Kalabhras

Kalabhra Empire
250–600
Kalabhra territories
Capital		Kaveripumpattinam, Madurai
Languages		Prakrit, Tamil
Religion		Buddhism Hinduism Jainism
Government		Monarchy
Maharaja
•	5th century	Achyutavikranta
		Tiraiyan of Pavattiri
		Pulli of Vengadam Tirupati
Historical era		Classical India
•	3rd century	c. 250
•	7th century	c. 600
Preceded by Succeeded by Ancient Tamil country Pallava dynasty Pandyan dynasty
Today part of		India

The Kalabhra dynasty (Kalappirar in Tamil) ruled over the entire ancient Tamil country between the 3rd and the 7th century in an era of Tamil history called the Kalabhra interregnum. The Kalabhras, possibly Jain, displaced the kingdoms of the early Cholas, early Pandyas and Chera dynasties by a revolt. The Kalabhras put an end to the Brahmadeya rights granted to the Brahmans in numerous villages across southern India.

Information about the origin and reign of the Kalabhras is scarce. They left neither artefacts nor monuments, and the only sources of information are scattered mentions in Sangam, Buddhist and Jain literature. The Kalabhras were defeated by the joint efforts of the Pallavas, Pandyas and Chalukyas of Badami.

The origin and identity of the Kalabhras is uncertain. They are generally believed to have been hill tribes that rose out of obscurity to become a power in South India. Their kings were likely followers of Buddhism and Jainism. Some of their coins feature images such as a seated Jain monk, the Buddhist Bodhisattva Manjushri, or the Swastika symbol, with Prakrit inscriptions in Brahmi script on the other side. Later specimens dating towards the 6th century employ both Prakrit and Tamil in their inscriptions and feature images of Hindu gods and goddesses.

A number of theories have been advanced for the identity of the Kalabhras. T. A. Gopinath Rao equates them with the Muttaraiyars, and Kallars and an inscription in the Vaikunta Perumal temple at Kanchi mentions a Muttaraiyar named as Kalavara-Kalvan. The word Kalabhra might possibly be a Sanskrit derivation of the Tamil Kalvan. M. Raghava Iyengar, on the other hand, identifies the Kalabhras with the Vellala Kalappalars. The c. 770 Velvikudi plates of the Pandyan king Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan mention the Kalabhras and R. Narasimhacharya and V. Venkayya believe them to have been Karnatas. K. R. Venkatarama Iyer suggests that the Kalabhras might have settled in the Bangalore-Chittoor region early in the 5th century.