South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c9.51

c9.51

other Vīra Pāṇḍya; both of them alike lay claim to conquests against the same enemies as Jaṭāvarman Sundara Pāṇḍya I. A record of Vīra Pāṇḍya (acc. A.D. 1253) states clearly that he ‘took Īḷam (Ceylon), Kongu, and the Śoḷamaṇḍalam (the Chola country), and, having conquered the powerful Chola king, was pleased to perform the anointment of heroes and victors at Perumbarrappuliyūr (Chidambaram). He must have come after Māravarman Sundra Pāṇḍya II, as one of his grants refers to Murappunāḍu as Vikrama Sōmi Chaturvēdimangalam, which received this name under Māravarman Sundara II.¹ This circumstance would indicate that in all probability they were not separate rulers, but lieutenants of the empire, who took an active part in the achievements of the chief ruler for the time being.² He is said to have instituted a Sundara Pāṇḍyan Sandi (an offering of food) in 197 of the Epigraphist's collection for 1906. This same record of the fifteenth year of Vīra Pāṇḍya mentions Kopperunjinga. These references would only confirm the conclusion. The actual number of Pāṇḍyas that held sway at a particular time, the relations between them, and in fact the history of the Pāṇḍyas generally of this period require to be worked up a great deal more, before it is possible to arrive at any definite conclusion regarding these matters. There are two more Pāṇḍyas that come in, Jaṭāvarman Sundara Pāṇḍya II and another one of the same name, whose reign began somewhat later.³ Whether these were successors of the two others or whether they were additional rulers, it is not possible to say at present. So much, however, is clear that in this period, extending from about A.D. 1250 to 1275, there were as many as four Pāṇḍya rulers, it may even possibly be five.