History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c13.47

c13.47

*Other Campaigns of Pallavamalla.*—The reign of Nandivarman II appears to have been almost literally crowded with military engagements, sieges, invasions, and counter invasions. It has already been noticed that the Western Cāḷukya invasion of Kāñchi² which probably took place early in his reign resulted in the capture of the city by the enemies. The southern campaigns may now be noticed. Although the causes that brought about the conflict with the powers of the south especially the Pāṇḍyas of this period are by no means clear it may be surmised that the southern powers who were somehow dissatisfied with the accession of Pallavamalla to the throne of Kāñchi, in supersession of the regular family, now espoused the cause of Chitramāya a young prince who presumably had some claims by descent from Paramēśvaravarman II. This involved Nandivarman II in a long and deadly campaign against the Dramiḷa (Tamil) powers. In this campaign he seems to have received valuable help from his trusted general Udayachandra, the lord of Villivala, whose services are enumerated in the Udayēndiram plates dated in the twenty-first year of his reign. The victories enumerated in the Vēḷvikkuḍi and Sinnamanūr plates for Arikēsari-Parāṅkuśa-Māravarman at Neḍuvayal, Kuṟumaḍai, Maṇṇikurichi, Koḍumbāḷūr, Pūvaḷūr, Tirumaṅgai, Kuḷumūr, and Śaṅkaramaṅgai probably form part of the campaign of Pallavamalla and assigned to this period. Some of these battles such as those of Maṇṇai, Neḍuvayal, Nenmali, etc., are referred to in the Paramēśvaraviṇṇagaram hymns of Tirumaṅgai Āḷvār.³ Many of these places also occur among the examples quoted in the commentary upon the Tamil work Iraiyanār-Ahapporuḷ which also mentions many other places not mentioned in the inscriptional records Koṭṭāṟu, Nāraiyāṟu, Viḷiñam, etc.