South Indian History
South Indian power became regional in the seventh century as Pallavas, Chalukyas and emerging Chola-Pandya houses controlled distinct areas; Kanchipuram anchored Pallava rule.
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17 bilingual articles
South Indian History: Regional Powers and the Pallava Rise
South Indian power became regional in the seventh century as Pallavas, Chalukyas and emerging Chola-Pandya houses controlled distinct areas; Kanchipuram anchored Pallava rule.
Open article →South Indian History: Pallava Rulers and Chalukya Conflict
Simhavishnu established a strong Pallava state; Mahendravarman, Narasimhavarman and Rajasimha joined royal patronage to a long contest with the Badami Chalukyas.
Open article →South Indian History: Pallava Rock-Cut, Monolithic and Structural Temples
Pallava architecture progressed from Mahendravarman's rock-cut caves through Mamalla's monolithic rathas and reliefs to the stone-built temples of Rajasimha and Nandivarman.
Open article →South Indian History: Pallava Bhakti, Society, Literature and Art
Pallava patronage included Jain, Buddhist and Vedic traditions, while Azhwar-Nayanmar Bhakti strengthened Tamil devotion and royal support encouraged literature, music and sculpture.
Open article →South Indian History: Chalukya Dynasties, Rulers and Chronology
The Chalukyas formed related Badami, Vengi and Kalyani branches; their rulers contested Harsha, Pallavas and Cholas while controlling routes from the Narmada to the Kaveri.
Open article →South Indian History: Chalukya Vesara Temples and Painting
Chalukya builders combined Dravida and Nagara forms into Vesara, mastered mortarless sandstone construction and developed cave, structural, sculptural and painted traditions.
Open article →South Indian History: Rashtrakuta Rise, Rulers and Deccan Power
The Kannada-speaking Rashtrakutas replaced Badami Chalukya power, ruled the Deccan and farther regions from the eighth to tenth centuries, and reached prominence under Dantidurga, Krishna I, Amogavarsha and Krishna III.
Open article →South Indian History: Rashtrakuta Literature, Ellora and Elephanta
Rashtrakuta patronage strengthened Kannada literature through Amogavarsha and Pampa and produced monumental Dravidian architecture and sculpture at Ellora, Elephanta and Pattadakal.
Open article →Later Cholas: Origin, Rajaraja I and Rajendra I
Vijayalaya restored Chola power in 850; Rajaraja I and Rajendra I extended it across peninsular India, Sri Lanka, the Ganges route and Southeast Asian seas.
Open article →Later Chola Administration: King, Nadu and Local Assemblies
Chola rule linked a hereditary king, mandalam provinces, a standing army and navy with ur, sabha and nagaram bodies and documented committee selection.
Open article →Later Chola Economy, Land Revenue and Irrigation
Repeated surveys, measured land taxes and local labour supported canals, tanks, sluices and embankments that made irrigated agriculture the fiscal base of Chola power.
Open article →Later Chola Society, Religion and Temple Institutions
Chola society was hierarchically organised through brahmadeya and vellanvagai settlements, labouring groups and slavery, while temples concentrated devotion, resources, arts and services.
Open article →Later Chola Art, Trade, Education and Decline
Monumental temples and bronzes, merchant guilds and maritime exchange, endowed colleges and Pandya pressure define the material achievement and end of Later Chola rule.
Open article →Pandyas: Early Rulers and Revival Chronology
From Kadunkon and Arikesari through Srimara, Varaguna II and Rajasimha II, the early line rose, suffered Chola domination and revived around 1190.
Open article →Later Pandyas: Expansion, Civil War and Sultanate Transition
The revived Pandyas reached a high point under Sundara Pandya and Kulasekhara, but disputed succession invited intervention, Malik Kafur's 1311 raid and loss of sovereignty.
Open article →Pandya Administration, Economy, Trade and Irrigation
Royal officers governed mandalam-to-village divisions while cultivators, artisans, guilds, ports and irrigation systems sustained an agrarian and maritime economy.
Open article →Pandya Society, Religion, Literature and Art
Saiva, Vaishnava and Jain traditions, major Tamil devotional works, temple patronage, rock-cut shrines and Sittannavasal frescoes formed a diverse Pandya cultural landscape.
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