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Boothi Vikramakesari

2026-10-11T08:12:32Z

2401:4900:CAD5:AC4C:EC20:E7FF:FE2D:E8BD: Added information on Bhuti Vikramakesari's military achievements, family relationships, titles, and religious patronage based on the Moovar Koil inscription and historical sources.

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Moovar Koil Temple.jpg|thumb|right|Moovar Koil Temple]]

'''Boothi Vikramakesari''' was a [[Velir]] [[Irukkuvel]] chieftain and a feudatory of the medieval [[Chola]]s. He is best remembered for building the [[Moovar Koil]] temple complex, a collection of "Three temples" in the village of [[Kodumbalur]], 36 kilometres from [[Pudukkottai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].{{cn|date=July 2020}} His family was related to the Cholas by marriage. His mother was a Chola princess while his daughter married Chola prince [[Arinjaya Chola|Arindama]].<ref name=museums/>

==Dating==
Some scholars and historians identify him as a contemporary of [[Parantaka I]] while some others like Venkayya identify him as a sub-ordinate of [[Sundara Chola|Sundara Chola Parantaka II]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: South India, Volume 89 of Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|author=Shyam Singh Shashi|publisher=Anmol Publications|year=2000|page=291}}</ref> It is more likely that he was a feudatory of [[Parantaka I]] as a daughter of his, namely Boothi Aditya Pidaari was married to [[Arinjaya Chola|Arikulakesari]], the younger son of [[Parantaka I]].<ref name=museums>{{cite book|title=Journal of Indian Museums, Volumes 17-20|author=Museums Association of India|publisher=Museums Association of India|year=1964|page=13}}</ref>

Moreover, the chief and his family members figure in inscriptions of the [[Pallava]] King [[Nandivarman III| Vijaya Nandivikramavarman]] and later in inscriptions of [[Aditya I]], so he seems to have initially been a sub-ordinate of the [[Pallava]] King and then a feudatory of the [[Chola]] King [[Aditya I]] after the latter overthrew the former's son [[Aparajitavarman|Aparajita]]. Subsequently, he seems to have continued in service of [[Aditya I]]'s son [[Parantaka I]]. Consequently, his period can be fixed between the latter half of 9th century and beginning of the 10th century.<ref name="Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey 1987 99–100">{{cite book|title=Epigraphia Indica, Volume 32|author=Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey|publisher=Manager of Publications|year=1987|pages=99–100}}</ref><ref name="raosahib"/>

==Personal life==

The chief's given name was Boothi and he earned the title ''Vikramakesari'' through his exploits.<ref>{{cite book|title=The early Chōḷas history, art, and culture|author=S. Swaminathan|publisher=Sharada Pub. House|year=1998|page=65}}</ref> He is also called as ''Tennavan [[Irukkuvel|Ilangovel]]'' and ''Parantaka Ilangovelir'' in inscriptions.<ref name=museums/> He was born to [[Irukkuvel]] chieftain Samarabirama and [[Chola]] princess Anupama. Samarabirama is called ''Yadu vamsa kethu'' that is the ''Banner of the Yadu race'' in the [[Moovar Koil]] inscription<ref>{{cite book|title=The early Chōḷas history, art, and culture|author=S. Swaminathan|publisher=Sharada Pub. House|year=1998|page=33}}</ref> Two queens of his are known from the same inscription, namely, Nangai Varaguna Perumanar and Karrali.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Madras (India : State)|author2=B. S. Baliga|title=Madras District Gazetteers: Pudukkottai District|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press|year=1983|page=802}}</ref> As mentioned earlier, a daughter of his, namely Boothi Aditya Pidaari was married to [[Arinjaya Chola|Arikulakesari]], the younger son of [[Parantaka I]]. She is known from an inscription from a temple at [[Tiruchendurai]].<ref name=museums/>

== Military Achievements and Religious Patronage ==

An excerpt of the Moovar Koil inscription is as follows :
{{Quote|"Bhūti, who by his prowess in battle obtained the title Vikramakēsari, is said to have made the waters of the Kāvēri red with the blood of the Pallava army slain by him. He also conquered Vīrapāṇḍya in battle and destroyed one Vañci-Vēl.”|
— South Indian Inscriptions, Volume XXIII<ref>{{cite book
|last=Srinivasa Rao
|first=G. V.
|title=South Indian Inscriptions
|volume=23
|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India
|year=1979
|at=No. 129
|url=https://dharmalekha.info/texts/INSSIIv23p0i0129
}}</ref>}}

According to the Moovar Koil inscription at Kodumbalur, Bhuti, also known as Vikramakesari, was the son of Samarabhirama and Anupama, the daughter of a Chola king. The inscription credits Vikramakesari with defeating the Pallava army and defeating Virapandya in battle. It also records the honorific title Vanjivelantaka among his epithets.

Vikramakesari had two wives, Kattrali and Varagunai. The inscription identifies Parantaka and Adityavarman as the sons of Kattrali. It also records Vikramakesari's religious patronage. He established temples dedicated to Mahesvara in his own name and in the names of his wives and granted Mallikarjuna, a Kalamukha ascetic, a monastery comprising eleven villages. The monastery provided for the feeding of ascetics and the expenses associated with worship of Shiva.<ref>V. Mahadevan, ''Kodumbalur Velir Varalaru'', pp. 20–23.</ref><ref>G. V. Srinivasa Rao, ''South Indian Inscriptions'', vol. 23 (Archaeological Survey of India, 1979), inscription no. 129.</ref>

==Inscriptions==

An excerpt of the [[Moovar Koil]] inscription is as follows,

{{Cquote|<center>''.. there was (called) Anupama (meaning peerless), (who) was literally true to her name, a daughter of the Chola king, and a beloved of this Yadu vamsa kethu(Banner of the Yadu race, that is Samarabirama)''
''Of her was born to him the glorious king called Bhuti otherwise called Minnamala Vikramakesari (the Lion of Valour).{{cn|date=July 2020}}
</center>}}

Another inscription from the period of [[Pallava]] King Vijaya-Nandivikramavarman from Kilur, [[Tirukoilur|Tirukovilur]] taluk, South [[Arcot]] district. The script and language of the inscription is in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and paleographically the inscription can be dated to the 9th century,

{{Cquote|<center>''..the inscription is dated in the sixteenth year of the Ko Vijaya Nandivikramavarman and records the gift by Maravan Pudi alias Tennavan Ilangovelar. The gift consisted of 24 kalanju of pure gold weighed by videlvidigu, the standard stone, out of the interest of which the Nagarattar of Tirukkovalur undertook to supply ghee for burning a lamp.<ref name="Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey 1987 99–100">{{cite book|title=Epigraphia Indica, Volume 32|author=Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey|publisher=Manager of Publications|year=1987|pages=99–100}}</ref>''
</center>}}

The following is another inscription from Ghrithasthaneswara temple in Tillasthanam, figuring the queen of Boothi Vikramakesari from the period of [[Aditya I]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Early Chola Temples: Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985|author=S. R. Balasubrahmanyam|publisher=Orient Longman|year=1971|page=116}}</ref>

{{Cquote|<center>''(Line 1) Hail Prosperity, in the 13th year of the reign of King Rajakesarivarman, Tennavan Pirudimarsan alias Katti Orri-uran gave 25 kalanju of gold for burning one perpetual lamp with (one) ulakku of ghee everyday the (god) Mahadeva (Siva) at Tiruneyttanam which was a devadana in Poygainadu; and Varaguna Perumanar the queen(deviyar) of Parantaka Ilangovelar gave 25 kalanju of gold for one perpetual lamp. With this total of 50 kalanju of gold (some) lands of the god were cleared of its borders and mounds and were converted into a wet field. The boundaries of (the reclaimed) these lands are:-..
''(L 7) West of the cultivated land of the (god) Vishnu Bhattaraka (lying to) the east of the border; north of the embankment called Karikala-karai; east of the karay dry lands of the god; south of the (channel called) Andanur-vaykkal.<ref name=raosahib>{{cite book|title=South Indian Inscriptions, Volume III, Miscellaneous inscriptions from the Tamil Country|author=Rao Sahib H. Krishna Sastri|publisher=The Director General, Archaeological Survey On India, Janpath, New Delhi|year=1987|pages=249–250}}</ref>''
</center>}}

It is of interest to note that among the boundaries mentioned in the above inscription there is an embankment called Karikala-karai.<ref name=raosahib/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Tamil history]]
[[Category:History of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil monarchs]]
[[Category:10th-century Indian monarchs]]

Moovar Koil

2026-10-11T08:07:44Z

2401:4900:CAD5:AC4C:EC20:E7FF:FE2D:E8BD: Added information on the Kodumbalur Velir lineage, military campaigns, royal genealogy, and religious endowments based on the Moovar Koil inscription and historical sources.

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Moovar Koil
| image = Moovar Koil Temple.jpg
| alt =
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| coordinates = {{coord|10.542272| 78.519148|type:landmark|display=inline}}
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| tamil =
| marathi =
| bengali =
| country = India
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Pudukkottai district|Pudukkottai]]
| location = Kodumbalur
| elevation_m =
| primary_deity_God =
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| important_festivals=
| architecture =
| number_of_temples =
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}}

'''Moovar Koil''' or "The Three temples" is a Hindu temple complex situated in the village of [[Kodumbalur]], 36 kilometres from [[Pudukkottai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. These temples were constructed by the [[Chola Dynasty|Chola]] feudatory and [[Irukkuvel]] chieftain [[Boothi Vikramakesari]] as per the inscription. Only two of the three temples have managed to survive.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu|publisher=Sura Books|isbn=978-81-7478-177-2|page=95}}</ref> The place was ruled by [[Irukkuvel]] chieftains. Kodumbalur was also the site of a fierce battle between the [[Pandyas]] and the [[Pallavas]].

==Architecture==
According to the chief's inscription, he built three temples in the complex in the name of himself and the other two of his wives, namely, Nangai Varaguna Perumanar and Karrali.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Madras (India : State)|author2=B. S. Baliga|title=Madras District Gazetteers: Pudukkottai District|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press|year=1983|page=802}}</ref> Only the basement survives the northern shrine. The basement is moulded like a full blown lotus flower(padma pushkala adisthanas). The other two shrines, namely the central and southern are more or less intact. Each central shrine is 6.4 sqmetres at the base and they all face west. The walls are rich in details and there is a small shrine for Nandi in front of the ''Maha mandapa''. The two circular pilasters with circular shafts on four sides of the ''vimana'' indicates the antiquity of the temple. The feature is possibly termed ''Vrittasputitas'' in ''silpa'' texts like ''[[Shilparatna]]''. Such a feature is otherwise found only in few other temples like [[Neyyadiappar Temple, Tillaistanam]], [[Tiruttalinathar Temple]] in [[Thiruputhur]], [[Vijayalaya Choleeswaram]] in [[Narthamalai]], Anantheswara temple in Udayarkudi and [[Kampaheswarar Temple, Thirubuvanam]].<ref>{{cite report|title=The Mahadeva temple of Tillaisthanam|last=D.|first=Devakunjari|volume=II|issue=III|journal=Damilica|publisher=The State Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu|editor-last=R.|editor-first=nagaswamy|year=1973|url=https://www.tnarch.gov.in/Library%20BOOk%20PDF/Damalica%20vol-II.pdf|format=PDF|page=44}}</ref>

According to historian Harle, the temple is counted among the four early extant temples of the [[Chola Empire]], with the other three being [[Koranganatha Temple]] in [[Tiruchirappalli district]], [[Nageswaraswamy Temple, Kumbakonam|Nageswaran temple]] at [[Kumbakonam]] and [[Tirupullamangai|Brahmapureeswarar temple]] in [[Thanjavur district]]. These temples follow the [[Pallava art and architecture|Pallava architecture]] which are relatively small in size. They all have a fair-sized porch, locally called ''ardhamandapa'' attached to the sanctum, both of which are slightly below the ground level in a pit kind of structure. The structures are also predominantly built of stone.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Brahmapuriswara temple at Pullamangai|last=Harle|first=James C.|year=1958|publisher=Bhulabhai Memorial Institute|location=Bombay|url=http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/16963.pdf|format=PDF|page=9}}</ref>

Near Moovar Koil, located little westerly is a Hindu temple of Muchukundeswarar temple of [[Early Cholas|Early Chola period]]. The temple complex is maintained and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] as a ticketed monument.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Tamil Nadu|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|accessdate=2013-09-09|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=List of ticketed monuments - Tamil Nadu|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_tn.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|accessdate=2013-09-09|year=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818095516/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_tn.asp|archive-date=18 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Significance==
The temple is very important as it is a living example of early to medieval [[Chola]] architecture. The inscription in the temple also gives us a glimpse of the political climate of south India between the 8th and the 10th centuries as well as the relation between the royal houses of [[Chola]] and the [[Irukkuvel]]. The latter were traditional allies of the [[Chola]]s and the chief, [[Boothi Vikramakesari]] himself was the son of a [[Chola]] princess Anupama and Irukkuvel chieftain Samarabirama.<ref>{{cite book|author=S. Swaminathan|title=The early Chōḷas history, art, and culture|publisher=Sharada Pub. House|year=1998|page=65}}</ref>

== The Kodumbalur Velir Lineage and Military Campaigns ==

The inscription at the Moovar Koil at Kodumbalur records the genealogy of the Kodumbalur Velir rulers. According to the inscription, an earlier ruler was known for capturing herds of elephants, and Paravirajit, who defeated the Malavas, belonged to this lineage. He was succeeded by Adhivira Anupama, described as an incomparable warrior, followed by a ruler named Paradurgamardana, who is credited with conquering Vatapi.

C. Minakshi suggests that Paradurgamardana, an ancestor of the Kodumbalur Velir chief Vikramakesari, may have participated in the northern campaign conducted by the Pallava king Nandivarman III against the Rashtrakutas. She proposes that Paradurgamardana may have acquired the title Vatapijit ("conqueror of Vatapi") either through participation in a battle against Chalukya feudatories of the Rashtrakutas near Kurugodu or through a subsequent campaign against Vatapi. However, the proposed connection between Paradurgamardana and Nandivarman III's northern campaign, as well as the suggestion that the campaign led to his acquisition of the title, represents a historical hypothesis advanced by Minakshi.<ref>C. Minakshi, ''Administration and Social Life Under the Pallavas'' (Madras: University of Madras, 1938), p. 303.</ref> The inscription states that his successor, Samarabhirama, defeated the Chalukyas in the battle of Adhirajamangalam.

Samarabhirama's wife is identified as Anupama, the daughter of a Chola king. The inscription states that their son, Bhuti Minamalava, was also known as Vikramakesari. It credits him with defeating the Pallava army and defeating Virapandya in battle. It also records the title Vanjivelantaka among his honorifics.

The inscription records that Vikramakesari had two wives, Kattrali and Varagunai. Kattrali bore him two sons, Parantaka and Adityavarman.

The inscription also mentions Mallikarjuna, a Kalamukha ascetic. It states that Vikramakesari established temples dedicated to Mahesvara in his own name and in the names of his wives, and granted Mallikarjuna a large monastery comprising eleven villages. Arrangements were made at the monastery to provide food for ascetics and meet the expenses of worship dedicated to Shiva.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Mahadevan
|first=V.
|title=Kodumbalur Velir Varalaru
|publisher=Saivagnanabanu
|pages=20–23
|url=https://archive.org/details/20241005_20241005_0633/page/20/mode/1up
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|last=Srinivasa Rao
|first=G. V.
|title=South Indian Inscriptions
|volume=23
|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India
|year=1979
|at=No. 129
|url=https://dharmalekha.info/texts/INSSIIv23p0i0129
}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Moovar Koil Temple Info.jpg|Moovar Koil Information Board by Archeological Survey of India
File:Moovar Koil Stepwell.jpg|Photo take from inside the Moovar Koil Stepwell
File:Moovar Koil sculptures.jpg|Moovar Koil sculptures
File:Indien Tamil Nadu Kodumbalur Muvarkoil.jpg|Moovar Koil
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{Pudukkottai district|state=collapsed}}
{{Hindu temples in Pudukkottai district}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Pudukkottai district]]
[[Category:10th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Chola dynasty]]

Nandivarman III

2026-10-11T07:54:50Z

2401:4900:CAD5:AC4C:EC20:E7FF:FE2D:E8BD: Passage updated

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava Ruler]]
| reign = {{circa|846|869 CE}}
| predecessor = [[Dantivarman]]
| successor = [[Aparajitavarman]]
| dynasty = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]]
| father = [[Dantivarman]]
}}
{{Pallava}}
'''Nandivarman III''' was an Indian monarch of the [[Nandivarman II]] line who ruled the Pallava kingdom from 846 to 869.<ref name=Coedes>{{cite book|last= Coedès|first= George|authorlink= George Coedès|editor= Walter F. Vella|others= trans.Susan Brown Cowing|title= The Indianized States of Southeast Asia|year= 1968|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|isbn= 978-0-8248-0368-1}}</ref>{{rp|107}} He was the son of [[Dantivarman]] and grandson of [[Nandivarman II]].<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=41–42}}</ref>

== Reign ==

Nandivarman III, who was a powerful monarch, tried to reverse the decline that began in the reign of his father. He made an alliance with the [[Rashtrakutas]] and the Gangas and defeated the [[Pandyas]] at the [[Battle of Tellaru]].<ref>C. Minakshi, ''Administration and Social Life Under the Pallavas'' (Madras: University of Madras, 1938), p. 304.</ref> He then pursued the retreating Pandyan army as far as the river [[Vaigai]]. The Pandyan king Srimara Srivallabha, however, recovered most of his territories and even defeated the Pallavas at [[Kumbakonam]].

Nandivarman had a powerful navy and maintained trade contacts with [[Siam]] and [[Malay Peninsula|Malaya]].

===Pallava–Rashtrakuta conflict===

The Rashtrakutas were among the principal northern adversaries of the Pallavas during the reign of Nandivarman III. According to C. Minakshi, relations between the Pallavas and the Rashtrakutas had been strained during the reign of Nandivarman's father, Dantivarman. Rashtrakuta records attribute the subjugation of a ruler named Dantiga of Kanchi to Govinda III and refer to the collection of tribute from the Pallava kingdom. Minakshi identifies Dantiga with Dantivarman and suggests that Nandivarman III subsequently campaigned against the Rashtrakutas to restore Pallava independence from their overlordship.

Minakshi further associates Nandivarman III's northern campaign with the capture of Kurukkottai, a place mentioned in the Nandikkalambakam. She identifies this place with Kurugodu in present-day Karnataka, where the remains of a fort and temples survive. Based on this proposed identification, she suggests that Paradurgamardana, an ancestor of the Kodumbalur Velir chief Vikramakesari, may have participated in the campaign as a subordinate of Nandivarman III. She proposes that his title Vatapijit (conqueror of Vatapi) may have resulted from his participation in military operations against the Rashtrakutas or their Chalukya feudatories. Also that contemporary inscriptions and literary sources provide support for the account in the Periyapuranam of Kalar-Singan's conquest of northern kings.

According to Minakshi, the Pallava campaign against the northern powers may also have contributed to the formation of a coalition of southern rulers under Pandya leadership against Nandivarman III.<ref>C. Minakshi, ''Administration and Social Life Under the Pallavas'' (Madras: University of Madras, 1938), pp. 302–303.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

* {{cite book|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization|page=449|author=Sailendra Nath Sen|year=1999|publisher=New Age International|ISBN=978-81-224-1198-0}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Pallava dynasty]]}}
{{S-bef| before=[[Dantivarman]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Pallava dynasty]] | years=846–869}}
{{S-aft| after=[[Aparajitavarman]]}}
{{end}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pallava kings]]

Nandivarman III

2026-10-11T07:45:52Z

2401:4900:CAD5:AC4C:EC20:E7FF:FE2D:E8BD: Added information on the Pallava–Rashtrakuta conflict during the reign of Nandivarman III, based on C. Minakshi's historical study.

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava Ruler]]
| reign = {{circa|846|869 CE}}
| predecessor = [[Dantivarman]]
| successor = [[Aparajitavarman]]
| dynasty = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]]
| father = [[Dantivarman]]
}}
{{Pallava}}
'''Nandivarman III''' was an Indian monarch of the [[Nandivarman II]] line who ruled the Pallava kingdom from 846 to 869.<ref name=Coedes>{{cite book|last= Coedès|first= George|authorlink= George Coedès|editor= Walter F. Vella|others= trans.Susan Brown Cowing|title= The Indianized States of Southeast Asia|year= 1968|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|isbn= 978-0-8248-0368-1}}</ref>{{rp|107}} He was the son of [[Dantivarman]] and grandson of [[Nandivarman II]].<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=41–42}}</ref>

== Reign ==

Nandivarman III, who was a powerful monarch, tried to reverse the decline that began in the reign of his father. He made an alliance with the [[Rashtrakutas]] and the Gangas and defeated the [[Pandyas]] at the [[Battle of Tellaru]].<ref>C. Minakshi, ''Administration and Social Life Under the Pallavas'' (Madras: University of Madras, 1938), p. 304.</ref> He then pursued the retreating Pandyan army as far as the river [[Vaigai]]. The Pandyan king Srimara Srivallabha, however, recovered most of his territories and even defeated the Pallavas at [[Kumbakonam]].

Nandivarman had a powerful navy and maintained trade contacts with [[Siam]] and [[Malay Peninsula|Malaya]].

===Pallava–Rashtrakuta conflict===

The Rashtrakutas were among the principal northern adversaries of the Pallavas during the reign of Nandivarman III. According to C. Minakshi, relations between the Pallavas and the Rashtrakutas had been strained during the reign of Nandivarman's father, Dantivarman. Rashtrakuta records attribute the subjugation of a ruler named Dantiga of Kanchi to Govinda III and refer to the collection of tribute from the Pallava kingdom. Minakshi identifies Dantiga with Dantivarman and suggests that Nandivarman III subsequently campaigned against the Rashtrakutas to restore Pallava independence from their overlordship.

Minakshi further associates Nandivarman III's northern campaign with the capture of Kurukkottai, a place mentioned in the Nandikkalambakam. She identifies this place with Kurugodu in present-day Karnataka, where the remains of a fort and temples survive. Based on this proposed identification, she suggests that Paradurgamardana, an ancestor of the Kodumbalur Velir chief Vikramakesari, may have participated in the campaign as a subordinate of Nandivarman III. She proposes that his title Vatapijit (conqueror of Vatapi) may have resulted from his participation in military operations against the Rashtrakutas or their Chalukya feudatories. These identifications and the proposed connection between the campaign and the title remain interpretations advanced by Minakshi.

According to Minakshi, the Pallava campaign against the northern powers may also have contributed to the formation of a coalition of southern rulers under Pandya leadership against Nandivarman III.<ref>C. Minakshi, ''Administration and Social Life Under the Pallavas'' (Madras: University of Madras, 1938), pp. 302–303.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

* {{cite book|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization|page=449|author=Sailendra Nath Sen|year=1999|publisher=New Age International|ISBN=978-81-224-1198-0}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Pallava dynasty]]}}
{{S-bef| before=[[Dantivarman]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Pallava dynasty]] | years=846–869}}
{{S-aft| after=[[Aparajitavarman]]}}
{{end}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pallava kings]]