The Pallava expeditions for Manavamma

01The exile at Kanchi

The Culavamsa tells that Manavamma, son of a deposed Lankan king, took refuge with Narasimhavarman and fought for him against the Chalukyas. In return the Pallava gave him an army. It crossed and landed, but when a rumour came that Narasimha was ill, the troops lost heart and many went home; Manavamma had to return to Kanchi. The chronicle says he waited years at the Pallava court before the second chance came.

02The second fleet

For the second attempt, the chronicle says, the king himself came down to the shore to see the fleet off, and it was much larger. This time the landing held. Manavamma defeated the reigning king, entered Anuradhapura and was consecrated. His line ruled the island for generations and kept close ties with the Pallavas. Historians argue over the dates, since the chronicle’s figures do not fit Narasimhavarman’s reign easily; some think a later Pallava sent the second fleet.

Dynasty · 437 BCE–1017 CE (traditional founding)Kingdom of AnuradhapuraThe first great kingdom of Lanka, ruled from Anuradhapura for some fourteen centuries. Its kings received the Dharma from Ashoka’s son Mahinda and built the great stupas, while the island’s Shaiva shrines stood on its coasts.Read →