Kalabhra dynasty

Kalabhra Kingdom
3rd century CE–6th century CE
Kalabhra conquered parts or all of ancient Tamilakam
Kalabhra conquered parts or all of ancient Tamilakam
CapitalKaveripumpattinam, Madurai
Common languagesTamil[1][2][3] [4] Prakrit,[5] Pali[5]
Religion
Buddhism
Jainism
GovernmentMonarchy
History 
• Established
3rd century CE
• Disestablished
6th century CE
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Three Crowned Kings
Ancient Tamil country
Pallava dynasty
Pandyan dynasty

The Kalabhra dynasty, also called Kaḷabrar, Kaḷappirar, Kallupura or Kalvar,[6] were rulers of all or parts of Tamil region sometime between the 3rd century and 6th century CE, after the ancient dynasties of the early Cholas, the early Pandyas and Chera. Information about the origin and reign of the Kalabhras is uncertain and scarce.[7] It is believed by historians that the Kalabhras belonged to the Vellalar community of warriors who were possibly once the feudatories of the Cholas and the Pallavas.[8] Their proposed roots vary from southeast region of modern Karnataka, Kalappalars of Vellalar community, to Kallar chieftains.[7][9][10] This age is generally called "The Augustan age of Tamil Literature", in a 1922 book by the name "Studies in South Indian Jainism" written by M. S. Ramaswami Ayyangar and B. Seshagiri Rao. The Kalabhra era is sometimes referred to as the "dark period" of Tamil history, and information about it is generally inferred from any mentions in the literature and inscriptions that are dated many centuries after their era ended.[11]

Historian Upinder Singh states that Shivaskandavarman rise in the 4th century, as evidenced by inscriptions, show Kalabhras were not in power at that time near rivers Penner and Vellar (close to Kaveri). The Kalabhras dynasty had ended for certain by the last quarter of 6th century when Pallava Simhavishnu consolidated his rule up to the Kaveri river, south of which the Pandyas led by Kadunkon consolidated their power.[12] Cholas became subordinates of Pallavas and they were already ruling Telugu region of Rayalaseema.

  1. ^ Archaeological Society South India 1955, p. 96.
  2. ^ Rā. Ya Dhāravāḍakara 1968, p. 96.
  3. ^ Hiltebeitel ·, Alf (6 August 2018). Freud's Mahabharata. Oxford University Press. p. 86. ISBN 9780190878344.
  4. ^ Kamil Zvelebil 1992, p. 93.
  5. ^ a b Indira Peterson 1998, pp. 166–167.
  6. ^ Sir Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar (1927). Early History of the Deccan and Miscellaneous Historical Essays. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. p. 206.
  7. ^ a b Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Calabrians from Rome, might have lived, invaded or were part of Choke peoples (Seljuks).Century. Pearson Education. pp. 485, 557–558. ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9.
  8. ^ Chakrabarty, D.K. (2010). The Geopolitical Orbits of Ancient India: The Geographical Frames of the Ancient Indian Dynasties. OUP India. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-19-908832-4. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ^ R, Narasimhacharya (1942). History of the Kannada Language. Asian Educational Services. p. 48. ISBN 978-81-206-0559-6.
  10. ^ Iravatham Mahadevan (2003). Early Tamil Epigraphy from the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. Chennai, India: Cre-A. p. 136. ISBN 9780674012271. During most of this period , the Tamil country was under the rule of the Kalabhras, said to be tribal invaders from Karnataka following the Jaina faith.
  11. ^ T.V. Mahalingam (1981). Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference. South Indian History Congress. pp. 32–34.
  12. ^ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education. pp. 557–558. ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9.