History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c17.s2.89

c17.s2.89

187. If Śiva Skandavarman came to the throne, say, five years later than the grant by him as Yuvamahārāja, i.e. in 280 A.D., and ruled for 15 years, his period [280-295 A.D.] would agree with the time assigned to him on the basis of the script of his charters as discussed above. Viravarman, in whose time Kāñchī is lost and to whom no conquest is attributed, but who is noted for his bravery and whose name is never borne again by his descendants, seems to have died on the battlefield at the hands of his Chola enemy. The death of Śiva Skandavarman would have given a signal for an attack by the Cholas. Viravarman could not have remained king for longer than a year or two. Viravarman following the ancient orthodox custom had taken the name of his grandfather Vira [Korcha]. But his name was, as already observed, never Repeated. It seems that the name Vira which came to be associated with a political misfortune—the loss of Kāñchi and a defeat at the hands of the Cholas, was given up by the family. Skandavarman II became, for the second time, the founder of the Pallava power, and this time it became seated permanently at Kāñchi. We should remember that in his time the Vākāṭaka family was led by Pravarasena I under whom it reached its zenith, which was a point more elevated than that attained by any previous imperial dynasty. Presumably Skandavarman II received support from the Vākāṭaka emperor. He assumed the title of 'Vijaya' deservedly. In his long reign he had sufficient time to consolidate his, and the Vākāṭaka imperial, position in the South. For over half the period of the reign of Pravarasena I he was his contemporary. We should assign him a reign of about 35 years, 33rd year being his recorded date. After him we have one record of the reign of his son Simhavarman I and of the governorship of his another son Viṣṇu Gopa. But of his grandson Skandavarman III we have no record, and as the latter was succeeded by the son of Viṣṇu Gopa I, his reign must have been a short one. Evidently, Viṣṇu Gopa was defeated by Samudra Gupta before his coronation and according to the well-known custom he abdicated in favour of his son and never became legally Mahārāja, i.e. though he ruled, he did not reign. The dated chronology would stand thus: