The Pallavas

This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most books will have gone through the editing process however some may not. We therefore suggest that you be aware of this before ordering this book. If in doubt check either the author or publisher’s details as we are unable to accept any returns unless they are faulty. Please contact us if you have any questions.

The word 'pallava' means in Sanskrit a sprout, and the dynasty with which we are concerned claims to be so called, because the progenitor, who is said have been the son of the Mahabharata hero Asvatthaman by a celestial nymph, was laid on a litter of sprouts soon after he was born. This is the derivation furnished by two inscriptions, where the name, instead of being applied to the tribe, is given to the first king. In the Mahabharata, as well as in the Puranas, the name is applied to the tribe and not to an individual.