Ancient South

India
By- Manish Shrivastava
Sangam Dynasties

❏ The first detailed description of the south

Indian States is found in Sangam literature.
❏ Tamil is the oldest among the spoken and
literary languages of south India.
❏ Literary assemblies were called the
Sangam, which were established by the
Pandyan kings
❏ The Rock Edict II and XIII of Ashoka
mentions the southern kingdoms of Chola,
Pandya, Satyaputra, Keralaputra and
Tambapanni.
 Cholas

❏ They occupied the delta of kaveri river and the adjoining region.
❏ Earlier their capital was at Uraiyur which was (famous for cotton
trade) in Tiruchirapalli but later on it was shifted to Puhar
(Kaveripattinam). Puhar was the main seaport.
❏ The most distinguished of the early Chola kings was Karikala,
who defeated a confederacy of about a dozen of rulers headed by
Cheras and Pandya kings in the Great Battle of Venni, near
Thanjavur, Karikala maintained a powerful navy and conquered Sri
Lanka.
❏ Ultimately Cholas suffered a defeat from Pallavas.
 Pandyas

❏ They occupied the region of the modern districts of Tirunelveli,

Ramnad and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
❏ Madurai was their capital, situated on the bank of river Vagai.
❏ Nedunjeliyan was the great Pandya king. He is also mentioned in
Silappadikaram.
❏ Korkai was their seaport.
❏ Pandya kingdom was first mentioned by Megasthenes who said
that their kingdom was famous for pearls.
❏ Pandya kings sent embassies to the Roman Emperor Augustus and
Trojan.
 Cheras

❏ Cheras were also known as KeralaPutras. They were

situated to the west and north of the Pandya kingdom.
❏ Romans set up two regiments at Muziris in the Chera country
to protect their interests. Romans also built a temple of
Augustus at Muziris.
❏ Senguttuvan also known as Red Chera was the greatest of
the Chera Kings. He crossed Ganga and reached north.
❏ Cheras capital was at Vanjji and main seaport was Muziris.
❏ Senguttuvan was also the founder of the famous Pattini
cult, related to the worship of goddess of charity, Kannagi.
 Sangam Literature
❏ Sangam was a college or assembly of Tamil poets, held probably under
patronage of Pandyan kings in Madurai. According to the tradition,
three Sangams were held at Madurai.
❏ The Sangam literature can be roughly divided into two groups, viz.
Narrative and didactic. The narrative texts are called Melkanakku or
Eighteen Major Works consisted of eight anthologies and ten idylls. The
didactic works are called Kelkanakku or Eighteen Minor Works.
❏ Tolkappiyam is the earliest surviving Tamil literature work, written by
Tholkappiyar. It is a Tamil grammar text.
❏ Most important of the Tamil literature is Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar.
It is called the Bible of the Tamil land.
 Epics
❏ Silappadikaram (The Jewelled Anklet): It is the greatest and earliest epic
by Illango Vadigal. It is a story of Kovalan of Puhar who falls in love with
Madhavi a dancer. Kovalan’s wife Kannagi revenges the death of her
husband at the hands of a Pandyan king and becomes a goddess. It marks
the beginning of Pattini or Kannagi cult.
❏ Manimekalai: It was written by Sattanar of Madurai. This epic has
Buddhist influence. It is the story of Manimekalai, daughter of Kovalan and
Madhavi. She later became a Buddhist nun. It gives glimpse of
development of the fine arts in Sangam age.
❏ Sivaga Sindamani: It was written by Tirutta Kkadear. It has Jaina
influence. It is the story of Jivaka, who became Jain monk in the end.
 Chalukyas of Badami
(6c.AD-9c.AD)
❏ First Chalukyan king was Pulakeshin-I.
❏ The most important king was Pulakeshin-II. He was the
contemporary of Harsha.
❏ Harsha attacked Pulakeshin-II, but defeated by him. This war is
described in Aihole inscription written by Ravikirti the court poet of
Pulakeshin-II.
❏ Pulakeshin-II attacked Pallava king Mahendravarman-I. And
annexed northern part of his territory.
❏ Pulakeshin-II also attacked Narsimhavarman-I son of
Mahendravarman-I. Narsimhavarman-I defeated Pulakeshin-II
in the battle by killing him and assumed the little Vatapikonda.
 Chalukyas of Badami
(6c.AD-9c.AD)
❏ During the reign of Vikramaditya-II, Chalukyan Pallava conflict
was almost resolved.
❏ Kirtivarman-II was killed by Dantidurga (founder of Rashtrakuta
dynasty)
❏ Under the Chalukyas Vesara style of architecture developed
which was a mixture of Nagara style and Dravida style.
❏ Aihole was called the cultural capital of the Chalukyas.
❏ Ladkhan temple, an example of Vesara style of architecture is
located at Aihole.
❏ Virupaksha temple, is located at Pattadakal, a place near
Badami in Bijapur district.
 Pallavas of Kanchipuram
(3c.AD-9c.AD)
❏ The Pallava dynasty was founded by Simhavishnu.
❏ The Pallavas were the contemporaries of Chalukyas.
❏ Pallavas patronized Sanskrit, although they ruled in extreme
south.
❏ Mahendravarman-I wrote a drama mattavilasa-prahasana
in Sanskrit. It is a story of drunkard.
❏ Mahendravarman-I was defeated by Pulkeshin-II who annexed
northern part of his territory.
❏ Narasimhavarman-II was known for temple constructions.
❏ Narasimhavarman-II assumed the title Rajsimha.
 Pallavas of Kanchipuram
(3c.AD-9c.AD)

❏ Dandin was the court poet of Narasimhavarman-I. He

wrote Dasakumaracharitam in Sanskrit.
❏ Nandivarman-II settled the conflict with Chalukyas by
matrimonial alliances.
❏ Aparajit was the last Pallava king who was defeated
by Aditya Chola.
 Temples of Pallavas

S.No Temple Location King

1. Ratha Temple Mahabalipuram Narsimhavarman-I

2. Shore Temple Mahabalipuram Narsimhavarman-I

3. Kailashnatha Temple Kanchipuram Narsimhavarman-II

4. Vaikuntha Perumal Kanchipuram Nandivarman-II

Temple
Thank You