Journal of Advances and JournalScholarly of Advances and Researches in Scholarly Researches in AlliedAllied Education Education Vol.Vol. VI I3,I, Issue Issue No. 6, XV I, Oct-2014,April ISSN-2012, 2230 -7540 ISSN 2230- 7540 REVIEW ARTICLE REVIEW ARTICLE AN A STUDY ON PANDYAN DYNASTY INTERNATIONALLY INDEXED PEER REVIEWED & Study of Political Representations: REFEREED JOURNAL Diplomatic Missions of Early Indian to Britain www.ignited.in Journal of Advances and Scholarly Researches in Allied Education Vol. VIII, Issue No. XVI, October-2014, ISSN 2230-7540 A Study on Pandyan Dynasty Kanta - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - INTRODUCTION an act that earned him the name Ollaiyur thantha Pudappandian. Both Pudappandiyan and his The Pandyan or Pandian dynasty was an predecessor, Nedunj Cheliyan I, were poets ancient Tamil dynasty, one of the three Tamil themselves who contributed to the Purananuru dynasties, the other two being the Chola and the collection. Chera). The Pandya King, along with Chera King and Chola King, together were called asThree The successor of Pudappandiyan was Nedunj Crowned Kings of Tamilakam. The dynasty ruled parts Cheliyan II also known as "Pasumpun Pandyan. of South India from around 600 BCE (Early Pandyan "Immediately after ascending the throne, he marched Kingdom) to first half of 17th century CE. They initially with his troops to the north of Vaigai and defeated the ruled their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a chieftain Evvi II. He then headed west and captured seaport on the southernmost tip of the Indian the Aayi territory controlled by another chieftain, Peninsula, and in later times moved to Madurai. Fish Atiyan. Both Evvi II and Atiyan were made being their flag, Pandyas were experts in water commanders of the Pandyan army for his battles management, agriculture (mostly near river banks) and against Kongu country that was further west. From fisheries and they were eminent sailors and sea here he expanded the Pandyan kingdom almost to traders too. Pandyan was well known since ancient the western coast, which earned him the times, with contacts, even diplomatic, reaching title Vidambalamba Ninra Pandyan (the Pandyan the Roman Empire. The Pandyan empire was home to whose kingdom was washed by two seas). Since he temples including Meenakshi Amman Temple in was responsible for expanding the Pandyan kingdom Madurai, and Nellaiappar Temple built on the bank of by annexing several kingdoms, he was also the river Thamirabarani in Tirunelveli. The Pandya called Pannadu thantha Pandyan (the Pandyan who kings were called either Jatavarman or Maravarman annexed many lands). His successor, Mudukudumi Pandyan. From being Jains in their early ages, they Peruvaludhi, was also a great warrior and carried became Shaivaits after some centuries of rule. the devastation into enemy territories. He performed Strabo states that an Indian king called Pandyan yagas with the aid of Brahmin priests, similar to the sent Augustus Caesar "presents and gifts of tradition in northern India at that time. honour". The country of the Pandyas, Pandi Mandala, was described as Pandyan Mediterranea in The early Pandyan Dynasty of the Sangam Literature thePeriplus and Modura Regia Pandyan by Ptolemy.[6] faded into obscurity upon the invasion of the Kalabhras. The dynasty revived The first Pandyan king who has been mentioned in the under Kadungon in the early 6th century, pushed the Sangam works recovered so far is Nedunj Cheliyan I, Kalabhras out of the Tamil country and ruled from who ruled from the coastal town of Korkai, at the Madurai. They again went into decline with the rise of mouth of river Tamraparni. During this time, the Tamil the Cholas in the 9th century and were in constant country consisted of several small kingdoms ruled over conflict with them. The Pandyas allied themselves by independent chieftains, in addition to the three with the Sinhalese and the Cheras in harassing the monarchies of Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. In a bid Chola empire until they found an opportunity for th to expand his territory, Nedunj Cheliyan I invaded the reviving their fortunes during the late 13 century. kingdom of Kudal which was under the rule of an The Later Pandyas (1216–1345) entered their golden independent chieftain, Akutai. He defeated Akutai and age under Maravman Sundara Pandyan moved the capital of Pandyan kingdom to and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (c. 1251), who Madurai. This king also defeated an invading army expanded the empire into Telugu country, from the Deccan and hence was called Aariyap conquered Kalinga (Orissa) and invaded and Padaikadantha Pandyan or the king who conquered conquered Sri Lanka. They also had extensive trade the Aryan army. He was succeeded by his son links with the Southeast Asian maritime empires Pudappandiyan, who expanded the kingdom by of Srivijaya and their successors. During their history, conquering Ollaiyur (near modern day Pudukkottai) – the Pandyas were repeatedly in conflict with www.ignited.in 1 Kanta A Study on Pandyan Dynasty the Pallavas, Cholas, Hoysalas and finally the Muslim glory was briefly revived by Maravaramban Sundara invaders from the Delhi Sultanate. The Pandyan Pandyan and by (probably his younger brother or son) Kingdom finally became extinct after the establishment the much celebratedJatavarman Sundara Pandyan I in of the Madurai Sultanate in the 16th century. 1251. The Pandya power extended from the Telugu countries on banks of the Godavari river to the The Pandyas excelled in both trade and literature. northern half of Sri Lanka, which was invaded by They controlled the pearl fisheries along the South Sundara Pandyan I in 1258 and on his behalf by his Indian coast, between Sri Lanka and India, which younger brother Jatavarman Vira Pandyan I from produced some of the finest pearls in the known 1262–1264. later Jatavarman Sundara Pandiyan ancient world. Traditionally, the appointed his brother to rule Kongu country, Chola legendary Sangams were held in Maduraiunder their nadu and Hoysalacountry. Jatavarman Vira Pandiyan's patronage, and some of the Pandya Kings were poets clan was later called as Kongu Pandiyar and he is the themselves. first Kongu Pandiya King. After the close of the Sangam age, the first Pandyan The revival of the Pandyan dynasty was to coincide empire was established by Kadungon in the 6th century with the gradual but steady decline of the Chola by defeating the Kalabhras. The following empire. The last two or three Chola kings who followed chronological list of the Pandya emperors is based on Kulothunga III were either very weak or incompetent. an inscription found on the Vaigai riverbeds. The Cholas of course did not lack valour but had been Succeeding kings assumed the titles of unable to stop the revival of the Pandyan empire from "Sadayavaramban" and "Maaravaramban" alternately, the times of Maravaramban Sundara Pandyan, the denoting themselves as followers of Lord Sadaiyan revival of the Kadava Pallavas at Kanchi under and Lord Thiru Maal respectively. Kopperinchunga I and indeed the growing power and status of the Telugu Cholas, the Renanti and the After the defeat of the Kalabhras, the Pandya kingdom Irungola Cholas of the Telugucountry; for the last grew steadily in power and territory. With the Cholas in three-named had been very trusted allies of obscurity, the Tamil country was divided between the Cholas up to Kulothunga III, having helped him in the Pallavas and the Pandyas, the river Kaveri being conquering Kalinga. The marital alliance of Kulothunga the frontier between them. III and one of his successors, Raja Raja III, with the Hoysalas did not yield any advantage, though (initially, After Vijayalaya Chola conquered Thanjavur by at least) Kulothunga III took the help of the Hoysalas in defeating the Muttarayar chieftains who were part of countering the Pandiyan resurgence. Kulothunga III Pandya family tree around 850, the Pandyas went into had even conquered Karur, the Cheras in addition to a period of decline. They were constantly harassing Madurai, Ilam and Kalinga. However, his strength their Chola overlords by occupying their rested on support from Hoysalas, whose king Veera territories. Parantaka I invaded the Pandya territories Ballala IIwas his son-in-law. However, Veera Ballala II and defeated Rajasimha III. However, the Pandyas did himself had lost quite a bit of his territories between not wholly submit to the Cholas despite loss of power, 1208–1212 to his local adversaries territory and prestige. They tried to forge various in Kannada country, like the Kalachuris, Seunasetc. alliances with the Cheras and the Kings of Lanka and tried to engage the Cholas in war to free themselves The resurgent Pandiyans under Maravarman Sundara from Chola supremacy. But right from the times Pandyan went to war against Kulothunga and first at of Parantaka I to the early 12th century up to the times Kandai and then near Manaparai on the outskirts of of Kulottunga Chola I the Pandyas could not modern Tiruchirappalli, the Pandiyans routed overpower theCholas who right from 880–1215 the Chola army and entered remained the most powerful empire spread over South Tiruchy, Thiruvarangamand Thanjavur victorious in India, Deccan and the Eastern and Western Coast of war. But it appears that in the Tiruchy and India during this period. Thiruvarangam areas, there was renewed control of the Cholas, presumably with the help of the Hoysalas The 13th century is the greatest period in the history of under Vira Someswara with the Hoysalas later shifting the Pandyan Empire. This period saw the rise of seven their allegiance to the Pandyans either during the last prime Lord Emperors (Ellarkku Nayanar – Lord of All) years of Maravarman Sundara Pandyan or the early of Pandyan, who ruled the kingdom alongside years of his successor Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan. Pandyan princes. Their power reached its zenith underJatavarman Sundara Pandyan in the middle of Jatavarman Sundara Pandiyan was a very brave, the 13th century.