The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c35.s4.43

c35.s4.43

The earliest Pallava king who can be precisely dated, Simhavarman, in the fifth century, presented an image at Amarāvatī and is expressly described as being a lay worshipper of Buddha. Probably other members of the dynasty also were Buddhists.¹ Several princes were specially devoted to the cult of Vishnu.² Mahendravarman, who was a Jain in early life, at first persecuted the followers of Siva, but was converted to the Saiva creed and turned against his former co-religionists, whose principal monastery he destroyed.³