Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles Mattavilasa, Vichitrachitta and Gunabhara?
- Mahendravarman I
- Simhavishnu
- Narasimhavarman I
- Simhavarman
Explanation
Option (a) is correct
- Mahendravarman I (600 – 630 C.E.) was a Pallava ruler. Mattavilasa, Chitrakarapuli, Vichitrachitta, Gundabhara and Lalitankura were the titles assumed by him. He has authored the Sanskrit work „Mastavilasa Prahasanam‟. He was a great builder of cave temples. The rock cut caves at Mandagapattu, Dalavanur and Tiruchirapalli were excavated during his time. He was defeated by Pulakesin II (Western Chalukya ruler) at a place called Pullalur near Kanchi.
Option (b) is incorrect
- Simhavishnu (575 – 590 CE) defeated the Kalabhras and laid the foundation for the establishment of the “Age of the Imperial Pallavas”. He also defeated the rulers of the Chola, Pandya and Chera kingdoms. He was a worshiper of Vishnu and had the title Avanishimha (lion of the earth). According to a literary tradition, the great poet Bharavi visited his court.
Option (c) is incorrect
- Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 CE) was the greatest of the Pallavas, who raised the power and prestige of the dynasty to an amazing height. He had the title Mahamalla or Mamalla which means „great wrestler‟. He defeated Pulakesin II in three battles, including that at Manimangalam near Kanchi in 642 CE. Pulakesin II lost his life, and hence Narasimhavarman assumed the title Vatapikonda (the conqueror of Vatapi). Another notable achievement of Narasimhanvarman I was his novel expedition to Srilanka, to reinstate the Sinhalese prince Manavarman. During his reign, Hiuen Tsang visited the Pallava capital Kanchi and noted that Buddhism and Jainism flourished in the city besides Hinduism.
- Besides, he was a great builder, having constructed Mamallappuram (modern Mahabalipuram), and created the Monolithic Rathas (Rock-cut Rathas) during his reign.
Option (d) is incorrect
- He was one of the early Pallava ruler.
