Mahendravarman I
Encyclopedia
Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE) was a Pallava
king who ruled the Northern regions of what forms present-day Tamil Nadu
in India
in the early 7th century. He was the son of Simhavishnu
, who defeated the Kalabhras
and re-established the Pallava kingdom.
During his reign, the Chalukya king Pulakesin II attacked the Pallava kingdom. The Pallavas fought a series of wars in the northern Vengi
region, before Mahendravarman decimated his chief enemies at Pullalur (according to Pallava grants at Kuram, kasakudi and tadantottam). Although Mahendravarman saved his capital, he lost the northern provinces to Pulakesin.
Many scholars have opined that Mahendra's patronage and liking for Jainism
in his initial years may have caused him to give up the aggressive warlike attitude that generally went alongside all of Pallava and Chola monarchs of yore and most notedly with his great warrior father Simhavishnu who had subdued all the kingdoms of the south and also Srilanka. This might in turn have encouraged his enemies the Chalukyas who exploited it well to their advantage.
Mahendravarman was succeeded to the throne by his more famous son Narasimhavarman I
in 630 CE.
was also built during his reign.
Fine examples of his rock-cut temples can been witnessed at Mahabalipuram, (Satyagirinathar and Satyagirishwarar twin temples), Siyamangalam (the Siva temple Avanibhajana Pallaveswaram) in North Arcot district and the upper rock-cut temple at Trichy. Apart from the Siva temples, Mahendravarman also excavated a few Vishnu cave temples, the Mahendravishungrha at Mahendravadi, and the Ranganatha temple both at Singavaram both in present-day North Arcot district.
He was also the author of the play Mattavilasa Prahasana
, a farce concerning Buddhist and Saiva ascetics. He is also claimed to be the author of another play called Bhagavadajjuka,. This is evident by the inscriptions found at Mamandur cave shrines (near Kanchipuram - this place is mentioned as Dusi Mamandur to avoid confusions with other places by the same name). However, there is an alternate view that attributes this play to Bodhayana. He is known to be the father of the Tamil script from which the contemporary Tamil script has evolved. The kudiyamalai(near salem) cave inscription describes his aptitude in fine arts.
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
king who ruled the Northern regions of what forms present-day Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the early 7th century. He was the son of Simhavishnu
Simhavishnu
Simhavishnu , also known as Avanisimha , son of Simhavarman III and one of the Pallava kings of India, was responsible for the revival of the Pallavan dynasty. He was the first Pallava monarch whose domain extended beyond Kanchipuram in the South...
, who defeated the Kalabhras
Kalabhras
The Kalabhras dynasty ruled over the entire Ancient Tamil country between the 3rd and the 6th century in an era of South Indian history called the Kalabhra interregnum. The Kalabhras displaced the kingdoms of the early Cholas, early Pandayan and Chera dynasties. Information about its origin and...
and re-established the Pallava kingdom.
During his reign, the Chalukya king Pulakesin II attacked the Pallava kingdom. The Pallavas fought a series of wars in the northern Vengi
Vengi
The Vengi kingdom extended from the Godavari River in the north to Mount Mahendragiri in the southeast and to just south of the banks of River Krishna in the south of India. This area was part of Kalinga until that kingdom was conquered by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire in the mid 3rd century...
region, before Mahendravarman decimated his chief enemies at Pullalur (according to Pallava grants at Kuram, kasakudi and tadantottam). Although Mahendravarman saved his capital, he lost the northern provinces to Pulakesin.
Many scholars have opined that Mahendra's patronage and liking for Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
in his initial years may have caused him to give up the aggressive warlike attitude that generally went alongside all of Pallava and Chola monarchs of yore and most notedly with his great warrior father Simhavishnu who had subdued all the kingdoms of the south and also Srilanka. This might in turn have encouraged his enemies the Chalukyas who exploited it well to their advantage.
Mahendravarman was succeeded to the throne by his more famous son Narasimhavarman I
Narasimhavarman I
Narasimhavarman I was a Tamil king of the Pallava dynasty who ruled South India from 630–668 CE. He shared his father Mahendravarman I's love of art and completed the work started by Mahendravarman in Mahabalipuram....
in 630 CE.
Patronage of Arts and Architecture
Mahendravarman was a great patron of letters and architecture. He was the pioneer of Rock-cut Architecture amongst the Pallavas. In the inscription at the Mandagapattu rock-cut temple, it is claimed that the temple was built without wood, brick, mortar or metal. The five-celled cave temple at PallavaramPallavaram
Pallavapuram Municipality was constituted as a III Grade Municipality on 17.01.1970 vide G.o.No. 55 R.D. & L.A. Department dated 12.01.1970, by Combining the following Town Panchayats and Panchayats.* Zamin Pallavaram Town Panchayat* Issa Pallavaram Town Panchayat...
was also built during his reign.
Fine examples of his rock-cut temples can been witnessed at Mahabalipuram, (Satyagirinathar and Satyagirishwarar twin temples), Siyamangalam (the Siva temple Avanibhajana Pallaveswaram) in North Arcot district and the upper rock-cut temple at Trichy. Apart from the Siva temples, Mahendravarman also excavated a few Vishnu cave temples, the Mahendravishungrha at Mahendravadi, and the Ranganatha temple both at Singavaram both in present-day North Arcot district.
He was also the author of the play Mattavilasa Prahasana
Mattavilasa Prahasana
Mattavilasa Prahasana , is a short one-act Sanskrit play. It is one of the two great one act plays written by scholar King Mahendravarman I in the beginning of the seventh century....
, a farce concerning Buddhist and Saiva ascetics. He is also claimed to be the author of another play called Bhagavadajjuka,. This is evident by the inscriptions found at Mamandur cave shrines (near Kanchipuram - this place is mentioned as Dusi Mamandur to avoid confusions with other places by the same name). However, there is an alternate view that attributes this play to Bodhayana. He is known to be the father of the Tamil script from which the contemporary Tamil script has evolved. The kudiyamalai(near salem) cave inscription describes his aptitude in fine arts.