History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.18

v1.c19.18

During the long period of their rule, the Pândyas had several epochs of great brilliancy and power, followed by long intervening periods of depression owing to frequent invasions from their neighbours the Chola kings of Trichinopoly. The 1st century, and afterwards the 5th or 6th, seem to have been those in which they especially distinguished themselves. The large number of gold, silver and copper coins, chiefly of the Roman emperors from Augustus to Nero, that have been found at different places in the region, indicate a considerable commerce with the West at that age. We have lists of kings, but how far mythical we know not, the times at which any of them lived being quite unknown before the 9th or 10th century, and such as have been approximately ascertained between the 9th and 13th century are those mentioned in Chola inscriptions. If buildings of the first ten or twelve centuries exist, which is by no means improbable, they are still unknown to us, and must remain so till the full results of the Archæological Surveys are adequately published. In the early ages of their history the Pândya kings are believed to have been Buddhists, but one of them, perhaps in the 12th century, became a Saiva, and persecuted the heterodox sect mercilessly.