| Arikesari | |
|---|---|
| Maravarman | |
| Reign | c. 640–690 CE |
| Predecessor | Seliyan Sendan (Jayantavarman) |
| Successor | Ko Chadaiyan Ranadhira |
| Dynasty | Pandya |
| Pandya dynasty | ||
| Early Pandya polity | ||
| Koon Pandiyan | ||
| Pudappandiyan | ||
| Mudukudumi Paruvaludhi | ||
| Nedunjeliyan I | ||
| Nedunjeliyan II | ||
| Nan Maran | ||
| Nedunjeliyan III | ||
| Maran Valudi | ||
| Kadalan Valuthi | ||
| Musiri Mutriya Cheliyan | ||
| Ukkirap Peruvaludi | ||
| Early Medieval Pandyas | ||
| Kadungon (c. 590–620)/(c. 560–590) | ||
| Maravarman Avanichulamani (c. 620–645)/(c. 590–620) | ||
| Cheliyan Chendan (c. 654–670)/(c. 620–650) | ||
| Arikesari Maravarman (Parankusan) (c. 670–700)/(c. 650–700) |
||
| Ko Chadaiyan Ranadhira (c. 700–730) | ||
| Maravarman Rajasimha I (c. 730–765)/(c. 730–768) | ||
| Jatila Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan/ Varaguna I (c. 756–815)/(c. 768–815) |
||
| Srimara Srivallabha (c. 815–862) | ||
| Varaguna II (c. 862–880)/(c. 862–885) | ||
| Parantaka Viranarayana (c. 880–900)/(c. 860–905) | ||
| Maravarman Rajasimha II (c. 900–920)/(c. 905–920) | ||
Arikesari Maravarman (r. c. 640–690 CE), also known as Parankusa, was a Pandya king of early medieval south India.[1]
Arikesari's reign witnessed the beginning of the Pandya contest with the Pallavas in the northern Tamil country.[1] He probably entered into an alliance with Chalukyas (to the counter the Pallavas).[2] However, historian K. M. Venkata Ramaiah notes that Arikesari Maravarman defeated the Chalukyas under Vikramaditya I at the battle of Nelveli, indicating that Pandya–Chalukya relations were not consistently allied.[3][4] The Pandyas also came into collision with the Cheras ("Keralas") under his rule.[5]
Period[edit | edit source]
Arikesari Maravarman was the successor of Seliyan Sendan (Jayantavarman), but it is not known for certain if he was Jayantavarman's son or not (most probably his son).[1]
- K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (the first assumption) - c. 670–710 CE[6]
- K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (revised date) - c. 670–700 CE[7]
- T. V. Sadasiva Pandarathar - c. 640–670 CE[8]
- Noburu Karashima - c. 650–700 CE[9] (or) c. 670–700 CE[10]
- V. Vedachalam & A. Kalavathi - c. 640–690 CE[11]
He was succeeded by his son Kocchadaiyan Ranadhira.[12]
Names[edit | edit source]
In the Velvikkudi Grant and the Smaller Sinnamanur Plates, his name appears as "Arikesari Maravarman". In the Larger Sinnamanur Plates, he is called "Arikesari Parankusa".[1]
Life and career[edit | edit source]
Velvikkudi Grant[edit | edit source]
The reign of Arikesari Maravarman probably saw a significant increase in the Pandya political power and prestige.[13]
According to the Velvikkudi Grant, Arikesari Maravarman won battles at Pali, Nelveli, and Uraiyur.[14] In Nelveli, he is said to have conquered the vast forces of certain Vilveli.[15] The victory at Nelveli is confirmed by the Larger Sinnamanur Plates.[15] Except Uraiyur (Tiruchirappalli), the identity of these places is not certain.[14] E. Hultzsch tentatively identified Nelveli with modern Tirunelveli, but K. A. N. Sastri disagreed with this identification.[14]
Larger Sinnamanur Plates.[edit | edit source]
The Larger Sinnamanur Plates states that Arikesari "Parankusa" won battles at Nelveli and Sankaramangai.[16]
The inscription further states that he ruined the Paravars (people on the south-east coast of the Pandya country) who did not submit to him and destroyed the people of Kurunadu.[16] According to one theory, "Kurunattar" refers to people of Kurunadu (an unidentified place); another possibility is that the term refers to petty chieftains.[14][17]
Arikesari is also said to have defeated an unspecified enemy at Sennilam, which may refer to a particular place or is a generic term for "Red (Bloody) Battlefield".[14][17] Finally, the inscription states that he defeated the Keralas (the Cheras) multiple times, and once imprisoned their king with his near relatives and warriors.[16]
The Chalukya-Pallava- Pandya Conflict[edit | edit source]
Arikesari Maravarman seems to have joined with the Chalukyas in their struggle against the Pallavas.[2] Early in the rule of Pallava king Parameswara I, Chalukya Vikramadtiya I advanced south and even displaced the Pallava from his capital Kanchi.[2] The Chalukya then advanced further south to the Kaveri River and encamped at Uraiyur (where he probably effected a junction with Arikesari Maravarman).[2] However, other historians note that the relationship between the Pandyas and the Chalukyas was not consistently allied. K. M. Venkata Ramaiah records that at the battle of Nelveli the Pandya forces defeated the Chalukyas under Vikramaditya I, forcing the Chalukyan army to retreat. The retreating forces later encountered the Pallavas at Peruvallanallur, where they were again defeated. This sequence suggests shifting hostilities rather than a stable Pandya–Chalukya alliance.[18][19]When the Chalukya king Vikramaditya I is said to have invaded the Pandya country, the Pandya ruler Arikesari Maravarman is reported to have defeated his forces at Nelveli. The battle is mentioned in Sekkizhar’s Periyapuranam and Sundarar’s Tiruthonda Thogai. Following this victory, Arikesari Maravarman was praised by the epithet “Nedumaran who won at Nelveli.” The Chinnamanur Large Copper Plates also refer to the battle, stating: “Parankusa, who encountered the Vilavas at Nelveli and Pallavas at Sangaramangai…”.[20][21]
Literary sources[edit | edit source]
Commentary to the Iraiyanar Ahapporul mentions a king named Arikesari, with titles Parakusan and Nedumaran among others.[22] The commentary also mention several battles, at Pali, Sennilam and Nelveli and at Vizhinjam, some of which the scholars do not read in epigraphy till late 8th century.[22]
Based on this, historian Venkayya assumed that the two rulers are identical. However, K. A. N. Sastri rejected this identification on the basis that "a rhetorical work like this took for its hero a saintly king of legendary fame, and attributed to him all the achievements of the Pandyan lines of kings that the author could think of his day". [22][23]
Religion[edit | edit source]
Arikesari is known to have performed the Hiranyagarbha and Tulabhara rituals (a number of times).[15]
Identification with Nedumaran[edit | edit source]
Arikesari Maravarman is sometimes identified with Pandya king Nedumaran or Kuna Pandya, who converted from Jainism to Shaivism under the influence of the bhakti saint Sambandar. Kun Pandya was thence regarded as a saint himself.[24][25] The legend is considered as an expression of the historical consciousness (signifying the loss of Jain political influence in the Tamil country).[26]
According to this legend, Kun Pandya had married the Chola princess Mangayarkkarasi.[24]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 50-51.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1958, p. 147.
- ↑ Venkata Ramaiah, K. M. (1996). A Handbook of Tamil Nadu. p. 246. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|annex=ignored (help) - ↑ Ramamurthy, V. (1986). History of Kongu: Pre-historic period to 1300 A.D. International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilization. p. 182.
- ↑ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 53.
- ↑ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 41.
- ↑ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1958, p. 165.
- ↑ N. Subrahmanian 1962, pp. 116-117.
- ↑ Noburu Karashima 2014, pp. 370.
- ↑ Noburu Karashima 2014, pp. 86.
- ↑ Subramanian, T. s (21 November 2020). "'Pandyan Nindraseer Nedumaran' review: A warrior-king and his legacy". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ↑ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 55.
- ↑ N. Subrahmanian 1962, p. 119.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 N. Subrahmanian 1962, p. 117.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 51-52.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 52-53.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Sailendra Nath Sen 2013, pp. 45-46.
- ↑ Ramamurthy, V. (1986). History of Kongu: Pre-historic period to 1300 A.D. International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilization. p. 182.
- ↑ Venkata Ramaiah, K. M. (1996). A Handbook of Tamil Nadu. p. 246. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|annex=ignored (help) - ↑ Rajamanickkanar, Ma. (1996). சேக்கிழார் : ஆராய்ச்சி நூல் [Sekkizhar: A Research Work]. பூரம் பதிப்பகம்.
- ↑ Rasamanikkanar, Ma. Pallavar Varalaru. p. 135.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 54-55.
- ↑ N. Subrahmanian 1962, p. 118.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1929, p. 53-54.
- ↑ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri 1976, p. 424.
- ↑ Paul Dundas 2002, p. 127.
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (1976). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Oxford University Press.
- K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (1958). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras: Oxford University Press.
- Paul Dundas (2002). Jains. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-26606-2.
- N. Subrahmanian (1994). History of Tamilnad (To AD 1336). Madurai: Koodal. OCLC 43502446. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - Sailendra Nath Sen (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
- K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (1929). The Pandyan Kingdom. London: Luzac and Company.
- Noburu Karashima, ed. (2014). A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.