The Pallava dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled a large portion of southern India, also known as Tondaimandalam, from 275 CE to 897 CE. During Pallavas, there was both religious and secular literature. The Pallavas supported the Sanskrit and Tamil languages. Kanchi, the Pallavas' capital, was a well-known Sanskrit language learning centre. The Pallavas made an important contribution to cultural development. In this article, we will discuss the Major Literary Works of Pallava Dynasty which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Growth of Literature

• The Pallavas were staunch supporters of both the Sanskrit and Tamil languages.
• Kanchi, their capital, had remained an important centre for Sanskrit learning.
• Mahendravarman I, the Pallava monarch, wrote the Mattavilasa Prahasana and Bagavatha Ajikkiyam in Sanskrit.
• Dhandin was a famous Sanskrit scholar who lived during the Pallava dynasty. He penned Kavyadharsha.
• During the Pallava period, another Sanskrit scholar, Bharavi, visited Kanchipuram.
• During this time, Tamil literature flourished. The Nayanmars and Alwars wrote their hymns in Tamil.
  • During the Pallava period, they made a significant contribution to the development of Tamil literature.
  • Their devotional songs are important pieces of religious literature from the Pallava period.
• During this time, another Tamil scholar, Perundevanar, wrote Bharathavenba.
• Kalladam was a grammar hook created by Kalladanar.
• Another work, Nandikalambakam, describes the reign of Nandivarman III, but its author is unknown.
• The Pallava dynasty saw the development of both Sanskrit and Tamil literature.

Education During Pallavas

• The Pallavas were great supporters of education.
• Kanchi University grew into a hub of learning and intellectualism. It drew students from all over India and the world.
• Mayurasarman, the founder of the Kadamaba dynasty, studied Vedas at Kanchi.
• Kanchi was home to Dharmapala, who later became Rector of Nalanda University.
• The other Brahmanical educational institutions associated with the Temples were the Ghatikas and Mathas.
• Sanskrit, the language of the privileged, became the recognised medium in the period's Brahamanical institutions.

Contribution to Religion

• Buddhism and Jainism, two heterodox religions, were still very active in the Pallava kingdom.
• According to Hieun Tsang's testimony, there were hundreds of Buddhist monasteries and 10,000 Buddhist monks and nuns of the Mahayana schools of Buddhism at Kanchi.
• Jainism was popular in the beginning.
• The majority of Pallava kings practiced both Vaishnavism and Saivism.
• The Pallava kings not only assumed the title "Dharma-Maharaja," but also performed Vedic sacrifices such as Agnisthoma, Vajapeya, and Asvamedha, which were in accordance with the Vedic sacrifices.
• As a result, Buddhism and Jainism lost royal patronage and popular support. This paved the way for the emergence of the Vedic religion.
• Aside from Vedic sacrifices, the worship of the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva also became popular.
• The Nayanars and Alvars contributed to the growth of Saivism and Vaishnavism beginning in the seventh century. This is the well-known Bhakti movement.
• The Bhakti cult came to dominate South Indian religious life, and the Alvars and Nayanars were instrumental in spreading it.

Inscriptions of the Pallavas

• Inscriptions are the primary source of historical information.
• Inscriptions are writings or texts carved on solid objects such as pillars, walls, temples, forts, caves, palaces, and stones.
• It is known as epigraphic information because it provides authentic information about various dynasties and their contributions.
• Pallava Inscriptions were mainly found on:
  • Pillars
  • Temple walls
  • Written books

Languages Used During Pallavas

• Prakrit, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Telugu were the most commonly used languages.
• All early Pallava inscriptions were in Sanskrit or Prakrit, as these were the dynasty's official languages.
• Grantham/ Kirantam had some official Pallavas/Pallavarka scripts.
• Pallava inscriptions in Prakrit, which speak about King Simhavarman, were also discovered in Palnad taluk of Guntur district. This inscription also demonstrates that they later adopted Tamil.
• As a result, Tamil became the primary language used by the Pallavas/Pallavarka in their inscriptions.
• This language was first used by Mahendravarman I in a few of his records, and from the time of Paramesvaravarman I, the records were mostly written in Sanskrit and the rest in Tamil.
• Tamil works from the second century CE, such as Manimekalai and Perumbhanatrupadai, describe Kanchipuram as it was at the time.

Conclusion

The Pallavas were a prominent and dominating South Indian kingdom that left an indelible mark on South Indian culture with some unrivalled contributions. The Pallava inscriptions provide us with credible information about various dynasties and their valuable contributions, allowing us to conduct in-depth analyses of the contemporary social, cultural, economic, and political setup in South India during the Pallava period. These inscriptions reveal information about the Pallavas' ancestors, wars fought, victory records, religious beliefs, and kings' contributions.