Description

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Context

An 800-year-old Shiva temple from the later Pandya period was recently discovered at Udampatti, a village in Melur taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.

About the Pandya Dynasty

Aspect	Details
Dynasty Name	Pandya Dynasty
Other Tamil Dynasties	Chola, Chera
Known As	One of the "Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam"
Time Period (Approx.)	From at least 4th century BCE to 1st half of the 16th century CE
Early Capital	Korkai – an ancient seaport on the southern tip of India
Later Capital	Madurai
Territorial Extent	Tamil Nadu, parts of Chera (Kerala), Chola country, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Sangam Age Role	Prominent rulers during the Sangam Age; featured in early Tamil literature
Decline under Kalabhras	Early Pandyas lost power during Kalabhra invasion
Revival by Kadungon	In the 6th century CE, Kadungon revived the dynasty by defeating the Kalabhras
Conflict with Cholas	Regular conflict with Chola Empire, especially from the 9th century CE onwards
Alliances	Allied with the Cheras and Sinhalese against the Cholas
Later Revival	Brief resurgence in the late 13th century CE
Final Decline	Declined completely by the first half of the 16th century CE

Pandya Dynasty Literary Sources

Pandyas are mentioned in Sangam literature (c. 100-200 C.E.), as well as Greek and Roman texts from this time period.
Megasthenes named the Pandyas' realm as Pandaie and Pandi Mandala in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st-century CE Greco-Roman travelogue), and Ptolemy as Pandya Mediterranea and Modura Regia Pandionis, respectively.
The dynasty also made significant contributions to art, music, and dance, specifically Bharatanatyam.
Advances in irrigation and agriculture contributed to their economic stability.
The Pandyas strongly pushed education and founded renowned learning institutions.

Source: The Hindu

Practice Question

Q. With reference to the Pandya Dynasty, consider the following statements:

The Pandyas were one of the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam along with the Cholas and the Cheras.
Their early capital was Madurai, which was also the center of Sangam literature.
The Kalabhras were responsible for the decline of the early Pandya dynasty.
The dynasty saw a revival under Kadungon in the 6th century CE.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation:

Statement 1 – Correct: The Pandyas were part of the "Three Crowned Kings" (Muvendar) of ancient Tamilakam along with the Cholas and the Cheras.
Statement 2 – Correct: While their earliest capital was Korkai, Madurai later became their primary capital and a significant Sangam literary hub.
Statement 3 – Correct: The Kalabhras disrupted the rule of early Pandyas and brought a period of obscurity.
Statement 4 – Correct: Kadungon was credited with reviving the Pandya rule in the 6th century CE by expelling the Kalabhras.