History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c5.14.2

c5.14.2

This defect seems to make them an indigenous dynasty of feudatory rulers, who raised themselves to power gradually, and set themselves up independently. The fact of their obscure origin coupled with the boar ensign on the one hand, and the impossible derivation of the word from Sanskrit on the other, seem alike to indicate a southern origin for them on a reasonable basis. Feudatory dynasties placed in rule over the less hospitable regions of the Tamil country went by the name generally Velpula Araśar or Śalukku Vēndar. They were given the flag of the boar indicative of the nature of the territory over which they ruled and of the character of that rule. It is a family of chieftains like this probably that ultimately raised themselves to a position of higher dignity that became the Chālukyas of a later period. That this is so is reflected in the term sometimes being used in the form Salki, used as a term of contempt with reference to Salki Bhima, who is spoken of as a disloyal person. These petty chieftains seem to have risen first to power in the northern region of the Vākāṭaka territory, perhaps in succession to the Naḷas, or, at any rate, as one of the tributaries along with them.