At its peak the Pallava empire stretched over most of south India, bounded by the Pandyas on the south and the Chalukyas on the north. The Pallava dynasty was a time of significant religious change in South India--in particular, the growth of the Bhakti movement. Both the Alvars and the Nayanmars were active during this time, and there are reports of Pallava kings converting from Jainism to Shaivism, leading to the decline of the Jain community in South India. Under the Pallavas, maritime trade with Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia flourished, as did music, painting, literature, and architecture. Structural stone temples replaced rock buildings, the most impressive example being the sculptured Shore Temple at the seaport of Mahabalipuram, dedicated to the god Shiva. The Pallavas engaged in constant warfare with the Chalukyas of Badami and were finally eclipsed by the Chola kings in the 8th century.
Classification of Pallava dynasty as "Early", "Middle" and "Later" is based on the language used in their copper and stone engravings. Early Pallavas used Pragriti, middle Pallavas used Sanskrit, and later Pallavas used Tamil in their engravings.
This paper reveals the ancient Pallava Dynasty of Dravidia to be of the Iranic race, and as constituting a branch of the Pahlavas, Parthavas or Parthians of Persia.
Pallava administration was based on the Maurya pattern, which was in turn based on that of the Achaemenid Empire.
The Pallavas are believed to be identical with the Kurumbas, of whom the Kurumbar of the Tamil country and the Kurubas of the Kanarese districts and of the Mysore State may be taken as the living representatives.
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