Narasimhavarman I

Narasimhavarman I
Vatapikondan[1]
Mahamallan
Sculpture of Narasimhavarman I at Mamallapuram.
Pallava emperor
Reignc. 630 – c. 668
PredecessorMahendravarman I
SuccessorMahendravarman II
BornKanchipuram, Pallava Empire
Died668
Kanchipuram, Pallava Empire
SpouseUnnamed Pandyan Princess
IssueMahendravarman II
DynastyPallava
FatherMahendravarman I
MotherUnknown
ReligionJainism[2]
Pallava Monarchs
(3rd–9th Century CE)
Virakurcha(Unknown)
Vishnugopa I(Unknown)
Vishnugopa II(Unknown)
Simhavarman III(Unknown)
Simhavishnu575–600
Mahendravarman I600–630
Narasimhavarman I630–668
Mahendravarman II668–670
Parameswaravarman I670–695
Narasimhavarman II695–728
Paramesvaravarman II728–731
Nandivarman II731–795
Dantivarman795–846
Nandivarman III846–869
Nriputungavarman869–880
Aparajita Varman880–897

Narasimhavarman I was a Pallava emperor who reigned from 630 to 668.[3] He shared his father Mahendravarman I's love of art and completed the works started by Mahendravarman in Mamallapuram. During his reign, the famous Pancha Rathas, a monolithic rock-cut temple complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was constructed.

He avenged his father's defeat at the hands of the Chalukya monarch Pulakeshin II in the year 642. Narasimhavarman I was also known as Mamallan[4][5] (great wrestler), and Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) was named in his honour.

The Culavamsa, the Sri Lankan chronicle, refers to the Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman I by the epithet “Kanduvethi” (or “Kaduvetti"). Historians interpret this title as linguistically related to the term “Kadavan,” a designation later associated with the Kadava chiefs, and consider it indicative of an connection between early Pallavas with the Kadava lineage.[6][7][8]

It was during his reign, in 640 CE, that the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram.[9]

Nanimhavarman I (680-668 A.D.) was alo like his father Mahendravarman 1 (600-630 A.D.) a follower and patron of Jainism[2] The Nayanar poet-saints Appar, Paranjoti, and Sambandar lived during his reign.[10]

Narasimhavarman I was succeeded by his son Mahendravarman II in the year 668 CE.

Military conquests

Chalukyan Emperor Pulakeshin II had previously raided various northern Pallava provinces and forts. However, he was unable to capture the Pallava capital of Kanchipuram.[11] This led to a long conflict between the Chalukyas and the Pallavas.

Pulakeshin II again attempts to seize the Pallava capital and undertook another expedition several years later. However, the Pallava reign had moved on to Narasimhavarman I by then. Narasimhavarman defeated the Chalukyas in several battles, including one at Manimangalam 20 miles to the east of Kanchipuram. The Pallava monarch states that he could see the back of his dreaded enemy as he tore apart his army. Encouraged by this victory, Narasimhavarman led his army along with his general Paranjothi and attacked Vatapi, successfully defeating[9] and killing the Chalukyan Emperor Pulakeshin II in 642 CE. The city was never a capital again.[12][13] He returned victorious to Kanchipuram, and was conferred the Tamil title Vatapikondan (lit. One who conquered Vatapi).[14][15][16][17]

His general Paranjothi (a Vikrama Kesari, also known as Paradurgamarddana) was known very well for his devotion to the God Shiva and as one of the 63 Nayanar saints, is said to have personally destroyed the city of Vatapi under the command of Narasimhavarman I. Sekkizhaar's work 12th tirumurai credits this siruttondar of having destroyed the evil kali as manifested by the deccan enemy of the Pallavas. He is also known as 'Siruthondar', a dutiful warrior and a practicing medic who had "mastered several treatises in medicine". This vikramakesari had at the insistence of the God Shiva sacrificed his child without any qualms. There was a confusion as to whether the Ganesha at a temple in Chengattankudy could have been a result of this invasion. Many grants refer to this event as "Kilisayoneriva Vimattita Vathapi" or the one who destroyed Vatapi, the same way the Sage Agastya had killed a demon by that name long ago.(**)

Influence on Sri Lankan politics

The Sinhalese prince Manavarman lived at the court of Narasimhavarman I and had helped him crush his enemy Pulakeshin II. In return, Narasimhavarman had helped Manavarman twice with an army to conquer Sri Lanka. The second expedition was successful. Manavarman conquered Sri Lanka, over which he is supposed to have ruled from 691 to 726 CE. The Kasakudi copper plates refer to Narasimhavarman's conquest of Sri Lanka. The Mahavamsa also confirms these facts.[18]

Cultural Impact

The Pancha Rathas, a monolithic rock-cut temple complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site were constructed during his reign.

Narasimhavarman in literature

Kalki Krishnamurthy's work, Sivagamiyin Sabadham, is based on Narasimhavarman's early years and his battles with the Chalukyas. Kalki Krishnamurthy's Parthiban kanavu is based on the later years of Narasimhavarman's rule. He completed most of the monuments in Mahabalipuram, which in modern times are grouped as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram and one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ Chhabra, Bahadur Chand (1965). Expansion of Indo-Aryan Culture During Pallava Rule. Munshi Ram Manohar Lal. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b Chatterjee, C. D. (1955). The Journal of the U.P. historical society. p. 117. The Pallava king Nanimhavarman I (680-668 A.D.) of KANCHI was alo like his father Mahendravarman 1 (600-630 A.D.) a follower and patron of Jainism
  3. ^ Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland. 1885.
  4. ^ Rabe, Michael Dan (1987). The Monolithic Temples of the Pallava Dynasty: A Chronology. University of Minnesota.
  5. ^ Gangoly, Ordhendra Coomar (1957). The art of the Pallavas. G. Wittenborn.
  6. ^ Translated By Wilhelm Geiger (1929). Culavamsa Part-i.
  7. ^ Pallavas Origin. 8 February 2026.
  8. ^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1954). The History and Culture of the Indian People: The classical age. G. Allen & Unwin.
  9. ^ a b Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  10. ^ Sekkizhar (2000). Periya Puranam: A Tamil Classic On the Great Saiva Saints of South India, By Sekkizhaar, English translation by Vanmikanathan.
  11. ^ Keay 2001, p. 170
  12. ^ Sastri 2008, p. 136
  13. ^ SOUTH INDIAN INSCRIPTIONS VOL I. SVCLRC, UDL TTD TIRUPATI. THE GOVERNMENT PRESS,MADRAS. 1890.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. ^ Keay 2001, p. 172
  15. ^ Historical Inscriptions Of Southern INida. BRAOU, Digital Library Of India. Kitabistam,Allahabad.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1958). History of South India.
  17. ^ Chhabra, Bahadur Chand (1965). Expansion of Indo-Aryan Culture During Pallava Rule. Munshi Ram Manohar Lal. ISBN 978-81-215-0373-0.
  18. ^ a b C. 2004, p. 5

References

  • Keay, John (2001). India: A History. Grove Press. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0.
  • C., Sivaramamurthi (2004). Mahabalipuram. New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India.
  • Sastri, K A N (2008). A History of South India (4th ed.). New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press.

(**) Ancient India, R. C. Majumdar, Ancient India, K.A.Nilakanta Sastri

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