|
The Pandyan or Pandiyan or Pandian dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty, one of the three Tamil dynasties, the other two being the Chola and the Chera. The Pandya King, along with Chera King and Chola King, were referred to as the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam. The dynasty ruled parts of South India from around 600 BCE (Early Pandyan Kingdom) to first half of 17th century CE. They initially ruled their country ''Pandya Nadu'' from Korkai, a seaport on the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved to Madurai. Fish being their flag, Pandyas were experts in water management, agriculture(mostly near river banks) and fisheries and they were eminent sailors and sea traders too. ''Pandyan'' was well known since ancient times, with contacts, even diplomatic, reaching the Roman Empire. The Pandyan empire was home to temples including Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, and Nellaiappar Temple built on the bank of the river Thamirabarani in Tirunelveli. The Pandya kings were called either Jatavarman or Maravarman Pandyan. From being Jains in their early ages, they became Shaivaits after some centuries of rule.〔(Pandya dynasty (Indian dynasty) – Encyclopedia Britannica ). Britannica.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.〕 Strabo states that an Indian king called Pandion sent Augustus Caesar "presents and gifts of honour".〔(The First Spring: The Golden Age of India – Abraham Eraly – Google Books ). Books.google.co.in. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.〕 The country of the Pandyas, Pandi Mandala, was described as ''Pandyan Mediterranea'' in the ''Periplus'' and ''Modura Regia Pandyan'' by Ptolemy.〔The cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia By Edward Balfour〕 The early Pandyan Dynasty of the Sangam Literature faded into obscurity upon the invasion of the Kalabhras. The dynasty revived under Kadungon in the early 6th century, pushed the Kalabhras out of the Tamil country and ruled from Madurai.〔Ancient Indian History and Civilization By Sailendra Nath Sen〕 They again went into decline with the rise of the Cholas in the 9th century and were in constant conflict with them. The Pandyas allied themselves with the Sinhalese and the Cheras in harassing the Chola empire until they found an opportunity for reviving their fortunes during the late 13th century. The Later Pandyas (1216–1345) entered their golden age under Maravman Sundara Pandyan and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (c. 1251), who expanded the empire into Telugu country, conquered Kalinga (Orissa) and invaded and conquered Sri Lanka. They also had extensive trade links with the Southeast Asian maritime empires of Srivijaya and their successors. During their history, the Pandyas were repeatedly in conflict with the Pallavas, Cholas, Hoysalas and finally the Muslim invaders from the Delhi Sultanate. The Pandyas lost their capital city Madurai to Madurai Sultanate in 1335 . However they shifted their capital to tenkasi and conitued to rule the Tirulnelveli, Tuticorin, Ramanad, Sivagangai regions until 1650. Mean while Madurai sultanate was replaced by nayak governors of Vijayanagar in 1378. In 1529 Nayak governors declared independence and established Madurai Nayak dynasty. The introduction of Palaiyakkarar system by Madurai Nayak dynasty vanished the The Pandyan Kingdom one and all . The Pandyas excelled in both trade and literature. They controlled the pearl fisheries along the South Indian coast, between Sri Lanka and India, which produced some of the finest pearls in the known ancient world. Traditionally, the legendary Sangams were held in Madurai under their patronage, and some of the Pandya Kings were poets themselves. ==Etymology== The word Pandya is derived from the Tamil word "Pandu" meaning very old. According to the Epic Mahabharatha the legendary Malayadwaja Pandya, who sided with the Pandavas and took part in the Kurukshetra War of the Mahabharata, is described as follows in Karna Parva (verse 20.25):〔Mahabhrata Book Eight: Karna By Adam Bowles〕〔The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa translated into ..., Volume 8 By Kisari Mohan Ganguli〕 "Although knowing that the shafts (arrows) of the high souled son of Drona employed in shooting were really inexhaustible, yet Pandya, that bull among men, cut them all into pieces". Malayadwaja Pandya and his queen Kanchanamala had one daughter Thataathagai alias Meenakshi who succeeded her father and reigned the kingdom successfully. The Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple was built after her. The city of Madurai was built around this temple.〔Let's go: India & Nepal, 2004 By Let's Go, Inc.〕 It is also notable that the etymology of the name Meenakshi came from two Tamil words Meen(Fish) and Akshi(Eye) which collectively means 'Fish Eyed' Another theory suggests that in Sangam Tamil lexicon the word Pandya means ''old country'' in contrast with Chola meaning ''new country'', Chera meaning ''hill country'' and Pallava meaning ''branch'' in Sanskrit. The Chera, Chola and Pandya are the traditional Tamil siblings and together with the Pallavas are the major Kings that ruled ancient Tamilakam. Historians have used several sources to identify the origins of the early Pandyan dynasty with the pre-Christian Era and also to piece together the names of the Pandyan kings. Pandyas were the longest ruling dynasty of Indian history.〔AALAVAI by KRA NARASIAH〕 Unfortunately, the exact genealogy of these kings has not been authoritatively established yet. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pandyan dynasty」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|