History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c8.23

c8.23

Inland and foreign commerce must have been in a flourishing condition during this period if we may judge from the writings of the classical writers which mention several seaport towns such as Kamara, Poduka, Sopatma, Melanga, Kodura, etc. Of these Kodura has been identified with Kudur and Melangus was obviously Malanka or Mavilangai probably Mahābalipuram or Seven Pagodas.¹ Sea-borne trade must have been flourishing at these various ports, and the presence of large numbers of ship-coins and Roman coins of an early period fully lend support to this view. So far as the port of Mahābalipuram is concerned it is clear, from the evidence of Tirumangai-Āḷvār, that in the early part of the eighth century the place was a busy harbour. This probably was the case in the days of Śivaskandavaraman also. The ship-coins discovered extensively between Cuddalore and Madras have been attributed by some to Pallava kings although it looks probable that they were issued under the auspices of the Sātavāhana kings of the Dakhan.