Ancient History of the Deccan c4.s1.t2.19

c4.s1.t2.19

A large number of coins having for emblems the "ship with two masts" on the obverse and the "Ujjain symbol" on the reverse has been found on the Coromandel coast between Madras and Cuddalore. These ship-coins seem to be special to that part of the coast that is in the neighbourhood of Kāñchīpuram. The "Ujjain symbol" indicates the Śātavāhana dynasty. Mr. Rapson (page 22) has been able to decipher the inscription on these coins; he has read it to be "Śrī Puḷumāvi"; thus, all that part of the Coromandel coast which is in the vicinity of Kāñchīpuram was under the domination of the Śātavāhanas. So, the Pallavas established themselves at Kāñchīpuram after the Śātavāhanas. The alphabet of the Māyidavôlu plates proves that Śiva-Skandavarman was nearly contemporary of the last Āndhra kings. So, it is at the time of the fall of the Śātavāhanas that a member of the Pallava family ascended the throne of Kāñchī; it is quite possible that this first king was "Bappa-dēva" father of Śiva-Skandavarman. We also note that the son of "Bappa-dēva" was called Skanda and tradition has it that the first Pallava king having married a Nāga princess had a son named Skanda.