A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c14.55

c14.55

Hearing that Parākramabāhu was preparing another attack on the mainland, Pallavarāya espoused the cause of Śrivallabha, a nephew of Parākramabāhu and a rival claimant to the throne of Ceylon. An expedition was sent with Śrivallabha at its head and many places in Ceylon were captured and destroyed. Seeing that his attempt to support the line of Parākrama Pāndya had brought on him nothing but disaster, Parākramabāhu now recognized Kulaśekhara as the rightful king, and entered into an alliance with him against the Cholas. Kulaśekhara's treachery was discovered by the capture of Parākramabāhu's letters and presents. The Chola policy at once changed. After further fighting, some of which took place in Chola territory proper, Pallavarāya, set up Vira Pāndya on the throne of Madura and drove Kulaśekhara into exile. Thus Parākramabāhu's designs were frustrated and his candidates steadily kept out of the throne of Madura. All these events may be placed between 1169 and 1177 but that date by no means fixes the end of the struggle.