After the decline of major northern empires, several powerful regional kingdoms developed in peninsular India. Among them, the Pallavas and Chalukyas were especially important for political history, temple architecture, literature and art.
उत्तर भारत के बड़े साम्राज्यों के पतन के बाद प्रायद्वीपीय भारत में अनेक शक्तिशाली क्षेत्रीय राज्यों का उदय हुआ। इनमें पल्लव और चालुक्य राजनीतिक इतिहास, मंदिर वास्तुकला, साहित्य और कला की दृष्टि से विशेष रूप से महत्वपूर्ण थे।
Pallavas / पल्लव
The Pallavas became a major power in southern India.
पल्लव दक्षिण भारत की एक प्रमुख शक्ति बने।
Their political centre was:
Kanchipuram / कांचीपुरम
Mahendravarman I / महेंद्रवर्मन प्रथम
Mahendravarman I was an important Pallava ruler and a patron of art and architecture.
महेंद्रवर्मन प्रथम एक महत्वपूर्ण पल्लव शासक था और कला-वास्तुकला का संरक्षक था।
He is particularly associated with early rock-cut architecture.
उसे प्रारंभिक शैल-कट वास्तुकला से जोड़ा जाता है।
Narasimhavarman I / नरसिंहवर्मन प्रथम
Narasimhavarman I was one of the greatest Pallava rulers.
नरसिंहवर्मन प्रथम पल्लवों का प्रमुख शासक था।
He assumed the title:
Mahamalla / महामल्ल
The famous coastal centre:
Mamallapuram / Mahabalipuram
is associated with his period.
Pallavas vs Chalukyas
पल्लव-चालुक्य संघर्ष
The Pallavas and the Badami Chalukyas repeatedly fought for control of the Deccan and south India.
पल्लव और बादामी चालुक्य दक्कन तथा दक्षिण भारत में प्रभुत्व के लिए बार-बार संघर्ष करते रहे।
Narasimhavarman I defeated the Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II and captured Vatapi.
नरसिंहवर्मन प्रथम ने चालुक्य शासक पुलकेशिन द्वितीय को पराजित किया और वातापी पर अधिकार किया।
Pallava Architecture / पल्लव वास्तुकला
Pallava architecture is important for the transition from rock-cut to structural temples.
पल्लव वास्तुकला शैल-कट मंदिरों से संरचनात्मक मंदिरों की ओर परिवर्तन के लिए महत्वपूर्ण है।
Important examples include:
Pancha Rathas / पंच रथ
Shore Temple / तट मंदिर
Mandapas of Mahabalipuram / महाबलीपुरम के मंडप
Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram / कैलासनाथ मंदिर, कांचीपुरम
Chalukyas of Badami / बादामी चालुक्य
The Early Western Chalukyas are generally known as the Chalukyas of Badami.
प्रारंभिक पश्चिमी चालुक्यों को सामान्यतः बादामी के चालुक्य कहा जाता है।
Their capital was:
Vatapi / Badami / वातापी / बादामी
Pulakeshin II / पुलकेशिन द्वितीय
Pulakeshin II was the most famous Badami Chalukya ruler.
पुलकेशिन द्वितीय बादामी चालुक्यों का सबसे प्रसिद्ध शासक था।
He checked the southward expansion of Harshavardhana.
उसने हर्षवर्धन के दक्षिणी विस्तार को रोका।
Aihole Inscription / ऐहोल अभिलेख
The famous Aihole inscription is associated with Pulakeshin II.
प्रसिद्ध ऐहोल अभिलेख पुलकेशिन द्वितीय से संबंधित है।
It was composed by:
Ravikirti / रविकीर्ति
Xuanzang and Pulakeshin II
ह्वेनसांग और पुलकेशिन द्वितीय
The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang also visited the Deccan during this period and wrote about Pulakeshin II's kingdom.
चीनी यात्री ह्वेनसांग ने इस काल में दक्कन की यात्रा की और पुलकेशिन द्वितीय के राज्य का विवरण दिया।
Chalukya Architecture / चालुक्य वास्तुकला
Important architectural centres:
Badami / बादामी
Aihole / ऐहोल
Pattadakal / पट्टदकल
These centres show experimentation with both northern and southern temple architectural styles.
इन केंद्रों पर उत्तर भारतीय नागर तथा दक्षिण भारतीय द्रविड़ दोनों वास्तु परंपराओं का प्रभाव दिखाई देता है।
History Practice — 30 Questions
इतिहास अभ्यास — 30 प्रश्न
Q1
Capital of the Pallavas was:
पल्लवों की राजधानी थी:
A. Kanchi / कांची
B. Badami / बादामी
C. Madurai / मदुरै
D. Ujjain / उज्जैन
Answer: A
Q2
Mahendravarman I belonged to which dynasty?
Answer: Pallava / पल्लव
Q3
Narasimhavarman I assumed the title:
Answer: Mahamalla / महामल्ल
Q4
Mamallapuram is associated especially with:
Answer: Pallavas / पल्लव
Q5
Who defeated Pulakeshin II and captured Vatapi?
Answer: Narasimhavarman I / नरसिंहवर्मन प्रथम
Q6
Pancha Rathas are located at:
Answer: Mahabalipuram / महाबलीपुरम
Q7
Shore Temple is associated with which dynasty?
Answer: Pallavas / पल्लव
Q8
Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram is associated with:
Answer: Pallava architecture / पल्लव वास्तुकला
Q9
Capital of Badami Chalukyas was:
Answer: Vatapi / Badami
Q10
Most famous Badami Chalukya ruler was:
Answer: Pulakeshin II
Q11
Pulakeshin II checked whose southward expansion?
Answer: Harshavardhana / हर्षवर्धन
Q12
Which inscription describes Pulakeshin II's achievements?
Answer: Aihole inscription / ऐहोल अभिलेख
Q13
Who composed the Aihole inscription?
Answer: Ravikirti / रविकीर्ति
Q14
Aihole is located in present-day:
A. Karnataka
B. Bihar
C. Punjab
D. Assam
Answer: A
Q15
Pattadakal is associated with:
Answer: Chalukya architecture / चालुक्य वास्तुकला
Q16
Badami is famous for:
Answer: Cave temples / गुफा मंदिर
Q17
Which two dynasties were major rivals?
Answer: Pallavas and Chalukyas / पल्लव और चालुक्य
Q18
The Pallavas played a major role in development of:
A. Temple architecture
B. Mughal painting
C. Persian architecture
D. Gothic architecture
Answer: A
Q19
The title “Mahamalla” is associated with:
Answer: Narasimhavarman I
Q20
Mahabalipuram is also known as:
Answer: Mamallapuram
Q21
Pulakeshin II belonged to:
Answer: Chalukya dynasty
Q22
Vatapi corresponds to modern:
Answer: Badami
Q23
Which Chinese pilgrim visited India during this period?
Answer: Xuanzang / ह्वेनसांग
Q24
Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal are important centres of:
Answer: Chalukya architecture
Q25
The Pallava political centre was:
Answer: Kanchipuram
Q26
Rock-cut architecture was encouraged under:
Answer: Mahendravarman I
Q27
Which Pallava ruler captured Vatapi?
Answer: Narasimhavarman I
Q28
Which ruler defeated Harsha's attempt to expand southward?
Answer: Pulakeshin II
Q29
Which Pallava monument stands close to the Bay of Bengal?
Answer: Shore Temple
Q30
Which statement is correct?
A. Ravikirti composed Aihole inscription.
B. Banabhatta composed Aihole inscription.
C. Kalidasa built Shore Temple.
D. Harsha founded Badami.
Answer: A