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125-504: The region was the principal historic seat of the Pandya dynasty who ruled it intermittently and with differing capacities at least from the 4th century BCE to 1759 CE. The political capital of the region is the city of Madurai with Korkai serving as a secondary capital and the principal port city during the early historic period. After the end of the Sangam age in the third century BCE,

250-591: A talai , while the line is referred to as the ati . The sutras of the Tolkappiyam – particularly after sutra 315 – state the prosody rules, enumerating the 34 component parts of ancient Tamil poetry. The prosody of an example early Sangam poem is illustrated by Kuruntokai : Traditional ciṟuveḷ ḷaravi ṉavvarik kuruḷai kāṉa yāṉai aṇaṅki yāaṅ kiḷaiyaṇ muḷaivā ḷeyiṟṟaḷ vaḷaiyuṭaik kaiyaḷem maṇaṅki yōḷē – Kuruntokai 119 , Author: Catti Nataanr The prosodic pattern in this poem follows

375-792: A Pandya queen from 3rd century BCE representing a confederacy of the Tamil countries. Madurai , in south Tamil Nadu, was the most important cultural centre in south India as the core of the Tamil speakers. Megalithic relics such as menhirs, dolmens, urn burials, stone circles and rock-cut chambers/passages can be found in south India. Burial goods include iron objects, ivory ornaments, Black-and-Red Ware and even some Roman Imperial coins. The so-called "velir" hill chieftains are assumed to be associated with these megalithic burials. Greek and Latin accounts (early centuries CE), coins with legends in Tamil-Brahmi script, and Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions suggest

500-729: A bardic corpus. It comprises an Urtext of oldest surviving Tamil grammar (Tolkappiyam), the Ettuttokai anthology (the "Eight Collections"), the Pathuppaattu anthology (the "Ten Songs"). The Tamil literature that followed the Sangam period – that is, after c.  250 CE but before c.  600 CE – is generally called the "post-Sangam" literature. This collection contains 2381 poems in Tamil composed by 473 poets, some 102 anonymous. Of these, 16 poets account for about 50% of

625-518: A battle fought near Kumbakonam. By c.  897 CE , Chola king Aditya I was the master of the old Pallava, Ganga and Kongu countries. It is a possibility that Aditya I conquered the Kongu country from the Pandya king Parantaka Viranarayana (r. 880–900 CE). Parantaka I , successor to Aditya, invaded the Pandya territories in 910 CE and captured Madurai from king Maravarman Rajasimha II (hence

750-659: A crashing fall after multiple internal squabbles which resulted in the kingdom's fracturing and the later annexation by the Nawab of Carnatic . The English East India Company managed to invade and annex the former territories of the Nawab of Carnatic into their Madras Presidency . Under the British rule , the Pandya Nadu was divided into two districts, namely Madura and Tinnevelly . These later got subdivided into Madura , Ramnad and Tinnevelly and continued to be so till

875-531: A description of the Chola capital, the king Karikal, the life in a harbor city with ships and merchandise for seafaring trade, the dance troupes, the bards and artists, the worship of the Hindu god Vishnu , Murugan and the monasteries of Buddhism and Jainism. This Sangam era poem remained in the active memory and was significant to the Tamil people centuries later, as evidenced by its mention nearly 1,000 years later in

1000-637: A fine edition of Tirukkuṟaḷ by 1860. Navalar – who translated the Bible into Tamil while working as an assistant to a Methodist Christian missionary, chose to defend and popularize Shaiva Hinduism against missionary polemics, in part by bringing ancient Tamil and Shaiva literature to wider attention. He brought the first Sangam text into print in 1851 ( Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai , one of the Ten Idylls ). In 1868, Navalar published an early commentary on Tolkappiyam . C.W. Damodaram Pillai , also from Jaffna ,

1125-523: A formal submission to Maravarman Sundara I and acknowledged his overlordship. Attempts by the next Chola king Rajaraja III (1216 – 46 CE ) for self-rule (to stop the Pandya invasion into the Chola country ), with the help of the Hoysalas king Narasimha II (r. 1220 – 1238 CE), resulted in a battle between the Pandya and Hoysala forces at Mahendramangalam on the Kaveri Valley . Maravarman Sundara I

1250-601: A gift of rock-cut beds, to a Jain ascetic. It is assumed that the people found in the Mangulam inscription, Nedunjeliyan, Kadalan, and Izhanchadikan predate rulers such as Talaiyanganam Nedunjelyan and Palyaga-salai Mudukudimi Peruvaludi. Kharavela , the Kalinga king who ruled during c. 1st century BCE, in his Hathigumpha inscription , claims to have destroyed an old confederacy of Tamil countries ("the tamira–desa–sanghata") which had lasted 132 years, and to have acquired

1375-544: A huge Buddhist and Jain presence, the region was one of the epicenters of the Bhakti movement which brought into limelight the cults of Gods Shiva and Perumal with beautiful devotional Tamil compositions. This period also saw significant evolution in material culture with the building of one of the oldest rock cut temples at Pillayarpatti . Many temples like the rock temples of Kazhugumalai were also built during this period. The Medieval Cholas rose from their obscurity in

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1500-579: A large number of pearls from the Pandyas. Silver punch-marked coins with the fish symbol of the Pandyas dating from around the same time have also been found. The early historic Pandyas are celebrated in the earliest available Tamil poetry . The poems refers to about twelve Pandya rulers. According to tradition, the legendary Sangams ("the Academies") were held in Madurai under the patronage of

1625-653: A part of Ettuttokai ): These claims of the Sangams and the description of sunken land masses Kumari Kandam have been dismissed as frivolous by historiographers. Noted historians like Kamil Zvelebil have stressed that the use of 'Sangam literature' to describe this corpus of literature is a misnomer and Classical literature should be used instead. According to Shulman, "there is not the slightest shred of evidence that any such [Sangam] literary academies ever existed", though there are many Pandya inscriptions that mention an academy of scholars. Of particular note, states Shulman,

1750-399: A scholar of Tamil language and literature, the Tamil tradition believes that the Sangam literature arose in distant antiquity over three periods, each stretching over many millennia. The first has roots in the Hindu deity Shiva , his son Murugan , Kubera as well as 545 sages including the famed Rigvedic poet Agastya . The first academy, states the legend, extended over four millennia and

1875-690: A secondary capital of the Pandyas.The Hoysalas, in general, were confined to the Mysore Plateau and even king Somesvara was killed in a battle with Pandyas. Maravarman Kulasekhara I (1268) defeated an alliance of the Hoysalas and the Cholas (1279) and invaded Sri Lanka . The venerable Tooth Relic of the Buddha was carried away by the Pandyas. During this period, the rule of the kingdom was shared among several royals, one of them enjoying primacy over

2000-544: A separation founded their own kingdoms in north and west. Epic poem Silappatikaram mentions that the emblem of the Pandyas was that of a fish . Indian traditions such as the Great Epics and the Puranas often associate southern India with Sage Agastya (who had his ashrama in the south). Agastya appears prominently in medieval Tamil literature also. Folklores attribute Alli Rani (meaning "the queen Alli") as one of

2125-616: A war of succession for control of the empire. It seems that Maravarman Kulasekhara wanted Vira Pandya to succeed him (who in turn was defeated by Sundara Pandya after a short period). Unfortunately, the Pandya civil war coincided with the Khalji raids in south India. Taking advantage of the political situation, the neighbouring Hoysala king Ballala III invaded the Pandya territory. However, Ballala had to retreat to his capital, when Alauddin Khalji's general Malik Kafur invaded his kingdom at

2250-470: A window into some aspects of the ancient Tamil culture, secular and religious beliefs, and the people. For example, in the Sangam era Ainkurunuru poem 202 is one of the earliest mentions of "pigtail of Brahmin boys". These poems also allude to historical incidents, ancient Tamil kings, the effect of war on loved ones and households. The Pattinappalai poem in the Ten Idylls group, for example, paints

2375-542: Is a classical Tamil poetic work and traditionally the fifth of the Eight Anthologies ( Ettuthokai ) in the Sangam literature. According to Tolkappiyam , Paripadal is a kind of verse dealing only with love ( akapporul ) and does not fall under the general classification of verses. Sangam literature (200 BCE to 500 CE) mentions Mayon or the "dark one," as the Supreme deity who creates, sustains, and destroys

2500-517: Is also called Hanyuewang . It is several thousand li to the southeast of Tianzhu (northern India) ...The inhabitants are small; they are the same height as the Chinese ;... The darkest man is here the most highly esteemed and [considered] better than the others who are not so dark. Let me add that in very truth these people portray and depict their gods and their idols as black and their devils white as snow. For they say that god and all

2625-453: Is an example of mutual love poetry. Similar tiṇai s pertain to puram poems as well, categories are sometimes based on activity: vetchi (cattle raid), vanchi (invasion, preparation for war), kanchi (tragedy), ulinai (siege), tumpai (battle), vakai (victory), paataan (elegy and praise), karanthai , and pothuviyal . The akam poetry uses metaphors and imagery to set the mood, never uses names of person or places, often leaves

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2750-517: Is based on the location or landscape in which the poetry is set. These are: kuṟiñci (குறிஞ்சி), mountainous regions; mullai (முல்லை), pastoral forests; marutam (மருதம்), riverine agricultural land; neytal (நெய்தல்) coastal regions; pālai (பாலை) arid. In addition to the landscape based tiṇai s, for akam poetry, ain-tinai (well matched, mutual love), kaikkilai (ill matched, one sided), and perunthinai (unsuited, big genre) categories are used. The Ainkurunuru – 500 short poems anthology –

2875-519: Is broadly classified into akam ( அகம் , inner), and puram ( புறம் , outer). The akam poetry is about emotions and feelings in the context of romantic love, sexual union and eroticism. The puram poetry is about exploits and heroic deeds in the context of war and public life. Approximately three-fourths of the Sangam poetry is akam themed, and about one fourth is puram . Sangam literature, both akam and puram , can be subclassified into seven minor genre called tiṇai (திணை). This minor genre

3000-559: Is known that the Pandya rulers followed Jainism for a short period of time. The etymology of Pandya is still a matter of considerable speculation among scholars. One theory is that the word pandya is derived from the ancient Tamil word "pandu" meaning "old". The theory suggests that in early historic Tamil lexicon the word pandya means old country in contrast with Chola meaning new country , Chera meaning hill country and Pallava meaning branch in Sanskrit . Another theory

3125-622: Is known to have fought battles with the Pallavas, the Gangas, and probably with the Pandyas too, on the Kaveri basin. Kirtivarman II (r. 744/5–55 CE), the last Chalukya king, managed to lose to his southern countries as a result of his battles with the Pandyas. Pandya kings Maravarman Rajasimha I (r. 730–65 CE) and Nedunjadaiyan/Varagunavarman I (r. 765–815 CE) threatened Pallava king Nandivarman II Pallavamalla (r. 731–96 CE) who had managed to defeat

3250-417: Is not much else in any Indian literature equal to these quiet and dramatic Tamil poems. In their values and stances, they represent a mature classical poetry: passion is balanced by courtesy, transparency by ironies and nuances of design, impersonality by vivid detail, austerity of line by richness of implication. These poems are not just the earliest evidence of the Tamil genius." The Sangam literature offers

3375-511: Is that the word Pandya is derived from the Sanskrit word Pandu to mean white or pale, in reference to king Pandu and the Pandavas . Apart from these derivations mentioned, several other theories do appear in historical studies. According to the ancient Tamil legends , the three brothers Cheran , Cholan and Pandyan ruled in common at the southern city of Korkai . While Pandya remained at home, his two brothers Cheran and Cholan after

3500-529: Is the acai (metreme ), itself of two types – ner and nirai . The ner is the stressed/long syllable in European prosody tradition, while the nirai is the unstressed/short syllable combination ( pyrrhic (dibrach) and iambic ) metrical feet, with similar equivalents in the Sanskrit prosody tradition. The acai in the Sangam poems are combined to form a cir (foot), while the cir are connected to form

3625-606: Is the historic evidence of indigenous literary developments in South India in parallel to Sanskrit , and the classical status of the Tamil language. While there is no evidence for the first and second mythical Sangams, the surviving literature attests to a group of scholars centered around the ancient Madurai (Maturai) that shaped the "literary, academic, cultural and linguistic life of ancient Tamil Nadu", states Zvelebil. On their significance, Zvelebil quotes A. K. Ramanujan , "In their antiquity and in their contemporaneity, there

3750-594: Is the tenth-century CE Sinnamanur inscription that mentions a Pandyan king who sponsored the "translation of the Mahabharata into Tamil" and established a "Madhurapuri (Madurai) Sangam". According to Zvelebil, within the myth there is a kernel of reality, and all literary evidence leads one to conclude that "such an academy did exist in Madurai (Maturai) at the beginning of the Christian era". The homogeneity of

3875-704: Is thought to have lived in Madurai during this age. The Pandyan Kingdom was restored in the 6th century CE by the King Kadungon who managed to push off the Kalabhra presence from Tamilakam along with the Pallavas . During this period, the Tamil country was divided up between the Pandyas and Pallavas, with the Pandyas even managing to vassalize the Tulu, Chera, Ay and Venad Kingdoms of the West Coast. Despite

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4000-511: The Akananuru and the Purananuru collections, there are two major works – Mathuraikkanci and Netunalvatai – which give a glimpse into the society and commercial activities in the Pandya country during the early historic period. The Purananuru and Agananuru collections contain poems sung in praise of various Pandya rulers and also poems that were claimed to be composed by

4125-579: The Greek (of which Antiochus generals are the rulers ) everywhere the heaven-beloved Raja Piyadasi’s double system of medical aid is established- both medical aid for men and medical aid for animals. (Major Rock Edict No.2), James Prinsep translation The earliest Pandya to be found in epigraph is Nedunjeliyan , figuring in the Tamil-Brahmi Mangulam inscription (near Madurai) assigned to 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. The record documents

4250-599: The Mahabharata , Kama, goddesses such as Ganga, divine characters from classical love stories of India. One of the poems also mentions the "merciful men of Benares ", an evidence of interaction between the northern holy city of the Hindus with the Sangam poets. Some of the Paripaatal love poems are set in the context of bathing festivals ( Magh Mela ) and various Hindu gods. They mention temples and shrines, confirming

4375-631: The Pandyas of Madurai , was an ancient Tamil dynasty of South India , and among the four great kingdoms of Tamilakam , the other three being the Pallavas , the Cholas and the Cheras . Existing since at least the 4th to 3rd centuries BCE, the dynasty passed through two periods of imperial dominance, the 6th to 10th centuries CE, and under the 'Later Pandyas' (13th to 14th centuries CE). Under Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I and Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I ,

4500-706: The Rashtrakutas in the Deccan. The Pandyas took on the growing Pallava ambitions in south India, and from time to time they also joined in alliances with the kingdoms of the Deccan Plateau (such as with the Gangas of Talakad in late 8th century CE). In the middle of the 9th century, the Pandyas had managed to advance as far as Kumbakonam (north-east of Tanjore on the Kollidam river). Sendan (r. 654–70 CE),

4625-479: The Velir . The evidence on the early history of the Tamil kingdoms consists of the epigraphs of the region, the Sangam literature, and archaeological data. The fourfold Vedic system of caste hierarchy did not exist during the Sangam period. The society was organised by occupational groups living apart from each other. The Sangam literature was composed by 473 poets, some 102 anonymous. According to Nilakanta Sastri,

4750-700: The Vijayanagara Empire . After the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century, the Nayaks of Madurai declared independence and ruled the region until the conquest of the Nawab of Carnatic which was then followed shortly by the British annexation in the 18th century into the Madras Presidency . Pandya Nadu is named after the Pandya dynasty which was one of the three crowned dynasties of ancient Tamilakam . As to

4875-493: The early historic rulers of the Pandyas. She is attributed as an "amazonian queen" whose servants were men and administrative officials and army were women. She is thought of ruling the whole western and northern coast of Sri Lanka from her capital Kudiramalai , where remains of what is thought of as her fort are found. She is sometimes seen as an incarnation of the Pandya associated gods, Meenakshi and Kannagi . The medieval Pandya kings were claimed to have belonged to

5000-587: The 11th- and 12th-century inscriptions and literary work. Sangam literature embeds evidence of loan words from Sanskrit, suggesting on-going linguistic and literary collaboration between ancient Tamil Nadu and other parts of the Indian subcontinent. One of the early loan words, for example, is acarya– from Sanskrit for a "spiritual guide or teacher", which in Sangam literature appears as aciriyan (priest, teacher, scholar), aciriyam or akavar or akaval or akavu (a poetic meter). The Sangam poetry focuses on

5125-412: The 4-4-3-4 feet per line, according to akaval , also called aciriyam , Sangam meter rule:  = – / = – / – = / = –  – – / – – / = – / – –  = – / = – / = –  = = / – = / = – / – – Note: "=" is a ner , while "–" is a nirai in Tamil terminology. A literal translation of Kuruntokai 119 : little-white-snake of lovely-striped young-body jungle elephant troubling like

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5250-513: The 5th century CE) mentions a Pandya king in the context of Prince Vijaya 's (543–505 BCE) arrival in Sri Lanka with his 700 followers. ...Nelcynda is distant from Muziris by river and sea about five hundred stadia, and is of another kingdom, the Pandian. This place [Nelcynda] also is situated on a river, about one hundred and twenty stadia from the [Arabian] sea.... ...the kingdom of Panyue

5375-615: The Abode of the Tamils). The three chiefly lines of early historic south India – the Cheras, Pandyas and Cholas – were known as the mu-vendar ("the three vendars"). They were traditionally based at their original headquarters in the interior Tamil Nadu ( Karur , Madurai and Uraiyur respectively). The powerful chiefdoms of the three ventar dominated the political and economic life of early historic south India. The frequent conflicts between

5500-638: The Chandra-vamsa or the Lunar Race . They claimed Pururavas and Nahusha as ancestors. Pururavas is listed as one of the ancestors in the Velvikudi Inscription of Nedunjadaiyan Varaguna-varman I (Jatila Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan). The Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya , Megasthenes mentions Queens of Pandyas as 'Pandaia' and locates them in the south of India extending into the ocean. It consisted of 365 villages which met

5625-557: The Chera, the Chola and the Pandya are well documented in ancient (the Sangam ) Tamil poetry. The Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas also controlled the ports of Muziris (Muchiri) , Korkai and Kaveri respectively (for the trade with the Graeco-Roman world). The gradual shift from chiefdoms to kingdoms seems to have occurred in the following period. The famous inscription of king Kharavela at Hathigumpha (mid-first century BCE ) mentions

5750-682: The Chola Governors of the region. After the steady decline of the Chalukya Cholas in the 12th century CE, the Pandya princes managed to establish themselves as an independent entity. The early years of the Second Pandyan Empire saw numerous civil wars with two factions being supported each by the Chola and the Sinhalese Monarchs. The Second Pandyan Kingdom entered its peak during the 13th century under

5875-555: The Chola country (even as far as Nellore ), to Sri Lanka and to south Kerala . He was also successful in confining the Hoysala control to the Mysore Plateau (the ancient Chola country was now overrun by the Pandyas ). Kanchi functioned as the second major city in the kingdom. In his conquests, Jatavarman Sundara I assisted joined number of Pandya royals such as Jatavarman Vira Pandya. Jatavarman Sundara I subdued Rajendra II around 1258–1260 CE and made him pay tribute. The rule of

6000-400: The Chola country and southern Tamil speaking portions of Hoysala kingdom. He also invaded Sri Lanka, ruled by Bhuvanaikabahu I, who "carried away to the Pandya country the venerable Tooth Relic", and the wealth of the island. Sri Lanka remained under Pandya control until c. 1308–1309 CE. After the death of Maravarman Kulasekhara I (1310), his sons Vira Pandya IV and Sundara Pandya IV fought

6125-447: The Chola kingdom had shrunk to the size of a small principality (its vassals in the extreme south had proclaimed their independence). It is a possibility that Pandya ruler Vira Pandya defeated Chola king Gandaraditya and claimed independence. Chola ruler Sundara Parantaka II (r. 957–73) responded by defeating Vira Pandya I in two battles (and Chola prince Aditya II killed Vira Pandya on the second occasion). The Pandyas were assisted by

6250-407: The Cholas ended c.  1279 with Rajendra III. The Pandya attacked the Hoysalas in the Kaveri and captured the fort of Kannanur Koppam. Hoysala king Somesvara was forced to fall back into the Mysore Plateau. The Hoysala king, pressed by enemies from north and south, "assigned" the southern half of his kingdom to his younger son Ramanatha (r. 1254–1292 ). Somesvara was eventually killed by

6375-510: The Gangas in c.  760 CE . Varagunavarman I invaded the Pallava country and conquered the Kongu country (western Tamil Nadu) and Venadu (south Kerala). King Srimara Srivallabha (r. 815–62 CE) sailed to Sri Lanka, subjugated and overpowered King Sena I, and sacked his capital Anuradhapura (the Panya invasion of Sri Lanka followed a period of vassalage). However, Srimara Srivallabha

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6500-600: The Kali meter in Kalittokai and the mixed Paripatal meter in Paripatal . The works of Sangam literature were lost and forgotten for most of the 2nd millennium. They were rediscovered by colonial-era scholars such as Arumuka Navalar (1822–1879), C.W. Damodaram Pillai (1832–1901) and U. V. Swaminatha Aiyar (1855–1942). Arumuka Navalar from Jaffna first inaugurated the modern editions of Tamil classics, publishing

6625-463: The Kaveri river was severely weakened by this move (and straightened the position of the Pallava ruler Nripatunga). Pandya ruler Varaguna-varman II (r. c. 862–880 CE ) responded by marching into the Chola country and facing a formidable alliance of Pallava prince Aparajita, the Chola king Aditya I and the Ganga king Prithvipati I. The Pandya king suffered a crushing defeat ( c.  880 CE ) in

6750-479: The Kulasekharas, and the Cholas, under Rajadhiraja II and Kulottunga III , joined in and took sides with any of the two princes or their kins. Pandya kings (10th century–first half of 11th century CE): The Pandya empire included extensive territories, at times including large portions of south India and Sri Lanka . The rule of the empire was shared among several royals, one of them enjoying primacy over

6875-585: The Pallava territory was reduced by the encroachment from the Pandyas from the south (and Rashtrakutas and the Telugu-Cholas from nand orth). Pallava king Nandivarman III (r. 846–69 CE) was able to defeat the Pandyas and Telugu-Cholas (and even the Rashtrakutas) with the help of the Gangas and the emerging Cholas. (Varaguna-varman I) While the Pandyas and the Rashtrakutas were busy engaging

7000-409: The Pallavas, with the Gangas and the Simhalas (Sri Lanka) also in the mix, the Cholas emerged from the Kaveri delta and took on the chieftains of Thanjavur (the Mutharaiyar chieftain had transferred their loyalty from the Pallava to the Pandya ). The Chola king Vijayalaya conquered Thanjavur by defeating the Mutharaiyar chieftain around c.  850 CE . The Pandya control north of

7125-461: The Pandya King, he declared independence from the Vijayanagara rule with himself as the new King of Pandya Nadu. This rebellion was then put down by the Vijayanagara Emperor under Viswanatha Nayak who was Nagama's son. The Emperor then gifted the Pandya and Chola rajyams to Viswanatha Nayak's direct rule as a reward. The Pandyas moved their capital into Tenkasi and continued to rule the southern portions of Pandya Nadu, nominally. The period also saw

7250-423: The Pandya Kings and vassalized them as one of the Rajyams under their rule. This situation continued until the rise of the Chola Prince Virasekhara Chola who managed to defeat Chandrasekhara Pandya from Madurai. The lost Pandya King sought the Vijayanagara Emperor's help, who sent Nagama Nayak, a general with a huge army to liberate Madurai. Nagama Nayak succeeded in defeating the Chola Prince, but instead of restoring

7375-493: The Pandya dynasty are difficult to establish. The early Pandya chieftains ruled their country ( Pandya Nadu ) from the ancient period, which included the inland city of Madurai and the southern port of Korkai . The Pandyas are celebrated in the earliest available Tamil poetry ( Sangam literature ). Graeco-Roman accounts (as early as the 4th century BCE ), the edicts of Maurya emperor Ashoka , coins with legends in Tamil-Brahmi script, and Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions suggest

7500-408: The Pandya in 1262 CE. Ramanatha managed to recover Kannanur and hold against the Pandya power. Jatavarman Sundara I also came into conflict with the Kadava ruler Kopperunjinga II . It seems that Bana (Magadai) and Kongu countries came under the Pandya rule during the wars against the Hoysalas and the Kadavas. Jatavarman Sundara I also fought the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati (1199–1262 ). Sri Lanka

7625-413: The Pandyas ruled extensive territories including regions of present-day South India and northern Sri Lanka through vassal states subject to Madurai . Pandya dynasty is the longest ruling dynasty in the world. The rulers of the three Tamil dynasties were referred to as the " three crowned rulers (the mu-ventar) of the Tamil Region " in the southern part of India . The origin and the timeline of

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7750-476: The Pandyas. Several Tamil literary works, such as Iraiyanar Agapporul, mention the legend of three separate Sangams and ascribe their patronage to the Pandyas. Pandya rulers from early historic south India Pandya rulers – such as Nedunjeliyan , the Victor of Talaiyalanganam, and Mudukudimi Peruvaludi, the Patron of Several Sacrificial Halls ("the Palyaga-salai") – find mention in several poems (such as Mathuraikkanci ). Besides several short poems found in

7875-400: The Sangam poetry a "wonderful conciseness, terseness, pithiness", then an inner tension that is resolved at the end of the stanza. The metrical patterns within the akaval meter in early Sangam poetry has minor variations. The later Sangam era poems follow the same general meter rules, but sometimes feature 5 lines (4-4-4-3-4). The later Sangam age texts employ other meters as well, such as

8000-400: The Sri Lanka forces of King Mahinda IV. Chola emperor Rajaraja I (r. 985–1014 CE) is known to have attacked the Pandyas. He fought against an alliance of the Pandya, Chera and Sri Lankan kings, and defeated the Cheras and "deprived" the Pandyas of their ancient capital Madurai. Emperor Rajendra I continued to occupy the Pandya kingdom, and even appointed a series of Chola viceroys with

8125-401: The Supreme god of Tamils where as Skanda was considered young and a personal god of Tamils . Mayon is indicated to be the deity associated with the mullai tiṇai (pastoral landscape) in the Tolkappiyam . Tolkappiyar Mentions Mayon first when he made reference to deities in the different land divisions. The Paripādal ( Tamil : பரிபாடல் , meaning the paripadal-metre anthology )

8250-424: The Thenpandi Nadu regions of Tinnevelly . As a result of multiple Delhi invasions into the Southern India, a new political power was emerging in the Kannada and Telugu countries, called the Vijayanagara Empire . The empire successfully managed to repel the Turkic presence in Southern India after they destroyed the Madurai Sultanate under the leadership of Prince Kumara Kampana . The Vijayanagara Emperors restored

8375-430: The Turkish raid, many regions under the empire declared independence. The final blow to the Pandyan Empire came under multiple direct invasions by the Tuglaq Sultanate . Northern parts of the Pandya Nadu were annexed into the Delhi Sultanate and a separate governorship was established which later got independent and became the Madurai Sultanate . The descendants of the Second Pandyan Emperors were pushed further south, into

8500-444: The Western world. The Pandyan pearls, fished from the Gulf of Mannar and the Pearl Coast, were found to be of the highest quality and were adorned by the people of the Roman Empire . Literacy was also widespread in this region during this time owing to the found presence of the most number of Tamil Brahmi rock inscriptions and pot sherd markings. The region entered a dark period (with reference to absence of records) in history with

8625-492: The annexation of Kanniyakumari region by the Kings of Venad . The descendants of Viswanatha Nayak declared independence from the Vijayanagara Empire after its decline and continued as the Madurai Nayak dynasty . The various kings of the dynasty had marital alliances with the Later Pandyas of Tenkasi towards securing the legitimacy for their rule. The Madurai Nayaks had under them during their peak, Kongu Nadu , Chola Nadu and Venadu regions. The Kingdom, unfortunately met

8750-405: The area known as southern India today, consisting of the territories of the present-day Indian states of Tamil Nadu , Kerala , parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka . Sri Lanka is distinguished from it and is known as Ilam or Eelam , although also influenced by the Sangam Period. In Indian history, the Sangam period or age ( Tamil :  சங்ககாலம் , caṅkakālam ) is the period of

8875-401: The context as well that the community will fill in and understand given their oral tradition . The puram poetry is more direct, uses names and places, states Takanobu Takahashi. The early Sangam poetry diligently follows two meters, while the later Sangam poetry is a bit more diverse. The two meters found in the early poetry are akaval and vanci . The fundamental metrical unit in these

9000-555: The continuity of the Pandya dynasty from the 3rd century BCE to early centuries CE. The early Pandyas, along with the Cheras and the Cholas, were eventually displaced by the Kalabhra dynasty . The Pandya kingdom was revived by king Kadungon (r. 590–620 CE ) towards the end of the 6th-century CE. In the Velvikudi inscription , a later copper-plate, Kadungon appears as the "destroyer" of the "anti-Brahmanical" Kalabhra kings. With

9125-480: The continuity of the Pandya dynasty from the 3rd century BCE to the early centuries CE. The early historic Pandyas faded into obscurity upon the rise of the Kalabhra dynasty in south India. From the 6th century to the 9th century CE, the Chalukyas of Badami or Rashtrakutas of the Deccan, the Pallavas of Kanchi , and Pandyas of Madurai dominated the politics of south India. The Pandyas often ruled or invaded

9250-509: The culture and people. It is religious as well as non-religious, as there are several mentions of the Hindu gods and more substantial mentions of various gods in the shorter poems. The 33 surviving poems of Paripaatal in the "Eight Anthologies" group praises Vishnu , Durga and Murugan . Similarly, the 150 poems of Kalittokai – also from the Eight Anthologies group – mention Krishna, Shiva, Murugan, various Pandava brothers of

9375-490: The decline of the Kalabhra dynasty, the Pandyas grew steadily in power and territory. With the Cholas in obscurity in Uraiyur , the Tamil country was divided between the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Pandyas of Madurai. From the 6th century to the 9th century CE, the Chalukyas of Badami , the Pallavas of Kanchi , and the Pandyas of Madurai dominated the politics of south India. The Badami Chalukyas were eventually replaced by

9500-405: The defeat of a confederacy of the "Tramira" countries which had been a threat to Kalinga. It also remembers the precious pearls brought to the capital as booty from the "Pandya" realm. The Pandya chiefdom was famous for its pearl fisheries and silk industry. Korkai and Alagankulam are believed to have been the exchange centres of the Pandyas. Korkai, a port at the mouth of the river Tambraparni,

9625-650: The dominant power in Tamil Nadu until the invasions of the Delhi Sultanates. The result of which was the formation of the independent Madurai Sultanate with the Pandya rulers pushed southwards from the Vaigai belt. The Madurai Sultanate was then overthrown by the Vijayanagara Prince, Kumara Kampana , and the region was reinstated to the later Pandyas as vassals and as one of the rajyams under

9750-528: The eighth century CE – describes this legend. The earliest known mention of the Sangam legend, however, appears in Tirupputtur Tantakam by Appar in about the seventh century CE, while an extended version appears in the twelfth-century Tiruvilaiyatal puranam by Perumparrap Nampi. The legend states that the third Sangam of 449 poet scholars worked over 1,850 years in northern Madurai (Pandyan kingdom). He lists six anthologies of Tamil poems (later

9875-570: The end of the 3rd century BCE. The three crowned Kings of Tamilakam were displaced by the Kalabhras during this time and the region experienced a huge boom of Buddhist and Jain activities. Under the patronage of the Kalabhras, the Jains formed a literary academy in Madurai producing some of the most wonderful literatures in Tamil language. The famous Jain poet Sithalai Sathanar of Manimegalai

10000-975: The etymology of the word Pandya or Pandi , scholars have not a consensual answer but the exact meaning of the word may refer to the Old Tamil words for Ploughing or Bull or Old/Ancient . The exact borders to the region of Pandya Nadu is not well-defined and was probably different during different historical period. But rough approximations to the boundary can be found in the poem Pandimandala Sathakam. Mandala Sathakams are collections of poems written about specific geographical regions in Tamil, dating variously from 1000s to 1700s CE. Passage 98 from Pandimandala Sathakam states: "தென்கும ரிக்கும் வடக்குவெள் ளாற்றுக்குந் தெற்குவரு மண்புறு திண்டுக்கல் லுக்குங்கா ரைக்காட்டிற் குங்கிழக்கா யன்புறு சேதுவின் மேற்கான வெல்லைக்கு ளானதெல்லாம் வன்பெரு மாறன் புரக்கின்ற பாண்டியன் மண்டலமே" In English: "North of Kumari Sea, South of Vellar, East of Dindigul and Karaikadu, West of Sethu, lies

10125-647: The fertile estuary of Kaveri (the Chola country), the ancient Chera country (Kongu and central Kerala ) and Venadu (southern Kerala), the Pallava country , and Sri Lanka . The Pandyas fell into decline with the rise of the Cholas of Thanjavur in the 9th century and were in constant conflict with the latter. The Pandyas allied themselves with the Sinhalese and the Cheras against the Chola Empire until it found an opportunity to revive its frontiers during

10250-536: The fragrance; among the stones, you are the diamond; in speech, truth; among virtues, you are love; in valour—strength; in the Veda, you are the secret; among elements, the primordial; in the burning sun, the light; in moonshine, its sweetness; you are all, and you are the substance and meaning of all. To Seyyon ( Skandha ): We pray you not for wealth, not for gold, not for pleasure; But for your grace, for love, for virtue, these three, O god with

10375-405: The historical Sangam literature era, also called the Sangam period , spanned from c.  300 BCE to 300 CE, while others variously place this early classical Tamil literature period a bit later and more narrowly but all before 300 CE. According to Kamil Zvelebil , a Tamil literature and history scholar, the most acceptable range for the Sangam literature is 100 BCE to 250 CE, based on

10500-425: The history of ancient Tamil Nadu and Kerala (then known as Tamilakam ), and parts of Sri Lanka from c.  300 BCE to 300 CE. It was named after the literature of poets and scholars of the legendary Sangam academies centered in the city of Madurai . In the period between 300 BCE and 300 CE, Tamilakam was ruled by the three Tamil dynasties of Pandya , Chola and Chera , and a few independent chieftains,

10625-608: The independence of India in 1947. The region was part of the Madras State under the newly independent India, which was subsequently renamed Tamil Nadu. The region of Kanniyakumari was transferred to Tamil Nadu. The region now comprises the districts of Madurai , Theni , Sivaganga , Ramanathapuram , Virudhunagar , Tirunelveli , Tenkasi , Thoothukudi , Kanniyakumari , Pudukkottai (South of Vellar) and parts of Dindigul . Pandya dynasty The Pandya dynasty ( Tamil: [paːɳɖijɐr] ), also referred to as

10750-625: The known Sangam literature, with Kapilar – the most prolific poet – alone contributing just little less than 10% of the entire corpus. These poems vary between 3 and 782 lines long. The bardic poetry of the Sangam era is largely about love ( akam ) and war ( puram ), with the exception of the shorter poems such as in Paripaatal which is more religious and praise Vishnu and Murugan . The Sangam literature also includes Buddhist and Jainist epics. Sangam literally means "gathering, meeting, fraternity, academy". According to David Shulman,

10875-657: The land of Pandiyan, ruled by the Great Maran!" From this poem, which was written by Madurai Ayyamperumal Asiriyar, it can be inferred that at the time of his authorship, the Pandimandalam or Pandya Nadu extended South of River Vellar ( River South Vellar , present-day Pudukottai district), North of Kumari Sea ( Indian Ocean ), West of Sethu (present-day Ramanathapuram district) and East of Dindigul (City in present-day Dindigul district) & Karaikadu (Village in present-day Kanniyakumari district). Pandya Nadu

11000-560: The late 13th century. The Pandyas entered their golden age under Maravarman I and Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I (13th century). Some early efforts by Maravarman I to expand into the Chola country were effectively checked by the Hoysalas . Jatavarman I ( c.  1251 ) successfully expanded the kingdom into the Telugu country (as far north as Nellore ), south Kerala, and conquered northern Sri Lanka . The city of Kanchi became

11125-511: The late 9th century and established their hold in the historical Chola Nadu region. By the 10th century, various Chola kings and princes have claimed to have subdued and annexed the Pandya Nadu in their stone inscriptions, ending the First Pandyan Empire. The region was then renamed Rajaraja Pandimandalam and incorporated into the Chola administration as a Mandalam with the title of Chola-Pandya having been introduced and given to

11250-656: The legendary Sangams ("the Academies") were held in Madurai under the patronage of the Pandyas, and some of the Pandyan rulers claimed to be poets themselves. Pandya Nadu was home to several renowned temples, including the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai . The revival of the Pandya power by Kadungon (late 6th century CE) coincided with the prominence of the Shaivite nayanars and the Vaishnavite alvars . It

11375-403: The linguistic, prosodic and quasi-historic allusions within the texts and the colophons . The Sangam literature had fallen into oblivion for much of the second millennium of the common era, but were preserved by and rediscovered in the monasteries of Hinduism , near Kumbakonam , by colonial-era scholars in the late nineteenth century. The rediscovered Sangam classical collection is largely

11500-861: The monastery head Subrahmanya Desikar for access to its large library of preserved manuscripts. Desikar granted Aiyar permission to study and publish any manuscripts he wanted. There, Aiyar discovered a major source of preserved palm-leaf manuscripts of Sangam literature. Aiyar published his first print of the Ten Idylls in 1889. Together, these scholars printed and published Kalittokai (1887), Tholkappiyam , Nachinarkiniyar Urai (1895), Tholkappiyam Senavariyar urai (1868), Manimekalai (1898), Silappatikaram (1889), Pattuppāṭṭu (1889), Patiṟṟuppattu (1889). Puṟanāṉūṟu (1894), Aiṅkurunūṟu (1903), Kuṟuntokai (1915), Naṟṟiṇai (1915), Paripāṭal (1918) and Akanāṉūṟu (1923) all with scholarly commentaries. They published more than 100 works in all, including minor poems. The Sangam literature

11625-891: The most mentioned god in the Sangam literature. Cēyōṉ "the red one", who is identified with Murugan , whose name is literally Murukaṉ "the youth" in the Tolkāppiyam ; Extant Sangam literature works, dated between the third century BCE and the fifth century CE glorified Murugan, "the red god seated on the blue peacock, who is ever young and resplendent," as "the favoured god of the Tamils." There are no Mentions of Shaivism in Tolkappiyam . Shiva and Brahma are said to be forms Of Maha Vishnu and considers Vishnu as The Supreme god in Paripāṭal . There are two poems depicted as example of Bhakti in Ancient Tamil Nadu , one in

11750-497: The needs of the royal palace each day of the year. He described the queen Pandaie as daughter of Heracles (by some author as Shiva or Krishna ). Madurai , capital of Pandyas is mentioned in Kautilya's Arthashastra (4th century BCE) as ' Mathura of the south'. Pandyas are also mentioned in the inscriptions of Maurya emperor Asoka (3rd century BCE). In his inscriptions (2nd and 13th Major Rock Edict ), Asoka refers to

11875-487: The noble ones' ( Tamil : சான்றோர் செய்யுள், Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ ), connotes the early classical Tamil literature and is the earliest known literature of South India . The Tamil tradition and legends link it to three legendary literary gatherings around Madurai and Kapāṭapuram: the first lasted over 4,440 years, the second over 3,700 years, and the third over 1,850 years. Scholars consider this Tamil tradition-based chronology as ahistorical and mythical. Most scholars suggest

12000-768: The ongoing excavations by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. Between the 3rd century BCE and 3rd century CE, the region was ruled the Sangam Pandyas with Madurai and Korkai as their capitals. The period produced the beautiful Tamil Sangam literatures which provides a clear window to the life of Tamil people of the age. Under the Sangam Pandyan rule, the region served as one of richest locations in India with its extensive involvement in maritime trades with Southeast Asia and

12125-532: The peoples of south India – the Cheras , Pandyas and Satiyaputras . These polities, possibly not part of the Maurya empire, were on friendly terms with Asoka: The conquest by dharma has been won here, on the borders, and even six hundred yojanas (5,400–9,600 km) away, where the Greek king Antiochos rules, beyond there where the four kings named Ptolemy , Antigonos , Magas and Alexander rule, likewise in

12250-419: The poets came from diverse backgrounds: some were from a royal family, some merchants, some farmers. At least 27 of the poets were women. These poets emerged, states Nilakanta Sastri, in a milieu where the Tamil society had already interacted and inseparably amalgamated with north Indians (Indo-Aryan) and both sides had shared mythology, values and literary conventions. The available literature from this period

12375-413: The praise of Maha Vishnu and other of Murugan To Tirumal ( Maha Vishnu ): தீயினுள் தெறல் நீ; பூவினுள் நாற்றம் நீ; கல்லினுள் மணியும் நீ; சொல்லினுள் வாய்மை நீ; அறத்தினுள் அன்பு நீ; மறத்தினுள் மைந்து நீ; வேதத்து மறை நீ; பூதத்து முதலும் நீ; வெஞ் சுடர் ஒளியும் நீ; திங்களுள் அளியும் நீ; அனைத்தும் நீ; அனைத்தின் உட்பொருளும் நீ; In fire, you are the heat; in blossoms,

12500-408: The prosody, language and themes in these poems confirms that the Sangam literature was a community effort, a "group poetry". The Sangam literature is also referred sometimes with terms such as caṅka ilakkiyam or "Sangam age poetry". In Old Tamil language , the term Tamilakam ( Tamiḻakam , Purananuru 168. 18) referred to the whole of the ancient Tamil-speaking area, corresponding roughly to

12625-548: The region came under of the occupation of the Kalabhras who continued to possess it till the Pandyan reconquest led by Kadungon who founded the First Pandyan Empire. The Medieval Cholas conquered the region from the Pandyas in the 10th century and renamed it the Rajaraja Pandimandalam. The region became independent once again with the rise of the Second Pandyan Empire which continued to be

12750-505: The reigns of Maravarman Sundara Pandyan and Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandyan . Marco Polo , a famed European traveler visited the Pandya Empire during this period and celebrated the region as being one of the wealthiest and noblest in the whole world. Unfortunately, the Second Pandyan Empire met a crashing downfall owing to the civil war between the two sons of Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandyan. The frequent brotherly civil wars between

12875-502: The rest. An internal crisis in the Pandya kingdom coincided with the Khalji invasion of south India in 1310–11. The ensuing political crisis saw more sultanate raids and plunder, the loss of south Kerala (1312), and north Sri Lanka (1323) and the establishment of the Madurai sultanate (1334 ). The Pandyas of Ucchangi (9th–13th century) in the Tungabhadra valley were related to the Pandyas of Madurai. According to tradition,

13000-471: The rest. The Pandya king at Madurai thus controlled these vast regions through the collateral family branches subject to Madurai . The foundation for the Pandya supremacy in south India was laid by Maravarman Sundara I early in the 13th century. He succeeded his older brother Jatavarman Kulasekhara in 1216. He invaded the Chola country, sacked Uraiyur and Thanjavur , and drove the Chola king Kulothunga III into exile. The Chola king subsequently made

13125-461: The rich garland of kaṭampu flowers with rolling clusters! – Pari. v.: 78–81 The other gods also referred to in the Tolkappiyam are Vēntaṉ "the sovereign" (identified with Indra ) and Korravai "the victorious" (identified with Durga ) and Varunan "the sea god". The Sangam literature also emphasized on fair governance by Kings, who were often described as Sengol-valavan,

13250-571: The rule of Nedunjeliyan. In the famous battle of Talaiyalanganam (in east Tanjore), the Pandya is said to have defeated his enemies (which included the Chera and the Chola). He is also praised for his victory of Mizhalai and Mutturu, two "vel" centres along the ocean (in Pudukkottai). The Netunalvatai (in the collection of Pattupattu ) by Nakkirar contains a description of king Nedunjeliyan's palace. The Buddhist text Mahavamsa (composed in

13375-590: The rulers themselves. Besides the poems, king Peruvaludi is also mentioned in later copper-plate grant (8th–9th century CE). In the work Mathuraikkanci , the author Mankudi Maruthanar, refers to his patron, Talaihalanganum Nedunjeliyan , as the Lord of Korkai and the Warlord of the Southern Parathavar People . It contains a full-length description of Madurai and the Pandya country under

13500-656: The saints are black and the devils are all white. That is why they portray them as I have described. Mauryan emperor Asoka (3rd century BCE) seems to have been on friendly terms with the people of south India and Sri Lanka (the Cholas , the Pandyas, the Satiya Putras , the Kerala Putras and the Tamraparnis ). There are no indications that Asoka tried to conquer the extreme south India (the Tamilakam –

13625-638: The same time. After subjugating Ballala III, the Khalji forces marched to the Pandya territory in March 1311. The Pandya brothers fled their headquarters, and the Khaljis pursued them unsuccessfully. By late April 1311, the Khaljis gave up their plans to pursue the Pandya princes, and returned to Delhi with the plunder. By 1312 the Pandya control over south Kerala was also lost. Sangam literature The Sangam literature ( Tamil : சங்க இலக்கியம், caṅka ilakkiyam ), historically known as 'the poetry of

13750-565: The significance of such cultural festivals and architectural practices to the Tamil culture. Religion in the Sangam age was an important reason for the increase in Tamil Literature . Ancient Tamils Primarily followed Vaishnavism (Who consider Vishnu as the Supreme Deity) and Kaumaram (who worship Murugan as the Supreme god). According to Kamil Zvelebil , Vishnu was considered ageless (The god who stays for ever) and

13875-587: The sons of the Emperor Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandyan made the region prone to external attacks and invasions. One such attack came from the Delhi Khilji Sultanate under the infamous Malik Kafur as a raiding campaign. This campaign plundered the city of Madurai along with other important cities of northern Tamil Nadu, revealing the weakened state of the Pandya rule. Despite the Pandya rule continuing after

14000-406: The south among the Cholas , the Pandyas , and as far as Tamraparni river. (Major Rock Edict No.13), Ven. S. Dhammika translation Everywhere within the conquered province of King Piyadasi (Ashoka), the beloved of the gods, as well as in the parts occupied by the faithful, such as Chola , Pandya , Satiyaputra , and Keralaputra , even as far as Tambapanni (Ceylon) and within the dominions

14125-502: The third king of the Pandyas of Madurai, is known for expanding his kingdom to the Chera country (western Tamil Nadu and central Kerala ). Arikesari Maravarman (r. 670–700 CE), the fourth Pandya ruler, is known for his battles against the Pallavas of Kanchi . Pallava king Narasimhavarman I (r. 630–668 CE), the famous conqueror of Badami , claimed to have defeated the Pandyas. Chalukya King Paramesvaravarman I "Vikramaditya" (r. 670–700 CE)

14250-492: The title "Chola Pandya" to rule from Madurai (over Pandya and Western Chera/Kerala countries). The very beginning of Chola emperor Kulottunga 's rule (r. from 1070 CE) was marked by the loss of Sri Lanka and a rebellion in the Pandya country. The second half of the 12th century witnessed a major internal crisis in the Pandya country (between princes Parakrama Pandya and Kulasekhara Pandya). The neighbouring kingdoms of Sri Lanka, under Parakramabahu I , Venadu Chera/Kerala , under

14375-470: The title "Madurai Konda"). Rajasimha II received help from the Sri Lankan king Kassapa V, still got defeated by Parantaka I in the battle of Vellur, and fled to Sri Lanka. Rajasimha then found refuge in the Chera country, leaving even his royal insignia in Sri Lanka, the home of his mother. The Cholas were defeated by a Rashtrakuta-lead confederacy in the battle of Takkolam in 949 CE. By mid-950s,

14500-590: The universe and was worshipped in the Plains and mountains of Tamilakam .The Earliest verses of Paripadal describe the glory of Perumal in the most poetic of terms. Many Poems of the Paripadal consider Perumal as the Supreme god of Tamils . He is regarded to be the only deity who enjoyed the status of Paramporul (achieving oneness with Paramatma ) during the Sangam age . He is also known as Māyavan, Māmiyon, Netiyōn, and Māl in Sangam literature and considered as

14625-496: The young-girl sprouts-brightness toothed-female bangle(s) possessing hand(s)-female" – Translator: Kamil Zvelebil English interpretation and translation of Kuruntokai 119 : As a little white snake with lovely stripes on its young body troubles the jungle elephant this slip of a girl her teeth like sprouts of new rice her wrists stacked with bangles troubles me. – Creative translator: A.K. Ramanujan (1967) This metrical pattern, states Zvelebil, gives

14750-622: Was categorised and compiled in the tenth century CE into two categories based roughly on chronology. The categories are the Patiṉeṇmēlkaṇakku ("Eighteen Greater Texts") comprising Ettuthogai (or Ettuttokai , "Eight Anthologies") and the Pattuppāṭṭu ("Ten Idylls") and Patiṉeṇkīḻkaṇakku ("Eighteen Lesser Texts"). According to Takanobu Takahashi , the compilation of Patiṉeṇmēlkaṇakku poems are as follows: The compilation of poems from Patiṉeṇkīḻkaṇakku are as follows: Sangam literature

14875-424: Was defeated and Rajaraja III was restored in the Chola country. Sometime later Chola prince Rajendra III attacked the Pandyas and defeated two Pandya royals including Maravarman Sundara II . Hoysala king Somesvara (r. 1233 – 1267 CE ) then came to the aid of the Pandyas, defeated Rajendra III and then made peace with the Cholas. Jatavarman Sundara I ascended the Pandya throne in 1251 CE. He led his army to

15000-471: Was invaded by Jatavarman Sundara I in 1258 and on his behalf by his younger brother Jatavarman Vira II between 1262 and 1264 CE. The island was again invaded and defeated by Jatavarman Vira II in 1270 CE. Sundara Pandya I (died in 1268) was succeeded by Maravarman Kulasekara I . Around 1279 the combined force of Hoysala king Ramanatha and Rajendra III was defeated by Maravarman Kulasekara I. Maravarman Kulasekara I, now virtually unchallenged, ruled over

15125-439: Was linked to the famous pearl fisheries and Alagankulam was also developed as a port. Several coins attributed to early historic Pandyas are found were Severalin the region. Inscriptions, datable to c. 2nd century BCE, recording royal grants – both from royals and wealthy commoners – were also discovered from the Pandya country. The Pandya seems to be the most prominent of the three "ventar" rulers. There are even references to

15250-518: Was located far to the south of modern city of Madurai, a location later "swallowed up by the sea", states Shulman. The second academy, also chaired by a very long-lived Agastya, was near the eastern seaside Kapāṭapuram and lasted three millennia. This was swallowed by floods. From the second Sangam, states the legend, the Akattiyam and the Tolkāppiyam survived and guided the third Sangam scholars. A prose commentary by Nakkiranar – likely about

15375-472: Was one of the earliest territorial divisions of the ancient Tamilakam , the home of the Tamil people at least from the 6th century BCE. The region is home to many neolithic and megalithic settlements. The archaeological sites of Adichanallur and Korkai are one of the oldest Iron Age settlements in Tamil Nadu with radiocarbon dating assigning the locations to the 9th century BCE. Other historical sites like Keezhadi have been dated to 6th century BCE by

15500-516: Was soon overpowered by Pallava king Nripatunga (r. 859–99 CE). Sena II, the king of Sri Lanka, invaded the Pandya country, sacked Madurai and chose Varagunavarman II (r. c. 862–880 CE ) as the new king soon after. It is proposed that the start of the Kollam Era , the Kerala calendar, in 825 CE marked the liberation of Venadu from Pandya control. During the rule of Dantivarman (r. 796–847 CE),

15625-526: Was the earliest scholar to systematically hunt for long-lost manuscripts and publish them using modern tools of textual criticism. These included: Aiyar – a Tamil scholar and a Shaiva pundit, in particular, is credited with his discovery of major collections of the Sangam literature in 1883. During his personal visit to the Thiruvavaduthurai Adhinam – a Shaiva matha about twenty kilometers northeast of Kumbhakonam , he reached out to

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