After which of the following centuries did the practice of donating land to brahmanas and temples in South India expand significantly?

Introduction / Context:
In South Indian history the practice of making land grants to brahmanas, temples, and religious institutions played an important role in shaping agrarian relations and local administration. Inscriptions from different dynasties record these grants and help historians identify when such practices became widespread. This question asks after which century the custom of donating land in South India grew significantly.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The focus is on South India and on land donation or land grants.
- The trend being asked about is an expansion of this practice after a particular century.
- The options provide different centuries, from the fifth to the tenth.

Concept / Approach:
Historians often note that from about the sixth century onward, especially under early Pallava and other regional powers, land grants to brahmanas and temples became more frequent. Copper plate charters and stone inscriptions document these donations. To choose the right answer, you should recall that the practice existed earlier but expanded greatly after the sixth century in the early medieval period.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that in the early historical period there were occasional land donations, but large scale land grant culture really strengthened in the early medieval period.
Step 2: Note that South Indian inscriptions show a marked growth in brahmadeya villages and temple land grants from around the sixth century onward.
Step 3: Compare this with later centuries like the eighth, ninth, and tenth, when the practice was already established rather than just beginning its long expansion.
Step 4: Therefore the significant take off point after which the practice went a long way is associated with the sixth century.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering that many standard textbooks connect the rise of brahmadeya grants in South India with early Pallava and other ruling houses of roughly the sixth century. Later Chola inscriptions continue and expand the pattern, but the question is about the time when the trend began to grow widely, not when it reached its peak. This supports choosing the sixth century rather than a later date.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is wrong because the fifth century is a little early for the widespread spread of this practice in South India, although some grants did exist.
Option c is wrong as the eighth century is too late to be identified as the starting phase of major expansion; by then the system was already well developed.
Option d is wrong since the ninth century corresponds to a mature stage, especially under the Cholas, not the initial phase of long term growth.
Option e is wrong because the tenth century is far too late to describe the beginning of a long standing practice that had already become common by then.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that the most developed stage must be the starting point and therefore pick a late century like the ninth or tenth. Another mistake is to ignore regional variations and apply North Indian timelines to South India. Carefully linking dynasties, inscriptions, and centuries helps avoid these confusions.

Final Answer:
The practice of donating land in South India went a long way after the Sixth century.