Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.18

c2.18

The Telugu attributes appearing in some of the Pallava inscriptions found in cave-temples excavated during the reign of Mahēndravarman I, seem to indicate that Mahēndra ruled his empire from the Telugu country, at least at the beginning of his reign. He could not have done so for long because we know that by the middle of the seventh century, this country was in the hands of the Chālukyas. It is, therefore, likely that Pulikēsin II conquered it about 610 A. D., that is, at the very beginning of Mahēndra’s reign. It is probable that this defeat and loss of his dominions in the north led Mahēndra to extend his territory in the south. At any rate. no Pallava monument has been found anterior to the seventh century A. D. in the Tamil country.