Simhavishnu

Simhavishnu (Tamil:சிம்மவிஷ்ணு), also known as Avanisimha (Tamil: அவனிசிம்மன்), son of Simhavarman III, was one of the famous Pallava kings of India responsible for the revival of the Pallavan dynasty. He was the first Pallava monarch whose domain extended beyond Kanchipuram (Kanchi) in the South. He was stated as a great conqueror in "Mattavilasa Prahasana" (drunken revelry), a drama written by his son Mahendravarman I.

Reign period

Hero stones of reigns of Simhavishnu and his father Simhavarman have been found, which show his highest regnal year to be the thirty-third, so it may be assumed that he ruled for over 33 years.KAN Sastri, A History of South India, p135]

However, there is no exact consensus as to Simhavishnu's period on the throne. The recent epigraphical evidence supports the period of 537-570 CE whereas older generation historians like T.V.Mahalingam claimed it to be 575-615 CE. KAN Sastri tentatively places Simhavishnu's reign between 555-590 CE.

Expansion of Kingdom

When Simhavishnu ascended the throne, the Pallava dynasty was beginning to reassert their supremacy. His father Simhavarman was an accomplished militarist who according to a grant by Rajasimha Pallava (Narasimhavarman II) in 8th century A.D, had destroyed the town and army of Ranarasika, a Chalukyan king of the deccan.

The southern peninsula of India was then ruled by five dynasties. The Pallavas, the Cholas and the Pandyas shared the power in Tamil Nadu and Ceylon, the Cheras controlled Kerala and the Chalukyas controlled Karnataka. Simhavishnu, who was known for his gallant martial courage and judicial wisdom from a young age, overthrew the Kalabhras, conquered the region up to Kaveri and came into conflict with the Pandyas and Ceylon.KAN Sastri, A History of South India, p135] He dispatched a naval expedition and occupied Malaya and Srilanka,Fact|date=May 2008 and established Kanchipuram as his capital.

Simhavishnu led the revival of the Pallavas, and the period starting with him came to be known as the Greater Pallavas or Later Pallavas dynasty. The great struggle between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas which would last for more than two centuries began during the reign of Simhavishnu.

Contribution to Literature

Simhavishnu is known to be the patron of great Sanskrit poet Bharavi, who wrote the famous duel between Siva and Arjuna known as Kirata Arjuneeya, after which Lord Shiva blessed Arjuna with divine 'pasupata' missile. The structure of this play suggests that it was written for the purpose of "koodiyattam" plays in temples as a worship during festivals. Kirata Arjuneeya is used as a subject for "koodiyattam" performances even today.

Religious affiliation

As with most Indian monarchs, Simhavishnu also accepted his servility to the Almighty. Great endownments were done to temples across the Tamil region. His father Simhavarma probably had entered the Tamil pantheon of Saivite saints who had gained mukti at the feet of the lord.

"Periyapuranam" mentions a Pallava ruler Aiyatikal Kaadavarkon who at Chidambaram composed hymns in praise of the Lord in "venpaa" metre of Tamil and attained "mukti". There is evidence to believe that this could have been Simhavarman, as it is said that he had first gilded the temple with Gold after bathing in the temple tank cured him of illness.Fact|date=May 2008

In the Udayendiram copper plates of Nandivarman II, Simhavishnu was a devotee of Vishnu. This is a noteworthy point as his son Mahendravarman I was a Jaina who opposed all the Saivaite practices before being converted into Saivism. Simhavishnu's portrait can be seen in the stone engraving at the Adivaraha Mandap, an elegant shrine at Mahabalipuram. The monuments and temples in Mahabalipuram are great achievements of the Pallava dynasty, and it still exists in Tamil Nadu. Simhavishnu was succeeded by his son Mahendravarman I.

Notes

References

*
* Mahendravarman I Pallava: Artist and Patron of Mamallapuram by Marilyn Hirsh, Artibus Asiae, Vol. 48, No. 1/2. (1987), pp.113

External links

* [http://faculty.sxu.edu/~rabe/simhavishnu.htm Simhavishnu portrait]