Early Pandyan kingdom facts for kids

The Early Pandyas were one of the three main kingdoms in Tamilakam (southern India) a long time ago, even before 200 BCE. The other two big kingdoms were the Cholas and the Cheras. We learn about the Early Pandyas mostly from old writings, but also from carvings on rocks, old pottery, and coins. Their first capital city was Korkai, but it later moved to Koodal, which is now known as Madurai, during the time of King Nedunjeliyan I.

The kings of the Pandyan dynasty are often mentioned in very old Tamil writings, like the Mathuraikkanci and Cilapatikaram. These writings help historians figure out who the kings were and how they were related. One of the most famous Early Pandyan warriors was Nedunjeliyan II. He won a big battle at Talaialanganam against a team of Cholas, Cheras, and five other kingdoms! The Early Pandyan kingdom stretched from Travancore in the west to the Vellaru river in the north, and all the way to the ocean in the east and south.

The Early Pandyas were also very good at trading by sea with countries in the west. Writers from ancient Rome and Greece, like Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy, wrote about this trade. The Pandyan country was famous for its pearl fishing, especially around Korkai. They exported things like pearls, spices, ivory, and shells. In return, they imported horses, gold, glass, and wine.

Discovering the Early Pandyas

Historians have used many clues to learn about the Early Pandyan kings and their time, even though it's hard to know their exact family tree.

One idea about the word "Pandya" is that it comes from the Tamil word "Pandi," which means "bull." In ancient Tamil culture, the bull was a sign of strength and bravery. The first Pandyan king of Thenmadurai (South Madurai), Kulasekharan Pandya, was said to be as strong as a bull, so "Pandya" became his special name. His son, Malayadhwaja Pandya, was a legendary king who even fought in the famous Kurukshetra War.

Malayadhwaja Pandya and his queen, Kanchanamala, had a daughter named Thathagai, also known as Meenakshi. She became a successful queen after her father. The famous Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai was built in her honor, and the city of Madurai grew up around this temple.

Another idea is that in the old Sangam Tamil language, "Pandya" meant "old country." This is different from "Chola" meaning "new country," "Chera" meaning "hill country," and "Pallava" meaning "branch" in Sanskrit. The Chera, Chola, and Pandya kings were like traditional siblings among the Tamil rulers, and they were the main kings who ruled ancient Tamilakkam.

Old Tamil Writings as Clues

Many old Tamil writings, like Iraiyanar Akapporul, talk about three different Tamil Sangams (gatherings of poets and scholars) that lasted for many centuries before the Christian Era. These writings say the Pandyas supported these Sangams. The Sangam poem Maduraikkanci by Mankudi Maruthanaar gives a detailed description of Madurai and the Pandyan country when Nedunjeliyan II was king. Another poem, Nedunalvadai by Nakkirar, describes the king's palace.

The Purananuru and Agananuru collections from the third century BCE have poems praising different Pandyan kings, and some poems were even written by the kings themselves! Kaliththokai mentions that many groups of people, like the Maravar and Paravar, moved to the Pandyan kingdom and lived there about 2000 years ago during the Third Tamil Sangam period.

A Chinese historian named Yu Huan wrote in his 3rd-century text, the Weilüe, about "The Kingdom of Panyue," saying its people were small, like the Chinese. The Roman emperor Julian also received a message from a Pandyan king around 361 CE. A Roman trading center was found on the Pandyan coast at Alagankulam. The Pandyas traded with Ptolemaic Egypt and, through Egypt, with Rome by the first century CE, and with China by the 3rd century CE.

Rock Carvings and Inscriptions

The 2nd and 13th rock edicts of Ashoka (from 273 - 232 BCE) mention the Pandyas, Cholas, Cheras, and the Satyaputras. These carvings show that these kingdoms were outside the southern border of the Mauryan Empire. The Hathigumpha inscriptions of the Kalinga King Kharavela (around 150 BCE) talk about jewels and elephants sent as gifts from the Pandyan king. Stone carvings found at Mangulam mention King Nedunj Cheliyan III and his helper, Kadalan Vazhuthi.

Old Pottery and Dig Sites

Digs in Tamil Nadu over the last fifty years have found pieces of black-and-red pottery from around 300 BCE. Other types of pottery from the same time have also been found. Pottery from the Roman empire, brought by traders, has been dug up in many parts of Tamil Nadu, including the Pandyan country. These imported items are from the early centuries CE.

Ancient Coins

At Alagankulam, near Madurai, two copper coins of the early Pandyas were found along with other ancient pottery. These coins are thought to be from 200 BCE to 200 CE. Many coins made by the Pandyan king Mudukudumi Peruvaludhi have been found around Madurai, dated to about 200 BCE. Many gold and silver coins from the Roman empire have also been found near Madurai, with the names of emperors from Augustus (27 BCE) to Alexander Severus (235 CE).

History of the Early Pandyan Kings

Scholars have tried to put together the history of the ancient Pandyan country using old writings like the Purananuru and Pattuppāṭṭu.

The first Pandyan king mentioned in the Sangam writings we have is Nedunjeliyan I. He ruled from the coastal town of Korkai. Back then, the Tamil country had many small kingdoms ruled by local chiefs, plus the three big kingdoms of Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas. To make his kingdom bigger, Nedunj Cheliyan I attacked Koodal (later Madurai), which was ruled by a chief named Akutai. He won and moved the Pandyan capital to Madurai. This king also defeated an army from the Deccan Plateau, which earned him the name Aariyap Padaikadantha Pandyan (the Pandyan who defeated the Aryan army).

His son, Pudappandiyan, took over next. He expanded the kingdom by taking over Ollaiyur, which gave him the name Ollaiyur Thantha Pudappandian. Both Pudappandiyan and his father, Nedunj Cheliyan I, were poets themselves and wrote poems for the Purananuru collection.

The next king was Nedunj Cheliyan II, also known as "Pasumpun Pandyan." As soon as he became king, he marched north of the Vaigai and defeated a chief named Evvi II. Then he went west and captured the Aayi area, controlled by another chief, Atiyan. Both Evvi II and Atiyan later became commanders in the Pandyan army. From there, he expanded the Pandyan kingdom almost to the western coast, earning him the title Vidambalamba Ninra Pandyan (the Pandyan whose kingdom was washed by two seas). Because he added many kingdoms to his own, he was also called Pannadu Thantha Pandyan (the Pandyan who annexed many lands).

His successor, Mudukudumi Peruvaludhi, was also a great warrior who brought destruction to enemy lands. He performed special religious ceremonies called yagas with the help of Brahmin priests, similar to traditions in northern India at that time.

The next important king was Nedunj Cheliyan III, who is considered the greatest of all the early Pandyan kings. Since the Pandyan kingdom was much larger, he had to defend it from many neighbors attacking from different sides. He not only defended his land but also moved into enemy areas, like the southern part of the Chola kingdom and the eastern part of the Chera kingdom. It is said that a group of his neighbors, including the Cheras, Cholas, and five other kingdoms, fought him in a big battle at Talaialanganam in the Tanjore district. Nedunj Cheliyan won this battle and added many new areas to his kingdom. Because of this, he became known as Talaialanganathu Seruvendra Pandyan.

After this king, the family tree isn't very clear, but at least four other kings are thought to have ruled soon after. Two notable ones were Musiri Mutriya Cheliyan, who conquered the town of Musiri on the Arabian Sea coast, and Ukkirap Peruvaludi. It was in Ukkirap Peruvaludi's court that the famous poet Tiruvalluvar presented his well-known work, Tirukkural.

How the Early Pandyas Ruled

The king was the leader of the government, and his position was passed down through his family. But his power was limited by the Aimberunguzhu (Tamil: ஐம்பெருங்குழு), or the Five Great Assemblies. These groups included representatives of the people, priests, doctors, astrologers, and ministers. There was also another group of officials called the Enberaayam (Tamil: எண்பேராயம்), or the Eight Groups of Attendants, who helped the king. Some scholars think these were personal attendants, while others believe they were important people like city leaders or army commanders.

The main officers of the state were the high priest, the chief astrologer, the ministers, and the army commanders. The king divided his land into smaller areas called Kootram (Tamil: கூற்றம்). A Kootram was then divided into provinces called Mandalam, which were further split into many sub-provinces called Nadus. Each Nadu had many villages. A place inside a town or village was called Ur, and each neighborhood within an Ur was called a Cheri. While the king ruled from the capital, he often put a senior family member or a loyal chief in charge of some Kootram. The village was the most basic unit of government, and its elders managed justice, administration, and money matters.

Justice was free, handled by special judges. The king was the highest judge in all cases. Common legal issues included property, loans, and broken agreements. Crimes like theft, forgery, and treason were punished very severely, so crimes were rare. People caught stealing or spying could even face the death penalty.

The king was also the main commander of the army and usually led his soldiers in battles. The army had four parts: foot soldiers, horse riders, elephant riders, and chariots. They used many different weapons like shields, swords, spears, and bows and arrows.

The king's main income came from taxes, tributes, and customs duties. Land tax, paid in money or goods, and income tax (one-sixth of a person's income) were the main taxes. Other money came from gifts from loyal subjects, war treasures, and forced gifts. The king spent money on the army, gifts for poets and temples, education, health services, building roads and irrigation systems, and running his palace.

Women in this time could get an education. We know this because many women poets are mentioned in the Sangam writings, such as Avvaiyar and Ponmudiyaar.

People wore different kinds of clothes, including those made of cotton and silk. People in hilly or deserted areas sometimes wore clothes made from leaves and flowers. Poorer men wore one piece of cloth around their waist. Women covered their upper body with a type of dress called kachchu. Wealthier men wore two pieces of cloth, one around the waist and one over the shoulders. Women from rich families wore half sarees made of fine cotton and silk, often with embroidery. Both men and women had long hair.

Their diet was simple. Rice was the main food, along with millet, milk, butter, and honey. Eating meat was not encouraged, as mentioned in ancient Tamil writings like Thirukkural. The type of house people lived in depended on where they lived and how much money they had. Rich people built houses with tiled roofs and walls made of burnt bricks and mud. Poor people built huts with mud and thatched roofs made of grass or palm leaves. In both huts and houses, the floors were covered with cow dung. Rich houses had porches, many floors, open terraces, and nice furniture. Their inner walls were decorated with flowers and paintings. Beds were common; rich people had luxurious beds with swan's feathers and flowers, while common people used beds woven from maize straw, and the poorest used beds made of grass or hay.

Images for kids

• Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.jpg

  The Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, built in honor of Queen Meenakshi.

• Ashoka's Edicts.jpg

  A rock edict of Ashoka, which mentions the Pandyas.

• Ancient Tamil Pottery.jpg

  Examples of ancient Tamil pottery found during excavations.