Rise and Fall of the Later Pandya Dynasty: Triumphs, Struggles and Decline

The Pandya dynasty, one of the Muvendars in southern India, ruled for centuries alongside the Pallavas, Cholas, and Cheras. With phases of ancient, medieval, and later rule, their history is complex. Notable rulers like Arikesari Maravarman and Jatila Parantaka contributed to their glory, expanding territory and building temples. However, conflicts with the Pallavas and Cholas, and later invasions led to their decline.

An Overview of the Rise and Fall of the Pandya Dynasty

1. Legacy and Phases of the Pandya Dynasty

• Pandyas: were one of the Muvendars that ruled the southern part of India until the pre-modern times. 
• Pandyas of Madurai: They are referred to as the Pandyas of Madurai. It was an ancient Tamil dynasty of South India, among the four great kingdoms of Tamilakam, the other three being the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Cheras.
• Timeline of the Pandya Dynasty: It is difficult to establish as the dynasty passed through many phases. 
  • Ancient Pandyas/Early Pandyas: 4th to 3rd centuries BC
  • Later (Medieval) Pandyas: 6th to 10th centuries AD
  • Re-rise of Pandyas: 13th to 14th centuries AD
• Territory of Pandyas: It is called Pandymandalam, Thenmandalam or Pandynadu. It covered the hilly regions except the areas fed by the rivers Vaigai and Tamiraparni.
• Borders of the kingdom:

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• Source to Study:
• • The Velvikkudi grant of Nedunjadayan.
  • Accounts of Marco Polo, Wassaff and Ibn-Batuta.

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2. Important Rulers

• Kadunkon: recovered Pandya territory from the Kalabhras and revived the Pandyas.

• Sendan: had warlike qualities and took the title of Vanavan which suggested his conquest of Cheras. 
• Arikesari Maravarman (624–674 AD): According to a Vaigai river bed inscription, he ascended the throne in 642 AD. 
  • He is known for victories over his counterparts such as Cheras, Cholas, Pallavas and Sinhalese.  
• Religious Alignment: Saivite saint Thirugnanasambandar converted Arikesari from Jainism to Saivism.
  • Further, Arikesari is identified with Kun Pandian, the persecutor of Jains.
  • Arikesri was a contemporary of Mahendravarman I and Narsimahvarman I. 
• Jatila Parantaka Nedunjadayn (Varaguna I) (756–815 AD): He was also known as the greatest of his dynasty and successfully handled the Pallavas and Cheras.
  • Expanded the Pandya territory to Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Salem and Coimbatore districts.
  • He is considered the donor of the Velvikkudi plates and is credited with building several Siva and Vishnu temples.
• Srimara Srivallabha (815–862 AD): He invaded Ceylon and maintained his authority. He was defeated by Pallava Nandivarman III (846–869 AD)
  • Srimara was followed by Varaguna II who was defeated by Aparajita Pallava (885–903) at Sripurmbiyam.
• Other Successors/ Rulers: like Parantaka Viranarayana and Rajasimha II, could not stand up to the rising Chola dynasty under Parantaka I. 
  • Parantaka I defeated the Pandya king Rajasimha II who fled the country in 920CE.
• Revival of the Pandyas in the Late 13th Century: The Pandyas again found an opportunity to revive its frontiers during the late 13th century after the death of Adhi Rajendra (Chola viceroyalty) and Pandya chieftains started ruling their regions independently. 
• Sadaiyavarman Sundarapandyan (1251-1268 AD): He was the famous ruler of the second Pandya kingdom who brought the entire Tamil Nadu under his rule and exercised his authority up to Nellore in Andhra.
• Maravarman Kulasekharan (1268-1312 AD): In 1302, elder son Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan III was appointed co-regent.
  • Fratricide and Civil War for Succession: The king’s appointment of Sundara Pandyan as a co-regent provoked the other son Vira Pandyan and so he killed his father Maravarman Kulasekharan. 
    • In the civil war that ensued, Vira Pandyan won and firmly established his kingdom. 
  • Alliance with Alauddin Khalji: The other son, Sundara Pandyan, fled to Delhi and took refuge under the protection of Alauddin Khalji. 
    • This turn of events provided an opening for the invasion of Malik Kafur.
• Invasion of Malik Kafur: Malik Kafur invaded the kingdom and looted Madurai in 1311.
  • In Madurai, a Muslim state subordinate to the Delhi Sultan came to be established and continued until 1335 AD when the Muslim Governor of Madurai, Jalaluddin Asan Shah threw off his allegiance and declared himself independent.

3. Decline of Pandya Empire

• Succession Struggles and External Invasions: After the death of Maravarman Kulasekhara I in 1310, his sons Vira Pandya IV and Sundara Pandya IV fought for the throne, while the Khalji sultanate of Delhi invaded their territory several times. 
• Intervention by Hoysala King Ballala III: The Hoysala king Ballala III also tried to take advantage of the situation but was defeated by the Khaljis. 
• Loss of Territories to the Khaljis: The Pandya brothers sought help from the Khaljis at different times but ultimately lost most of their domains to them. 
• Decline and Contraction of the Pandya Empire: By 1323, the Pandya empire was reduced to a small region in South Arcot. 
• Mysterious Disappearance: Towards the end of the sixteenth century, the Pandyan dynasty suddenly disappeared from the Indian historical scene forever.

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Conclusion

The Pandya dynasty’s story is one of triumph and tragedy, marked by territorial expansion, cultural achievements, and eventual decline. Despite their significant contributions to South Indian history and art, internal strife and external invasions led to their downfall by the 14th century. Today, their legacy lives on in the ruins of temples and the tales of their glory.