Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.22

c2.22

Mahendravarman I was succeeded by his son Narasimhavarman I in the second quarter of the seventh century. Narasimhavarman I was surnamed Mamalla or Mahamalla and he founded the seacoast town of Mamallapuram, now the modern village of Mahabalipuram in the Chingleput district, and popularly known as the Seven Pagodas. He retrieved the fortunes of the family by repeatedly defeating the Cholas, Keralas, Kalabhras and Pandyas. He made war on the Chalukyas and actually captured Vatapi (Badami), their capital. This claim of his is established by an inscription found at Badami in the Bombay Presidency in which he bears the title Mahamalla (Indian Antiquary, Volume IX, page 100). The capture of Badami by the Pallavas has been assigned to the year 642 A. D. The Pallavas probably held the territory during the time of Narasimhavarman I, his son Mahendravarman II, and during the early part of the reign of the latter's son and successor, Paramesvaravarman I. The last named king is said to have defeated the Chalukyan king Vikramaditya I at Peruvalanallur and put his army to flight. On the other hand, Vikramaditya I claims to have 'received by surrender the town of Kanchipuram after defeating the lord of the Pallavas who had been the cause of the humiliation and destruction of his family.' Apparently as a result of this victory the Kurnool district, which originally belonged to the Pallavas, passed into the hands of the Chalukyas. Two copper-plate records of Vikramaditya and two of his son Vinayaditya have been discovered in this district. Paramesvaravarman's son and successor was Narasimhavarman II, surnamed Rājasimha, i.e., ‘Lion of Kings.’ Rājasimha was an ardent devotee of Siva and seems to have spent most of his time in building Siva temples and bestowing gifts on the Brāhmans. Previous to Rājasimha’s reign, all Pallava monuments were monolithic rock-cut memorials but those erected by Rājasimha were structural buildings built of stone and brick. He thus introduced a new style of Pallava architecture which may be called the style of Rājasimha, so as to distinguish it from the earlier rock-cut styles of Mahendra and Māmamalla.