Narasimhavarman II

Narasimhavarman II (Tamil: இரண்டாம் நரசிம்மவர்மன்) or Rajasimha (Tamil: ராஜசிம்மன்) was a Pallava king who ruled in South India during the 6th century. Succeeding his father Paramesvaravarman I in the year 700 CE, he ruled for nearly 3 decades, until he was succeeded by his son Paramesvaravarman II in 728 CE.

Ascension to the throne

By the time Rajasimha ascended the throne, the Pallavas were by the large most powerful military force in the subcontinent. His father Parameswaravarman I was among the greatest of warrior kings of ancient India, the Amaravati Pallava inscription praises him of being:'" As vigorous and strong as lord sambhu (siva).". Parameswaravarman I had subdued all his formidable enemies to extend the Pallava empire far and away. Rajasimha followed up very well.The Vayalur inscription of Pallavas issued on the eve of the coronation of Rajasimha (695.C.E-728.C.E), gives a lineage of 54 rulers through the epochs of Kritam, Dwaparam and Kali up to emperor Rajasimha, this includes 47 kings after Aswattaman, the great warrior ancestor of the Pallavas.

The reign

Rajasimha, like of most of Pallava kings before him, was a great militarist. That the Pallavas were recognized as a major power during his period is testified by the fact that he exchanged ambassadors with China. Some inscriptions credit him of "offering to certain rulers assistance in their war against Arabs". In general his period was relatively free from major wars and Pallava domination of south east Asia continued.

Contribution to Literature

Rajasimha was a skilled dramatist and poet. He wrote many works in Sanskrit and Tamil. Most of these are missing. His Sanskrit plays had themes from Ramayana, Mahabharatha and puranas. Kutiyattam, which is presently considered as the most ancient available form of Sanskrit dance drama and still in vogue in Kerala, uses some of his plays (like kailasodharanam) for subject matter. another play called "kamsavadham" dealing with lord krishna's killing of kamsa also was written by the king.

The Sanskrit litterateur Dandin spent several years in his court and was patronized by the king, but we do not know about his standing as the inscriptions denote considerable level of erudition . Rajasimha himself was a great devotee who was credited for having mastered the great agamic worship rituals" like preceptor drona".^[1]

For all his accomplishments, Rajasimha is mainly remembered as a foremost devotee of lord sivan and a relentless,truthful, diehard warrior king who made sure that pallava armies remained dominant in the subcontinent. Lord sivan is famously known to have appeared in the king's dream and ordered him to adjourn his coronation because he wanted to first bless an impoverished saint poosalar.This event is very well described in most pallava grants of Rajasimha as well as the ones after him.

Religious endowments

Rajasimha was a great devotee of Siva and constructed the Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram. Rajasimha is one among the pantheon of 63 Saivite Nayanmar saints as Kazharsimha( meaning "one who is lion to crowd of evil kings") Nayanar and also contemporary to many nayanmar saints like sundarar, dandi, poosalar and his great queen Rangapataka who was known to be a pious queen. Rajasimha is greatly admired for valor. He took many titles like "ranajaya", "sivachudamani" etc.

He is further credited with the construction of the Buddhist Vihara at Nagapattinam.^[2]

Patronage of Architecture

The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram built by Narasimhavarman II

Rajasimha's reign was marked by peace and prosperity, and he constructed several beautiful temples.^[1] Apart from the Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram, Rajasimha also built several other temples, including the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple at Kanchi, Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram.^[3][4] He is also credited with building the Airavatesvara temple at Kanchipuram and the Talagirisvara temple at Panamalai.^[2]

Successor

Rajasimha's had two sons - Mahendravarman and Paramesvaravarman II. However, Mahendravarman III predeceased his father, and Paramesvaravarman II succeeded to the throne in 728 CE.

Narasimhavarman II Pallava dynasty
Preceded by Paramesvaravarman I	Pallava dynasty 700–728	Succeeded by Paramesvaravarman II

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b} Tripathi, p450
2. ^ ^{a b} South Indian Inscriptions, Volume 12, ASI
3. ^ Ching, Francis D.K, A Global History of Architecture, p 274
4. ^ Keay, John, India: A History, p 174

References

• Ching et al., Francis D.K. (2007). A Global History of Architecture. New York: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 0-471-82451-3. 
• Keay, John (2001). India: A History. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 0-802-13797-0. 
• Sen, Tansen (2003). Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824825934. 
• Tripathi, Rama Sankar (1967). History of Ancient India. India: Motilal Banarsidass Publications. ISBN 8-120-80018-4. 
• South Indian Inscriptions, Volume 12
• A study on koodiyattam, UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE ART.
• Kavyadarsa and Dasakumaracharitha of Dandin.

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