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UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1, question 14

Topic: Ancient history

Q14

Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles ‘Mattavilasa’, ‘Vichitrachitta’ and ‘Gunabhara’?

  1. (a) Mahendravarman ICorrect answer
  2. (b) Simhavishnu
  3. (c) Narasimhavarman I
  4. (d) Simhavarman

Solution.

Answer: (a) Mahendravarman I

  1. The Pallava ruler Mahendravarman I (c. 600-630 CE), a patron of cave architecture and author of the Sanskrit farce Mattavilasa Prahasana, assumed the birudas (titles) 'Mattavilasa' (addicted to pleasures), 'Vichitrachitta' (curious-minded), and 'Gunabhara' (virtuous).
  2. These titles are recorded in his Mandagapattu and Trichy cave inscriptions.