History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c17.s2.48

c17.s2.48

Skandavarman I does not give the name of his father, but refers to him only as *bappa* which stands for 'father,' as later kings refer to theirs by the same term *bappa-bhaṭṭāraka-pāda-bhaktaḥ* (E.I., XV, 254; I.A., V, 51, 155). The name is supplied by Skandavarman II's grant (E.I., XV, 251). *Vīrakūrcha*, in numerous later documents of the family, is mentioned as the real founder of the dynasty (occasionally coming after two ancestors *Kāla-bhartṛi* and *Chūta-pallava*¹, who are the son of Virakorcha. In verse 7 Skanda-śishya is clearly stated to have flourished 'after' [tataḥ] Virakorcha and in his line. The statement implies a break between the two [cf. tataḥ in I.A., XIX, 24(10), and Kielhorn's opinion thereon in E.I., V, App. No. 195, n.; E.I., III, 48]. These mistakes, and especially the latter, have led to a great confusion in fixing the identity of the Pallava kings and in re-constructing their history.