Sangam Age and South Indian Dynasties: Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas, Pallavas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas for SSC Exams

South Indian history, from the Sangam age to the great Chola empire, is a regular source of questions in SSC history. The questions are about the rulers, capitals, temples and literature. This guide on Sangam age and South Indian dynasties for SSC covers the Sangam literature, the three early kingdoms, the Pallavas, the Chalukyas of Badami, the Rashtrakutas and the Imperial Cholas, with tables, tricks and practice questions.

Sangam Age (about 300 BCE to 300 CE)

The Sangam age is named after the Sangams (assemblies of poets) held at Madurai under the patronage of the Pandya kings. The poems describe the life, trade and war of the early Tamil kingdoms.

Three Early Kingdoms

Pallavas (about 550 to 900 CE)

• Capital: Kanchipuram; founder: Simhavishnu (about 575 CE).
• Mahendravarman I was a patron of art and a playwright (Mattavilasa Prahasana); he built rock-cut temples.
• Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) defeated the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II and built the monolithic rathas of Mahabalipuram.
• Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram and the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram.
• Pallava architecture moved from rock-cut (Mahendra style) to monolithic rathas (Mamalla style) to structural temples (Rajasimha style).
• Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chalukyas of Badami (543 to 753 CE)

• Founder: Pulakeshin I; capital: Vatapi (Badami) in Karnataka.
• Pulakeshin II (610–642) defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada, as recorded in the Aihole inscription composed by his court poet Ravikirti.
• He was defeated by the Pallava Narasimhavarman I, who captured Vatapi in 642.
• Temples at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal (UNESCO site); the Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited his kingdom.

Rashtrakutas (753 to 982 CE)

• Founder: Dantidurga, who overthrew the Chalukyas; capital: Manyakheta (Malkhed).
• Krishna I built the monolithic Kailasa temple at Ellora.
• Amoghavarsha I wrote the first Kannada work on poetics, Kavirajamarga, and was a Jain by faith.
• Rashtrakutas fought for control of Kannauj in the Tripartite Struggle with the Palas and the Pratiharas.
• The Arab traveller Sulaiman called the Rashtrakutas one of the four great empires of the world.

Imperial Cholas (848 to 1279 CE)

• The Chola administration had provinces called mandalams, divided into valanadus and nadus, with villages as the lowest unit.
• The Uttaramerur inscriptions (Parantaka I) describe the village self-government by elected committees (sabha) with election by lot (kudavolai).
• Chola temples (Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram) form the “Great Living Chola Temples”, a UNESCO site.
• Chola bronzes, especially the Nataraja, are famous.
• Land revenue was the main source of income.

Other Southern Dynasties

Tricks to Remember

• Cheras: Bow; Cholas: Tiger; Pandyas: Fish (C-B, C-T, P-F).
• Pulakeshin II beat Harsha (Aihole inscription) and was beaten by Narasimhavarman I of the Pallavas.
• Mahabalipuram: Pallavas; Ellora Kailasa: Rashtrakutas; Thanjavur: Cholas; Pattadakal: Chalukyas.
• Rajaraja I built the Brihadeeswara temple in 1010; Rajendra I built Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

Quick Tips

• Match each dynasty with its capital and temple.
• Remember the emblems of the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.
• Learn the Chalukya–Pallava rivalry.
• Remember the Uttaramerur inscription for village government.

Quick Revision Points

• Sangam literature: Tolkappiyam, Silappatikaram and Manimekalai.
• Pallava capital: Kanchipuram; Chalukya capital: Badami; Rashtrakuta capital: Manyakheta.
• Rajaraja I built the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur.
• Kailasa temple at Ellora was built by the Rashtrakutas.
• Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who wrote the Silappatikaram?
   Answer: Ilango Adigal
2. What was the emblem of the Cholas?
   Answer: Tiger
3. Who built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram?
   Answer: Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)
4. Who defeated Harshavardhana on the Narmada?
   Answer: Pulakeshin II
5. Who built the Kailasa temple at Ellora?
   Answer: Krishna I (Rashtrakuta)
6. Who built the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur?
   Answer: Rajaraja I
7. What was the capital of the Rashtrakutas?
   Answer: Manyakheta
8. Which inscription describes village government under the Cholas?
   Answer: Uttaramerur inscription
9. Who composed the Aihole inscription?
   Answer: Ravikirti
10. What were the provinces of the Cholas called?
    Answer: Mandalams

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Indian History notes page and the next topic Bhakti and Sufi Movements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Sangam age?

The early period of Tamil history (about 300 BCE to 300 CE) known for the Sangam literature.

Which are the three early kingdoms of South India?

The Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.

Who built the Mahabalipuram rathas?

The Pallavas, mainly Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla).

Who was Pulakeshin II?

The greatest Chalukya ruler of Badami, who defeated Harshavardhana.

Who founded the Rashtrakuta dynasty?

Dantidurga.

Which Chola ruler built the Brihadeeswara temple?

Rajaraja I.

Who built Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Rajendra I.

Which Chola ruler conquered Srivijaya?

Rajendra I, in 1025.

What is the Uttaramerur inscription?

A Chola inscription describing the village assembly and its elections.

What is the capital of the Pandyas?

Madurai.

Is this topic asked in SSC?

Yes. South Indian dynasties are asked in SSC history questions every year.

Which Tamil work is called the Tamil Veda?

The Tirukkural by Tiruvalluvar.