Pandyan Dynasty

News: An 800-year-old Shiva temple of the later Pandya period has been unearthed at Udampatti, a village in Melur taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.

About Pandyan Dynasty

• It was one of the three main lineages (Muvendars) from the southern part of the country (along with Cheras and Cholas), developed during the Sangam Age.
  • The term Muvendar refers to a Tamil word meaning three chiefs, used for the heads of three ruling families, the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas.

Origin (Early Pandyan Dynasty)

• The Pandyas established their dynastic rule in southern Tamil Nadu by the end of the sixth century CE after Kalabhras.
• Decline: Chola king Parantaka I defeated the Pandya King Rajasimha II and that led to the decline of the Pandya empire.

The Re-Rise of Pandyas (Later Pandyan Dynasty)

• After the decline of the Cholas, the Pandya kingdom became the leading Tamil dynasty in the thirteenth century.
• Illustrious rulers: The illustrious ruler of the second Pandya kingdom was Sadaiyavarman Sundarapandyan (1251-1268), who not only brought the entire Tamil Nadu under his rule but also exercised his authority up to Nellore in Andhra.
  • After Sundarapandyan, Maravarman Kulasekharan ruled successfully for a period of 40 years, giving the country peace and prosperity.
• Decline: It was Malik Kafur’s invasion that finally led to the division and downfall of the Pandya empire.

Administration

• The territory of Pandyas is called Pandymandalam, Thenmandalam or Pandynadu, which lay in the rocky, hilly regions and mountain ranges except the areas fed by the rivers Vaigai and Tamiraparni.
• Capital: Pandya kings preferred Madurai as their capital.
• Political division: Pandy Mandalam or Pandy Nadu consisted of many valanadus, which, in turn, were divided into many nadus and kurrams (meaning group of villages).
• Kings and local chiefs created Brahmin settlements called Mangalam or Chaturvedimangalam with irrigation facilities.
  • These settlements were given royal names and names of the deities.
• Royal officials were called by different names:
  • The prime minister was called Uttaramantri
  • The royal secretariat was known as Eluttu Mandapam
  • The titles of military commanders were Palli Velan, Parantakan Pallivelan, Maran Adittan and Tennavan Tamizhavel.
• Port: The busiest port town under the Pandyas was Kayalpattinam (now in Thoothukudi district).

Social and Political Aspects

• Royal palaces were called Tirumaligai and Manaparanan Tirumaligai during the Pandya reign and the royal couches they used were named after the local chiefs, which attested to the legitimacy of the overlordship of the kings
• The political division of land was as follows:
  • The land assigned to Brahmins was Salabogam
  • The land assigned to Ironsmiths was called Tattarkani
  • The land assigned to Carpenters was known as Taccu-maniyam
  • The land donated to the Brahmin group for imparting education was called Bhattavriutti