पाण्ड्य
[pandya] IAST: PĀṆḌYA
इइ . ( A Tamilian dynasty of Kings .) A place of पुराणिच् fame in दक्षिण भारत . The three states चेर , चोल and पाण्ड्य were from early times renowned states of दक्षिण भारत . Historically and पुरणिचल्ल्य् पाण्ड्य was a state of eminence.
(A.) The पाण्ड्य dynasty of Kings is very ancient, The exact period of its beginning is still unknown. Megasthanes who lived in the fourth century B.C. has made mention of the पाण्ड्य dynasty in his diary. Julian, an emperor of Italy, who lived in 361 A.D. is stated to have received visitors from पाण्ड्यदेश . The पाण्ड्य dynasty was revived and elevated under the leadership of कतुङ्क in the 7th century A.D. From that time till the 16th century Madura was the capital of पाण्ड्यदेश . The उच्चाङ्गी dynasty which was ruling the places to the south of तुङ्गभद्रा during the period from 9th century to 13th century A.D. is believed to be a part of the पाण्ड्यवंश which had gone from Madura. A continuous history of the पाण्ड्य line of Kings is not available. Many Kings bear names like जातवर्मा or मारवर्मा . The पाण्ड्य Kings were devotees of शिव even from the period of the जैनस् . At times they have ruled over the combined kingdoms of चेर and चोल . During the period from the 12th to the 14th century A.D. पाण्ड्य was ruled by five of the most valiant rulers and at that time the पाण्ड्यदेश included all the places in south India up to Nellore. But the power of the पाण्ड्यस् waned when the power of the Sultans who ruled Delhi spread to the south. After 1370 A.D only on rare occasions has the power of the पाण्ड्यस् spread to the north of river कावेरी . In 1312 A.D. Kerala got herself free from the hold of the Tamilian Kings. (Pāṇḍyarājya) .
The statements found in महाभारत about पाण्ड्यदेश are given below:- ( i) श्री कृष्ण once slew a पाण्ड्य King who was the father of मलयध्वज . मलयध्वज who was a very valiant archer started for द्वारका to kill कृष्ण to avenge the death of his father. Friends dissuaded him from his attempt and so he dropped the idea. During the time of महाभारत मलयध्वज was the King of पाण्ड्य . [mh-7-23-1 ] .
मलयध्वज , King o पाण्ड्य , was a frequent visitor to the court of युधिष्ठिर . [mh-2-4-24 ] .
The King of पाण्ड्य presented gifts at the राजसूय of युधिष्ठिर . [mh-2-52-35 ] .
In the कुरुक्षेत्र battle the पाण्ड्य King fought on the side of the पाण्डवस् with a large army. [mh-5-19-9 ] .
On the chariot of the पाण्ड्य King flags bearing the insignia of ocean flew. The पाण्ड्य King wounded द्रोण . [mh-7-23-72 ] .
The King of पाण्ड्य fought against वृषसेन and अश्वत्थामा . [mh-8-20-46 ] .
Project अर्थ (Artha): X, yashbonde.com, LinkedIn. See Sources