History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c13.17

c13.17

*The Position of Hiraṇyavarman.*—The only difficulty still facing us is with reference to Hiraṇyavarman who is described in the newly-discovered copper-plates from Koṟṟanguḍi as having actually ruled as king. The Taṇḍantōṭṭam plates make a glowing reference to him and describe his stirring prowess² in the field of battle, giving the impression that he was a ruling sovereign of Kāñchi. The Vēlūrpālayam plates and the Bāhūr plates omit his name altogether. There cannot be any doubt that Hiraṇyavarman mentioned in the Kaśākkuḍi ¹ plates as the immediate ancestor of Nandivarman II and the sixth descendant of Bhīmavarman, the brother of Simhavishṇu, is the same as the Hiraṇyavarman figuring in the Taṇḍantōṭṭam plates² as well as the bas-reliefs in the Vaikuṇṭhaperumāḷ temple just mentioned. According to Mr. Krishna Sastri, this Hiraṇyavarman was really Dantivarman, the son of Nandivarman II and the Taṇḍantōṭṭam plates belonging to Nandivarman III, the son of Dantivarman, the donor of the Vēlūrpāḷayam plates. He observes ³ :—