History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c6.s2.9

c6.s2.9

Of a similar nature is the discovery of the work Mattavilāsa-Prahasana, a burlesque written by the Pallava king Mahēndravarman I, which depicts vividly the contemporary life of religious sects such as the Śākyabikshus and Kāpalikas in the city, and of which glimpses are obtainable in the hymns of the Ālvārs and the Nāyanmārs in some of the *Prabandha* and the *Tēvāram* hymns. This work has recently been published by the Travancore Government.¹ There seems to be no doubt that the author of this play Śrī Mahēndravikramavarman is identical with the Pallava king Mahēndravarman known, from inscriptions and copper-plates, to have reigned in the first quarter of the seventh century. A recently-discovered panel in the Ādivarāha temple in the Seven Pagodas represents him with his two queens, their identity being placed beyond question by the inscriptions over the reliefs.² Some of his titles such as *Avanibhājana*, *Guṇabhara*, *Śatrumalla*, *Mattavilāsa*, found in the various cave temples excavated by him, occur in the course of the play Detailed reference will be made to the work in the section on the literature of the Pallava age.