The Pandyan Kingdom from the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century c17.5

c17.5

Māravarman Vikrama Pāṇḍya was another co-regent, who began to rule some time in A.D. 1283.² His records begin with a Sanskrit introduction *Samasta-bhuvanaika-vīra* and two Tamil introductions commencing *Tirumagaḷ Jayamagaḷ* and *Tirumalarmādu*. The Sanskrit introduction, which is found also in one of Jaṭāvarman Vīra Pāṇḍya's records, recounts practically all the titles and achievements of Jaṭāvarman Sundara Pāṇḍya and furnishes the model for the introductions adopted by some of the later Pāṇḍyas of the period of decline.³ And the Tamil introductions do not seem to add materially to our knowledge of the king. It seems therefore that Vikrama Pāṇḍya's Sanskrit introduction cannot be taken to refer to any fresh conquests on his part. Some inscriptions from Chidambaram are in the form of verses which seem to be in praise of this Vikrama Pāṇḍya and to record his achievements in particular. In one of them Which gives him the titles *Bhuvanēkavīra* and *Koṟkai-kāvala* he is said to have conquered Vēṇāḍu (Travancore) and is ironically commended for not having invaded the north, as there were two carps on Gaṇapati’s face and there was a woman (ruling with a man’s name), which is undoubtedly a reference to the Kākatīya queen Rudramma. He is also credited with having fought the Chola on the banks of the Veḷḷāṟu which is said to have become *Śevvāṟu* (red river) when the wrath of Bhuvanēkavīra Vikrama Pāndya was roused. Much of this seems to be mere poetry.¹