A History of Agriculture in India v1.c37.s3.2

v1.c37.s3.2

Narasimhavarman Mahamalla (A.D. 630-668), a wrestler and warrior, succeeded Mahendravarman I. One of Narasimhavarman’s achievements was a successful naval expedition to Ceylon to reinstate the Sinhalese prince Manaverma. Narasimhavarman beautified the port of Mamallapuram. It was during his reign about A.D. 640 that Hiuen Tsang travelled in the south. He found Jainism flourishing in the Pallava and Pandya kingdoms. Hiuen Tsang states, ‘Kanchi was about six miles [9.6 kilometres] in circumference. There were more than one hundred Buddhist monasteries housing over 10,000 Theravadin monks. The majority of the eighty non-Buddhist temples belonged to Digambara Jains. Though Buddhism was declining in South India, its position in Tonda-mandalam was conspicuous. The people (of Ta-to-p ‘i-t’ u or Tonda-mandalam) esteemed great learning.... Not far from the south of the capital was a large monastery which was a rendezvous for the most eminent men of the country.¹