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Narasimhavarman I was a Tamil king of the Pallava dynasty who ruled South India from 630 - 668 CE. He is the son of Mahendravarman I. Narasimhavarman was also known as Mamallan (great wrestler) and Mamallapuram, an important tourist spot in Chennai was named after him. The picture is his statue found in Mamallapuram. He is much revered and adored in Chennai and Tamilnadu.

Narasimhavarman I is claimed to be one of the Seven Indian kings who never lost on the battlefield to their enemies. During his father’s reign, Pulikesi II of Chalukyas, annexed Kanchipuram, the Pallava capital and handed his father a bad defeat.

In order to avenge this defeat, once he ascended the throne, Narasimhavarman led his army along with his general Paranjothi and invaded Vatapi, successfully defeating the Chalukya king Pulakesi II in 642 CE. Vatapi was completely burnt and razed to ground.

In order to commemorate his victory over Chalukyas, he changed the insignia of the Pallava empire. The emblem, which had been a “raging bull” until that point of time was changed to something else.

My question is what was the new insignia and what did it inspire in today’s modern India..