Explanation:

Pallavas :

• The Pallavas were one of the greatest dynasties of South India. They played signi fi cant role in the political, social and cultural history of South India.

Origin of the Pallavas :

• There are many views regarding the origin of the Pallavas. B.L. Rice and others identi fi ed the Pallavas with Pahlavas or Parthians. But there is no evidence for the migration of the Parthians into the South. Many others have sought to connect them with Jaffna, identi fi ed with the island of Manipallavam mentioned in the Manimekalai. According to them the Pallavas were descended on one side from the Cholas and on the other from the Naga rulers of the Jaffna.
• K.P.Jayaswal argues that the Pallavas belonged to the Clan of the Vakatakas as both of them belong to same gotra.
• S.K. Aiyangar states that the Pallavas were a family of feudatories of the Satavahanas. This theory has been accepted by many of the historians. He argued that the Pallavas migrated to Tamil Country from the southern parts of Satavahana Empire.
• The Pallavas used Prakrit and Sanskrit, in their inscriptions, patronized Brahmanism and their inscriptions have been found both in Tamil and Andhra region. All the early documents are in Prakrit, and scholars fi nd similarities in paleography and language with the Satavahanas and the Mauryas. Their early coins are said to be similar to those of Satavahanas.