Nandivarman II

Biography

Paramesvaravarman II was succeeded by a 12-year-old Nandivarman II Pallavamalla who belonged to a collateral line of Pallavas called the Kadavas. The latter were the descendants of Bhimavarman, the brother of Simhavishnu. According to epigraphical findings, Hiranyavarman, the father of Nandivarman Pallavamalla belonged to the Kadavakula. Nandivarman II himself is described as "one who was born to raise the prestige of the Kadava family". He commissioned the Tiru Parameswara Vinnagaram. His name also appears in Southeast Asia. A Tamil inscription of the ninth century from Takua Pa on the western coast of the Malay Peninsula commemorates the donation of a tank named in his honour, and identifies its patrons as a community of merchants settled there under the protection of a garrison who describe themselves as members of the Manigramam guild.

The term Kaduvetti in Tamil means "destroyer or clearer of forests" as the Pallavas, like their ancestor Mukkanti Kaduvetti alias Trilochana Pallava, were known to often clear forests and introduce civilization by settling communities.

The previous monarch Paramesvaravarman II did not have an heir so the ministers, feudatories and advisors of the state took an expedition to neighboring states and distant lands to find a suitable prince of the original line. Upon reaching Kambujadesa (modern-day Cambodia and southern Vietnam), they finally identified Nandivarman II as belonging to the original line and willing to ascend the throne. Accordingly, he was brought and then installed on the throne of the Pallava kingdom.

He married Reva, the daughter of the Rashtrakuta emperor Dantidurga around 751 CE. Their son Dantivarman succeeded him after his death in 796. Dantidurga around 751 CE. Dantidurga helped Nandivarman recover Kanchi by warring against the Chalukyas.