6.Chapter 18.Decan and South India.History

Chapter  18

Deccan and South India

 (Fourth century CE to Seventh century CE) After the fall of Satavahanas, during fourth to seventh century CE many kingdoms rose in Deccan and South India.  We are going to discuss the kingdoms of Chalukyas and Pallavas in this chapter.  R Narinado Amrawati Sopara Nagpur Rahadi Ellora NASIK AURANGABAD MUMBAI R GODAVAN KALINGA CHALUKYAS HYDERABAD R Krishna Vatapi RASHTRAKUTAS kuvert PALLAVAS CHENNAI CHERAS.  Mahabalipuram CHOLAS Kanchipuram Thanjavur Madurai PANDYAS INDEX • Ancient Town Modern Town Present External Boundary of India Kingdoms of South India

CHALUKYAS The most important kingdom after the fall of Satavahanas was that of the Chalukyas.  The capital of Chalukyas was Vatapi (modern Badaml) in Karnataka, Pulkeshin Il was its famous ruler.  He was the contemporary of Harshavardhana (north).  He defeated Harshavardhana in a fierce battle.  The Chalukya kings patronised art and architecture.  They built many magnificent temples at Aihole, a town of Badami and Pattadakal.  The most famous temples are the Papanatha Temple (680 CE) and Virupaksha Temple (740.CE).  D3 The walls of temples were decorated with scenes from Ramayana.  They also built cave shrines and beautiful sculptures.  A painting of Pulkeshin II, receiving the ambassador of Iran, can be seen in the caves of Ajanta (Maharashtra).  In 753 CE, the Rashtrakuta king, Danti Durg defeated the last Chalukya king Keertivarman and ended the rule of the Chalukyas.  Virupaksha Temple PALLAVAS After the decline of Satavahana kings, the Pallavas gained power in the south.  His capital was Kanchi (Kanchipuram), near Chennai.  Mahendravarman was the most powerful and famous Pallava king.  He was also the contemporary of Harshavardhana.  He was not only a great warrior, but also a very good poet, artist, dramatist and musician.  In early period of his rule, he was a follower of Jainism but later on, became a devotee of Lord Shiva.  150

Narsimhavarman 1: (630-668 CE) Narsimhavarman succeeded his father Mahendravarman.  He w also a great warrior.  He defeated Pulkeshin Il in three wars and brought his capital Badami under rule.  He also defeated many other contemporary rulers and established his empire.  Administration The king enjoyed all supreme powers.  He was the Chief Justice and the Chief of the Army, T princes, along with other officers helped him in the governance of his kingdom.  There were ma local assemblies which looked after different functions like construction of roads, irrigation, e gathering was the assembly of brahmin land owners.  The Ur was an assembly of non, brahmin.la owners and Nagaram was an assembly of merchants Art and Architecture Pallava kings built rock - cut halls (mandaps) with many pillars.  Such cave temples can be seen today in Trichy, Puddukottai, Mogalrajpuram and Undvalli.  Rock - cut Ratha (shaped like a chari temples of Mahabalipuram, near Chennai, are the most famous temples for their delicate beau The Panch Rathas belong to Dharmaraja Yudhishtir. Bhima, Arjun, Nakul Sahadav and Draupadi.T other notable Pallava temples here are Kailashnath  Temple and Shore Temple of Mahabalipur near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. D Mahabalipuram Temple 151

The temples were the important centers of education and community meetings to discuss common problems.  The celebrations on festival days and cultural programs were held in temples, Religion A group of saints from different castes preached that devotion, i.e.  bhakti was a personal religious matter and everybody was free to worship any god.  Shiva and Vishnu were the main deities of worship.  The devotees of Shiva were known as Nayannars and those of Vishnu as Alvars.  Keywords ambassador: an official living abroad and representing his own country.  deccan: southern part of India, deities gods or goddesses.  shrines: the holy places.  supreme power the power or authority that cannot be challenged.  152