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Pallavas and Chalukyas Dynasty Notes for SSC Exams, Download PDF

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

Pallavas and Chalukyas Dynasty: History covers a great number of questions, so it’s an important subject to address in the SSC exams. Around 4-5 questions from History are asked, so it is critical that you study the subject thoroughly. In this article, we are providing you with History notes on the Chalukyas and Pallava Dynasties, which are both highly important topics in Medival History.

Pallavas and Chalukyas

The Pallavas arose as a superpower in the South around the fourth century AD and reached their zenith in the seventh century AD. They were able to maintain their rule for almost 500 years. They constructed huge cities, learning centres, temples, and sculptures, and influenced the culture of much of Southeast Asia, whereas between the 6th and 12th centuries, the Chalukyas governed areas of Southern and Central India. 

Pallavas and Chalukyas Dynasty Notes for SSC Exams, Download PDF

Pallavas and Chalukyas Dynasty Notes PDF

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Chalukas Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty

Chalukas Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty is an important topic of History for SSC exams 2023 like SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS etc. In this blog, we have provided all the relevant information regarding the important rulers, political history, capitals etc. of the Chalukas Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty. 

Chalukas Dynasty

Chalukyas were the Karnataka rulers and their history can be classified into three eras. Below we are providing you all with an overview of the Chalukas Dynasty:

  1. The early western era (6th – 8th century), the era which belonged to Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi);
  2. The later western era (7th – 12th century), the era which belonged to Chalukyas of Kalyani;
  3. The eastern Chalukya era (7th – 12th century), the era which belonged to Chalukyas of Vengi.
    Pulakeshin I (543-566) was the first independent ruler of Badami dynasty. The capital of his kingdom was Vatapi in Bijapur.
    Pulakeshin I was succeeded by Kirthivarma I (566-596). After his untimely death, his brother Mangalesha (597-610) was made the caretaker ruler as the son of Kirthivarma I  – Prince Pulakesin II  was a baby. Mangalesha made several failed attempts to kill the prince but was killed himself by the prince and his friends.
    The most famous king of the Chalukyan dynasty was Pulakeshin II (610-642), the son of Pulakeshin I. Pulakeshin II was a contemporary of Harshavardhana. He defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada and his reign is remembered as the greatest period in the history of Karnataka.
  4. The rise of the Eastern Chalukyan Era was started by Pulakeshin II brother Kubja Vishnuvardana after conquering the Kosalas and the Kalingas.
  5. By 631, the Chalukyan Empire was at its peak. It extended from sea to sea. Their fall began when Pulkeshin II was defeated and killed by the Pallavas under the able leadership of Narsimhavarma I. The Pallavas attacked their capital Badami & captured it.
  6. Under the leadership Of Vikramaditya I (655-681) the Chalukyas rose to power once again. Vikramaditya I defeated his contemporaries Pandya, Pallava, Cholas and Kerala rulers to establish his supremacy over the Chalukyan Empire in the southern region.
  7. Vikramaditya I was succeeded by Vikramaditya II (733-745) who also defeated the Pallava king Nandivarma II to capture a major portion of the Pallava kingdom.
  8. The fall of the Chalukyan Empire started with Vikramaditya II‘s son, Kirtivarma II (745), who was defeated by the Rashtrakuta ruler, Dhantidurga, who went on to establish the Rashtrakuta dynasty. 

Pallavas and Chalukyas Dynasty Notes for SSC Exams, Download PDF

Pallava Dynasty

Important overview related to the Pallava dynasty is as follows:

  • After the decline of the Satavahana dynasty, the Pallava dynasty, founded by Shivaskandavarman emerged in South India.
  • Kanchi was the capital of the Pallava dynasty.
  • Some of the leaders who are worth mentioning are Simhavarama I Sivaskandavarma I, Veerakurcha, Shandavarma II, Kumaravishnu I, Simhavarma II, and Vishnugopa.
  • The decline of the Pallavas started after Samudragupta defeated Vishugopa.
  • The Pallavas kingdom was re-established by Simhavishnu, the son of Simhavarma II, who ended the Kalabhras‘ dominance in 575 AD and re-established his kingdom.
  • Vikramaditya I was defeated by Parameshwaravarma I in 670 and restricted the advance of the Chlukyan king. Eventually, Parameshwaravarma I was defeated by the combined armies of the Chalukyas, the Pandyas ( lead by their ruler Arikesari Maravarma) and another prominent enemy of the Pallavas.
  • Narasimhavarma II, a peace-loving ruler, succeeded Parameshwaravarma I after he died in 695. The famous Kailashanatha temple at Kanchi is built by Narasimhavarma II. After the accidental death of his elder sons in 722, Narasimhavarma II too died grieving.
  • Parameshwaravarma II the youngest son of Narasimhavarma II, came to power in 722 after the death of his father. The Pallava kingdom was in a state of disarray after the death of Parameshwaravarma II in 730 as he had no heirs to the throne.
  • After some brief infighting for the throne among the family, Nandivarma II came to power. Nandivarma then went on to marry the Rashtrakuta princess Reeta Devi and re-established the Pallava kingdom.
  • Dantivarma (796-846) succeeded Nandivarma II who ruled for 54 long years. Rastrakuta king Dantidurga defeated Dantvarma and was succeeded by Nandivarma III in 846.

Rulers of Pallavas and Chalukyas

Pallavas and Chalukyas dynasties had some great rulers. Below we are briefly describing some of the important rulers of the Pallavas and Chalukyas dynasties.

Chalukas Dynasty

Important Chalukas Dynasty rulers are as follows:

Pulakeshin I (543-566)

Pulakesin’s father’s name was Ranaraga, and his grandfather’s name was Jayasimha. His ancestors were possibly subordinate monarchs from the Kadamba or Rashtrakuta lineages. Pulakesin I (543-566 AD) was the true founder of the Chalukyan dynasty. He built a huge stronghold at Vapati (modern Badami) in Karnataka’s Bijapur district, where he also sacrificed a horse to proclaim his country’s freedom. The name Pulakesin is derived from a Sanskrit-Kannada hybrid term that means iger-haired.

Kirthivarma I (566-596)

Following the death of his father, Pulakesin I, Kirtivarman I came to the throne in 566 AD. Kirtivarman significantly developed a little empire founded on Vatapi that he inherited. His realm stretched from Karnataka’s Shimoga region in the south to modern-day Maharashtra’s Konkan coast in the north. Similarly, from the Arabian Sea in the west to the Andhra Pradesh districts of Kurnool and Guntur in the east. According to the Pulakesin II Aihole inscription, the Kirtivarman period was he night of doom for the Nalas, Mauryas, and Kadambas. He performed the Bahusuvarna-Agnishtom Yagya, which is documented in the Mahakuta pillar inscription.

Mangalesha (597-610)

Mangalesha, his older sibling, succeeded Kirtivarman I, who was presumably his half-brother and left at least three minor sons. Mangalesha ook upon himself the responsibility of governance because Pulakesin II, Kirtivarman’s son, was a minor, according to later Chalukya inscriptions at Kalyani. He governed the kingdom from southern Gujarat in the north to the Bellary-Kurnool region in the South.

He oversaw the realm during Kirtivarman’s rule when he was engrossed with military accomplishments. Mangalesha and Kirtivarman may have alternated between commanding military battles and ruling the realm. Mangalesha refused Pulakesin’s claim to the throne, banishing him and maybe naming his own son as heir apparent. Pulakesin II planned an attack on Mangalesha during his exile, which he eventually carried out and killed Mangalesha.

Pulakeshin II (610-642)

Pulakesin-II was the most powerful ruler of the Badami Chalukyas. He was the first monarch in South India to issue gold coins. When his father died, he was still too young to rule, therefore his paternal uncle Mangalesha became king. Pulakesin II ascended to the throne after defeating Mangalesha in the Bana area at Elpattu-Simbhige.

He is famous for defeating King Harsha on the Narmada River’s banks. He took the name Daskshinapatheshwara after Harsha’s Uttarpatheshwara. After defeating Pallava ruler Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I, Mahendravarman I’s son and successor, defeated and murdered him.

Vikramaditya I (655-681)

Vikramaditya was Pulakesin II’s third son. He set himself the responsibility of repelling the Pallava invasion and restoring the unity of his father’s dominion with the assistance of his maternal grandfather Bhuvikarma or Durvineet of the Western Ganga Dynasty. He was successful in terminating Pallava’s 13-year reign and in capturing Vatapi. He defeated the Pallava monarch Mahendravarman II in 668 AD and proceeded to take Kanchi for the next five to six years. During this time, he pillaged the Chola, Pandya, and Kerala kingdoms without annexing any land (his army remained in Thiruchirapalli). Vikramaditya took the surnames Shri-prithvi-vallabha and Satyashraya (meaning
efuge of truth). In addition to the traditional Chalukyan titles, Vikramaditya I took the appellation Rajamalla, denoting that he was now the monarch of the Mallas, or Pallavas.

Kirtivarma II (745)

Kirtivarman was the name given to Vikramaditya II’s firstborn son. He was also known as Nripasimha (lion among kings). The Chalukyas appeared to be at their best when he ascended to the throne, owing to the Pallavas’ loss, the Chalukyas’ conquest of the Deccan, and the Muslims’ apparent invincibility. Within ten years, however, Kirtivarman’s fame faded as the Pandya and Rashtrakuta dynasties rose to power and caused issues for the Chalukya ruler. Kirtivarman II’s defeat by Dantidurga in 753 AD effectively ended the Chalukya kingdom.

Pallava Dynasty

Important Pallava Dynasty rulers are as follows:

Sivaskanda Varman (4th century AD) was an Indian philosopher. He was the most powerful of the early rulers. As the ruler, it began in the fourth century AD. Sivaskandavarman of Kanchi, a Pallava king who reigned from 275 to 300 CE, granted the charter in 283 CE. He made Ashwamedha and other Vedic sacrifices.

Simhavarman/Simhavishnu (575-600 AD) was a Hindu emperor. Simhavishnu was the dynasty’s first ruler. When Simhavishnu defeated the Kalabhras, the Age of the Imperial Pallavas began. He also deposed kings from the Chola, Pandya, and Chera kingdoms. He ruled over the entire region between the Krishna and Kaveri rivers. He was known as Avanishimha and worshipped Vishnu (the earth’s lion). According to legend, the famous poet Bharavi paid him a visit at his palace.

Mahendravarman (AD 600-630) followed Simhavishnu’s son Mahendravarman I. He was a multi-talented polymath. He was a politician, soldier, poet, architect, musician, and religious reformer all rolled into one. He held the titles of Chitrakarapuli, Vichitrachitta, Gundabhara, and Lalitankura in addition to Mattavilasa. During this time, the long-running Pallava-Chalukya conflict began. Pulakesin II defeated Mahendravarman I in the Pullalur battle near Kanchi. Pulakesin II was on his way to the Pallava capital when Mahendravarman bought him off with control of their Northern regions.

Narasimhavarman I (630-668 AD) was a Hindu emperor. The Pallava dynasty’s influence and prestige reached extraordinary heights during Narasimhavarman I, the greatest of the Pallavas. His name, Mahamalla or Mamalla, comes from the Arabic word meaning great fighter. His father initiated the Pallava-Chalukya conflict, which he effectively continued. He desired vengeance on Pulakesin II, the Chalukyan monarch who defeated his father. He defeated Pulakesin II in three battles, including one in Manimangalam, near Kanchi, in 642 CE. After Pulakesin II died, Narasimhavarman took over as Vatapikonda (the conqueror of Vatapi).

Political History of Pallavas

The political history of Pallavas is provided below in detail:

  • The Pallavas’ origins are shrouded in mystery. Historians have proposed several explanations.
  • According to some historians, they are a branch of the Parthian people (an Iranian tribe) who gradually migrated to South India.
  • Some claim they are an indigenous dynasty that developed in the Southern region from a conglomeration of several tribes.
  • Some researchers claim they are Nagas who settled in the Tondaimandalam district near Madras.
  • According to another theory, they are descended from a Chola prince and a Naga princess of Manipallavam (an island off the coast of Jaffna, Sri Lanka).
  • Others believe that the Pallavas were feudatories of the Satavahanas.
  • The earliest Pallava kings governed in the early fourth century AD. By the 7th century AD, three kingdoms vied for supremacy in southern India: the Chalukyas of Badami, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.

Capital of Pallavas and Chalukyas

The Chalukyas and Pallavas were powerful kingdoms that controlled much of South India. The Pallavas made Kanchipuram their capital in the Kaveri Delta, whereas the Chalukyas made Raichur Doab their capital between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers. 

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