Varagunavarman II, also described as Varaguna II,(Tamil:வரகுண வர்மன்) was a king of the Pandya dynasty in south India whose reign lasted from c. 862 until c. 879 CE.[1] Varaguna II was famously defeated by a contingent of troops led by Pallava king Aparajita around 879 CE.[2]
| Varaguna II | |
|---|---|
| Reign | 862 — 879 CE |
| Coronation | 862 CE |
| Successor | Parantaka Viranarayana |
| Died | 879 CE |
| Dynasty | Pandya |
Background
editSrimara Srivallabha (r. c. 815—862 AD), the predecessor of Varaguna II, was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha (the battle of Arisil).[3] Madurai was then sacked by the forces of the Lankan ruler Sena II.[4] Maya Pandya was installed on the Pandya throne by the Sri Lankan army commanders.[4][3]
Battle of Sri Purambiyam
editVaraguna tried to check the Pallava influence by marching north (and even crossing the Kaveri in the Chola country by c. 879 AD).[5] The northern expedition may well have been directed against the rising power of the Cholas.[2]
A decisive battle was fought at Sri Purambiyam (Tiruppurambiyam near Kumbakonam) in c. 880 AD. An alliance led by the Pallava Aparajita, supported by Chola Aditya I and Ganga Prithvipati I, opposed and defeated the Pandya king (although Prithvipati I lost his life in the battle).[5] The Pandya advance was rolled back.[2] The Chola king subsequently invaded the Pallava country and defeated Aparajita.[5]
Varaguna was succeeded by his younger brother Parantaka Viranarayana around 880 AD.[5]
References
edit- ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras, Oxford University Press. 165.
- ^ a b c Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1929) The Pandyan Kingdom. London, Luzac and Company. 78-79.
- ^ a b Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras, Oxford University Press. 153-54.
- ^ a b Noburu Karashima (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 88-89.
- ^ a b c d Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras, Oxford University Press. 167-68.
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