History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c11.s3.8

c11.s3.8

The reign of Mahēndravarman I synchronized with the period of decay of Buddhist and Jain religions at Kāñchīpuram and the Tamil land. The Śaiva saints Appar, and Tirugñāna-Sambandar were actually engaged in propagating the Śaiva faith. According to the testimony of these saints, as represented in their references to the Śākyas, we have to infer that the Buddhists and Jains of this period were in a degenerate position then. They are mentioned in the same strain also in several verses in the Vaishṇava work Nalāyiraprabhandam.³