Varagunavarman II

Varagunavarman II , also known as Varaguna II, and Arimardhana, was a king of the Pandya dynasty in south India whose reign lasted from c. 862 until c. 879 CE. Varaguna II was famously defeated by a contingent of troops led by Pallava king Aparajita around 879 CE. According to Mahavamsa Madurai was then sacked by the forces of the Lankan ruler Sena II and Maya Pandya. Maya Pandya was installed on the Pandya throne by the Sri Lankan army commanders. According to the Pandyan side of the evidence makes the ruling king Srimara Srivallabha successful in repelling a Maya Pandya (Varaguna II) and sinhalese forces led by sena II thus keeping his throne to himself at the end of the struggle. It shows that he had been at Niyamam near Tanjore, after he had fought at Idavai and defeated the Ganga Chief and destroyed the fortifications of Vembil. Both of which places are on the north side of the Kavery river, and therefore in territory belonging to the Gangas.Ganga king Prithivipati I effected an alliance with the Pallava king Nripatunga, whose country was in danger from the Pandya's advance, and together the Ganga and Pallava forces the latter led by the crown prince Aparajita attacked Varaguna. An officer of his, who had accompanied Varaguna when he captured the town of Idavai on the north bank of the Kaveri, constructed a tank near Dindigul.

Battle of Shripurambiyam

Varaguna tried to check the Pallava influence by marching north (and even crossing the Kaveri in the Chola country by c. 879 AD). The northern expedition may well have been directed against the rising power of the Cholas. The Chola king subsequently invaded the Pallava country and defeated Aparajita.

Varaguna was succeeded by his younger brother Parantaka Viranarayana around 880 AD.