South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c11.8

c11.8

Invasion of Ma’bar.—We have already detailed above the state of the country of Ma’bar. The occasion that called for intervention by the Muhammadans is given as the fratricidal war in the Pāṇḍya country between the two brothers Sundara Pāṇḍya and Vīra Pāṇḍya. Hence there is very little doubt left that the ultimate objective of the invasion was the Pāṇḍya kingdom wherever it be. The Chola kingdom which ought naturally to come between the Hoysala and the Pāṇḍya country had practically gone out of existence as a separate political entity. Although perhaps the incidents of the war did take place as much in the Chola country as in the Pāṇḍya, still the ruling power against whom Malik Kafur directed his invasion was that of Vīra Pāṇḍya, as he had sent an army to assist Vīra Ballāḷa against Malik Kafur. In the words of Wassaf ‘Rai Pāṇḍya (meaning apparently Ballāḷa) offered opposition, and begged the assistance of an army from Ma'bar. At that time enmity prevailed between the two brothers, Sundar Pandi and Tira Pandi, after the murder of their father. The latter sent to his assistance an army of horse and foot.’ It was probably in consequence of this state of disunion that ‘in the month of Rajab of the year A.H. 710 (A.D. 1310) the appointed leaders, accompanied by a select army, were despatched to conquer Ma'bar, and some of the towns were obtained through the animosity which had lately arisen between the two brothers; when at last a large army, attended by numerous elephants of war, was sent out to oppose the Muhammadans. Malik Nabu, who thought himself a very Saturn, was obliged to retreat, and bring back his army.’ This was apparently an invasion distinct from the one by Malik Kafur himself.