Aparajita Varman, (reigned 880-897 CE) commonly referred as Aparajita, was a king of the Pallava dynasty. He was the son of Kampavarman and the Ganga princess Vijaya. Considered the last known Pallava ruler,[1] he was defeated and killed in c. 897 CE in a battle against Aditya I. The Pallava reign over Tondaimandalam came to an end thereafter as the Pallava territories were annexed into the Chola Empire. [2] In 880 CE, Aparajita fought a battle against the Pandya ruler Varagunavarman II and had him defeated.[3]

Aparajita Varman
Pallava King
Reignc. 880 – c. 897 CE (17 years)
PredecessorNandivarman III
SuccessorEmpire abolished
(Aditya I as the Chola Emperor)
DynastyPallava
FatherKampavarman
MotherVijaya
Pallava Monarchs (200s–800s CE)
Virakurcha(??–??)
Vishnugopa I(??–??)
Vishnugopa II(??–??)
Simhavarman III(??–??)
Simhavishnu575–600
Mahendravarman I600–630
Narasimhavarman I630–668
Mahendravarman II668–670
Paramesvaravarman I670–695
Narasimhavarman II695–728
Paramesvaravarman II728–731
Nandivarman II731–795
Dantivarman795–846
Nandivarman III846–869
Nrpatungavarman869–880
Aparajitavarman880–897

Reign

edit

A Somaskanda depiction on the rear wall of the sanctum of a temple commissioned by him in Tiruttani is regarded as the last known use of that stylistic tradition.[4] In 885, he transferred the rule of Thanjavur to his ally and vassal Aditya I as a reward for his contribution to the victory at Thirupurambiyam. The Cholas under Aditya I at first were minor allies of the Pallavas, but later attacked them, defeated and killed Aparajitavarman, thus marking the end of the Pallava reign in Southern India.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  2. ^ Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu world. Concept Publishing Company. p. 548. ISBN 9788170223757.
  3. ^ Srinivasan, K. R. (1964). Cave-temples of the Pallavas. Archaeological Survey of India. p. 15.
  4. ^ Ghose, Rajeshwari (1996). The Tyāgarāja cult in Tamilnāḍu: a study in conflict and accommodation. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 13. ISBN 9788120813915.
  5. ^ Daniélou, Alain; Hurry, Kenneth (11 February 2003). A brief history of India. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. p. 176. ISBN 9780892819232. Retrieved 27 March 2012.