Origin of Dynasty:

• The origin of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery. There are several theories propounded by historians.

-The Pallavas were a branch of the Pahleves of Parthians is the opinion of some scholars, like father Heras; but there is no positive evidence for the Phalava migration into the south.

-Pallavas were an indigenous dynasty which rose to power after the dismemberment of the Andhra empire, is another thesis.

-The third is that the Pallava dynasty emerged and owed its origin to a Chola prince and the Naga princess of Manipallavam an is land near Ceylon. According to this theory, the son born out of the wedlock was made the king of Tondaimandalam by his father, and the dynasty was so named after his mother's home land.

• The first Pallava kings ruled during the beginning of the 4th century AD. By the 7th century AD, there were three kingdoms in southern India vying for supremacy namely the Chalukyas of Badami, the Pandyas of Madurai and the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.
• The Pallava capital was Kanchipuram.
• Their territories at the height of their powers extended from northern part of Andhra Pradesh to River Kaveri in the South.
• During the seventh century, the Cholas were reduced to a marginal state by the authority of the Pallavas.
• Vatapi (Badami) was occupied by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman who defeated the Chalukyas.

Society and Culture

• The Pallava society was based on Aryan culture.
• Brahmins were greatly patronised by the kings and they received land and villages. This was called Brahmadeya. The Brahmin status greatly enhanced during this reign. The caste system became rigid.
• The Pallava kings were orthodox Hindus and worshipped Shiva and Vishnu. They were tolerant of Buddhism and Jainism too although both these faiths lost their relevance and popularity.
• Kanchipuram was a great centre of learning. The University of Kanchi played a great part in the propagation of Aryan culture in the South. It can be said that the aryanisation of southern India was completed during the Pallava reign.
• In general, the vedic tradition was super imposed on the local traditions, As brahmins were custodians of Vedic tradition, they automaticalldy enjoyed privillages. 
• The Vaishnava and Saiva literature flourished during this period.
• Sanskrit was the chief language among the royals and the scholars
• Regarding education, in the early days, education was imparted by Jains and Buddhists. The Jaina institutions were located at Madurai and Kanchi. Soon brahminical institutions superseded them. Ghatkias or Hindu colleges were attached to the temples. 

Architecture

-The Pallava architecture shows the transition from the rock cut temples to the stone built temples.  The earliest examples of the Pallava art are the rock cut temples of the 7th century AD, while the later examples are of structural temples built in 8th and 9th century.

-The Dravidian style of temple architecture began with the Pallava rule.

-Mahendravarman was a pioneer in rock-cut architecture. Mandagapattu rock-cut temple was the first rock-cut temple built by him.

Administration

-The kings adopted high-sounding titles like maharajadhiraja, dharma-maharjadhiraja , They were assisted by ministers. History shows that the ministerial council played a great part in the state policy in the later period.

-A hierarchy of officials was there  in provincial administration, the governor of a province was assisted by district officers, who in turn worked in collaboration with automous local bodies.

- The judicial courts of the town and districts were presided over by government officials, climaxing with the king as the supreme arbiter of justice.

-Finally, the head man of the villages was the link between the village assembly and the official administration.