Pandya dynasty

Pandya dynasty, also known as the Madurai Pandyas, was a prominent dynasty that shaped the political and cultural landscape of South India. Their reign, spanning from roughly the 4th century BCE to the 15th century CE, witnessed periods of both glory and decline. In this article, you will learn about Pandya dynasty, origin, characteristics of Pandya Era, some of the able Pandya rulers, trade during Pandya dynasty, etc.

This article will provide key insights for GS Paper-I Indian History of UPSC IAS Exam.

Table of Content

• Who were Pandya?       
• About Pandya dynasty
• Characteristics of Pandya Era
• Mention of Pandya dynasty
• Some of the able Pandya rulers
• Trade during Pandya dynasty
• Why did Pandya dynasty declined?         
• Key terms during Pandya dynasty
• Conclusion        
• Frequently Asked Questions       

Who were Pandya?

• The Pandya dynasty was a Tamil dynasty in the southernmost and the south-eastern region of India, who ruled around the 4th century BCE with their capital being Madurai.

About Pandya dynasty:

• The dynasty has passed through two periods of imperial dominance-
  • The 6th to 10th centuries CE
  • The 13th to 14th centuries CE- ‘Later Pandyas’
• Pandyas were amongst the three Muvendars that has ruled the southern part of India.
  • The term Muvendar is a Tamil word that means three chiefs of the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas.
• The Pandya kings were also known as Jatavarman or Maravarman.
• Emblem: double carp fish
• Coins: having legend Valuti
  • Copper in medieval era, some of which bear names like Vira Pandya or Sundara Pandya.
• Major region of control: Tirunelveli, Madurai, Ramnad districts and south Travancore.
  • Madurai used to be an important centre of fine textile and ivory working.
• Premium Port: Korkai, famous for its pearls        
• The Pandyas used to linked themselves to the lunar dynasty.
• They governed vast territories, sometimes including the Chera (Kerala) region, the Chola region, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) through collateral branches that were subservient to Madura.
• The period of the “Five Pandyas” flourished from the 12th to the 14th century, during which they extended their control over the entire southern plains, with northernmost territory being Nellore by 1257.
• They used to issue Tamil and bilingual Sanskrit–Tamil inscriptions.
• The earliest kings of the Pandyan dynasty were Nediyon, Palyagasalai Mudukudumi Peruvaludhi and Mudathirumaran.
• There were two Neduncheliyans Pandya ruler– Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan and Talaiyalanganattu Cheruvenra.
• The dynasty has experienced a revival under Kadungon in the early 7th century CE.
• Kadungon has reigned from Madura (now Madurai) or even farther south until the 16th century.
• Pandya of Ucchangi was additionally a smaller dynasty which thrived from the 9th to the 13th century, which have originated from the Madura family.
• The last famous Pandyan king was Uggira Peruvaludhi.

Characteristics of Pandya Era:

Religion:

• They initially followed Jainism but later became devotees of the Hindu deity Shiva (Shaivas).
• They conducted Vedic sacrifices, and the Brahmanas in their region held significant influence.
  • Example: Mudukudumi, a Pandya ruler has assumed the title of Palshalai meaning one who has many sacrificial halls.
• Many people in the region used to worship Murugan, which was identified with Kartikeya or a war god in northern India and later known as Subramaniya.
• There was also the presence of Buddhists and Jainas in Tamil region.
• The Megalithic practice of providing for the dead was continued, where people used to offer rice to the dead.
  • But later, cremation was also introduced.
• There was a belief in sacred or magical forces called ananku, that used to inhabit different objects.
• The job of carrying out rites and rituals to correct the ananku was given to lower castes of pariyans, pananas, and velans.
• Theywere associated with ritualistic dancing, singing, lighting the cremation fire and worshipping natukal or memorial stones.

Economy:

• The Pandya region was divided into five tinais or ecozones based on their economicresources.
  • Tinais were: kurinji (hilly region); palai (arid zone); mullai (pastoral tracts); marudam (wet lands); and neital (seacoast).
• People living in different tinais had their ownmodes of subsistence such as:
  • In kurinji, people used to hunt and gather
  • In palai, as people could not produce anything, they took to raiding and plundering
  • In mullai, people used to practice animal husbandry
  • In marudam it was plough agriculture
  • In neital, people used to practice fishing and salt making
• Paddy was the chief crop during their rulership, grown in areas of Tamilakam, especially in the valleys of the Tamrapani (Sri Lanka) and Vaigai.
  • Tamilakam is the land between the Tirupati hills and the southernmost tip of peninsula.
  • Paddy was also used as a barter system.
• Other major crops include ragi, sugarcane, fruit, pepper, and turmeric.
  • They were encouraged by the rulers as the region did not have perennial rivers.
• Rulers also used to build tanks and dams for agricultural purpose.
• Most important craft: spinning and weaving of textiles such as cotton and silk and salt manufacture.
• The markets were guarded by soldiers, who used to ensure the safety of merchants and prevent smuggling, and maintained constant vigil on the trade routes.
• Transit duties were collected from merchants who moved their goods from place to place.
• Tribute from subordinate chiefs and the plundering after the war were the main sources of revenue.
• Women used to be well educated but they were subjected to the practice of Sati known as tippayadal.
• Women used to engage in various economic activities such as paddy plantation, cattle rearing, basketmaking, spinning, etc.
• Chevilittai were like foster mothers who were closely associated with family members.

Administration and defence:

• Kings were addressed as ko and chieftains were addressed as ko or kon.
• Pandyas used to haveseveral velir (chieftains), who were the subordinate chiefs and paid a regular tribute to the king.
• The state had a rudimentary army, consisting of chariots drawn by oxen, elephants, cavalry, and infantry.
  • Elephants were important for war.
  • Horses were imported via sea.
• Commanders of the army were given the title of enadi at a formal ceremony.
• Memorial stones called nadukal or virukkal were raised in honour of martyrs, and they were worshipped as god.

Stratification:

• Rather than the caste being the basis of stratification, the stratification was done on the basis of kuti (clan-based descent groups).
  • People were known on the basis of their occupation.
• There was no real restriction on inter-dining and social interaction among the kuti groups.
• The ruling class was called arasar, who may have marriage relation with the vellalas or richpeasants.
  • Vellalas were the fourth caste of peasants.
• The Vellalas held the bulk of land on which kadaisiyan or agricultural labour used to do the manual farm work.
  • Some agricultural labourers- pariyars worked on animal skins and used them as mats.
• Many Brahmanas functioned as poets and received patronage form the king.
• There were sharp social inequalities in the region.

Patronage to Sangams:

• The Sangams had flourished due to the royal patronage of the Pandyas.
• The first Sangam was held at Madurai, which was attended by legendary sages.
  • But no literary work of this Sangam was available.
• The secondSangam was held at Kapadapuram.
  • But all the literary works had perished except Tolkappiyam.
• The third Sangam at Madurai was founded by Mudathirumaran, which was attended by many poets, who have produced many voluminous literatures.
  • But only a few of them had survived.

Coinage during Pandya dynasty:

Mention of Pandya dynasty:

• The Pandyas were mentioned by Megasthenes in his work “Indica,” where he talked about a renowned Pandya Kingdom known for its pearls and governed by a woman.
  • This account suggests a possible matriarchal influence in their society.
• The Sangam Literature has also made references to Pandya rulers and portrayed their kingdom as affluent and prosperous.
• The continuity of the Pandya dynasty from the 3rdcentury BCE to the earlycenturiesCE is suggested by:
  • The seventh edict of Ashoka, the Mauryan emperor
  • The coins with legends written in Tamil–Brahmi script
  • Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions
• Mangudi Maruthanar has wrote Maduraikkanji which describes the socio-economic condition including the flourishing seaport of Korkai of the Pandya dynasty.
• The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea written in the first century CE by an anonymous author gives the account of Indo-Roman trade.
• Pliny, a Roman writer, in his book ‘Natural History’, has stated that Rome was drained of gold due to her trade with India.
• Pantikkovai was written in 6th/7th century work in the honour of the Pandya king Netumaran.

Some of the able Pandya rulers:

• Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I and Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I has ruled through vassalage subject to Madurai in regions of present-day South India and northernSriLanka.
  • During this period, the city of Kanchi became a secondary capital of the Pandyas.
• Nedunjeliyan I’ s demise was a result of remorse stemming from his involvement in the execution of Kovalan, the husband of Kannagi from the Silappadikaram.

Nedunjeliyan II:

• He is regarded as one of the most significant Pandya kings.
• He is credited with many major military triumphs and the expansion of his territories by acquiring lands from other chieftains.
• At a young age, he emerged victorious in the battle of Talaiyalanganam, defeating a confederacy consisting of Cheras, Cholas, and five other chieftains.
  • The Chera king was taken as a captive during this battle.
• Two Tamil Brahmi inscriptions from Mangulam belonging to early 2nd century BCE, mention that a subordinate and relative of Nedunjeliyan has presented gifts to Jaina monks.
• An inscription from Alagarmalai belonging to the 1st century BCE mentions a person named Katumara Natan, who was either a prince or subordinate of the Pandyan kingdom.

Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan:

• Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan has won victories over the Aryan forces.
• He was responsible for the execution of Kovalan for which Kannagi burnt Madurai.

Talaiyalanganattu Cheruvenra Neduncheliyan:

• Talaiyalanganattu Cheruvenra Neduncheliyan has won the battle at Talaiyalanganam nad thus wore this title.
• Talaiyalanganam is located in the Tanjore district.
• He was praised by Nakkirar and Mangudi Maruthanar.
• By this victory Neduncheliyan gained control over the entire Tamil Nadu.

Maravarman Avanishulamani (c. 590−620 CE):

• He was the son of Kadungon.
• He has ended the Kalabhras’ rule in the region and revived the Pandyas rule.

Rajasimha (c.735-765 CE):

• He had defeated the Pallavas, which made him assume the title of Pallavabhanjana meaning breaker of the Pallavas.
• Jatila Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan (c.756−815 CE) and Shrimara Shrivallabha (c.815−862 CE) were responsible to expand the Pandyan empire.

Trade during Pandya dynasty:

• The Pandya kingdom were engaged in trade with the Roman Empire and has sent envoys to the Roman emperor Augustus.
• In approximately 361 CE, an embassy from a Pandya ruler has reached the Roman emperor Julian.
• Major items of export to the Romans were-
  • Spices (included yavanapriya or pepper).
  • Perfumes, jewels, ivory and fine textiles (muslin especially)
  • Several precious and semi-precious stones like diamond, carnelian, turquoise, agate, sapphire
  • Pearls, indigo, sandalwood, iron and steel cutlery
• Romans used to export gold, wine, tin, lead, coral, and silver to India.

Why did Pandya dynasty declined?

• The Pandyas rule during the Sangam Age had declined due to the rise of the Kalabhra dynasty in South India, who had invaded thePandyan territory.
• The Pandyas was also declined due to the rise of the Cholas of Thanjavur in the 9th century, who were in constant conflict with the latter.
  • The Pandyas were completely overpowered by the Cholas in the 10th century.
• An internal crisis in the Pandyakingdom was enhanced by the invasion of Khalji in 1310–11.
  • This led to the establishment of the Madura sultanate which weakened Pandya authority.
• Consequently, they lost control over Kerala by 1312, and by the mid-16th century, all their territories had been occupied by other rulers.

Key terms during Pandya dynasty:

Conclusion

The Pandya dynasty left an enduring mark on South India. It fostered a vibrant maritime trade culture, enriching its economy and fostering cultural exchange. Their architectural marvels and administrative systems stand as testaments to their organizational prowess. However, their focus on regional dominance limited their ability to contend with emerging empires like the Delhi Sultanate. The Pandya kingdom’s legacy lies in its significant contributions to South Indian trade, art, and administration, even as its eventual decline highlights the importance of adapting to a shifting political landscape.

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