History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c7.s1.57

c7.s1.57

The history of Kāñchīpuram is lost in obscurity almost from the days of Karikāla to its occupation by the Pallava kings under Śivaskandavarman. It is probable that during this period it was in the hands of the Chōḷa princes some of whom are mentioned in the Manimēkhalai to have built Buddhist temples.² It is here mentioned that there were Buddhist chaityas in Kāñchī constructed by Kaḷarkilli and Iḷam-Kiḷḷi whose actual position in the Chōḷa family of this period is not known. It would be an interesting study to examine the evidence contained in the Tamil works regarding the connection of the early Chōḷa princes with Kāñchīpuram. There are several members of the Chōḷa family bearing the name of Kiḷḷi mentioned in early Tamil literature. One of these is Kuḷamurṟattu-tuñjina Kiḷḷivaḷavan, Kiḷḷi who died at Kuḷamurṟam, of whom many poets have sung. Then again Kovūr-Kiḷār mentions in Puṟam 44 and 45 a certain Kāriyaṟṟu-tuñjina (who fell or died at Kāri River) Neḍumkiḷḷi of Uraiyur and of his friend Iḷam-Tattan. Elsewhere we find the poet singing of Kurāpaḷḷi-tuñjina (who died at Kurāpaḷḷi) Kiḷḷivaḷavan,³ one of whose exploits was the destruction of Karuvūr. His Pāṇḍyan contemporary was apparently the Ugrapperuvaḷudi who died at Veḷḷiyambalam. Other pieces in the same collection speak of Soḷan Ilavandigaippaḷḷi-tuñjina Naḷangiḷḷi Śētchenni, Ēnādi (General) Tirukkiḷḷi, etc.