Readings in South Indian History

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These thirtysix articles and research papers of Prof. Mahalingam constitute diverse chapters of the history of peninsular India. Schematically presented, they built up a vast historical perspective highlighting the socio economic and administrative institutions in South India from the times of Pallavas of Kanchipuram to the early 19" century. Prof. Mahalingam, in a sequence of ten articles, traces the political vicissitudes of the Pallava dynasty from glory to decline, and offers an impressive account of the trans-oceanic contacts of the Pallavas during the reign of Rajasimha, and analyses the events that spelled disintegration of the great dynasty. Then, two of the six papers covering Chola dynasty present a fascinating picture of the guild organisations and village communities of South India through the ages. Equally brilliant are Prof. Mahalingam's studies on the Vijayanagara Empire and the history of Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Pudukkottai during the post Vijayanagara period. The few concluding articles offer compelling descriptions of Haider Ali and Nawabs of Carnatic and vividly recreate their conflicts with the East India Company. This collection is the outcome of Prof. Mahalingam's four decades of persevered industry and research work. The conclusions offered in it are both fresh and stimulating and have already inspired further research in several directions.

Born on 15 July 1907 at Theralundur in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, Prof. T.V. Mahalingam was educated at the University of Madras. He won several prizes and distinctions for his meritorious academic performances. Madras University conferred on him the prestigious D.Litt. for his outstanding work on "Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar." He was the Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras from 1956 to 1971. Prof. Mahalingam has lectured at several universities and presided over numerous seminars, and conferences. The Govt. of India, recognising his remarkable contributions to historical studies and research, adorned him with 'Padma Sri' in 1969. Prof. Mahalingam's research work is characterized by both versatility and prolificity. Covering diverse areas in history and allied disciplines, viz., archaeology, art, architecture, epigraphy, numismatics, religion and philosophy, he has published more than a hundred articles and a dozen books.

I take this opportunity to express my grateful thanks to the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies for readily undertaking to publish the "Readings in South Indian History", a collection of my research papers. In the selection, editing and publication of the papers Dr S. P. Gupta of the National Museum, New Delhi, the General Editor and Shri K. S. Ramachandran of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, the Editor, have evinced personal interest. To them I am beholden. Shri Anandasivam, my Assistant working with me in the various projects I have under taken for the Indian Council of Historical Research was of immense help in the preparation of the Introduction. My thanks are due to him. I am grateful to B. R. Publishing Corporation, the publishers and the Classical Printers, the printers, both of Delhi, for the expeditious and neat execution, which they have achieved in a short time.

This volume contains 36 research papers contributed by me to different Journals, Periodicals, Felicitation Volumes or read at Conferences devoted to the study of Indian history during the past four decades. These represent different aspects of the history of south India, commencing from the times of the Early Pallavas of Kanchi puram and ending with the Topdaiman rulers of the erstwhile princely State of Puduk kottai in the beginning of the last century. Of these ten relate to the period of the Pallavas upto the beginning of the tenth century A.D., six to the Chola-Chalukya period; eight to the Vijayanagara period and nine to the post-Vijayanagara period covered by those of the Nayaks of Thanjavur and Madurai, the Nawabs of Carnatic and the Topdaiman Rajas of Pudukkottai. The subjects deal mainly with important historical events and socio-economic and administrative institutions that marked some of the aspects of many of the facets of the history of south India. In the course of this introduction I have tried to indicate further research done by scholars on some of the topics dealt with here and my own recent views on them. 'Early Pallava Genealogy and Chronology' [1] is the outcome of the study of the genealogy and chronology of the early Pallavas of Kanchi prior to the accession of Simhavishnu, father of Mahendravarman I, which is one of the knotty problems in south Indian history and on which different scholars have suggested different pedigrees and chronological schemes. However, fresh discoveries of a few significant inscriptions enabled the present writer to suggest modification of the earlier views regarding the genealogy and chronology of the Pallavas and postulate a new tenable scheme till fresh evidences necessitate change. The copper plate inscriptions of the Early Pallavas of Kanchi, which number sixteen, the Manchikallu stone inscription of Simhavarman I and several contemporary Kadamba and Ganga inscriptions are the main sources of infor mation to reconstruct the pedigree and chronology of the early rulers of the Pallava family. The date of the extinction of the Iakshvaku power in the lower Deccan as suggested by D.C. Sircar, the date of the Dakshinapatha expedition of Samudragupta, some synchronisms provided by the early Kadamba and Ganga inscriptions, the date of acces sion of Simhavarman II as furnished by the Jain work Lokavibhaga, the synchronism offered by Dandin's Avantisundarikathäsära, the information supplied by the recently discovered Indrapalanagara Copper Plates of Vishnukundin king Vikramendrabhatt rakavarman II are some of the landmarks which have been utilised to reconstruct the chronology of the early Pallavas of Kanchi prior to the accession of Simhavishnu.

**Contents and Sample Pages**