Pallavas Administration

1. Pallavas Administration Administrative Division Well Organised system of administration Divided into different units for the convenience of administration Rastras (Mandalam) Vishayas (Kottam) Nadu (Taluk level) Ur (Villege level)

2. Kingship • King – Head of the Central Administration • Kingship was Hereditary. • Legitimate elder son was eligible to succeed the throne. • Monarch had no son means, chance was given to son of the brother of the rulers. • Asummed several title like ‘Maharaja’ ‘Dharmamaharaja’ ‘Maharajadhiraja’

3. Ministry • Group of ministers of council of Ministers called ‘Mandrimandalam’. • Ministers called Amatya • Main minister or prime ministers -Brhahmasriraja. • Vaikundaperumal inscriptions gave information about the existence of a council of minsters of the Pallava government. • Arthasastra mentioned there was 32 members in the council of Ministers. • Persons qualified in manu, vedas and trained in warfare were appointed as ministers.

4. Secretariat • Executive official or Secretariat called Uttamasilan • Divided into two section • 1. Private Secretaries called Karumattalaivar • 2. Under Secretaries called Vayil-kalpar. Judiciary • King – Head of the Justice • He controlled the Courts in the state • Dharmasanam– Civil Court • Adhikaranam – Criminal Court • MathavilasaPrahasanamand Kasakudi inscriptions gives information about the Court of Pallava kingdom.

5. Army • Well trained and highly organised army • Forces : Elephantry, Cavalry and Infantry • No Clear evidence to prove existence of Chariot • Commander in chief of the Army called ‘Senapati’

6. Local Administration • Head of the village – nattar • According to N.Jeyapalan, there were three types of villages or town assemblies existed 1. Ur – all the classes of people2. Sabha – Brahmin only members of this assembly. Brhamins assembly3. Nagaram– Traders and merchants • Members of these assemblies called as ‘perumakkal’

7. Social Condition underPallavas • Adopted the system of Varanasrama Dharma • Strictly followed the brahminical or Hindu traditions and willing to perform yagas like Asvamedha and other Vedic sacrifices. • Kurram and Kasakudi copper plate inscriptions clearly indicated, pallavas seriously practiced the Varna system.

8. Brahmnas Large number of Brahmins migrated into Tamilagam from north India. Minorities in population wise but occupied most of the royal official post and other official posts. Controlledthe social order Large number of Hindu temples constructedand more Brahmins were invited from north India to perform rituals. Andhra Brahmins largely settled in Tamilagam during the age of pallavas.

9. Division among the Brahmins • Division among the Brahmins known as gotras or division • Among the gotrasVaishavas, Saivas and Vedic Brahmins prominent. • Alwars – Vaishnava Brahmin group • Nayanmars – Saivist Brahmin group • Both followed different kinds of worships and rituals.

10. Education of Brahmins • Concentrated more on studies • Began to study Vedas at the age of 7 • They took 10 years to learn Vedas. • Nandivarman copper plate inscription described the name of 108 scholars who specialised in Vedas. • Ghatika was an educational institution, which consisted group of learned Brahmanas. • Centre of Ghatika was Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram. • Other centres of learning were Bahurand Sholingar. These places were called Ghatikasalams. • Bhatta Vrithi, the land grant donated to Brahmins who served as Teachers.

11. People life • People of village deeply involved in Agriculture • Major crops- sugar-cane, food grains, coconuts, flowers etc. • Salt and Oil manufacturing was important industry apart from agriculture. • Large section of people involved in cattle-breeding and pottery making. • Vellalas, Washerman, hunters, shepherd, fishermen, parayas, panas, ilavasand saliyas. • Pulayas and Chandalas were outcastes in the society.

12. Pulayas and Parayas served under Vellalas land as agricultural labours. • So called high caste people considered them as untouchables. • They prohibited them from getting education and govt jobs. • Treated as serfs or slaves. • Ilavas or Shanars were socially backward community. • Toddy Tapping was their main occupation • No evidence of Sati was there in the pallava society

13. Position of Women • Highly respected in the society. • Showed keen interest in religion and temple affairs • Enjoyed rights to own property • No clear source to prove there was a existence of Dowry system and Sati. • Monogamy was existed. But some kings had two wives. • Kings made many matrimonial alliances to gain political advantages. For instance Rashtrakura princess married Nandivarman II. Kadamba princess Akkalamiamathi married Dandivarman. Another Rashtrakuta princess Sanga married Nandivarman III. • Mukteswara temple inscription noticed that there were several dancing girls. They were known as Adikal, Manikattar and Kannigaiyar.

14. Customs • Keeping Memorial for the dead existed. • Archaeological excavations discovered a number of memorial stones that belonged to pallavas. • Pallavas period the customs of forming hero-stone was in practice. • Later it was adopted by Cholas • Custom of maintaining portrait or painting statues in the temple was followed. • Much importance was given to the images of kings and queens in the temples. • habit of constructing of shrines in honour of the dead practiced.