History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c14.13

c14.13

‘ like the river Rēvā had her birth from a great king (from a high mountain).’¹ Dantivarman is stated to be ‘ a manifestation of the lotus-eyed Vishṇu himself, who was the delight of the earth whose object was the protection of the three worlds and in whom the group of pure qualities such as prowess, charity, and gratitude, attained eminence, as it were, after a long time enjoying the pleasures of each other’s company.’² From verse 18 we learn that Dantivarman married a Kadamba princess called Aggaḷanimmaṭi described as the daughter of a Kadamba king—the crest-jewel of the Kadamba family. The name of this Kadamba king is not known. About the year A.D. 804 Govinda III, the Rāshṭrakūṭa king, appears to have invaded Kāñchi. A Rāshṭrakūṭa grant, dated Thursday the fifth tithi of the dark fortnight of the month of Vaiśāka of the year Subhānu, Śaka 726, expired, corresponding to Thursday, 4th April, A.D. 804, claims that Govinda III had conquered Dantiga, the ruler of Kāñchi and levied tribute from him.³ The reasons prompting this Rāshṭrakūṭa attack on Kāñchi especially as Dantivarman the Pallava king was presumably a grandson of Dantidurga are not clear.