History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c13.50

c13.50

Siege of Nandipura.—One of the most important of the achievements of Udayachandra whose exploits are enumerated in the Udayēndiram plates¹ was the release of Nandivarman II from the fortified town of Nandipura which was besieged by his enemies the Tamil kings. Nandipura which is identical with Nandipuraviṇṇagaram of Tirumaṅgai Āḷvār is situated not far from the modern town of Kumbhakonam, and is now-a days known as Nāthan-Kovil. During the later Pallava age especially in the eighth century, this place appears to have served as the seat of Pallava power in the southern districts, and was presumably fortified. It is noteworthy that the hymns to this shrine of Tirumaṅgai Āḷvār, who was a contemporary of Pallavamalla, have a clear reference to Nandivarman.² The circumstances that led to the siege of this place by the southern powers are not clear. But it has been presumed that the Tamil powers joined together in a great coalition espousing the cause of Chitramāya, the Pallava prince, and attacked Pallavamalla at a time when he had been staying at Nandipura. The circumstances relating to the release, and list of the other battles are described in the Udayēndiram plates.