Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.29

c2.29

The numerous important Buddhist remains at Amarāvatī, Guntapalli, Anakapalli, Rāmatirtham and other places in the northern part of the Madras Presidency, and the Jaina monuments in the southern districts, show that these two creeds flourished side by side in the seventh century A. D. and were in fact. the prevailing religions of the country at that period. Although it is probable that some of the Pallava kings were either Jainas or Buddhists, such names as Siva-Skandavarman and Skandavarman borne by some of the earlier kings, appear to show that some of them were Saivas at a very early date. The fact that they had the bull for their crest and the club (khatvānga) for their banner corroborates this. On the other hand some of the kings who issued the Sanskrit charters were probably adherents of the Vaishnava faith as indicated by such names as Simhavishnu, Vishnugōpa, etc. The fact that some of the Pallava Siva temples contain images of Vishnu along with the lingas shows that both deities were worshipped with equal veneration and that the Pallavas must have been wonderfully free from religious bigotry.