History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c19.3

c19.3

The discovery of these panels raises the question as to the religion of the kings and the existence of the place. Siṃhaviṣṇu was a Vaiṣṇava as he is described as Siṃhaviṣṇu who worshipped Viṣṇu in devotion; *Bhaktyaradhita Viṣṇuḥ Siṃhaviṣṇuḥ*. His son and successor Mahendra is said to have been a Jain originally and then become a convert to Śaivism through Appar. It seems likely that he was Jain as in the *Mattavilāsa* he brings into ridicule the Śaiva Kāpālika and the Śākyas or Buddhists. He has no reference to the Jains. His father’s devotion to Vaiṣṇavism may explain its omission. His portrait in the Varāha cave may be due to the fact that he was there a prince with his father and like him, he may then have been a Vaiṣṇava. This raises the question of the origin of the place. There is little doubt that the place existed before whatever Mahamalla may have done to enlarge and beautify it.