Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c12.s1: Literature and Literary Patronage

History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c12.s1

Language
English

Literature and Literary Patronage

c12.s1.1

The age of Narasimhavarman II was one of intense literary activity. It has been already pointed out that Sanskrit poets and Sanskrit culture were specially patronized by Pallava kings.² It is suggested that Daṇḍin, the well-known Sanskrit writer, probably flourished for some time in the Pallava court at Kāñchīpuram, and references to Kāñchīpura and its rules have been discovered in his works. In his Kāvyādarśa³ Daṇḍin mentions a Śaiva king Rājavarma who judging from the way in which he is spoken of must be regarded as his contemporary and probably was Rājasimha Pallava who according to his inscriptions is known to have been a very devout Śaiva.⁴ Prof. M. Rangachariar has also quoted a tradition with reference to chapter v of Kāvyādarśa⁵ that it was composed by Daṇḍin for giving lessons in rhetoric to a royal prince at Kāñchīpuram who in all probability was Rājasimha’s son.¹ All these references, taken along with the passage in *Kāvyādarśa* where Daṇḍin illustrates a particular form of composition by a couplet² which refers to the city of Kāñchī³ and its rulers the Pallavas and the evidence furnished by the recently-discovered *Avantisundarikathā*, make it clear that Daṇḍin lived for a considerable period at the Pallava court in Kāñchīpuram.

c12.s1.2

² In the Vēlūrpāḷayam plates Rājasimha is recorded to have revived the ghaṭika of the twice-born. The nature of learning acquired at the Brahminical ghaṭika is described in the Kaśākkuḍi plates ll. 71 ff (S.I.I., vol. ii, p. 358).

c12.s1.3

³ Ch ii, p. 279.

c12.s1.4

⁴ Tēśhamvamśēprasūtāt-Raṇarasikapurōn-mardhanāt Ugradanḍāt Subramanyakumārō Guha iva Paramāḍīśvarādāltajanmā. Śaktikshuṇṇārivarggōviditabahuṇayaś Śaivasiddhāntamārggō. Śrīmānatyantakāmah kshata Sakalamalō dhūrdharaḥ Pallavānām. S.I.I., vol. i, No. 24, 5, 6.

c12.s1.5

⁵ Ind. Ant., 1912, p. 90 ff.

c12.s1.6

¹ It is Rājasimha himself that appears to have been Āchārya Daṇḍin’s pupil from the *ślokas* under reference if the altered reading proves to be correct. *Ed.*

c12.s1.7

² *Kav. Dar.*, ch. 3, p. 114.

c12.s1.8

³ *Nāsikyamadyāparitaḥ chaturvarṇavibhūshitā.* *Astikāchitpurīyasyām-ashṭavarṇāhvayōnypāḥ.* *Kav.*, iii, 144. In commenting on this well-known enigma in Daṇḍin’s work Taruṇavāchaspati explains it as meaning Kāñchi ruled over Pallava kings. (Age of Daṇḍin, *Ind. Ant. for 1912*, p. 91).

c12.s1.9

Whether the series of dramas published at Trivandrum as Bhāṣa’s, were really composed during the reign of Rājasimha it is not possible to say. But certain scholars hold that *Svapnavāsavadatta* and other works of the series were abridged editions of the works of Bhāṣa prepared for the staging of them before the court of a Pallava king, presumably Rājasimha from the colophons of these plays. These plays bear a close resemblance to *Mattavilāsaprahasana* of Mahendravarman I. The evidence available seems to favour the view that the Pallava rather than the Pāṇḍya court was responsible for the production of these plays, if these are not Bhāṣa’s own.

c12.s1.10

*Parameśvaravarman II, A.D. 700-710.*—About the close of the first decade of the eighth century Rājasimha was succeeded on the Pallava throne by Parameśvaravarman II. The reign of this sovereign appears to have been shortlived. The Vīraṭṭāneśvara temple inscription of this king is dated in the third year of his reign. The Kasākkuḍi plates record of him that he conquered the coquetish ways of the Kali age, that he led the way of policy, which had been prescribed by Dhishaṇa (Bṛhaspati) and that he protected the worlds.’⁴

c12.s1.11

⁴ *Verse 26, S.I.I.*, vol. ii, No. 73, p. 357.

c12.s1.12

In the Vēlūrpāḷayam plates he is described as the chastiser of the Kali and that he governed according to the laws of Manu.¹ As we have no inscription dated in the years subsequent to his third regnal year we may 'presume' that his reign was very short.

c12.s1.13

¹ Verse 14, S.I.I., vol. ii, part v, p. 511.

Linked texts (6)