Ponniyin Selvan Varalaatru Peravai

A brief study on the Pallava (Pallavar) period of rule in Tamil Nadu

(1) The Andhra-Pallavas captures Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu

With the fall of the Sathavaahana empire of Maharashtra encompassing the
present Maharashtra and whole of Andhra Pradesh in the year A.D.250,
the Andhra-Pallava dynasty who ruled their own kingdom in the present
Bellary region of Andhra Pradesh became independent. During the period
of the king Sivaskandhavarman (A.D.340-355) of the Andhra-Pallava
dynasty their territorial region extended up to Kanchipuram in north
Tamil Nadu. He and his son Vishnugopa (A.D.345-355) during their rule
have issued copper-plate grants on the gifts they have made to Vedic
Priests during their visits to Kanchipuram from their capital city at
Bellary region.

The decline of Sathavaahana empire gradually paved way to the rise of
the Gupta empire in North India. During this period the king
Samudragupta (A.D.335-380) captured many regions of North India and also
sent forces to capture the regions of the present Andhra Pradesh. These
forces defeated the king Vishnu Gupta the last Andhra-Pallava of the
present Bellary region, and the Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu under their
fold, in the year A.D.355.

"...........the Mahārājādhirāja, the glorious
Samudragupta..........Whose great good fortune was mixed with, so as to
be increased by (his) glory produced by the favour shewn in capturing
and then liberating Mahendra of Kosala, Vyāghraraja of
Mahākantāra, Mantarāja of Kurūḷa, Mahendra of
Pishtapura, Svāmidatta of Kottura on the hill, Damana of
Erandapalla, Vishnugopa of Kānchi, Nīlarāja of Avamukta,
Hastivarman of Vengā, Ugrasena of Palakka, Kubera of
Devarāshtra, Dhananjaya of Kusthalapura, and all the other kings of
the region of the south......"

Allahabad Stone Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta
Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. John
F. Fleet Vol. III. Calcutta - 1888, 10-17

This could be the possible reason as to why only the Pallava kings -
Sivaskandavarman and Vishnugopa have specifically mentioned in their
copper-plate grants as "issued from Kanchipuram", while all other
successive Pallava kings ruling from the Bellary region of Andhra
Pradesh have not mentioned in their copper-plate grants as issed from
Kanchipuram.

It appears with the defeat of Vishnu Gopa the region of Kanchipuram was
given to it's traditional rulers the Tamil Thiraiyar kings (of Naga
Vamsam) of Thondai Mandalam in north Tamil Nadu probably under a treaty.

The chronology of the Andhra-Pallava kings of Bellary region of Andhra
Pradesh is as follows:

(1) Skandavarman
(2) Vijaya Viravarman
(3) Vijaya Skandavarman - {Sivaskandavarman} - (A.D.340-355) - king of
the Pallava kingdom at Bellary region in Andhra, and viceroy of
Samudragupta at Kanchipuram.
(4) Vijaya Simhavarman
(5) Vishnu Gopa - 1 {Yuvamaharaja Vishnu Gopa} - (A.D.345-355) - king of
the Pallava kingdom at Bellary region in Andhra, and viceroy of
Samudragupta at Kanchipuram.
(6) Simhavarman
(7) Asokavarman
(8) Kaalaparththaa Pallava
(9) Simhavarman {Suutha Pallava}

Evidence for above:

The names of the Pallava kings and their sequence are as per
Ongodu Copper Plates, Vilavetti Copper Plates - No 19, Pallankoil
Copper Plates & Velurppalayam Copper Plates - No 11, Thirty Pallava
Copper Plates - Published by The Tamil Varalatru Kalakam, Chennai.

(2) Tamil Nadu-Pallava kings who ruled from Kanchipuram

With the weakening of the Gupta Empire over a period of time the Pallava
kings of Bellary region extended their kingdom in the Andhra Pradesh
and turned their attention also towards the south. A much later Pallava
king of Bellary region named Vira Koorchchan waged war with the Tamil
Thiraiyar kings (Naga Vamsam) of Thondai Mandalam captured part of his
kingdom with all regalia, and also married the Naga Princess the
daughter of Thiraiyan. They were blessed with the son Skanda Shishayan.
He possibly with his mother having the Tamil blood was the first Pallava
king who issued copper-plate grants both in Sanskrit and Tamil.

Evidence for above:

Velurppalayam Copper Plates - No 11, & Royakottai Copper Plates No 5 -
Thirty Pallava Copper Plates - Published by The Tamil Varalatru
Kalakam, Chennai.

Note:

Thondaimandalam region north of Chola country with the Kanchipuram as
their captal long before the Tamil Nadu Pallava kings made it as the
capital of their Pallava kingdom. The Sangam period Tamil Literary work
the Perumpaanaattruppadai bears testimony to same, which was composed on
the glory of the king Thondaimaan Ilan-Thiraiyan who ruled from
Kanchipuram of Thondaimandalam.

Skanda Shishayan was blesssed with the son named Buddhavarman who too
tried to capture the remaining regions of the Thondaimandalam still
under the rule of the Thiraiyar kings (including Kanchipuram).
Buddhavarman was blessed with a son named Kumara Vishnu. He was the
first Pallava king who waged war with the king of Thondaimandalam and
captured the region of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. He made Kanchipuram
as the "new capital city" of Pallavas, with their permanent shift from
the Bellary region in Andhra Pradesh.

Note:

There are no referencess in any Inscriptions or Historical Records that
Thondaimandalam and it's capital Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu of the
Thiraiyar Dynasty came under the sway of Kalabhras when they invaded
Tamil Nadu much earlier before the Pallavas, possibly these two
dynasties had very good relationship among themselves, which prevented
the Kalabhras bringing Thondaimandalam and Kanchipuram under their
control and continued to be ruled by the traditional kings of this
region the Thiraiyar dynasty. Earlier the Kalabhras (Kalappirar) also
known as the 'Vadukak Karunaader' (Vaduka=Andhra) were a dynasty tracing
their origin from Andhra country and ruling from the Kolar region of
Karnataka around Nandhi hills also known as the Kalabhra hills,.

The next Pallava king who succeeded at Kanchipuram was Buddhavarman,
remained a threat to the ocean like forces of Kalabhras (Kalappirar) of
the Chola country in the south of their reigion the Kanchipuram. They
were followed by the Pallava kings Vishnugopa -2, Nanthivarman and
Simhavarman at Kanchipuram.

After Simhavarman his son Simha Vishnu accended the Pallava throne, and
was the first Pallava king who waged war with Kalabhras some time after
the year A.D.550, and brought the Chola country which was under the
sway of the Kalabhras during this period into the Pallava fold. This
war paved way to the growing strength of the Pallavas in the north and
central Tamil Nadu of that period, and gradual weakening of the
Kalabhras in this region.

The Pallava king Simha Vishnu's authority being up to the northern
borders of Pandiya Nadu, apparently heard about "Jain Achariya Vajira
Nandi" who formed the Nandi Sangam at a centre called "Sri
Varthamaanesvara Dharma Theerththam" in Paandiya Nadu. He granted a
village named "Srana-achramam" possibly on the borderline of south Chola
region to the Nandi Sangam.

Evidence for above:

Pallankoil Copper Plates - No 11, Thirty Pallava Copper Plates -
Published by The Tamil Varalatru Kalakam, Chennai.

(1) Vira Koorchchan - who captured the northern region of Thondai
Mandalam complete with the royal regalia, and married the Tamil Naga
Princess of the Thirayar dynasty of Thondaimandalam of Tamil Nadu.
(2) Skandashishayan {Vijaya Skandavarman} (A.D.----506) - Son of (1)
(3) Kumara Vishnu {Vijaya Simhavarman} - 2 (A.D.506-516) - Son of (2)
who captured the southern region of Thondai Mandalam from the Thiraiyar
Kumara Vishnu the captured Kanchipuram became the 'permanent capital
city of Pallavas' for many years.
(4) Buddhavarman (A.D.516-520) - Son of (3) - who became a continuos
threat from north to the Cholas.
(5) Vishnugopa - 2 {Kumara Vishnu} (A.D.520-530)
(6) Nanthivarman - 1 (A.D.530-537) - who stamped the revolts of the
Thiraiyar king under captive.
(7) Simhavarman - (A.D.537-550)
(8) Simha Vishnu - {Avani Simhan} (A.D.550-580) - Son of (7) - who
captured the Chola country and brought it under the control of the
Pallava dynasty.

Evidence for above:

The names of the Pallava kings and their sequence are as per
Velurppalayam Copper Plates - No 11 & Sendalur Copper Plates - No 20
Thirty Pallava Copper Plates - Published by The Tamil Varalatru Kalakam,
Chennai.

(9) Mahendravarman - 1 (A.D.580-629) - Son of (8)
(10) Narasimhavarman - I {Maamallan} (A.D.629–668) - Son of (9) -
During his period the Pallava Seaport city was named as Maamallapuram
(present Mahabalipuram).
(11) Mahendravarman - 2 (A.D.668-670) - Son of (10)
(12) Paramesvaravarman - I (A.D.670-690) - Son of (11)
(13) Narasimhavarman II {Rajasimhan} - Kalarsigha Naayanaar(A.D.690-705)
- Son of (11) - He Built the famous Kailasanathar temple at Kanchipuram.
(14) Paramesvaravarman II (A.D.705-710) - Son of (12)

Evidence for above:

The names of the Pallava kings and their sequence are as per
Kuram Copper Plates - No 2, Thirty Pallava Copper Plates - Published by
The Tamil Varalatru Kalakam, Chennai.

(8A) Name not known - Brother of Simha Vishnu (8)
(9A) Name not known - Son of the Brother of Simha Vishnu (8) - Name not
known and never ruled any part of Pallava kingdom.
(10A) Bhimavarman - Grand Son of the Brother of Simha Vishnu (8) - Never
ruled any part of Pallava kingdom.
(11A) Buddhavarman
(12A) Athithiyavarman
(13A) Govindavarman
(14A) Hiraniyavarman
(15) Nanthivarman - II {Pallavamallan} (A.D.710-775) - Son of (14A)
(16) Thantivarman - (A.D.775-800) - Son of (15)
(17) Nanthivarman - III (A.D.800-816) - Son of (16) - who was referred
to as "Thamil Nanthi", Thamilaakaran Nanthi", and "Painth Thamilai
aaikintra Ko Nanthi"
(18) Nirupathungavarman - (A.D.816-840) - Son of (17)
(19) Kampavarman - (A.D.816-848) - Step brother of (18) Met his death
in the war with Vijayalaya Chola, waged with the assistance of
Muththaraiyar king Saathan Paliyili, in which Thanjavur fell into hands
of the Cholas.(Thiruinthalur Chepedukal)
(20) Aparajithavarman - (A.D.848-866) - Son of (19)

Evidence for above:

The names of the Pallava kings and their sequence are as per
Kasaakkudi Copper Plates - No 7 and Bahur Copper Plates No: 12, Thirty
Pallava Copper Plates - Published by The Tamil Varalatru Kalakam,
Chennai.


Note: The foregoing will be reviewed frequently corrected where
necessary, and added with additional informations with eviidence as and
when they surface.