Nolamba Pallavas

Nolamba Pallavas

News: Ancient relics belonging to the Nolamba Pallavas dynasty were unearthed in Cholemarri village, situated 22 km from Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh.

Background:
• ‘Padma Nandi’, the royal symbol of the Nolamba Pallava Kings, may have been the origin of the scepter carried by the Chola kings.

Key Findings:
• Evidence suggests a fierce battle in the 9th century AD between the Nolamba Pallavas and the BhanaVaidambas..
• An inscription of Mahendra Nolambadhi Raja (875-897 AD), ruler of Henjeru (now Hemavati), was found in the fields.
• Hero stones with Telugu inscriptions (writtenin ancient Kannada script) from the Nolamba and Vijayanagara periods were discovered
near Anjaneyaswamy temple.

Who were Nolamba Pallavas?
• The Nolamba Pallavas, also known as the Nolamba dynasty, were a native Kannada dynasty that ruled parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu from 730 AD until 1052 AD1. Their capital was Hemavathi (Henjeru).
• The Nolambas were one of the significant political powers of South India. They fought wars with the Ganga, Bana, Vaidumba, and Chola Kings and established a stable kingdom. The Nolambas were initially adjacent to the Banas and Vaidumbas and were defeated by the Chalukyas, but they soon came under their protection.
• Some of the notable kings and officers of the Nolamba dynasty include Simhapota, a Nolamba chief who was subordinate to the Ganga kings, Mahendra I, Ayyapadeva, Anniga or Annayya with the title BiraNolamba, Dilipa or Iriva Nolamba, Nanni Nolamba, Polalchora II, and Vira Mahendra or Mahendra II.
• The Nolamba Pallavas are also known for their contributions to temple architecture. Some of the temples attributed to the Nolambas include the Kalleshvara Temple in Aralaguppe and Chikkahulikunte, the Nolamba Narayaneshvara temple in Avani, the Siddeshwara Temple in Madhapura, and the Shankara muth in Avani.