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Narasimhavarman I

2021-08-31T05:10:37Z

2409:4072:6408:222D:0:0:BD5:90B1:

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava Emperor]]
| reign = {{circa|630|668 AD}}
| predecessor = [[Mahendravarman I]]
| successor = [[Mahendravarman II]]
| issue = [[Mahendravarman II]]
| house = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]]
| house-type = Dynasty
| father = [[Mahendravarman I]]
}}
[[File:Pallavas of Coromandel.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Coin of the Pallavas of Coromandel, king Narasimhavarman I. (630-668 AD).'''Obv''' Lion left '''Rev''' Name of Narasimhavarman with solar and lunar symbols around]]
{{Pallava}}
'''Narasimhavarman I or Narasimha Varma I'''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CybxK9ANI8C&q=narasimha&pg=PA203|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|date=1885|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland|language=en}}</ref> was a emperor of the [[Pallava]] dynasty who ruled [[South India]] from 630–668 AD. He shared his father [[Mahendravarman I]]'s love of art and completed the work started by Mahendravarman in [[Mamallapuram]]. During his reign famous [[Pancha Rathas|Pancha Rathas Temple]] was constructed which is Rock Cut Temple, a [[UNESCO world heritage|UNESCO World Heritage]] site.

He avenged his father's defeat at the hands of the [[Chalukya]] king, [[Pulakeshin II]] in the year 642 AD . Narasimhavarman I was also known as ''Mahamalla''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6DXDKLy0eEgC&q=mahamalla+pallava|title=The Monolithic Temples of the Pallava Dynasty: A Chronology|last=Rabe|first=Michael Dan|date=1987|publisher=University of Minnesota|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WsNKAQAAIAAJ&q=mahamalla+pallava|title=The art of the Pallavas|last=Gangoly|first=Ordhendra Coomar|date=1957|publisher=G. Wittenborn|language=en}}</ref> (great wrestler), and [[Mamallapuram]] (Mahabalipuram) was named after him.

It was during his reign, in 640 AD, that the [[Chinese people|Chinese]] traveller [[Xuanzang|Hiuen Tsang]] visited [[Kanchipuram]].<ref name="sen2"/>

Narasimhavarman I was a devotee of [[Lord Siva|Shiva]]. The great [[Nayanar saints]] like [[Appar]], [[Siruthondar]] and [[Thirugnana Sambanthar|Tirugnanasambandar]] lived during his reign.{{cn|date=June 2019}}

Narasimhavarman I was succeeded by his son [[Mahendravarman II]] in the year 668 AD.

==Military conquests==
Narasimhavarman I is claimed to be one of the 12 Indian kings who never lost on the battlefield to their enemies, the others being [[Ajatashatru]], [[Chandragupta Maurya]], [[Karikala Chola]], [[Senguttuvan|Cheran Senguttuvan]], Sri [[Krishnadevaraya]] of [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar empire]], Chola king Rajasuyam Vaetta Perunarkilli (575 BC), who successfully completed military Rajasuyam sacrifice, Pandyan Nedunchezhian of the [[Sangam period|Sangam]] age, [[Samudragupta]], great Pallava Nayanmar saint Rajasimha, [[Rajaraja Chola I]], his great warrior son [[Rajendra Chola]] .

===War with the Chalukyas===
[[Pulakeshin II]], a deccan king, had previously raided various northern Pallava provinces and forts. However, he was unable to capture the Pallava capital of [[Kanchipuram]].<ref>Keay, John, India: A History, p170</ref> This led to a long conflict between the Chalukyas and the Pallavas.

Pulakeshin II again attempted to seize the Pallava capital and undertook another expedition several years later. However, the Pallava reign had moved on to Narasimhavarman I by then. Narasimhavarman defeated the Chalukyas in several battles, including one at Manimangalam 20 miles to the east of Kanchipuram. The king states that he could see the back of his dreaded enemy as he tore apart his army. Encouraged by this victory, Narasimhavarman led his army along with his general [[Paranjothi]] and invaded [[Vatapi]], successfully defeating<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> and killing the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II in 642 CE. The city was never a capital again.<ref>KAN Sastri, A History of South India, p136</ref>

He returned victorious to Kanchipuram, and was given the title ''Vatapikondan'' (one who conquered Vatapi).<ref>Keay, John, India: A History, p172</ref>

His general [[Paranjothi]] (a Vikrama Kesari, also known as paradurgamarddana) was known very well for his devotion to Lord Siva and as one of the 63 Nayanmar saints, is said to have indeed personally destroyed the city of Vatapi under the command of Narasimhavarman I. Sekkizhaar's work 12th tirumurai credits this siruttondar of having destroyed the evil kali as manifested by the deccan enemy of pallavas. He is also known as '[[Paranjothi|Siruthonttar]]', a dutiful warrior and a practicing medic who had "mastered several treatises in medicine". This vikramakesari had at the insistence of Lord Sivan sacrificed his child without any qualms. There was a confusion as to whether the Ganesha at a temple in Chengattankudy could have been a result of this invasion. Many grants refer to this event as: "kilisayoneriva vimattita vathapi" or the one who destroyed Vatapi, the same way Sage Agastya had killed a demon by that name long ago.(**)

===Influence on Sri Lankan politics===
The [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] prince Manavarma lived at the court of Narasimhavarman and had helped him crush his enemy Pulakeshin II. In return, Narasimhavarman had helped Manavarma twice with an army to invade [[Sri Lanka]]. The second attack was successful. Manavarma occupied Sri Lanka, over which he is supposed to have ruled from A. D. 691 to 726. The [[Tamil copper-plate inscriptions|Kasakudi copper plates]] refer to Narasimhavarman's conquest of Sri Lanka. The ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' also confirms these facts.

==Narasimhavarman in literature==
[[Kalki Krishnamurthy]]'s work, [[Sivagamiyin Sabadham]], is based on Narasimhavarman's early years and his battles with the Chalukyas. Kalki Krishnamurthy's [[Parthiban Kanavu|Parthiban kanavu]] is based on the later years of Narasimhavarman's rule.

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Pallava dynasty]]}}
{{S-bef| before=[[Mahendravarman I]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Pallava dynasty]] | years=630–668}}
{{S-aft| after=[[Mahendravarman II]]}}
{{s-end}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book | first= John | last= Keay | year=2001 | title= India: A History | publisher= Grove Press | isbn= 0-8021-3797-0}}
* {{cite book | first= K A N | last= Sastri | year=2008 | title= A History of South India| edition= 4th| publisher= Oxford University Press | location= New Delhi, India}}

(**) Ancient India, [[R. C. Majumdar]], Ancient India, K.A.Nilakanta Sastri

==External links==
* [http://inscriptions.whatisindia.com Inscriptions of India -- Complete listing of historical inscriptions from Indian temples and monuments]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narasimhavarman 01}}
[[Category:Pallava kings]]
[[Category:7th-century monarchs in Asia]]

Mahendravarman I

2021-08-31T05:10:07Z

2409:4072:6408:222D:0:0:BD5:90B1:

{{Other people|Mahendravarman|Mahendravarman (disambiguation){{!}}Mahendravarman}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image = Mamallapuram Five Rathas.jpg
| alt = Mahendrravarman I
| caption = The rock-cut temples at [[Mahabalipuram]]. Construction of these started in the reign of Mahendravarma I<ref name="sen">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |page=41}}</ref>
| succession = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava Emperor]]
| reign = 590–630 CE
| predecessor = [[Simhavishnu]]
| successor = [[Narasimhavarman I]]
| issue = [[Narasimhavarman I]]
| house = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]]
| father = [[Simhavishnu]]
}}
{{Pallava}}
'''Mahendravarman I''' (600–630 CE)<ref name="histoworldwhitney">{{cite book |editor1-first=John Whitney |editor1-last=Hall |others=John Grayson Kirk
|title=History of the World: Earliest Times to the Present Day
|year=2005 |orig-year=1988 |publisher=World Publications Group
|location=455 Somerset Avenue, North Dighton, MA 02764, USA
|isbn=1-57215-421-7 |page=246 |chapter=India
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CybxK9ANI8C&q=Mahendra+Varma&pg=PA203|title=Indian kingdoms by royal asiatic society of great britain|last=Seventeen|first=Volume|publisher=Royal asiatic society of great Britain|year=1885}}</ref> was a [[Pallava]] emperor who ruled the Southern portion of present day [[Andhra Pradesh|Andhra]] region and Northern regions of what forms present-day [[Tamil Nadu]] in [[India]] in the early 7th century. He was a scholar, painter, architect, musician. He was the son of [[Simhavishnu]], who defeated the [[Kalabhras]] and re-established the Pallava kingdom.

During his reign, the [[Chalukya]] king [[Pulakeshin II]] attacked the Pallava kingdom. The Pallavas fought a series of wars in the northern [[Vengi]] region, before Mahendravarma decimated his chief enemies at Pullalur (according to Pallava grants at Kuram, Kasakudi and Tadantottam). Although Mahendravarma saved his capital, he lost the northern provinces to Pulakeshin.<ref>KAN Sastri, A History of South India, p136</ref> Tamil literature flourished under his rule, with the rise in popularity of ''[[Tevaram]]'' written by [[Appar]] and [[Sambandhar]]. [[Mahendravarman I]] was the author of the play ''[[Mattavilasa Prahasana]]'' which is a [[sanskrit]] satire and another play called ''Bhagavadajjuka''.

Mahendravarma was succeeded to the throne by his more famous son [[Narasimhavarman I]] in 630 CE.<ref name="histoworldwhitney" />
who defeated [[Pulakeshin II]] of [[Chalukya]] dynasty and ransacked the Chalukyan capital city of [[Vatapi]] (also known as [[Badami]]).

==Patronage of arts and architecture==
Mahendravarman was a great patron of letters and architecture. He constructed the [[Mahabalipuram Lighthouse]] and Kanchi University where Vedas, Buddhism, Jainism, Painting, Music & Dance were taught. He was the pioneer of the Rock-cut Architecture amongst the Pallavas.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/217 217]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> The inscription at the rock-cut [[Mandagapattu Tirumurti Temple]] hails him as Vichitrachitta and claims that the temple was built without wood, brick, mortar or metal. The five-celled cave temple at [[Pallavaram]] was also built during his reign as was the [[Kokarneswarar Temple, Thirukokarnam]] of Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu.<ref>KAN Sastri, A History of South India, p412</ref>He made Kudimiya malai Inscription. His paintings are found in [[Sittanavasal Cave]] (Tamil Nadu).

Fine examples of his rock-cut temples can be witnessed at [[Mahabalipuram]], (Satyagirinathar and Satyagirishwarar twin temples), [[Siyamangalam]] (the Siva temple Avanibhajana Pallaveswaram) in North Arcot district and the upper rock-cut temple at [[Trichy]]. Apart from the Siva temples, Mahendravarma also excavated a few Vishnu cave temples, the Mahendravishnugrha at [[Mahendravadi]], and [[Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple|the Ranganatha Temple at Singavaram]] in present-day [[Gingee]] (then North Arcot district).<ref>KAN Sastri, A History of South India, p413</ref>

He was also the author of the play ''[[Mattavilasa Prahasana]]'', a farce concerning [[Buddhist]] and [[Saivite|Saiva]] ascetics. He is also claimed to be the author of another play called ''Bhagavadajjuka'',. This is evident by the inscriptions found at [[Mamandur]] cave shrines (near Kanchipuram - this place is mentioned as Dusi Mamandur to avoid confusions with other places by the same name). However, there is an alternate view that attributes this play to Bodhayana.<ref>KAN Sastri, A History of South India, p313</ref>

==Religion==
Mahendrravarma was initially a patron of the [[Jainism]],<ref>{{citation |title=Jainism - Its relevance to psychiatric practice; with special reference to the practice of Sallekhana |pmc=5270277 | pmid=28197009 | doi=10.4103/0019-5545.196702 |volume=58 |issue=4 |year=2016 |journal=Indian J Psychiatry |pages=471–474 | last1 = Somasundaram | first1 = O | last2 = Tejus Murthy | first2 = AG | last3 = Raghavan | first3 = DV}}</ref> but he converted into the [[Shaivism|Saiva]] faith under the influence of the Saiva saint [[Appar]]. According to Dhivyacharitam a Sanskrit work on life of Alwars written in 12th century, Yatotkara perumal (mahavishnu), enshrined in Kancheepuram left the city along with his great devotee [[Thirumalisai Alvar]], because the [[Alvars|Vaishnava Alwar]] faced tough persecution and exilement from the king who had at least temporarily come under the influence of [[Jainism]].<ref>KAN Sastri, ''A History of South India'', p 382–383</ref><ref>Stein, p 122</ref>

==In literature and popular culture==
Mahendravarman I is a prominent characters in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[historical fiction]] novel ''[[Sivagamiyin Sapatham]]'' by [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]], that talks about the first Vatapi invasion into the Pallava Kingdom, Mahendravarman's heroic deeds in the war and securing the Kanchi fort from the imminent invasion of the huge Vatapi army, his loss to the Vatapi Pulikesi and eventual death.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book | first= Durga | last= Prasad | year=1988 | title= History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D.| publisher= P. G. Publishers | location= Guntur, India}}
* {{cite book | first= K A N | last= Sastri | year=2008 | title= A History of South India| edition= 4th| publisher= Oxford University Press | location= New Delhi, India}}
* {{cite book |first = Burton| last= Stein| year= 1998 |title=A history of India |publisher=Blackwell Publishers |location=Cambridge, MA |isbn= 0-631-20546-2}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Pallava dynasty]]}}
{{S-bef| before=[[Simhavishnu]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Pallava dynasty]] | years=600–630}}
{{S-aft| after=[[Narasimhavarman I]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahendravarma 01}}
[[Category:7th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Pallava kings]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:7th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Tamil Nadu]]