A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c13.9

c13.9

The political confusion that reigned in the Tamil country after the incursion of the Kalabhras was ended in the last quarter of the sixth century by the activities of two monarchs, the Pallava Simhavishnu and the Pāndya Kadungōn with their capitals at Kānchi and Madura respectively. Simhavishnu not only suppressed the Kalabhras but conquered the whole country up to the Kaveri and even came into conflict with the Pāndyas and the ruler of Ceylon. He was a worshipper of Vishnu and had the title Avanisimha (lion of the earth). His portrait and that of his son Mahendravarman I are found sculptured in relief in the Varāha cave at Māmallapuram (Mahābalipuram). He may be taken to have ruled between 575-600. He was followed by Mahendravarman I, a many-sided genius, great alike in war and in peace. He had many titles such as Mattavilāsa, Vicitra-citta and Guna-bhara. He was a great builder, a poet and a musician. He professed Jainism for a time but discarded it in favour of Śaivism under the influence of Appar. At the beginning of his reign (600-30), as in that of his father, Pallava rule extended in the north up to and perhaps a little beyond the river Krishna and bordered on the kingdom of the Vishnukundins.