Varaguna II

Varaguna II
Varaguna II
Reign	862 — 879 CE
Coronation	862 CE
Successor	Parantaka Viranarayana
Died	879 CE
Dynasty	Pandya

Varagunavarman II, also described as Varaguna II, 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]

Background

Srimara 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

Varaguna 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

^ 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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[1] 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.

[:3-2] Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1929) The Pandyan Kingdom. London, Luzac and Company. 78-79.

[:0-3] 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.

[:1-4] Noburu Karashima (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 88-89.

[:2-5] 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.

Pandya dynasty
Early Pandya polity
Koon Pandiyan Nedunjeliyan I Nedunjeliyan II
Early Medieval Pandyas
Kadungon (c. 590–620)/(c. 560–590) Maravarman Avanichulamani (c. 620–645)/(c. 590–620) Cheliyan Chendan (c. 654–670)/(c. 620–650) Arikesari Maravarman (Parankusan) (c. 670–700)/(c. 650–700) Ko Chadaiyan Ranadhira (c. 700–730) Maravarman Rajasimha I (c. 730–765)/(c. 730–768) Srimara Srivallabha (c. 815–862) Varaguna II (c. 862–880)/(c. 862–885) Maravarman Rajasimha III (c. 900–915)