The Pallava dynasty, which flourished in South India between the fourth and ninth centuries CE, played a formative role in shaping the region’s architectural, artistic, and intellectual heritage. The rock cut monuments and structural temples of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram represent not merely remarkable achievements in engineering and craftsmanship, but also the material expression of a sophisticated knowledge system rooted in Vaastu Shastra, Shilpa Shastra, Agamic traditions, and cosmological thought. This paper examines Pallava temple architecture through the framework of the Indian Knowledge System IKS , focusing on the relationship between spatial orientation, sacred geometry, iconography, sculpture, ritual practice, and metaphysical concepts. It argues that Pallava temples were conceived as integrated sacred environments in which architecture, mathematics, aesthetics, theology, and ritual were closely interconnected. The study employs historical and textual analysis, interpretation of architectural and religious traditions, and a comparative examination of selected Pallava monuments to identify the indigenous principles that informed their design and construction. The findings reveal that Pallava architectural practice was not an isolated artistic development but the continuation and creative refinement of established Indian traditions of sacred space and knowledge. The architectural innovations of the Pallavas subsequently provided an important foundation for the temple building traditions of the Cholas and Vijayanagara period, particularly in the development of temple forms, sculptural programmes, spatial organisation, and ritual architecture. The study further situates Pallava architectural and cultural influence within the wider historical landscape of South India and its interactions across the Bay of Bengal, including connections with Sri Lanka. By bringing together architecture, history, art, and indigenous knowledge, the paper demonstrates that Pallava temples should be understood as enduring repositories of India’s intellectual, spiritual, and artistic heritage. Pallava Architecture, Indian Knowledge System, Vaastu Shastra, Shilpa Shastra, Temple Iconography. 1-11 Issue-5 Volume-10 Shivangi Mukherjee | Dr. Neeraj Goel