Mahendravarman I
Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE) was a Pallava emperor who ruled the Southern portion 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, painter, architect, musician. He was the son of Simhavishnu, who defeated the Kalabhras and re-established the Pallava kingdom.
| Mahendravarman I | |
|---|---|
Sculpture of Mahendravarman I with his queens at Adivaraha Cave Temple. | |
| Pallava Emperor | |
| Reign | 590–630 CE |
| Predecessor | Simhavishnu |
| Successor | Narasimhavarman I |
| Issue | Narasimhavarman I |
| House | Pallava |
| Father | Simhavishnu |
| Pallava Monarchs (200s–800s CE) | |
|---|---|
| Virakurcha | (??–??) |
| Vishnugopa I | (??–??) |
| Vishnugopa II | (??–??) |
| Simhavarman III | (??–??) |
| Simhavishnu | (??–??) |
| Mahendravarman I | 600–630 |
| Narasimhavarman I | 630–668 |
| Mahendravarman II | 668–670 |
| Paramesvaravarman I | 670–695 |
| Narasimhavarman II | 695–728 |
| Paramesvaravarman II | 728–731 |
| Nandivarman II | 731–795 |
| Dantivarman | 795–846 |
| Nandivarman III | 846–869 |
| Nrpatungavarman | 869–880 |
| Aparajitavarman | 880–897 |
During his reign, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II attacked the Pallava kingdom. The Pallavas fought a series of wars in the northern Vengi region, before Mahendravarma decimated his chief enemies at Pullalur (according to Pallava grants at Kuram, Kasakudi and Tadantottam). Although Mahendravarma saved his capital, he lost the northern provinces to Pulakeshin. 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.
Mahendravarma was succeeded to the throne by his more famous son Narasimhavarman I in 630 CE. who defeated Pulakeshin II of Chalukya dynasty and ransacked the Chalukyan capital city of Vatapi (also known as Badami).