Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Chronology xxix J

the sect has left a permanent mark on many

Hindu schools. The Samhita of Sandilya and his

followers embody the chief doctrines of pres-

ent-day Vaishnavites.

c. 200

¶ Hindu kingdoms are established in Cambodia

and Malaysia.

c. 250

¶ Pallava dynasty (c. 250–885) is established in

Tamil Nadu. They erect the Kamakshi temple

complex at the capital of Kanchipuram and

the great seventh-century stone monuments at

Mahabalipuram.

320

¶ Imperial Gupta dynasty (320–540) emerges.

During this “Classical Age” norms of literature,

art, architecture, and philosophy are estab-

lished. This North Indian empire promotes

both Vaishnavism and Saivism and, at its

height, rules or receives tribute from nearly

all India. Buddhism also thrives under tolerant

Gupta rule.

c. 380

¶ Birth of Kalidasa (380–460), the great Sanskrit

poet and dramatist, author of Shakuntala and

Meghaduta

c. 400

¶ Vatsyayana writes Kama Sutra, the famous text

on erotics.

¶ Death of Karaikkalammaiyar, a woman, first of

the 63 Shaivite saints of Tamil Nadu.

c. 500

¶ Sectarian folk traditions are revised, elabo-

rated, and recorded in the puranas, Hindu-

ism’s encyclopedic compendium of culture and

mythology.

c. 570

¶ Birth of Shaivite saint Appar (c. 570–670).

¶ Birth of Shaivite saint Sambanthar (c. 570–670).

c. 600–900

¶ Twelve Vaishnava Alvar saints of Tamil Nadu

flourish, writing 4,000 songs and poems praising

Vishnu and narrating the stories of his avatars.

c. 700

¶ Over the next hundred years the small Indo-

nesian island of Bali receives Hinduism from

neighboring Java.

¶ Stone-carving and sculptural works completed

at Mahabalipuram.

c. 710

¶ Death of Bhavabhuti, Sanskrit dramatist, second

only to Kalidasa.

712

¶ Muslims conquer Sind region (Pakistan).

c. 750

¶ Rashtrakuta dynasty carves Kailasanatha Temple

out of a rock hill at Ellora.

788

¶ Shankara (788–820) is born in Malabar. The

famous monk-philosopher establishes 10 tradi-

tional monastic orders.

c. 800

¶ Birth of Vasugupta, modern founder of Kashmiri

Shaivism, a monistic, meditative school.

¶ Birth of Andal, girl saint of Tamil Nadu. Writes

devotional poetry to Lord Krishna, disappears

at age 16.

c. 825

¶ Birth of Tamil Shaivite saint Sundarar.

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