https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mahendravarman_IMahendravarman I - Revision history2026-07-31T12:24:12ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Mahendravarman_I&diff=469463&oldid=prevXannat at 07:04, 25 March 20262026-03-25T07:04:33Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Pallava emperor from 590 to 630}}<br />
{{Other people|Mahendravarman|Mahendravarman (disambiguation){{!}}Mahendravarman}}<br />
{{pp-move-indef}}<br />
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}<br />
{{use Indian English|date=June 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox royalty<br />
| name = Mahendravarman I<br />
| image = Mahendravarman I.jpg<br />
| caption = Sculpture of Mahendravarman I with his queens at [[Varaha Cave Temple]].<br />
| succession = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava emperor]]<br />
| reign = 590–630<br />
| predecessor = [[Simhavishnu]]<br />
| successor = [[Narasimhavarman I]]<br />
| issue = [[Narasimhavarman I]]<br />
| dynasty = [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]]<br />
| father = [[Simhavishnu]]<br />
| mother = Daughter of [[Vishnukundina dynasty#Vikramendra Varma II|Vikramendra Varma II]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Sivaramamurti |first=C. |author-link=C. Sivaramamurti |title=Early Andhra Art and Iconography |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |date=1979 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e2JDAAAAYAAJ |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Rao |first=P. Raghunadha |title=Ancient and Medieval History of Andhra Pradesh |publisher=Sterling Publishers |date=1993 |isbn=978-81-207-1495-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wENuAAAAMAAJ |page=32 }}</ref><br />
| religion = [[Jainism]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=C. D. |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.15533/page/117/mode/1up |title=The Journal of the U.P. historical society |date=1955 |pages=117 |language=English |quote=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}}</ref><br/>[[Shaivism]]<br />
}}<br />
{{Pallava}}<br />
<br />
'''Mahendravarman I''' (reigned 590–630)<ref name="histoworldwhitney">{{cite book |editor1-first=John Whitney |editor1-last=Hall |others=John Grayson Kirk |title=History of the World: Earliest Times to the Present Day |year=2005 |orig-year=1988 |publisher=World Publications Group |location=455 Somerset Avenue, North Dighton, MA 02764, USA |isbn=1-57215-421-7 |page=246 |chapter=India }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CybxK9ANI8C&q=Mahendra+Varma&pg=PA203 |title=Indian kingdoms by royal asiatic society of great britain |last=Seventeen |first=Volume |publisher=Royal asiatic society of great Britain |year=1885}}</ref> was a [[Pallava]] emperor who ruled over a realm covering the southern portions of present-day [[Andhra Pradesh|Andhra]] region and northern regions of what forms present-day [[Tamil Nadu]] in [[India]], in the early 7th century. He was a scholar, a painter, an architect and a musician. He was the son of [[Simhavishnu]], who defeated the [[Kalabhras]] and re-established the Pallava kingdom.<br />
<br />
During his reign, the [[Chalukya]] monarch [[Pulakeshin II]] attacked the Pallava realm. 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 Pulakeshin.<ref>[[#Sastri|Sastri 2008]], p. 136</ref> Tamil literature flourished under his rule, with the rise in popularity of ''[[Tevaram]]'' written by [[Appar]] and [[Sambandhar]]. Mahendravarman I was the author of the play ''[[Mattavilasa Prahasana]]'' which is a [[Sanskrit]] satire. During his period "[[Bhagavadajjukam]]", another satire (prahasanam), was written by [[Baudhayana|Bodhayana]]. King Mahendravarman mentioned this on a stone inscription in Mamandur along with his own [[Mattavilasa Prahasana|Mattavilasa Prahasanam]].<ref>Bodhayan's Bhagwatajjukam edited by Veturi Prabhakara Sastri, Manmanjari Publications, Hyderabad, 2nd edition 1986, for more information Veturi Prabhakara Sastri Memorial Trust, 2-2-18/15/18/D/1, Bagh Amberpet, Hyderabad 500013</ref><br />
<br />
Mahendravarman was succeeded to the throne by his more famous son [[Narasimhavarman I]] in 630 CE,<ref name="histoworldwhitney" /> who defeated [[Pulakeshin II]] of the [[Chalukya]] dynasty and ransacked the Chalukyan capital city of [[Vatapi]] (also known as [[Badami]]).<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/historicalinscri035270mbp |title=Historical Inscriptions Of Southern INida |publisher=Kitabistam,Allahabad |others=BRAOU, Digital Library Of India}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Patronage of arts and architecture==<br />
[[File:Pancha Ratha Panorama (1).jpg|400px|thumb|left|[[Bhima Ratha]], which is part of the [[Pancha Rathas]] group of monuments, located in [[Mahabalipuram]] (Mamallapuram), [[Tamil Nadu]], India.]]<br />
Construction of these{{what?|date=July 2023}} started in the reign of Mahendravarma I.<ref name="sen">{{Cite book|last=Sen|first=Sailendra|title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History|publisher=Primus Books|year=2013|isbn=978-9-38060-734-4|page=41}}</ref> Mahendravarman was a great patron of letters and architecture. He constructed the [[Mamallapuram Lighthouse]] and Kanchi University where Vedas, Buddhism, Jainism, Painting, Music & Dance were taught. He was the pioneer of the Rock-cut Architecture amongst the Pallavas.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/217 217]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> The inscription at the rock-cut [[Mandagapattu Tirumurti Temple]] hails him as Vichitrachitta and claims that the temple was built without wood, brick, mortar or metal. The five-celled cave temple at [[Pallavaram]] was also built during his reign as was the [[Kokarneswarar Temple, Thirukokarnam]] of Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu.<ref>[[#Sastri|Sastri 2008]], p. 412</ref> He made Kudimiya malai Inscription. His paintings are found in [[Sittanavasal Cave]] (Tamil Nadu).<br />
<br />
Fine examples of his rock-cut temples can be witnessed at [[Mahabalipuram]], (Satyagirinathar and Satyagirishwarar twin temples), [[Seeyamangalam]] (the [[Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple|Avanibhajana Pallaveswaram]] Siva temple) in North Arcot district and the [[Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort#Rock-cut temple|upper rock-cut temple]] at [[Trichy]]. Apart from the Siva temples, Mahendravarma also excavated a few Vishnu cave temples, the Mahendravishnugrha at [[Mahendravadi]], and [[Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple|the Ranganatha Temple at Singavaram]] in present-day [[Gingee]] (then North Arcot district).<ref>[[#Sastri|Sastri 2008]], p. 413</ref><br />
<br />
He was also the author of the play ''[[Mattavilasa Prahasana]]'', a farce concerning [[Buddhist]] and [[Saivite|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.<ref>[[#Sastri|Sastri 2008]], p. 313</ref><br />
<br />
==Religion==<br />
[[File:Vsvarahacave.jpg|thumb|[[Varaha Cave Temple]] built by Mahendravarman I]]<br />
Mahendravarman was initially a patron of [[Jainism]],<ref>{{citation |title=Jainism - Its relevance to psychiatric practice; with special reference to the practice of Sallekhana |pmc=5270277 | pmid=28197009 | doi=10.4103/0019-5545.196702 |volume=58 |issue=4 |year=2016 |journal=Indian J Psychiatry |pages=471–474 | last1 = Somasundaram | first1 = O | last2 = Tejus Murthy | first2 = AG | last3 = Raghavan | first3 = DV |doi-access=free }}</ref> but he converted to the [[Shaivism|Shaiva]] tradition under the influence of the Shaiva saint [[Appar]].<ref name=Malla>[[#Malla|C. 2004]], pp. 5-6</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gopalan |first=R. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.35372 |title=History of the Pallavas of Kanchi |date=1928}}</ref> According to Divyacharitam, a Sanskrit work on the life of Alvars that was written in 12th century, the image of Yatotkara Perumal (Vishnu), enshrined in Kanchipuram, was carried out of the city along with his devotee [[Thirumalisai Alvar|Tirumalisai Alvar]], because the latter faced persecution and exile from the king, becuse it is also stated that pallavas were originally follower and patrons of [[Jainism]].<ref>[[#Sastri|Sastri 2008]], p. 382–383</ref><ref>[[#Stein|Stein]], p. 122</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=C. D. |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.15533/page/117/mode/1up |title=The Journal of the U.P. historical society |date=1955 |pages=117 |language=English |quote=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}}</ref><br />
<br />
==In literature and popular culture==<br />
{{see|List of Sanskrit plays in English translation}}<br />
Mahendravarman I is a prominent character in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[historical fiction]]. The novel ''[[Sivagamiyin Sapatham]]'' by [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]], talks about the first Vatapi invasion into the Pallava Kingdom, Mahendravarman's heroic deeds in the war, securing the Kanchi fort from the imminent invasion of the huge Vatapi army, his loss to the Vatapi Pulikesi, and eventual death. The inscriptions in Madangapattu mention him as a curious king who wanted to discard perishable materials like wood, brick, metal, or mortar for building temples. He was a pioneer in the use of rock-cut inscriptions. Literature also mentions that he built the famous Mahendratankta, the famous irrigation tank. He initiated most of the monuments in [[Mahabalipuram]], which, in modern times, are grouped as [[Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram]], and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.<ref name=Malla/><br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{Reflist|20em}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* {{cite book | first= Durga | last= Prasad | year=1988 | title= History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D.| publisher= P. G. Publishers | location= Guntur, India|ref=Durga}}<br />
* {{cite book|title=Mahabalipuram|publisher=The Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India|year=2004|isbn=|location=New Delhi|last=C.|first=Sivaramamurthi|page=3|ref=Malla}}<br />
* {{cite book | first= K A N | last= Sastri | year=2008 | title= A History of South India| edition= 4th| publisher= Oxford University Press | location= New Delhi, India|ref=Sastri}}<br />
* {{cite book |first = Burton| last= Stein| year= 1998 |title=A history of India |publisher=Blackwell Publishers |location=Cambridge, MA |isbn= 0-631-20546-2|ref=Stein}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
{{S-start}}<br />
{{S-hou|[[Pallava dynasty]]}}<br />
{{S-bef| before=[[Simhavishnu]]}}<br />
{{S-ttl|title=[[Pallava dynasty]] | years=600–630}}<br />
{{S-aft| after=[[Narasimhavarman I]]}}<br />
{{s-end}}<br />
<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahendravarma 01}}<br />
[[Category:7th-century Indian monarchs]]<br />
[[Category:Pallava kings]]<br />
[[Category:Ancient Indian dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:7th-century Indian writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Converts to Hinduism from Jainism]]</div>Xannat