COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF LATER PANDYA KINGS

Jatavarman Kulasekara-I :- 1190 AD to 1210 AD:

He was son of Vikraman. His Meikeerthi is a very good source. He fought and

compromised with the Chola king Kulothunga-III. His reign may be

regarded as an important land mark in the history of the second Pandyas.

He ruled Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari

areas. He created the Rajagambira Chaturvedi mangalam, consisting

of 1030 Brahmadeyas. So he was known as “Rajagambeera”. He

appointed Maravarman SundaraPandya as his crown prince.

Maravarman SundaraPandya - I :-1216 AD to 1231 AD:

He was the brother of Jadavarman kulasekara. He had titles like Kaliyugarama,

AdisayaPandyadeva. The King SundaraPandya was an ambitious

competant, and capable ruler. He fought wars against the cholas and

the Kongu kings. Maravarman sundaraPandya captured some portions

of Trichy and modern Pudukottai districts. A good part of the Vishnu

temple at Tiruttangal was built. After him Jadavarman Kulasekara– II

ruled for sometime.

Maravarman Sundara Pandya - II :- 1238 AD to 1253 AD:

He made many grants to temples. He defeated the chola king

Rajendra-III.

Jatavarman Sundara Pandya - I :- 1251AD to 1268AD:

He succeeded Maravarman Sundara Pandya – II. He had title as Tribhuvana

Chakravarthy for conquering Elam, Kongu and the chola kingdom.

During his time the Pandya kingdom became the Pandya empire. The

cholas completely disappeared from the Tamil scene. The hoysalas

retreated to the Mysore highlands. Ceylon was conquered. The

Kongudesam became a province of the Pandya kingdom. The chera

ruler was defeated. Due to these victories Jatavarman Sundara Pandya-

I was known as “Emmandalamum Kondarulliya pandiya”.

Religious Endowments: Jatavarman Sundara Pandya-I provided the

roof of Nataraja Shrine in Chidambaram with gold tiles. He built a hall

and the west tower of Chidambaram temple. He rendered the same

golden service to the Ranganatha swami shrine in Srirangam. So he

was titled as “Ponveintha Perumal”. He also endowed liberally to some

Jain pallis. He patronised Saivism, Vaishnavism and Hinduism. He

coronated his son Maravarman Kulasekaran-I as the crown prince.

Maravarman Kulasekaran–I: 1268AD–1308 AD:

During his reign foreign writer Morcopolo visited Tamil country and wrote about

it. The social condition of the Tamil country was known from the writings

of Muslim historian Wassaf. Maravarman captured kollam from Chera

nadu. Due to this he was called as “Kollamkonda Pandya”. He invaded Ceylon and brought huge wealth from Subhagiri fortress and the tooth

relic of the Buddha to Madurai. His Kingdom expanded till cholanadu

and upto Thondaimandalam. He appointed Jatavaraman Sundara Pandya

as Viceroy of the Kongu country and Maravarman Vikrama Pandya as

Viceroy of Chengleput and South Arcot Districts. He built the outer

wall of Nellaiyapper temple in Tirunelveli.

War of success among the Pandya heir apparents made the

muslim rulers to invade Pandya kingdom. Malik Kafur invaded and

carried away as much loote as possible. The whole Pandya country

became part of Muslim empire. The second Pandya rule which lasted

for 120 years marked a significant land mark in the history of Tamil

country. During the period of second Pandya rule the glory of the Pandyas

expanded to North only to north India but also to Srilanka.