History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c13.13

c13.13

It would be more accurate to consider that the sculptures at the Vaikuṇṭhaperumāḷ temple at Kāñchīpuram taken as a whole represent the whole history of the Pallava family rather than the immediate events connected with the accession of Nandivarman Pallavamalla about the beginning of the eighth century. It is well known that the explanatory notes have not been filled in completely for all the long series of bas-reliefs of which only a small number could be interpreted with the help of inscriptions.³ It is therefore incorrect to regard all these sculptures as being connected with only the immediate events relating to the accession of Nandivarman II. If we examine the sculptures from the commencement, almost from the first panel which presents Viṣṇu, to the following which represent Brahmā, Aṅgīrasa, Bṛhaspati, Bhāradvāja, Droṇa and Aśvatthāman, the birth of Pallava, is found to be graphically represented while the rest illustrate and continue the family history.