Ancient History of the Deccan c6.s2.40

c6.s2.40

We have said that, about 480 A. D., the Kadamba Mṛigeśa fought with the Gangas and was "a very fire of destruction of the Pallavas" (Halsi plates, Ind. Ant., Vol. VI., page 25). This information is very important as it proves that about 480 A. D. the Pallavas aided the Gangas in their fight with the Kadambas. The Pallava king at this epoch was probably Simhavarman who reigned at Kāñchī and to whom we have assigned the date 475 to 500 A. D.; and this fact is confirmed by the Penugoṇḍa plates that say that the Ganga king Ayyavarman "was duly installed on the throne by Simhavarman Mahārāja, the lord of the prosperous Pallava family (Rep. on Ep. for 1913-14; G. O., No. 920, 4th Aug. 1914). The son of Ayyavarman who was called Mādhava alias Simhavarman was "installed on the throne by the illustrious Pallava (king) Skandavarman". We have said that Skandavarman of Kāñchī, son of Simhavarman reigned from 500 to 525 A. D. It is probable that this Pallava king had also to contend with the Kadambas for strengthening the sovereignty of the Ganga king for, the Halsi plates (Ind. Ant., Vol. VI., p. 29) say that Rāvivarman struggled against "Chaṇḍadaṇḍa, the lord of Kāñchī". Since we do not know of any Pallava king of that name, we may suppose that the name "Chaṇḍadaṇḍa" was a "biruda" of Skandavarman who reigned at this epoch (500-525 A. D.)