பல்லவர் காலத்தில் நிலவிய சமயங்களின் நிலை: மத்தவிலாசப் பிரஹசனத்தினூடான ஒரு தர்சனம்

The State of Religions During Pallava Period: A Perspective Through Mattavilasa Prahasana

Abstract

Pallava period holds a unique place in the history of Tamil Bhakti literature and the study of Tamil  religions. It is identified as an era where religions arriving from North India merged with indigenous Tamil faiths to create new trends. This period was also marked by conflicts, propagations, and debates between Vedic and Non-Vedic (Sramanic) religions. A pluralistic social environment existed alongside the rule of non-Tamil kings. There was a competition between the mercantile community and the land-owning community; the growth of the land-owning community subsequently led to the rise of Saivism. Through the Bhakti movement, the Nayanmars took Saivism to the masses. During the reign of the Pallava King Mahendravarman I, who ruled Tamil Nadu as a Jain, Thirunavukkarasar converted to Saivism, for which the king inflicted several punishments upon him. However, as Appar remained unaffected by these trials, the king realized his mistake and converted to Saivism himself. The Sanskrit play Mattavilasa Prahasana, written by this multifaceted king, serves as a significant record of that era. This article explores the religions of that period and their practices based on the Kapalika, Jain, Buddhist, and Pasupata perspectives featured in the play