Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 58
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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JANUARY, 1929)
NOTES ON THE SEVEN PAGODAS
17
In the days, however, of the great Pallava dynasty, the place was known as Mamallapuram, generally taken to mean the city of Mahamalla (Mamalla), the Pallava Narasimhavarman I. Tirumangai Alvar-refers to the city invariably as Mallai and has often the adjunct Kadal (Sea) before Mallai. In one verse he refers to the Pallava king Paramesvaravarman as Mallaiyarkon '18 the king of the people of Mallai,' or of the people “Mallar. The latter meaning is taken to find support in the expression Mahamallakulani in lines 24 and 25 of the copper plate grant of the Chaulukya Vikramadityal' I; but the expression Mahamallakulam need not refer to a people, and probably refers to the family of Mahåmalla, the Pallava king Narasimhavarman of Kanchi.
The title Mahamalla was the title assumed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman20 I. It is this Pallava king that sent out two naval expeditions to help his friend Manavarma of Coylon, who ruled the island from A.D. 691 to 726.21 of the first invasion we have, in the chronicle, Mânavarma then took ship and crossed over the sea (with his army) and having made a fast voyage, landed at Lanka with his forces, and began to subdue the country (around. The following passage contains a more detailed reference to the second. And Narasimha thus thought within himself: "This my friend, who seeketh most resolutely after fame, hath spent now many years of his life in my service that so he might get back his kingdom. And lo ! he will soon have grown old. How then can I now reign in comfort and see him (thus miserable)? Assuredly I shall this time restore to him his kingdom by sending my army thither. Else what advantageth my life to me?" Thereupon the king collected his army together, and having equipped it well gave Mânavarma all thinge he desired to have, and himself accompanied the army to the sea-coast, where a mighty array of ships of burden, gaily ornamented, had been prepared for them. And when the king reached the harbour he gave orders to all his officers that they should embark and accompany Manavarma, but they all showed unwillingness to do so (without their king).
And Narasimha, having pondered well over the matter, resolved on this strategem. Keeping himself so that his army might not see him, he gave over to Månavarma all his retinue and insignia of royalty together with the ornaments with which he adorned his person, and sent him (secretly) on board the ship, bidding him take the royal drum, the kotta, with hiin, and sound it from the deck of the vessel. And Manavarma did as he was directed ; and the soldiers thinking that it was the king (who was sounding the call), em. barked leaving him alone on the land. Then Mâna began his voyage with the army and all the material of war, which, with the ships in which they were borne, was like unto a city floating down the sea. And in due time he reached the port and disembarked with the army.'
In regard to these transactions the following details have to be noted. Månavarma came to India some time after the accession to the throne of Haftadatha II (A.D. 864). He lived for sometime alone, and then brought his wife over and she had by him four sons (say ten or twelve years). Then took place the war between Narasimha and the Vallabha (who must be Pula kesin or Pulikesin II). "This war and the destruction of Vallabha's capital Vat&pi are ascribed to the year A.D. 642 by Dr. Fleet. Then took place the first expedition to Ceylon in aid of Månavarma. It proved a failure and Måna varma returned and waited till four kings had ruled in Ceylon. In other words he had to bide his time during the rest of the reign of Hattadhat a II and the reigns of his successors till, in A.D. 691, he was able to reinstall himself on the throne in Anuradhapura. He ruled afterwards for thirty-five years. Assuming that he came to India a young man, about 15 years of active life seem possible, but there is a discrepancy of about 35 years between the Ceylonese and Indian chronology Let that pass. The synchronism is near enough, notwithstanding this discrepancy, to justify this assumption that Mana varma and Narasiri havarman I. Mahamalla were contemporaries. 18 Periya Tirumoli, 2nd Ten. 9th Decad. Stanza 1.
19 Ante, vol. VI, pp 78-78. 20 ASR., 1906-7, p. 298 and refs, in noto 9. 21 Mahdvarda, Turnour and Wijesimha, Ch. XLVIII.
