History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c7.s1.40

c7.s1.40

⁴ ‘The Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta merely speaks of Viṣṇugōpa as the ruler of Kāñchī. The name Pallava does not occur there. From this it is evident that in the fourth century A.D. the word Pallava was little used by them. . . . In Sangam literature the rulers of Kāñchī are spoken of as Tiraiyan and Toṇḍaimān. . . . Viṣṇugōpa, who was ruling Kāñchī at the time of Samudragupta’s invasion must therefore be a Tiraiyan. “The *Toṇḍamaṇḍalapaṭṭayam* gives an account of the various branches of the Tiraiyar. This has been noted by Kanakasabhai Pillai in his book, *Tamils 1800 Years Ago*. As one of the main branches of Tiraiyar we have Pallava Tiraiyar showing thereby the connection between Pallavar with Tiraiyar. It is therefore natural to suppose that the Pallavas were known to the early Sangam literature by their group name of Tiraiyar but as their power and influence increased in the land