Mahendravarman titles
Mahendravarman I
7th-century Pallava Emperor
For other people named Mahendravarman, see Mahendravarman.
Mahendravarman I (– CE)[1][2] was a Pallava emperor who ruled over realm covering the southern portions of present-day 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.
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 Mahendra-varman decimated his chief enemies at Pullalur (according to Pallava grants at Kuram, Kasakudi and Tadantottam).
Although Mahendra-varman saved his capital, he lost the northern provinces to Pulakeshin.[3] 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 "Bhagwatajjukam", another satire (prahasan), was written by Bodhayan.
King Mahendravarman mentioned this on a stone inscription in Mamandur along with his own Mattavilas Prahasan.[4]
Mahendra-varman was succeeded to the throne by his more famous son Narasimhavarman I in CE.[1] who defeated Pulakeshin II of Chalukya dynasty and ransacked the Chalukyan capital city of Vatapi (also known as Badami).
Patronage of arts and architecture
Construction of these[clarification needed] started in the reign of Mahendravarma I.[5] Mahendravarman was a great patron of letters and architecture. He constructed the Mahabalipuram 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.[6] 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.[7] He made Kudimiya malai Inscription.
His paintings are found in Sittanavasal Cave (Tamil Nadu).
Mahendravarman biography examples in hindi Mahendravarman’s devotion to Shaivism can be seen through the architectural structures he sponsored. He installed the trinity— Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—in the first rock-cut temple built in Mandangapattu. Mahendravarman was a pioneer of rock-cut architecture in India. The temple in Mandangapattu used no bricks, wood, or metals.Fine examples of his rock-cut temples can be witnessed at Mahabalipuram, (Satyagirinathar and Satyagirishwarar twin temples), Seeyamangalam (the Avanibhajana Pallaveswaram Siva temple) in North Arcot district and the upper rock-cut temple at Trichy. Apart from the Siva temples, Mahendravarma also excavated a few Vishnu cave temples, the Mahendravishnugrha at Mahendravadi, and the Ranganatha Temple at Singavaram in present-day Gingee (then North Arcot district).[8]
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.[9]
Religion
Mahendravarman was initially a patron of Jainism,[10] but he converted into the Saiva tradition under the influence of the Saiva saint Appar.[11] According to Divyacharitam, a Sanskrit work on the life of Alwars that was written in 12th century, Yatotkara Perumal (Mahavishnu), enshrined in Kancheepuram left the city along with his great devotee Thirumalisai Alvar, because the Vaishnava Alwar faced tough persecution and exilement from the king who had at least temporarily come under the influence of Jainism.[12][13]
In literature and popular culture
Further information: List of Sanskrit plays in English translation
Mahendravarman I is a prominent character in Tamilhistorical 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.
Mahendravarman biography examples in english
Mahendravarman I (– CE) [1] [2] was a Pallava emperor who ruled over realm covering the southern portions of present-day 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.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.[11]
Notes
- ^ abHall, John Whitney, ed.
() []. "India". History of the World: Earliest Times to the Present Day. John Grayson Kirk. Somerset Avenue, North Dighton, MA , USA: World Publications Group.
Biography examples for students: Mahendravarman was a pioneer of rock-cut architecture in India. The temple in Mandangapattu used no bricks, wood, or metals. The temple is inscribed with his biruda, Vicitracitta, meaning the curious-minded, along with a short note.
p.&#; ISBN&#;.
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^Seventeen, Volume (). Indian kingdoms by royal asiatic society of great britain. Royal asiatic society of great Britain.
- ^Sastri , p.
- ^Bodhayan's Bhagwatajjukam edited by Veturi Prabhakara Sastri, Manmanjari Publications, Hyderabad, 2nd edition , for more information Veturi Prabhakara Sastri Memorial Trust, /15/18/D/1, Bagh Amberpet, Hyderabad
- ^Sen, Sailendra ().Short biography examples A king of the Pallava dynasty, Mahendravarman I ruled over parts of present-day northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh between – CE. He was a patron of the arts and is also tbelieved to have authored two farcical plays in Sanskrit — the Mattavilasa Prahasanam, which satirises Buddhist bhikshus and Kapalikas, and the Bhagavadajjukam. [ ].
A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
- ^Gopal, Madan (). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p.&#;
- ^Sastri , p.
- ^Sastri , p.Mahendravarman biography examples Mahendravarman I (– CE) [1] [2] was a Pallava emperor who ruled over realm covering the southern portions of present-day 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.
- ^Sastri , p.
- ^Somasundaram, O; Tejus Murthy, AG; Raghavan, DV (), "Jainism - Its relevance to psychiatric practice; with special reference to the practice of Sallekhana", Indian J Psychiatry, 58 (4): –, doi/, PMC&#;, PMID&#;
- ^ abC.
, pp.
- ^Sastri , p. –
- ^Stein, p.
References
- Prasad, Durga (). History of the Andhras up to A. D. Guntur, India: P. G. Publishers.
- C., Sivaramamurthi (). Mahabalipuram. New Delhi: The Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India.
p.&#;3.
- Sastri, K A N ().
- Narasimhavarman 1 built which temple
- Chitrakarapuli meaning
- Mahendravarman 2
- Mahendravarman style of architecture
A History of South India (4th&#;ed.). New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press.
- Stein, Burton (). A history of India. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers. ISBN&#;.