History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c16.33

c16.33

17. Tālgunda Pillar Inscription of Kakutsthavarman. Bühler, *Ind. Ant.*, vol. xxv, p. 27; Fleet, *Dynasties*, pp. 286 ff; Rice, *Ep. Carn.*, vol. vii, p. 200; Kielhorn, *Ep. Ind.*, vol. viii, pp. 24 ff. The inscription which was discovered by L. Rice is written in Sanskrit in the box-headed variety of the Southern characters. It relates to the excavation of a tank near an ancient Śiva temple at Sthāṇukuṇḍūr, commenced by the Kadamba king Kakutsthavarman and completed by his son Śāntivarman. The author of the record which is written in high *Kāvya* style was Kubja. The greater portion of this inscription is devoted to an account of the early kings of Kadamba dynasty which is interesting for the information it gives of the relation of the Kadambas with the Pallava kings, the Bāṇas, etc. According to the inscription the Kadāmbas were a Brahman family belonging to the *Mānavyasagōtra* and descended from *Hāritiputra*. In this family was born Mayūraśarman who went to Kāñchī in order to study and there was involved in a quarrel with the Pallava rulers. He took up arms against them and after a prolonged struggle, the kings of Kāñchī conferred upon him the territory between *Amarārṇava* and *Premāra*. He was succeeded by his son Kangavarman, his son Bhagīratha, and his two sons Raghu and Kakutsthavarman. His successor was Śantivarman during whose reign this record was composed.