Nandivarman II
| Nandivarman II | |
|---|---|
| Pallava Ruler | |
| Reign | c. 720 – c. 796 CE |
| Predecessor | Paramesvaravarman II |
| Successor | Dantivarman |
| Issue | Dantivarman |
| House | Pallava |
| Pallava Kings (200s–800s) | |
| Vishnugopa II | |
| Simhavarman III | |
| Simhavishnu | |
| Mahendravarman I | (600-630) |
| Narasimhavarman I | (630–668) |
| Mahendravarman II | (668–670) |
| Paramesvaravarman I | (670–695) |
| Narasimhavarman II | (700-728) |
| Paramesvaravarman II | (728–731) |
| Nandivarman II | (731–795) |
| Dantivarman | (795–846) |
| Nandivarman III | (846-869) |
| Aparajitavarman | (880-897) |
|
Aditya I (Chola Empire) |
(870-907) |
Nandivarman II (Pallavamalla) (c. 720 – c. 796 CE) was a Pallava ruler who ruled in South India. Sen states Nandivarman reigned from 730–795 and built the Vaikuntha-Perumal Temple.
In 731, the Pallava king Parameswaravarman died without any heir and hence the Pallava empire was kingless. Parameswaravarman was the last ruler of the Simhavishnu line of Pallavas.
That their enemies would not utilize the opportunity to invade the country, the military leaders (dandanayakas), scholars and representatives of mercantile and peasantry formed an entourage and undertook "a long journey" to reach the kingdom of Kambujadesa (कम्बोजदेश; "land of Kambuja") – modern day Cambodia and Vietnam – ruled by a certain Kadavesa Hari Varma, who stemmed from the Pallava lineage and was 6th descendant of Bhimavarman, the brother of the great Simha Vishnu. The king had four sons. The first three (Kshatriyamalla, Sangramamalla and Rajamalla) declined the offer. The last one by name Pallava Malla Parameswara also known as Nandi Varman, who was then 14 years old, accepted the request. Nandivarman's becoming a king at such an early age is referred to in many inscriptions and contemporary literature (referring to him as "The one of strong arms who got the kingdom at a tender age" or the one who became king at an early age).
Nandivarman was an intellectual with aptitude in many arts like writing, poetry, music and philosophy. Like his predecessor Rajasimha, he is credited with augmenting temple dramatized dance worship like Kutiyattam and chakyar koothu with many plays of his own. He is known to have composed the same in Tamil, also, as can be seen from the poem "Nandikkalambakam" that celebrates his erudition in Tamil, while also hailing his great conquests. Nandi varman is also known to have had expertise in the work of karnisuta a magnum opus in sanskrit dealing with crimes and punishment. The alwar saint Tirumangai Alwar, who was a contemporary of this Pallava, also dedicates several verses in his Divyaprabhandam to describe successful wars at Thellaru, Nellai (Tirunelveli), Urayur and Karur and kalikottai(kozhikode) of tamil chera kingdom in kerala. He is also known for his good looks and liking for training in gymnastics.
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