Kadava was the name of a Tamil ruling dynasty who ruled parts of the Tamil country during the thirteenth and the fourteenth century. Kadavas were related to the Pallava dynasty and ruled from Kudalur near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. Hiranyavarman, the father of Nandivarman II Pallavamalla is said to have belonged to the Kadavakula in epigraphs.[1] Nandivarman II himself is described as "one who was born to raise the prestige of the Kadava family".[2] Chiefs bearing the Kadava title figure as feudatories of the Cholas as early as the 12th century. During the reign of Kulothunga Chola II, there was a vassal called Alappirandan Elisaimohan alias Kulottungasola Kadavaradittan.[3] The Kadava kingdom was at the height of their power briefly during the reigns of Kopperunchinga I and Kopperunchinga II. These two rulers were powerful enough to challenge the waning Chola dynasty during the reign of Rajaraja Chola III and Rajendra Chola III. The two Kopperunchingas have left a large number of inscriptions mostly in the North and South Arcot districts and in the Chingleput district.
Origins[edit | edit source]
The title Kadava is found among the several titles assumed by Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I and Narasimhavarman II. The Kadava name with Kadavarayar is found in Tamil literature to refer to the Pallavas. The relationship of the Kadavas to the main Pallava dynasty is documented in an inscription in Kanchipuram. The kings of the collateral line of the Pallavas who were descended from Bhimavarman, the brother of Simhavishnu, are called the Kadavas. The Pallava king Nandivarman II (Pallavamalla) is praised as "one who was born to raise the prestige of the Kadava family."[4][5]
The term Kadava has been linked by some historians to Kaduvetti (also rendered Kanduvethi), an epithet associated with the Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman I in the Sri Lankan chronicle Cūḷavaṃsa. Eugen Hultzsch argued that Kaduvetti or Kaduvetti was synonymous with Kadava, suggesting a connection between the Pallavas and the later Kadava chiefs.[6]
The term Kaduvetti, which has been associated with the Pallava rulers of Kanchi and Tondaimandalam, also occurs in Kannada inscriptions relating to the Western Ganga dynasty. According to M. V. Krishna Rao, references to Ganga rulers such as Durvinita, Sripurusha and Rakkasa Ganga use the title Kaduvetti in connection with the Pallavas. Rao also notes the use of Kaduve Maharaya and Kadava Mahadevi for Pallava kings and queens, respectively. These usages have been cited as evidence of a historical association between the title Kadava and the Pallavas.[7]
Kadava Rulers[edit | edit source]
According to an inscription at Vriddhachalam, Aras Narayana Kachchiyarayan is said to have conquered the southern hill regions, defeated the Rattas, and captured Vatapi. According to M. S. Govindasamy, Chola sources provide no clear evidence of major wars of this kind during the reigns of Kulottunga Chola II and Rajaraja Chola II. However, Ottakkuttar’s Takkayagapparani and Rajarajacholan Ula mention that Rajaraja Chola II fought against the Cheras and Pandyas. The author suggests that the Kadava chief who fought against the Rattas mentioned in this inscription may also have participated alongside Vikrama Chola in the campaigns to reconquer Gangavadi and The Vengi .Furthermore, Rajarajacholan Ula, verse 593, mentions a Chola military campaign at Vatapi.[8][9][10]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ V. Ramamurthy. History of Kongu, Volume 1. International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilization, 1986. p. 172.
- ↑ Eugen Hultzsch. South Indian Inscriptions, Volume 12. Manager of Publications, 1986. p. viii.
- ↑ M. S. Govindasamy. The role of feudatories in later Chōḷa history. Annamalai University, 1979. p. 162.
- ↑ Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
- ↑ Archaeological Survey, of India. "A.R. No. 232 of 1916 and A.R. No. 137 of 1900". Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ↑ Wilhelm Geiger (trans.), The Culavamsa: Being the More Recent Part of the Mahavamsa, Part I, pp. 103–104; E. Hultzsch, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (1913), p. 527.
- ↑ M. V. Krishna Rao, The Gangas of Talkad, p. 56.
- ↑ Govindasamy, M. S. The Role of Feudatories in Later Chola History. pp. 107–108.
- ↑ Pandit A. Gopalaiyer (ed.). Mūvarulā. Adyar Library, Madras. p. 76.
- ↑ Krishnamacharlu, C. R., ed. (1943). South Indian Inscriptions, Volume XII: Pallava Inscriptions. Madras: Government Press. p. 166.