Pallava Grants
Pallava Grants are a collection of copper plate inscriptions recording land grants by the Pallava dynasty of Kanchipuram.
Overview
The Pallava Grants are a significant corpus of copper plate inscriptions from the Pallava dynasty (c. 275–897 CE), recording royal land grants and administrative orders. They are crucial for understanding Pallava history, administration, and the development of South Indian society.
Historical Context
The Pallava dynasty ruled from Kanchipuram (modern Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu) and were major patrons of art, architecture, and learning. The copper plate grants date from the 4th to 9th centuries CE and record grants of land to Brahmins, temples, and Buddhist and Jain monasteries. They provide detailed information about Pallava administration, titles, and territorial divisions.
Features/Significance
The grants are inscribed in Sanskrit and Tamil using the Grantha and Tamil scripts. They record the names of Pallava kings, their titles, the extent of the grants, and the administrative framework. Notable grants include those of Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla), and Nandi Varman II. The grants are important for the study of early South Indian epigraphy, political history, and the transition from Sanskrit to Tamil as an administrative language.
Modern Status
The Pallava grants are housed in various museums and collections, including the Government Museum (Chennai), the National Museum (New Delhi), and the Asiatic Society (Mumbai). They are published in the South Indian Inscriptions series of the ASI.
Verification Notes
- Pallava dynasty copper plate grants, 4th–9th c. CE.
- Inscribed in Sanskrit and Tamil (Grantha and Tamil scripts).
- Major grants: Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I, Nandi Varman II.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).