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Simhavishnu also known as Avanisimha, son of Simhavarman III was one of the famous Pallavan 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 did not leave any stone or copper-plate inscriptions, but rather is known only through the records of his successors. He was stated as a great conqueror in Mattavilasa Prahasana(drunken revelry), a drama written by his son Mahendravarman I.
Reign period
There is no exact consensus as to Simhavishnu's period on the throne. The recent epigraphical evidence supports the period of 537-570 whereas older generation historians like T.V.Mahalingam claimed it to be 575-615.
Expansion of Kingdom
When Simhavishnu ascended the throne, the Pallava dynasty was in decline. 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. In the 6th century, Simhavishnu vanquished the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Cheras and established Kanchipuram as his capital. This 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 2 centuries began during the reign of Simhavishnu.
Religious affiliation
Simhavishnu was a devotee of Vishnu. This is a noteworthy point as his son Mahendravarman I was a Jaina who opposed all the saivaite practises 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.
References
- Mahendravarman I Pallava: Artist and Patron of Mamallapuram by Marilyn Hirsh, Artibus Asiae, Vol. 48, No. 1/2. (1987), pp.113
External links
"Simhavishnu"