Lion was one of the motifs used in Ashokan pillars. Lion is a solar symbol and it also represents the Buddha, as he is referred to as Sakyasimha which also means a lion among the Sakyas.
Varagunavarman II succeeded his father Srimar and ruled the Pandyan empire from 862 to 880 A.D. He made attempts to raise the prestige of Pandyan dynasty by invading the Chola territory.
EXAMIANS