Pallava period (Social and Cultural History)

by S. Krishnamurthy | 2017 | 143,765 words

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Summary: This study examines the Social and Cultural History of the Pallava period (as gleaned through the Sculptural Art). The Pallavas (6th-9th century A.D.) mainly ruled over the Tondaimandalam (Tondai Nadu) region in the Northern part of Tamil Nadu (South-India). The Pallava dynasty ensured a golden age of architecture, arts, and spirituality and while being followers of Hinduism, they respect religious freedom of others, such as Buddhism.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Pallava period (Social and Cultural History) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. Introduction (to thesis)

. Sources for Study

. Earlier Works

. Topography, Geography and Geology of the Region (Tondaimandalam)

. History of the Pallava Dynasty (Introduction)

. Origin of the Pallava Dynasty

. The Pallavas of the Prakrit and Sanskrit charters

. The Later or the Imperial Pallavas

. Chapterization of the Thesis

+ Chapter 2 - Origin of Sculptural Art—Its Development and Scheme

. Introduction to Art

. Origin of Sculptural Art (a): Pre And Proto-Historic Period

. Origin of Sculptural Art (b): Pre-Pallava Period

. Origin of Sculptural Art (c): Pallava period

. Rock-cut architecture and sculptures

. Architecture of the Mahendra style

. Architecture of the Mamalla Style

. Rathas (monolithic cut-out temples)

. Structural Temples and Sculptures (of the Pallava period)

. Scheme of Pallava Sculptures

+ Chapter 3 - Socio-Religious Life

. Socio-Religious Life of the Pre-Pallava Period

. Professional groups

. The priestly class

. Temple servants (koyil-parivaram)

. Dancing girls in temples

. The Ruling elite

. Royal Courtiers

. Military personnel

. Other employers in a royal court and palace

. Musicians, dancers and theater artists

. Professional Martial artists and Wrestlers

. Hunters, Wood-cutters and Pastorals

. Typical pastoral village life as reflected from the Govardhanadhari panel

. Gender specific roles in a family

. Relationship between royal and common man

. Status of Women

. Other occupational groups

. Polygamy

. Judiciary and Punishments

. Religious Beliefs during the Pallava period (Introduction)

. Jainism during the Pallava period

. Buddhism during the Pallava period

. Shaivism during the Pallava period

. Nayanmars during the Pallava period

. Vaishnavism during the Pallava period

. Alvars during the Pallava period

. Other Gods and Goddesses

. Minor deities, celestials, sages and asuras

. Coronation of the King

. Asvamedha-yaga

. Upanayana ceremony and Sandhya-vandanam ritual

. Vasodaka rite (wringing the water from the cloth)

. Ritual dancing

. Navakandam and Human-sacrifice

. The custom of Sati

+ Chapter 4 - Material Culture of the People

. Introduction (the study of cultural life)

. The cultural life of the Pre-Pallava Period

. The cultural life of the Pallava Period

. House, Palace and Fort (of the Pallavas)

. Characteristics of people (during the Pallava period)

. Food habits (during the Pallava period)

. Dressing style of Men

. Dressing style of Upper-class men

. Dressing style of sages, ascetics and priests

. Dressing style of warriors and dancers

. Dressing style of royal servants

. Dressing style of commoners

. Dressing style of Women

. Dressing style of Children

. Depiction of Foot-wear

. Head-dress of Men during the Pallava period

. Head-dress of Men (Crowns)

. Crowns for Men (a): Kirita-makuta

. Crowns for Men (b): Karanda-makuta

. Head-dress of Men (Tiara)

. Head-dress of Men (Turban)

. Head-dress during warfare

. Head-dress of Women (Introduction)

. Head-dress of Women (a): Karanda-makuta

. Head-dress of Women (b): Cylindrica cap like Makuta

. Head-dress of Women (c): Tiara

. Head-dress of Women (d): Kirita-makuta

. Head-dress of Children

. Coiffure of Men

. Coiffure of Women

. Coiffure of Children

. Personal Ornaments of Men and Women

. Head Ornaments (mastaka-bhushana) (Introduction)

. Agrapatta or lalatapatta (Forehead band)

. Kesapatta (a band or cord used to bind the tuft of hair)

. Ear Ornaments (Karnabhushana)

. Neck Ornaments (Kanthabhushana)

. Necklet (Kanthi)

. Necklace (Hara)

. Shoulder and Arm Ornaments (Bhujabhushana) (Introduction)

. Shoulder Ornaments

. Armlets (Keyuras)

. Bracelets (Introduction)

. Bracelets (a): Separate bangles around each wrist

. Bracelets (b): Bracelet formed of multiple coils

. Bracelets (c): A circular sheet of metal with prominent rims

. Depiction of Rings

. Upper Body Ornaments (Introduction)

. Yajnopavita (Sacrificial Thread)

. Ornamental Diagonal Band across the Body

. Vaikakshaka or Chhannavira

. Waist Ornaments (Introduction)

. Waist-band (Kati-sutra)

. Mekhala (girdle)

. Leg Ornaments

. Ornaments For Animals

. Household Articles (a): Vessel

. Household Articles (c): Spoons or Ladle

. Household Articles (d): Flower-basket (Pushpa-puta)

. Household Articles (e): Umbrella (Chhatri)

. Household Articles (f): Lamp

. Household Articles (g): Furniture

. Articles Related to Royal Court

. Musical Instruments (Introduction)

. Stringed instruments (Tata)

. Percussion instruments (Anaddha)

. Wind instruments (Sushira)

. Solid instruments (Ghana)

. Depiction of Dance

. Theru Kuthu (Street Drama)

. Wrestling and other Martial Arts

. Depcition of Hunting

. Weapons and Warfare

. Composition of army and system of warfare

. Depiction of Flora

. Depiction of Fauna

. Depiction of Birds

+ Chapter 5 - Conclusion

. Conclusion (Introduction)

. Conclusion (Social Life)

. Conclusion (Religious Beliefs and Customs)

. Conclusion (Material Culture)

Appendix: List of Temples of Pallava Period

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Last Updated: 12 December, 2022

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