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| Education, Literature, and the Arts Under the Pallavas |
Education, Literature, and the Arts Under the Pallavas
The Pallavas were ardent patrons of learning, and their capital, Kanchi, was a renowned center of education. The Ghatika, a prestigious institution in Kanchi, attracted students from across India and beyond. Notable figures like Mayurasarman, the founder of the Kadamba dynasty, Dinganaga, a Buddhist writer, and Dharmapala, who later headed the Nalanda University, studied at Kanchi.
Sanskrit literature flourished during the Pallava period. Bharavi, a celebrated Sanskrit scholar, lived during the time of Simhavishnu. Dandin, another prominent Sanskrit writer, adorned the court of Narasimhavarman II. Additionally, Mahendravarman I authored the Sanskrit play Mattavilasaprahasanam.
Tamil literature also witnessed significant growth. The Saiva Nayanmars and Vaishnava Alvars, renowned for their religious hymns, composed works that enriched Tamil literature. The Devaram, composed by the Nayanmars, and the Nalayiradivyaprabandam, composed by the Alvars, are considered masterpieces of Tamil religious literature.
Perundevanar, a Tamil poet patronized by Nandivarman II, translated the Mahabharata into Tamil as Bharathavenba. Another important Tamil work from this period is Nandikkalambagam, although the author remains unknown.
Music and dance also flourished during the Pallava era. The Pallavas supported these arts, and their courts were likely centers of musical and dance performances.
