Tenkasi Pandyas

Last updated

Tenkasi Pandyas
1422 C.E.–1618 C.E.
Twin fish flag of Pandyas.svg
A close depiction of Tenkasi Pandiya flag as per archaeological findings and historians illustration. [1]
Location of the present day Tenkasi (Capital of Tenkasi Pandyas) and Madurai (Pandya dynasty's traditional capital)
Capital Tenkasi
Official languages Tamil [2] [3]
Religion
GovernmentMonarchy
• 1422–1463 CE
Sadaavarman Parakrama
• 1613–1618 CE
Varagunarama
Historical era Early modern era
• Established
1422 C.E.
• Disestablished
1618 C.E.
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Blank.png Medieval Pandyas
Blank.png Delhi Sultanate
Madurai Nayak dynasty Blank.png
Nayaks of Gingee Blank.png
Today part of Tamil Nadu, India
Map of Tenkasi and Tirunelveli pandiyas Vettum perumal.jpg
Map of Tenkasi and Tirunelveli pandiyas

Tenkasi Pandyas were the Pandya kings from Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya to his successors who ruled with Tenkasi as their capital. [4] With the invasion of the Sultanates, Vijayanagaras, and Nayakars from the fourteenth century onwards, the Pandyas lost their traditional capital of Madurai and shifted to cities like Tenkasi and Tirunelveli. [5] Tenkasi was the last capital of the Pandyas. [6] All the Pandyas from Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya and his next generations were crowned in the Adheenam Mutt [7] in Kasi Viswanathar temple. [8] During the same period, some Pandyas ruled with Tirunelveli as their capital. Kayatharu, Vadakkuvalliyur, and Ukkirankottai are some of their major cities. Inscriptions on them are found in Tenkasi's Kasi Viswanathar temple, Brahmadesam, Cheranmadevi, Ambasamudram, Kalakkad and Pudukkottai. The last Pandyan king to be known in the history of the Pandyas was Kolakonda, who was also among the Tenkasi Pandyas.

Contents

Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya and his descendants who ruled Tenkasi. Tenkasi Pandyas.png
Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya and his descendants who ruled Tenkasi.
Gateway of the Kasi Viswanathar temple in Tenkasi Tenkasi Gopuram.jpg
Gateway of the Kasi Viswanathar temple in Tenkasi

All the Pandyas of the Varagunarama Pandya period were under the Vijayanagara Empire and paid them tribute. [9] However, other sources invariably mention that though the Madurai Nayakas were in-charge of Madurai, from time to time, they were opposed by and had skirmishes with the Tenkasi Pandyans, who are also said to have had intermittent control of Madurai. The Tenkasi Pandyas also had imperial ambitions, fought some wars, conquered territories outside their terrain. This is proven by the fact that the last Tenkasi Pandyan king bore the title "Kollamkondan", which means the one who conquered Kollam in Malayalam country. [10]

Pandyas losing Madurai

Although the Vijayanagara Empire and the Nayaks ruled Madurai after the 14th century, they were occasionally opposed by the Pandyas. Sometimes they have ruled Madurai. Prominent among them were Saadavarman Vikrama Pandya (1401 – 1422 AD) and his son, Arikesari Parakrama Pandya. [11] They had built 32 forts around Madurai. Later, when Vishwanatha Nayakkar became the Madurai Mandalasuvaran, he feared of Pandya resurgence in Madurai. He divided Madurai into 72 districts, including 16 districts of those closest to the Pandyas. [12] He gave them positions and made them separate from the Pandyas. This made Pandyas to lose Madurai forever. [11]

Tenkasi's origin

King Saadavarman Parakrama Pandya was the first Pandya king to be crowned after Tenkasi was established as Pandya's capital. Since he was unable to complete the construction of Tenkasi temple and there was a prophecy telling that the temple would collapse the next day, he requested the devotees to help restore the temple. He promised to accept the offerings of everyone and bow down to their feet. Accordingly, to fulfill that promise, he had put his image in the gateway of the temple. cttaiyvrmnnn praakkirm paannttiynnn 4.jpg
King Saadavarman Parakrama Pandya was the first Pandya king to be crowned after Tenkasi was established as Pandya's capital. Since he was unable to complete the construction of Tenkasi temple and there was a prophecy telling that the temple would collapse the next day, he requested the devotees to help restore the temple. He promised to accept the offerings of everyone and bow down to their feet. Accordingly, to fulfill that promise, he had put his image in the gateway of the temple.

Shenbagapozhil in Tamil means "champak tree-lined rainforest". In the fifteenth century, Lord Shiva is said to have had appeared in the dream of King Parakrama Pandya, who ruled the Shenbagapozhil area. In that dream, he was said that a lingam worshiped by the Pandya's ancestors was in the Shenbaga forest. He was said that ants could be found crawling out of their fort and if they followed the ants, the lingam could be found. He was also told by Shiva to construct a temple there. The reason is the order from Shiva, "Shiva devotees in the south die before reaching Kashi on their way to Varanasi in the north. So for them to get my grace, build a city equaling that of Varanasi in the south". Obeying his words, King Parakrama Pandya built the Tenkasi gopuram for his ancestor-worshiped lingam. The word Tenkasi translates to "South Kashi" ("ten" or "then" meaning south in Tamil). The town was called the Tenkasi after the temple. [13]

Other names

Tenkasi was known by 16 names before the reign of Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya. [13] They were

  1. Sachhithanapuram
  2. Muttuthantavanallur
  3. Anantakkuthanur
  4. Saivamuthur
  5. Tenpuliyur
  6. Kuyinkudi
  7. Sittharvasam
  8. Senpagapozhil
  9. Sivamavoor
  10. Sathamaatharoor
  11. Sithiramoolathanam
  12. Mayilaikudi
  13. Palalinkapaadi
  14. Vasanthakudi
  15. Kosigai
  16. Sitharpuri

Cityscape

The Pandya city of Tenkasi was centered around the Kasi Viswanathar temple. There were square-shaped streets in succession around the temple. The Tenkasi Pandyas were based on a fortress known as Ukkirankottai. [14]

List of Tenkasi Pandya kings

Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya and his descendants who ruled Tenkasi. Tenkasi Pandyas.png
Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya and his descendants who ruled Tenkasi.
Gateway of the Kasi Viswanathar temple in Tenkasi Tenkasi Gopuram.jpg
Gateway of the Kasi Viswanathar temple in Tenkasi

List of Pandyas who ruled with Tenkasi as the capital.

NoKingPeriod
1Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya1422–1463 AD
2Kulasekara Pandiyan III1429–1473 AD
3Aksharan Perumal Parakrama Pandya1473–1506 AD
4Kulasekara Pandya1479–1499 AD
5Sadaverman Sewallapa Pandya1534–1543 AD
6Parakrama Kulasekaran1543–1552 AD
7.Nelveli Maran1552–1564 AD
8.Sadaavarman Adeevirama Pandya1564–1604 AD
9.Varathuranga Pandya1588–1612 AD
10.Varagunarama Pandya1613–1618 AD
11.Kollankondan (Pandya Dynasty)(N.A.)

Proofs

Historic text

Pandya Kulodayam is a Pandya history book written by Mandalakavi (zonal poet) of the Tenkasi Pandya period. [15] The information it contained were:

  1. The first Pandya king to be crowned with Tenkasi as the capital was the Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya.
  2. All the Pandya kings after him were crowned in the Tenkasi temple. They were inscribed in the temple's inscriptions.
  3. The last Pandya king, King Kolakkondan, was killed in approximately AD 1615.

Numismatics

Although the Pandya kings who ruled Tenkasi ruled only marginal lands, they had issued coins in their name. The coins with the name of King Sadayarvarman Kulasekara Pandya II's son Aagavarman, were found.

Art

Notable temples

No.TempleNote
1 Kasi Viswanathar temple The origin period is unknown.

Temple towers and shrines were erected during the reign of Saadavarman Parakrama Pandya.
2 Thirukutralam temple The origin period is unknown.

Temple towers and shrines were erected during the reign of Saadavarman Parakrama Pandya.
3Kulasekaranath TempleBuilt during the reign of Saadavarman Ativirama Pandya.

Temple's specialty

Vayuvasal (Sadaavarman Parakrama Pandya entrance)

  • The temple's gopuram is known as Vayuvasal (Gateway of the air). The breeze from Vaigai river comes through this gateway. This makes it difficult to enter in the Tamil month of Ādi. Outside of the Bala Subramainya temple, there are musical pillars.

Single-stone statues

Some of the sculptural masterpieces of Tamil Nadu can be seen in the Thiruoolaka Mandapam at the Swami sannathi. There are 16 statues in the hall.

  1. Agni Veerapathirar
  2. Rathidevi
  3. Maha Thandavam
  4. Urthuva Thandavam
  5. Kalidevi
  6. Mahavishnu
  7. Manmathan
  8. Veerapathirar
  9. Paavai
  10. Paavai
  11. Tharman
  12. Beeman
  13. Arjunan
  14. Nakulan
  15. Sahadevan
  16. Karnan

The above statues are all sculpted out of single stone with subtle workmanship by the Pandya-era sculptors.

Tunnels

The entrance to the tunnel is still visible in the big temple. It is said to have four tunnels.

  1. The Avur people still say that the tunnel to the east is going to Vindhankottai in Sundarapandiapuram. [16]
  2. Another route is said to pass through the Kulasekara Nathar Temple.

Thirumalapuram Paintings

There is a cave temple on the Thirumalapuram hill near Tenkasi. It is on the way to Serndamaram village near Kadayanallur. The temple has paintings of the Pandya period. The first to discover these paintings was scholar Duprai. These colour cave temple paintings exemplify the art of the Pandya period.

Literature

Tenkasi Pandyas had also contributed to Tamil literature. [17]

YearCapitalPandya kingTextsGuru (Master)
1560 –1600Karuvai, later TenkasiVarakunaramanVaayu Sangeethai, Ilinga PuranamAkora Shivam Swami Devar (also known as Kulasekara Pandya)
1588 – 1613(?)KaruvaiVarathurangaramanPramothira Kaandam, Karuvai Anthathi, KokogamVembathur Eesana Munivar
1564 – 1610TenkasiAtiviraraman known as SeevalaramanNaidatham, Kashi Kandam, Koorma Puranam, VetriverkaiSwamidevar

Apart from these, a historical book called Pandya Kulodayam was also written by Mandalakavi during the Tenkasi Pandyas period.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandya dynasty</span> Ancient Tamil dynasty of south India

The Pandyan dynasty, also referred to as 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'. Under Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I and Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I, the Pandyas ruled extensive territories including regions of present-day South India and northern Sri Lanka through vassal states subject to Madurai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenkasi</span> Municipality in Tamil Nadu, India

Tenkasi is a town and headquarters of the Tenkasi district in Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandya Nadu</span> Geographical region in India

Pandya Nadu or Pandi Nadu is a geographical region comprising the southern part of the present day state of Tamil Nadu. The region is bounded on its West by the Venad/Ay Nadu, Northeast by the Chola Nadu and Northwest by the Kongu Nadu. It comprises the present-day districts of Madurai, Theni, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, parts of Pudukkottai and Dindigul.

Sholavandan is a panchayat town in Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the left bank of the Vaigai River, sixteen miles north west of Madurai. It is one of 12 "town- panchayats" of Madurai district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kopperunchinga II</span> Kadava chieftain

Kopperunchinga II was a Kadava chieftain, who succeeded his father Kopperunchinga I and continued his successes against the Hoysalas. Since the Chola power no longer constituted a threat, Kopperunchinga II acted as the de facto protector of the Chola king and helped him maintain his position on the throne. As he expanded his territorial holdings, Kopperunchinga II assumed such titles as Maharajasimha, Khadgamalla, Kadava Pallava, Alappirandan, Avaniyalappirandan, Kanakasabhapathy, etc. He has left numerous inscriptions mainly in the present Cuddalore, Viluppuram, Mayiladuthurai and Chengalpattu districts and a few have also been found in the erstwhile North Arcot district and Chittoor district. A Thiruvannamalai inscription mentions that he drove the telungar to the north to perish. Ultimately, however, the resurgence of the power of the Pandya kingdom of Madurai ended Kopperunchinga's reign and the Kadava dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nellaiappar Temple</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

The Nellaiappar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Tirunelveli, a city in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshipped as Nellaiappar represented by the lingam and his consort Parvati is depicted as Kanthimathi Amman. The deity Vishnu is also worshipped here, having witnessed their wedding according to legend. Hence, this temple is regarded as an abhimana kshetram of Vaishnavism. The temple is located on the northern banks of Thamirabarani River in Tirunelveli district. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram</span> Hindu temple of the god Murugan in Thiruparankundram, India

Arulmigu Murugan Temple, Thiruparankundram is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Murugan at Thiruparankundram, Tamilnadu, India. It is regarded as one of the "First Houses of Murugan". The temple uses rock-cut architecture and is believed to have been built by the Pandyas during the 6th century. According to legend, Murugan slayed the demon Surapadman and married his consort Devasena at the temple. Murugan is also said to have worshipped his father Shiva at the site as Parangirinathar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meenakshi Temple</span> Historic Hindu temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, also known as Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Thirukkovil, is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwarar, a form of Shiva. The temple is at the centre of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th-century CE texts. This temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, which are 275 temples of Shiva that are revered in the verses of Tamil Saiva Nayanars of the 6th-9th century CE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madurai Nayak dynasty</span> Rulers of Tamil Nadu from 1529 to 1736

The Madurai Nayaks were a Telugu dynasty who ruled most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital. The Madurai Nayaks had their origins in the Balija Chetti merchants clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. The Nayak reign which lasted for over two centuries from around 1529 to 1736 was noted for its achievements in arts, cultural and administrative reforms, revitalization of temples previously ransacked by the Delhi Sultans, and the inauguration of a unique architectural style.

Sacchidananda Bharati I , was a Hindu sant and religious leader of the 17th century. He was the Jagadguru of the Hindu matha Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1623 to 1663, and is believed to have saved it from attack by spiritual means.

Kadungon was a Pandya king who revived the Pandya rule in South India in the 6th century CE. Along with the Pallava king Simhavishnu, he is credited with ending the Kalabhra rule, marking the beginning of a new era in the Tamil speaking region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tirupperunturai</span> Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Tirupperunthurai is located in Avudaiyarkoil village, near Aranthangi in the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu. It was built to honor Lord Shiva. One of the sacred books of Tamil Saiva Siddhanta, Manikkavasagar's Tiruvasakam, originated from this shrine. Manikkavasagar is said to have converted the king to follow Shiva, and built the temple with money that had been intended for war-horses.

Ariyanatha Mudaliar was the Delavoy (General) and the Chief Minister of the greatest of the Nayaka domains established by the Vijayanagar viceroy and later ruler of Madurai, Viswanatha Nayak (1529–64). He assisted in running a quasi-feudal organisation of regions called the poligar or the palayakkarar system where the regions are divided into palayams and are independently governed by poligars or palayakkarars.

Arikesari Maravarman, also known as Parankusa, was a Pandya king of early medieval south India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanamamalai Perumal temple</span> Vishnu temple in Tirunelveli

The Vanamamalai Perumal Temple, also known as Arulmigu Sree Vanamamalai Totatri Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, in Vanamamalai or Totadrikshetram (Nanguneri), Tamil Nadu, India on the banks of Thamiraparani river. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams shrines dedicated to Vishnu. Vishnu is worshipped here as Vanamalai Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Varamanagi. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandyas, with later contributions from Vijayanagara kings and Madurai Nayaks. The temple covers an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and has a five-tiered temple tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Tamil Nadu</span> Overview of the architecture of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is known for its ancient temple architecture. Nearly 33,000 ancient temples, many at least 800 to 2000 years old, are found scattered all over Tamil Nadu. As per Tamil Nadu Hindu Endowments Board, there are 38,615 temples. Most of the largest Hindu Temples reside here. Studded with complex architecture, a variety of sculptures, and rich inscriptions, the temples remain the very essence of the culture and heritage of Tamil land, with historical records dating back to at least 3,000 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soundararajaperumal temple, Thadikombu</span> Hindu temple in Dindigul

The Soundararajaperumal Temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu, located in Thadikombu, a village near Dindigul in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by Achyuta Deva Raya during the 16th century CE. Vishnu is worshipped as Soundararaja Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Soundaravalli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Sivakasi</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Sivakasi, a town in Virudhunagar district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the South Indian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by Pandyan ruler Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian during the 16th century, with later additions from Madurai Nayaks. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort Parvathi as Visalakshi. The temple was the scene of temple entry movement in 1899, followed by Sivakasi riots when 22 people were killed.

Jayantavarman, known in Tamil as Seliyan Sendan, was a Pandya ruler of early historic south India. He is best known for extending the Pandya rule to the Chera country (Kerala). He was succeeded by his son Maravarman Arikesari Parankusan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi</span> Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India

Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi, a city in Tenkasi district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the Tamil style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by Pandyan ruler Parakrama Pandyan during the 13th century, with later additions from Madurai Nayaks. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort Parvathi as Ulagamman.

References

  1. ↑ Walter Codrington, Hubert (1975). Ceylon Coins and Currency. Asian Educational Services. ISBN   9788120609136.
  2. ↑ Upinder Singh (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education India. p. 46. ISBN   978-81-317-1120-0. Kings of the Chola and Pandya dynasties also issued Tamil and bilingual Sanskrit–Tamil inscriptions.
  3. ↑ C. Sivaramamurti (1977). L'Art en Inde. H. N. Abrams. p. 60. ISBN   978-0-8109-0630-3. Thus the state language was Tamil whether the inscriptions were from the north or the south and whether the dynasty was Gupta, Vakatak[a], Vardhana, Maukhari, Pratihara, Paramara, Chandella, Pala, Sena, Gahadavala, Haihaya, Ganga, Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, or Vijayanagar[a]. Inscriptions were sometimes written in regional languages, but they invariably had a preface in Sanskrit.
  4. ↑ "4.5 பிற்காலப் பாண்டியர் (கி.பி. 1371 - 1650)". தமிழ் இணையப் பல்கலைக்கழகம். Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Karashima, Noburu. 2014. 'The Fall of the Old States', in A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations, ed. Noburu Karashima, pp. 173–74. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  6. ↑ ":: TVU ::". www.tamilvu.org. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Vanamamalai, N.; Vān̲amāmalai, Nā (1981). Interpretation of Tamil Folk Creations. Dravidian Linguistics Association. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "தென்காசி காசிவிசுவநாதசுவாமி கோயில் வரலாறு கோயில் வெளியீடு". 1964.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ Sathianathaier, R.; Aiyar, R. Sathyanatha (1991). History of the Nayaks of Madura. Asian Educational Services. ISBN   978-81-206-0532-9. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "தென்காசிப் பாண்டியர்கள் !". dhinasari.com. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  11. 1 2 Sathayanatha Iyer (1924). History of the Nayaks of Madura. p. 58.
  12. ↑ தமிழ்வாணன் (1983). கட்டபொம்மன் கொள்ளைக்காரன். சென்னை: மணிமேகலை பிரசுரம். pp. 18–19.
  13. 1 2 தென்காசி தல புராணம்
  14. ↑ தென்னாட்டுப் போர்க்களங்கள், கா. அப்பாத்துரை
  15. ↑ "4.5 பிற்காலப் பாண்டியர் (கி.பி. 1371 - 1650)". தமிழ் இணையப் பல்கலைக்கழகம். Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  16. ↑ "விந்தன் கோட்டை". Natpu (in Tamil). 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "தென்காசிப் பாண்டியர்கள் !". Dinasari. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.