During his reign, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II attacked the Pallava kingdom. The Pallavas fought a series of wars in the northern Vengi region, before Mahendravarma decimated his chief enemies at Pullalur (according to Pallava grants at Kuram, Kasakudi and Tadantottam). Although Mahendravarma saved his capital, he lost the northern provinces to Pulakeshin. Tamil literature flourished under his rule, with the rise in popularity of "Tevaram" written by Appar and Sambandhar. Mahendravarman I was the author of the play "Mattavilasa Prahasana" which is a sanskrit satire and another play called "Bhagavadajjuka".