The rulers of this dynasty ruled over the modern districts of Arcot, Madras, Trichnapalli and Tanjore. In rock edicts the name of the first Pallava king is mentioned Vishnugopa of Kanchi. In Pallavas Singhvishnu ascended the throne of later half of the 6th century A.D. After that up to the two centuries Pallavas ruled. The names of the main Pallava kings – Mahendra Verma I (Approx 600 – 25 A.D.), Narsingh Verma I, Mahendra Verma II, Parmeshwar Verma, Narsingh Verma II, Parmeshwar Verma II, Nandi Verma, Nandi Verma II and Aparajta. The Mahendra Verma was a great architect and builder. He built many temples by carving stones. Mahendra Verma I wrote a play named ‘Matta Vilas Prashasan’. He also dug a pond named Mahendra,
He was defeated by Chalukya king Pulakeshin II in 610 A.D. The successor and son of Mahendra Narsingh Verma (Mahamalla) defeated Pulakeshin II in 642 A.D. and took control over his capital Vatapi, but Chalukyas took revenge of this defeat in 655 A.D., Chalukya king Vikramaditya I defeated Parmeshwar Verma Pallava king and took control over his capital, Kanchi. Former Pallava kings established the Mammalpuram or Mahabalipuram Nagar and built five Ratha temple there. Here idols are engraved by carving rocks. Pallava kings also built temples in Kanchi. Among Pallava rulers some were devotees of Vishnu and some of Shiva.
