Kalabhra dynasty
 | This article does not have any sources. (July 2018) |
 Possible extent of Kalabhra rule c. 400 C.E. | |
| Official languages | [Tamil] |
| Capitals | Unknown ?Kaveripoompattinam |
| Government | Monarchy |
| Preceding state | Chola, Pandya, Chera, Satavahana |
| Succeeding states | Pandya, Pallava, Chalukya |
The Kalabhra dynasty ruled over entire Tamil country in South Indian between the 3rd and the 6th century C.E..
They won over the ancient Chola, Pandya and Chera dynasties and replaced them. There is little information about their origin and details about their reign. They did not leave any monuments. The only source of information on them are to be found in Buddhist and Jain literature. They were displaced around the 7th century by the revival of Pallava and Pandya power.
Hindu scholars and authors who wrote in the 7th and 8th century C.E. when Pandya and Pallava had taken over again have written very little about the Kalabhra in their texts. Perhaps therefore the period of their rule is known as a ‘Dark Age’ – an interregnum.