raises his left leg in bhujangatrasita stance, it

represents kicking away of veil of Maya.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Details are known from Uttaramerur

inscription of Prantaka I
 Village assemblies –
 Ur – Village assembly
 Nagaram – Assembly of Traders
 Sabha – Assembly of Brahmins

 Sabha had executive council called

Variam.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 30 member executive council of sabha.

Members were called Variapperumakkal.
 Elected assembly.
Rules to contest for election –
 35 – 70 age limit.
 No criminal record
 Not committed any sin
 Must have the knowledge of Vedas
 Not allowed for re - election for next three
years.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

Variam had 3 committees:

 Tank Committee
 Garden Committee
 Gold Committee
MjczODY3NGVmOWJm
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Sankhya Philosophy:
 Sankhya is the oldest of all philosophies
put forth by the sage Kapila.
 It is a dualistic philosophy with Purusha
(soul) and Prakriti (nature) in it.
 Prakriti (rigid) Purusha (Active)
 Interaction between two can be – Sat,
Raj and Tam that can have positive,
neutral and negative effects.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Sage Gautama is the founder of this

school.
 Nyaya school follows a scientific and a
rational approach.
 Nyaya school banks upon various
pramanas (mechanism of attaining
knowledge).
 It believes that gaining knowledge
through the five senses is the sole way of
attaining liberation from the cycle of
birth and death.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Yoga school introduces the methods of the

discipline of body, mind and Soul.
 Sage Patanjali is the founder of Yoga.
 Emancipation of Purusha from Prakriti by
self-awareness through the discipline of
body and mind is conceptualized by Yoga.
 It is believed that practising Ashtanga Yoga
is the way to relieve oneself from past sins in
order to make way for liberation.
 There are broadly two types of Yoga –
Bahiryoga and Antaryoga.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 It was founded by the sage Kanada.

 Vaisheshika school deals with
metaphysics.
 According to the Vaisheshika school of
philosophy, the universe is reducible to a
finite number of atoms (Anu), Brahman
being the fundamental force causing
consciousness in these atoms.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Purva Mimamsa school believes in the

complete authority of Vedas.
 It is based on sage Jaimini’s Mimamsa
Sutras.
 It emphasizes the power of yajnas and
mantras in sustaining the activities of the
universe.
 It states that a human being can attain
salvation only by acting in conformity
with the principles of Vedas.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Vedanta school is a monoistic school of

philosophy that believes that the world is
unreal and the only reality is Brahman.
 The three sub branches of Vedanta are
Advaita of Shankaracharya, Vishishta
Advaita of Ramanujacharya and Dvaita
of Madhwacharya. Uttara Mimamsa is
based on Upanishads (the end portions
of Vedas).
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Bhakti – A devotional surrender to a

perceived God.
 It was originated in 2nd C BC with
Bhagwatism – a form of Vaishnavism in
which Vasudev Krishna was worship.
 Upanishads and Bhakti Purana (composed
in 9th C AD) are regarded as the books with
Bhakti Traits.
 According to Bhakti tradition man (Soul) has
direct relation with God whereas in
traditional Brahmanical religion Priest was
an intermediary between the two.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 Bhakti movement practically started in 6th

– 7th C by Alvars and Nainars saints in
Tamil and Telugu region.
 They popularised direct communication
between man and God.
 The simplified the religious practices.
 They used local language to spread
these messages instead of Sanskrit.
 Many female saints also became
popular like Andal and Meera bai.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 First prominent Bhakti Saint was Shankaracharya (788

– 820) from Kerala.
 It is believed that he established four Mathas –
Badtinath, Dwarka, Puri and Shringeri.
 His philosophy is ‘Advaitvada’ – non dualism
 According to the idea, creator (Brahma) and
created beings (man = soul) are not two but same.
 But it appears distinct (two) because of ‘Maya’
(Illusion).
 Maya is because of ‘Agyanta’ (Ignorance)
 The ignorance can be removed through ‘Vedic
Knowledge’.
 Then one can realise ‘God’.
 Followers of Shankarachrya were called –
Gyanmargi.
 MjczODY3NGVmOWJm

 1st prominent Saint who challenged this

theory was Ramanuja.
 He was a Tamil Saint of 11th C. He
propounded the theory of ‘Vishisht
Advaitvada’ (Qualified Monothism).
 He suggested Bhakti route to realise God
and not knowlegde route. This is based
on devotional surrender based on love.