Contribution Of The Pallavas To Art And Architecture

Abstract

In the South old dynasties, the Cheras, the Pandiyas and the Cholas declined and new ones appeared of which the chief was the Pallavas. The Pallava rulers occupy an important place in the school on South Indian temple-building that is famous throughout the world as Dravidian style. The Pallavas patronized learning art and temple building both cave temples and structural temples including monolithic rathas and stone carvings of mythological scenes in Mahabalipuram. The Pallavas who laid the foundation of this style were responsible for two of its forms, the rock – cut and the structural. Pallavas temple constructions were quiet new in their style from that of the temples exist prior to Pallavas. The rivalry between the Pallava and Chalukya rulers was reflected on the architectural level; the existence of two Kailasanatha one at Ellora and other at Kanchi reflects this spirit of emulation. The stone inscription in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram name the Pallava rules, recounting their great deeds but not much light is thrown on their origin. The Pallava rathas were the core of this style and this essential element of the temple complex took root under Pallava patronage in the structures in Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. The vital artistic style of the Pallava period passed into history in a process of absorption that censured the continuity of Tamil cultural tradition. The Pallava contribution in the field of architecture and sculpture was prolific and far-flung from Thirukalukundram in the north to Trichirappalli in the South. It was a contribution made with rock as the basic raw materials, as the transformation of the rocks of Mahabalipuram testify.