[brraverishhh]

Virarajendra

Under Construction

A brief study on the Pandiyas (Paandiyar) of the "Second Sangam" Period of Tamil Nadu

(1) The rise of the new capital city Kapaadapuram in the east coast of Paandiya Nadu

After a great Submarine Avalanche (Under Sea Land Slides) swallowed up a vast land mass in the south of the present Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, the region of Kapaadapuram which was situated on the east of present Rameswarem district of Tamil Nadu in the Indian mainland and adjacent to the sea, was made the new capital city of the Paandiyar kings.

This above are confirmed by the following references


(1) The duration of the new capital city Kapaadapuram in the east coast of Paandiya Nadu

The earliest known reference to Kapadapuram was in the original Sanskrit Ramaayana by Sage/Poet Vaalmiki. The period of Ramaayana tentatively placed around B.C.500, and the period of Arathasastra was around B.C.342 being the period of fall of Nanda dynasty and the rise of Mauriya dynasty at Magadha kingdom (in present Bihar State).

Since the second Pandiyan capital city Kapaadapuram was already in existance at the time of Raamaayana War we presume Kapadapuram existed at least some years earlier and tentatively 50 years earlier in the year B.C.550 (500+50).

The last known reference to Kapaadapuram was found in the Arathasastra of the Poet Kautilya. Here too we could tentative fix the end of this city a few years after Arathasatra at least presume it existed 50 years more. Hence we could tentatively arrive at the year the great sea erosion took place as in the year B.C.292. From the foregoing we could approximately determine the period of duration of the Kapadapuram as the second Pandiyan capital city as from B.C.550-292 being 258 years.

This above are confirmed by the following references

(3) The Paandiyan kings of the early period of the new capital city Kapaadapuram

The first Paandiya king who commenced his period of rule from the new city of Kapaadapuram of then Paandiya Nadu, which was formerly on the east of present Rameswarem district (and now under sea), was the Venther Cheliyan around the year B.C.550. He re-instituted the Second Thamil Sangam at Kapaadapuram and continued fostering the growth of Tamil Literary compositions with many poets from various parts of Tamil Nadu forming an assembly at this Sangam. Much is not known of the Paandiya kings who ruled Kapaadapuram following him.


(4) The Paandiyan kings of the Ramaayana period at the capital city Kapaadapuram

The episode of Ramaayana took place around the year B.C.500. The Sage Vaalmiki refers to the Paandiyan kingdom of Kapaadapuram but there is no indication as to the name of the Paandiyan kings who ruled during this period. None of the Paandiyan kings of the Raamaayana period have participated in the Raamayana War or given any assistance to the participants of the Rama-Ravana war of the then Sri Lanka. The Paandiyan kings who ruled from Kapaadapuram after the Ramaayana Episode are not evident from any Literary or historical sources.

(5) The Paandiyan kings of the Mahaabhaaratha period at the capital city Kapaadapuram

The period of Mahaabhaaratha War is fixed tentatively around B.C.450. Many South Indian kings have participated in the Mahhabharatha War among which was the Paandiya king Saarangathuwaja as refered in the Sanskrit Mahaabhaaratha of Sage Viyaasa. The Saarangathuvaja Paandiyan who fought in the Bharatha war on the side of the Paandavas and proved himself as a heroic warrior as per the Sanskrit Mahaabhaaratha of Sage Viyasa.

From the references in the original Sanskrit Mahabharatha by Sage/Poet Viyasa which was composed after Valmiki Ramaayana, we are able to gather that the Paandiya capital city was adjacent to the sea. Further we are aware the first Pandiyan capital city the (first) Mathurai (Nanmaadakkudal) and the third Pandiyan capital city the present Mathurai were in the mainland and not adjacent to the sea. Hence the Pandiyan capital city during the Mahabharatha period too was undoubtedly was the Kapaadapuram.

This above are confirmed by the following references

".......Thirutharaastirar padai muluthum kalaththu aviya Bharathaththu pahadu oatiyum......."

Sadaiyavarman Paraantha Paandiyan Cheppeukal - Lines 35-36, Paandiyar Cheppedukal.

"......Pandiya who dwelt on the coast land near the sea, came accompanied by troops of various kinds to Yudhishthira the king of kings....."

Mahaabhaaratha - Udoga Parva, Page 31

"......The mighty Saarangadhwaja endued with wealth of energy the king of Pandiyas on seeds of the hue of the moon's rays and decked with armour set with stones of Lap Lazuli advanced upon Dhrona streatching his excellent bow....."

Mahaabhaaratha - Udoga Parva, Page 311

"......Vasudeva's son Krishna ....It was he that slew king Pandiya by striking his breast against his....."

Mahaabhaaratha - Udoga Parva, Page 115

"......The mighty Pandiya that foremost of all wielders of weapons has been slain in battle by the Pandavas (with Kauravas), what can it be but destiny......"

Mahaabhaaratha - Saliya Parva, Page 5


(6) The Paandiyan kings of the Nanda Period of Magadha at the capital city Kapaadapuram

The Paandiyan King who lived towards the time of second sea erosion at Kapadapuram was Mudaththirumaaran escaped the erosion and moved to the region Manalur temporarily with his surviving countrymen. From there he built his new capital city at the present Mathurai which was then known as Vada Mathurai (not the Mathura in the North India) at that time differentiating between the Mathurai of first Mathurai (Then Mathurai) and the third Mathurai (Vada Mathurai) present Mathurai.

(7) The Sea Erosion (Tsunami) swallows the capital city Kapaadapuram