Indian Antiquary Vol 54

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 45

FEDRUARY, 1925)
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by scholars Indian and European. It is likely to In fact the times and work of the Pallavas are be of great assistance in promoting this desirable of such importance to South Indian history that study. The author deserves to be congratulated we cannot know too much about them. Like upon the result of his labours in this good cause Vijayanagar, Káñchi is a "Forgotten Empire", The work is a monument of his learning and effort. and students who would illuminate the story of and it is to be hoped that his industry will be suita- the rise of South Indian religion and administrably rewarded, to encourage him to go on with his tion, would do well to unearth all that is possible work and complete it, as originally projected, in of the remarkable episode of the Pallavas in times four parts.
now long gone by. Mr. Srinivasachari has done S. K. AIYANGAR. quite rightly in adding to his summary of the
polítical history of the Pallavas another of the THE HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS OF THE PALLAVAS
social institutions of the time. By C. S. SRINIVASACHARI. M.A. Wesleyan Mission Kåñchi was the chief seat of Pallava power all Press, Mysore, 1924. 24 pp.
through the first millennium of the Christian eraThis is a valuable contribution to a question the centre of the art, religion and civilisation they which seems at last to be on the way to settlement. inculcated. "The Pollavas brought to KAficht Mr. Srinivasachari has gone to the proper resources
the culture of the North, se distinguished from and has made a useful summary of it up to date.
what may be called Dravidian or Southern cul. 11 in but few years since the Pallava-Pahlavature" though this is not to say that by race they theory seemed impregnable and quite feasible.
were of the Northern people. Now we know that the Pallavas were not of out.
By religion they were, generally speaking, $aiside origin, but a Southern Indian family or clan.
ves, though Vaishnavism and Jainism flourished But to which clan they belonged or out of which
under them, or some of them, and they were the they robo, is still open to controversy. Mr. Sri.
great temple and cave builders of the South, aivasachari sete to work deliberately to sift the
Buddhism also flourished at times under their evidence.
tolerant rule. Then they were the chief promoFirst, he takes us to the name and its origin,
ters of literature, and many a famous name flouquoting finally Prof. S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar's rished under their encouragement. Theirs we statement: "So far as the available evidence also a glorious epoch of art and architecture, and goes, they were a dynasty of the Andhras, pro. fortunately it is still represented by many a noble bably related to or even springing out of the clan
ruin. of the Satav hanas." Next he dives into their
In the practical administrative side of life they early history, as rulers of Kanchi and neighbour.
were no less distinguished. Under them the ad. hood, and carries it from before the dato of the
ministration was complex and hierarchical in Gupta Emperors to the close of the 6th century
character, and the tax-system was heavy and A.D. Then come the days of the Great Pallavas,
cumbrous." But the great point was that "the real when " definito chronological arrangement
unit of administration was the village community, becomes possible," and the great struggle between
either an individual village or a collection of vil the Pallaves of Kanchi, and the Chalukyas of VA
lages," ruled by a special committee or sabha. tapi was carried on for a long period.
The outstanding feature of Pallava rulo was the Here Mr. Srinivasachari takes us through the attention paid to irrigation, and their works for records of ruler after ruler by name-Simhavishnu the purpose were very large. up to, say, 610 A.D., Mahendra "at first & Jain | The leaving of the village affairs in the hands and later converted to Saivism;" Narasimha. of the villagers themselves did not relieve the varman (c.630-668), whom he surnames the Great; Pallava kings from the general administration Mabondravarman (c. 688-674); Paramdavaravar.
of the country, which was entrusted to viceroys man (c. 674-690); Narasithavarman II, Rajasirinha and potty local rulers, who tended to become (o. 690-716), the great builder of the temples at
hereditary. This led to the creation of a number KAñohi, the "Seven Pagodas" at Mamallapuram, of minor chiefs of a feudal character, and as the the Panamalai temple; Nandivarman (715-779); superior central power diminished and then diod, Dantivarman (779-830); Nandi (c. 830-854); the whole country sank into the position of . Nripatunga (c. 854-880); AparAjita Pottaraiyar collection of merely feudal chieftainabipe with (880 .900). The succession, however, is not
Pallava names and Pallava titles, working for quito so clor M the above statement would ap- other centralised powers; c.9., the Choles and pear to make it, and there is much room for fur. the Kurumbas. It was a case of a systeip steadily thór rodearoh w to details. The outlino, however,
killing itself is now before we of this great raling race, which Bo all this mit may, there is olearly as made did so much for Southern India in time now long out for detailed sooount of Pallave rule, past and forgotten.
for another History of a Forgotten Empire. The