Arikesari Maravarman, also known as Parankusa, was a Pandyaking ofearly medievalsouth India. Arikesari's reign witnessed the beginning of the Pandya contest with the Pallavas in the northern Tamil country. He probably entered into an alliance with Chalukyas. The Pandyas also came into collision with the Cheras under his rule.
Period
Arikesari Maravarman was the successor of Seliyan Sendan, but it is not known for certain if he was Jayantavarman's son or not.
In the Velvikkudi Grant and the Smaller Sinnamanur Plates, his name appears as "Arikesari Maravarman". In the Larger Sinnamanur Plates, he is called "Arikesari Parankusa".
Life and career
Velvikkudi Grant
The reign of Arikesari Maravarman probably saw a significant increase in the Pandya political power and prestige. According to the Velvikkudi Grant, Arikesari Maravarman won battles at Pali, Nelveli, and Uraiyur. In Nelveli, he is said to have conquered the vast forces of certain Vilveli. The victory at Nelveli is confirmed by the Larger Sinnamanur Plates. Except Uraiyur, the identity of these places is not certain. E. Hultzsch tentatively identified Nelveli with modern Tirunelveli, but K. A. N. Sastri disagreed with this identification.
Larger Sinnamanur Plates.
The Larger Sinnamanur Plates states that Arikesari "Parankusa" won battles at Nelveli and Sankaramangai. The inscription further states that he ruined the Paravars who did not submit to him and destroyed the people of Kurunadu. According to one theory, "Kurunattar" refers to people of Kurunadu ; another possibility is that the term refers to petty chieftains. Arikesari is also said to have defeated an unspecified enemy at Sennilam, which may refer to a particular place or is a generic term for "Red Battlefield". Finally, the inscription states that he defeated the Keralas multiple times, and once imprisoned their king with his near relatives and warriors.
Role in the Chaluya-Pallava conflict
Arikesari Maravarman seems to have joined with the Chalukyas in their struggle against the Pallavas. Early in the rule of Pallava king Parameswara I, Chalukya Vikramadtiya I advanced south and even displaced the Pallava from his capital Kanchi. The Chalukya then advanced further south to the Kaveri River and encamped at Uraiyur.
Literary sources
Commentary to the Iraiyanar Ahapporul mentions a king named Arikesari, with titles Parakusan and Nedumaran among others. The commentary also mention several battles, at Pali, Sennilam and Nelveli and at Vizhinjam, some of which the scholars do not read inepigraphy till late 8th century. Based on this, historian Venkayya assumed that the two rulers are identical. However, K. A. N. Sastri rejected this identification on the basis that "a rhetorical work like this took for its hero a saintly king of legendary fame, and attributed to him all the achievements of the Pandyan lines of kings that the author could think of his day".
Religion
Arikesari is known to have performed the Hiranyagarbha and Tulabhara rituals.
