| Nedunjeliyan I | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pandyan Ruler | |||||
| Reign | c. 270 BCE | ||||
| Predecessor | unknown | ||||
| Successor | Pudappandiyan | ||||
| Spouse | Kopperundevi | ||||
| Issue | Pudappandiyan | ||||
| |||||
| House | Pandyan | ||||
| Religion | Jainism[citation needed] | ||||
| 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) | ||
Nedunjcheliyan I (r. c. 270 BCE) (Tamil: நெடுஞ்செழியன்) was a Pandya king. He has been given the title Aariya Padai kadantha Nedunjezhiya Pandiyan (A Pandyan King, who defeated the Ariya troops).[1]
According to epigraphist S. Ramachandran it was Nedunchezhian, who is referred to in Purananuru as Ariya padai kadanda Nedunchezhian and Ariya referred to Kharvela. Kharavela’s army have marched up to Madurai. Nedunchezhian managed the crisis, gave many gifts to Kharavela, and averted the threat to his throne. The Brahmi inscription in Mangulam, mentions a Pandya King called Nedunchezhian. The inscription is dated to 2nd century BCE. This Nedunchezhian was probably the one who ruled in Madurai in Kharavela’s time.[2]
His name is present in the Mangulam inscriptions of 3rd century BCE. The inscriptions mentions that workers of Nedunchezhiyan I, a Pandyan king of Sangam period, (c. 270 BCE) made stone beds for Jain monks.[3]
The Silappatikaram describes Yavana soldiers employed by the Pandya kingdom and stationed at the fortified entrance of Madurai. In the episode concerning Kovalan's entry into Madurai, the fort gate is described as being guarded by Yavana soldiers. The Government Museum, Chennai, identifies these Yavanas as Roman soldiers and notes their service in the Pandya palace and fort. The Mullaippāṭṭu also describes Yavana soldiers serving in the army and guarding the king's military camp. These accounts are associated with the period of the Pandya king Neduncheliyan. [4]
S. Arunadevi, in History of Sangam Tamils: A Study, notes that Roman soldiers were enlisted in the armies of certain Pandya rulers and discusses the description of Yavanas in Mullaippāṭṭu, including their distinctive appearance and customs.[5]
The poet Ilango, in a poem concerning the Pandya king Nedunchezhiyan, states that the Pandya king engraved his fish emblem on the rocks of the Himalayas, with the bow and tiger emblems inscribed on either side. The poem further states that these emblems represented the Cheras and the Cholas, respectively, and that the kings represented by these symbols served the Pandya king.[6]
In popular culture[edit | edit source]
Nedunjcheliyan I was also the Pandya king of the epic Silappatikaram authored by the Sangam poet Ilango Adigal who later died of a broken heart along with his queen consort Kopperundevi.[7][8]
He is portrayed by O. A. K. Thevar in the film Poompuhar (1964).
See also[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Arunadevi, S. (2012). "Trade and Commerce". History of Sangam Tamils – A Study. Madurai Kamaraj University. p. 126.
- ↑ Kulke, Hermann; Rothermund, Dietmar (2004). A History of India. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-415-32919-4.
- ↑ Umamaheshwari, R. (25 January 2018). Reading History with the Tamil Jainas: A Study on Identity, Memory and Marginalisation. Springer. ISBN 978-81-322-3756-3.
- ↑ Sridhar, T. S.; Sundararajan, N. (2011). Foreign Coins in the Collection of Government Museum, Chennai (Chinese, Roman & Venetian Coins) (PDF). Bulletin of the Government Museum, Chennai, New Series – General Section. Vol. 1. Government Museum, Chennai. pp. 33–34.
- ↑ Arunadevi, S. (2012). "Trade and Commerce". History of Sangam Tamils – A Study. Madurai Kamaraj University. pp. 249–265.
- ↑ Subrahmanian, N. (1956). Sangam Polity. Asia Publishing House. p. 123.
- ↑ Umamaheshwari, R. (25 January 2018). Reading History with the Tamil Jainas: A Study on Identity, Memory and Marginalisation. Springer. ISBN 978-81-322-3756-3.
- ↑ Mahadevan, Iravatham (2003). Early Tamil Epigraphy from the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01227-1.
References[edit | edit source]
- Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. A History of South India: From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. p. 115.
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