A brief detour to history - thirumangai Azhwar and pallavas

I chanced upon the "History of the Pallavas of Kanchi" by R, Gopalan, 1928 University of Madras.  This was triggered by revisiting "Sivagamiyin Sabatham". Little did I know that "Thalaivar" would have such a big reference in that text. I did a quick read. The entire book, origins of pallavas, empires, multiple wars and counter views (about how post mamalla, kanchi was attacked again for revenge) is amazing. We have read enough about Thirunaraiyur and the king (early chola) turned nayanmar (Kochengannan) in the naraiyur pathigam of azhwar.

However I picked specific references from Periya Thirumozhi that was spread all over the book on pallavas. Following is a summary

1. Interchangeable use of Thondaimaans and pallavas ... we call Kanchi and surrounding areas as thondaimandalam and the kings who ruled from there are usually pallavas. So historically there is this usage. Has Azhwar supported that....

2-8-10 - மன்னவன் தொண்டையர்கொன் வணங்கும் நீள் முடி மாலை வயிர மேகன் 

This refers to nandivaraman / rashtrakura princess /pallava offspring. In this azhwar confirms rashrakuta background as well in kanchi. Vayiramega is the title of Rashtrakuta Dantidurga. It is believed that he gave his daughter in marriage to Nandivarma pallava and had an alliance against chalukyas.

2. Nandivarman pallavamalla - he ruled for almost 65 years and overlapped a lot with azhwars timeline. He built the paramesvara vinnagaram sannidhi in kanchi. 

Nandivarma pallavamalla also was known as parameswaravarman (family name) pallavamalla. So azhwar called this emperuman koil as parameswara vinnagaram!!

3. We all have heard/read in history classes how mamallapuram was a sea port. interesting point to note that even before Narasimha varma pallavan (who created the actual town), the port facilities were in use. how does azhwar refer to that 

2-6-6 நலங்கொள் நவமணிக் குவையும் சுமந்து எங்கும் நான்றோசிந்து

கலங்கள் இயங்கும் மலை - கடல்மல்லைத் தலசயனத்து .....The place from where ships laden with nava rathnas travel all over the world!

4. seige of nandipura - Nandivarma pallava was laid in seige by an alliance of southern kings (supporting another pallava prince) when he visited nandipura. His able general udayachandra attacked and saved his king.

5-10-7 நந்தி பணி செய்த நகர் நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே .... clearly nandivarman either built or did kainkaryam to this emperuman. So nandipura vinnagaram called now days as nathan koil near kumbakonam (apparently this was a fortied area under pallavas)

5. Udayachandra, the general of nandivaraman had many victories including at a  place which is modern day nellore. Reference by azhwar

2-9-8 விடைத் திறல் வில்லவன் நென்மெலியில் வெருவச் செருவேல் வலங்கைப் பிடித்த படைத் திறல் பல்லவர் கோன்

Nenmali - it is probably identical to nelVeli which is the modern day nellore - History of pallavas page 125

6. Pallavan worshipping in srirangam.. 5-8-9  துளங்கு நீண் முடி அரசர் தம் குரிசில் தொண்டை மன்னவன் திண் திறல்  ஒருவர்க்கு... azhwar refers to periya perumal moving this thondaimannavan away from lowkika life by giving him thirumanthram (refer blog http://rangasrinivasan.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-post_20.html) History of pallavas - This king is possibly  Nandivarman - page 127-128.

,....Interesting point on origin of pallavas... this is a bit vague in history. They were clearly more sanskrit oriented empire compared to other southern empires. But origin is murky. but Sangam works - PerumpaanaRRupadai (uruthirankaNNanaar) states the following legend. Nagapattinam based chola king went to nagalogam and fell in love with the naga princess. When she got pregnant and gave birth to a prince, she was scared and was wondering what to do. Chola king asked her to tie a creeper (தொண்டை  - கொடி) to the baby and throw him into the sea. He promised to give him an land to rule. This baby was predicted to arrive from sea in the land of thiruvenkatam, kanchi and surround areas. This prince became the origin of thondaimandala kings due to this தொண்டை  - கொடி!! This is referred in the vyakyanam for this pasuram.