Varagunavarman II

Varagunavarman II was a king of the Pandyan Dynasty whose reign lasted from 862 until 880 AD.He was the contemporary of the great Saivite saint and author Manikavasagar who wrote the epoch making book Tiruvasagam. Also he seems to be the later contemporary of the Jain revivalist saint Ajjanandi.

The most significant event of his life is the battle of Kumbakonam or Thirupirambiyam. Thirupurambiyam is a small town near Tanjore in Tamil Nadu state of India. The battle was mainly between the Pallava king Aparajita and Pandya king Varaguna Pandian. After the Pallava king Nandivarman III died in 869 AD, the differences arose between his eldest son Nripatunga and another son Aparajit. The other forces in South India got involved in the family battle of the Pallavas. Nripatunga was supported by Pandians whereas Aparajita was supported by Pallava family members. Aparajita also got the support of Ganga king Prithvipathi I and Aditya Chola I. This battle should have happened in 879 AD. The Pandians were defeated in this battle. Although Pallavas won the battle, the Ganga king Prithvipathi was killed in the battle. Hence, the maximum benefit of victory went to the Chola king. Pallavas gave many regions around Tanjore from Mutharaiyars to Chola king as the token of appreciation. This incident led to revival of the Chola regime under the Vijayala line.

After Thirupurambiyam battle, the Pandyas wanted to reduce the importance of Cholas. They even invaded Cholas and camped at a place called Idavai in the northern part of Chola kingdom. Thus the sthala purana of Thiruvidaimaruthur is linked with this king even today in Saiva annals. But having failed to suppress the growing power of the Cholas, Varaguna II retired as a Saiva saint following the footsteps of Manickavasagar who was his minister.