The Pallavas ruled south-eastern India from the 3rd through the 9th centuries CE. Their empire covered what is today the Tamil Nadu state. Their origin is shrouded in mystery though historians believe their roots might have been from Andhra Pradesh state, north of Tamil Nadu. The Pallava's own sculptural history at Vaikuntaperumal temple depicts their ancestral roots to the Gods Vishnu and Brahma. The Pallavas were a progressive lot, built broad roads, promoted the arts, and they constructed solid and lasting temples using sandstone and granite. Unlike the brick and clay temples of their past, using such durable building materials laid the platform for the artisans to express themselves through paintings and sculptures.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1336/on-the-pallava-trail-in-kanchipuram/.
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