Pandian Dynasty’s fierce defence against Malik Kafur

Pandian Dynasty’s fierce defence against Malik Kafur

Between 1309 and 1311, Kafur led two successful campaigns/raids in South India. First to face the wrath were the Kakatiyas (Kakatiya dynasty) of Warangal followed by Hoysalas (Hoysala Empire) in Karnataka. Now in 1311, Kafur made a third attempt in the South, where he tried to enter the Tamil Kingdoms. Alauddin Khilji of Khilji dynasty sent his general Malik Kafur on an expedition to the kingdoms of the south, which led to the capture of Warangal and the defeat of the Hoysala Empire south of the Krishna River. Malik Kafur was not seeking to expand the borders of the Delhi Sultanate; he was engaging in a military treasure-hunt on the Sultan's behalf. In February 1311, Kafur besieged besieged Dwarasamudra, the Hoysala capital. The Hoysala king Ballala surrendered a huge amount of wealth as part of a truce negotiation, and agreed to pay an annual tribute to the Delhi Sultanate.Malik's victory over Veera Ballala III and loot of Hindu temples at Halebidu sent alarming bells to the Pandian Kingdom. Malik Kafur on the other hand, heard about the raised strength of the Pandian army and its defensive position within the walls of Madurai was reluctant in carrying out his expedition further south. It was Alauddin Khilji himself ordered and sent reinforcements to Malik Kafur to attack Madurai after hearing the richness of it via Veera Virupaksha Ballala who was sent to Delhi as an act of peace by his defeated father Veera Ballala III.

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Being a strong Saivite, Sundara Pandian was enraged by the destruction of the Hindu temples by the Muslim armies. He assembled his army and planned to march them at once to face the invading armies of the Delhi Sultanate. This idea was however opposed by Vira Pandian who felt that taking a defensive position might be more advantageous. Sundara Pandian ignored his words and ordered his army to march leaving Vira Pandian to safeguard Madurai with his men. The Pandian army managed to march well intact till Melaithirukattupalli. But their reliance on the river Kaveri as the water source turned disastrous as the river ran dry during the hot summer of 1311. The already exhausted Pandian army planned to march west in search of nearby water source. Their speed was drastically reduced due to the general's decision of marching on the dried beds of River Kaveri.

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At Birdhul (Virudhachalam), the Delhi army found a contingent of around 20,000 Muslim soldiers that deserted the Pandias to join the Delhi army. Instead of killing them for being apostates, the Delhi generals decided to spare their lives. Malik Kafur's forces on the other hand tactically planned on their ration and water supplies, met Sundara Pandian much before Thiruchirapalli. The physically exhausted Pandian infantry fell easily to the Sultanate's army. However, the Pandian cavalry revived its attack on the Delhi Sultanate cavalry. But, the cavaliers were well armed with turcopoles and chain mail armours while Pandian horsemen were inferiorly armoured and heavily relied on heavy swords. Tactical strikes by Malik Kafur's crossbow men over the Pandia cavalry, followed by the Delhi Sultanate infantry's attack blocked any possible retreat for the Sundara Pandian's army. The generals of Kafur's army took Sundara Pandian as captive and beheaded all the others captured. Few Pandian cavaliers managed to escape to Madurai to report their defeat to Vira Pandia. The victorious Sultanate went on plundering the temples of Thiruchirapalli and Thiruvarangam.

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The walled city of Madurai was now left only with the Vira Pandian's men. Their sole aim was to safeguard Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Understanding the fact that they were largely outnumbered, the defenders' only hope is to delay their enemies long enough for them to negotiate. Kafur's siege on Madurai continued for weeks, however, it turned futile as his army lacked any Ballistas or Trebuchets and relied on Battering Rams of inferior quality. On the other hand, continuous archery attack by Pandian soldiers and surprise cavalry attacks on the Delhi Sultanate infantry during night times tremendously increased the casualties on Kafur's side. Malik Kafur lost about half of his army and had to leave without any indemnity. Vira Pandian and his soldiers still managed to hold the line, thus making Malik Kafur to finally come down for negotiation. Malik Kafur offered the following terms to Vira Pandian:

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1.???Hand over all the treasures belonging to the Meenakshi Temple and Madurai Treasury which included 96,000 mounds of gold coins and precious stones

2.???Half of the rice rationed inside the walls of Madurai

3.???All the elephants and horses available with Pandias.

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In return, Vira Pandian was promised the release of his brother, Sundara Pandian and safety of the deities in the inner sanctum of the Meenakshi Temple. Further, he promised not to invade Pandian Empire again which was well kept by him till his death in February 1316 AD. That is why he didn’t lead the later expedition to the Pandian Empire in1314 AD but Khusro Khan did it for Alauddin Khilji.

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The Pandias lost the battle because of an internal sibling rivalry which was well exploited by the Malik Kafur. Wassaf's accounts which refer to Kulasekaran as Kales Dewar says he ruled for forty and odd years and during which time neither any foreign enemy entered his country, nor any severe malady confined him to bed. And treasury of the city of Mardi (Madurai) had 96,000 mounds of gold (7700 Tons of Gold worth more than 260 Billion Dollars at Today’s value) not counting the accumulation of precious stones such as pearls, rubies, turquoises, and emeralds (500 mounds or 40 Tons). Vira Pandian gave it, together with all of his elephants and horses, to Malik Kafur as a ransom to save his captured brother Sundara Pandian. He has also noted down that Pandian Empire at that time was the richest Empire of the world.

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Following this there were two other expeditions from the Khilji Sultanate in 1314 AD led by Khusro Khan (later Sultan Nasir-ud-din) as stated earlier and in 1323 AD by Ulugh Khan (later Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq) under Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq. Sayyid Jalal-ud-Din Ahsan was appointed Governor of the newly created southern-most Ma'bar province of the Delhi sultanate by Muhammad bin Tughluq. In 1333 AD, Sayyid declared his independence and created Madurai Sultanate. Vijayanagara Empire conquered Madurai and replaced the Sultanate by Nayak governors in 1378. These Nayaks continued to govern Madurai until the arrival of British forces.

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As a matter of fact weakness of the Pandia regime caused the neighbouring Chera ruler Ravivarman Kulasekhara (1299 – 1316/7 AD) Venad, Kerala, Son-In-Law of Pandia ruler Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandian I (1268–1308 AD) to invade and defeat the Vira Pandian in 1313-14 AD. Although he professed allegiance to Sundara Pandian, the Chera regime over Madurai was short lived as Sultanate Dynasty was soon re-established which ruled for the next 48 years.

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Finally, the Pandian regime, which had expanded the empire throughout Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and even Sri Lanka, was forced to rule over small areas of Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin (small districts in Tamil Nadu). The Pandias didn't disappear after the fall of their Empire and they continued to rule a small part of southern Tamil Nadu around Tenkasi while being subordinate to the Vijaynagar Empire. We have a little information about the last Pandias. After their defeat by the Muslim invaders, they ruled from out of Madurai, their ancient capital. Some of the information we got from Pudukottai Plates.

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1.???Sadayavarman Parakrama Pandian I – (1357 AD). He ruled for 23 years

2.???Parakrama Pandian – (1384 AD to 1415 AD)

3.???Sadayavarman Kulasekara Pandian I - (1395 AD)

4.???Sadayavarman Vikrama Pandian – (1401 AD to 1422 AD).

5.???Sadayavarman Parakrama Pandian II - (1422 AD to 1463 AD). He ruled during the reign of Devaraya II. He died in 1463AD.

6.???Sadayavarman Kulasekara Pandian II - (1430 AD to 1474 AD)

7.???Parakrama Veera Pandiya - (1468 AD). Started to rule and shared the rule with his father.

8.???Sadayavarman Kulasekara Pandian III - (1480 AD to 1507 AD). This Pandian was defeated by Narasa Nayaka when he tried to conquer Madurai in 1479. Till 1479 AD the Pandians were ruling as independent rulers. After 1479 AD defeat the Pandians were reduced to feudatory rulers under Vijayanagara rulers.

9.???Chandrasekara Pandian - (1502 AD). He ruled during Krishna Devaraya period. The place he ruled was called Chandrasekara Pandiya Mandalam. Through Pudukottai plates we hear of 2 Pandians Abirama Parakrama Pandian and Agavarman and they are Thenkasi and Kayathar Pandians

10. Sadayavarman Srivallaba Pandian son of Agavaraman ruled the areas of Shenkottai, SankaranKovil, and Srivilliputhur with THENKASI as the capital.

11. Vettum perumal Raja who ruled the some areas of Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti and SriVaikundam regions with KAYATHAR as his capital. Both of them are relatives but lacked understanding. In a battle Vettum Perumal Raja (Kayathar Pandian) was defeated by Sadayavarman Srivallaba Pandian (Thenkasi Pandian). During Sadayavarman Srivallaba Pandian rule Achutha Raya became the Vijayanagara king and he appointed Vishwanatha Nayak as his mandala mudali. Then there were two more Pandians. They were the sons of Abirama Parakrama Pandian. They were:

12. Sadayavarman Parakrama Kulasekara Pandian - (1543AD)

13. Nelveli Maran - (1552AD to 1564AD)

14. Sadayavarman Adhiveerarama Pandian (1564AD to 1604 AD). His son is Sokkar. His brother – Vallabar and his uncle's son - Varathungarama Pandian

15. Varathungarama Pandian - (1588AD). He was ruling some regions of Karivalamvantha Nallur.

16. Varaguna Rama Kulasekara Pandian - (1613 AD). He did a yaga in 1615 AD and came to be known as Kulasekara Somasriyar.

Adigal Perumal Vela -Varaguna Rama Kulasekaradevar. He is the last ruler of the Pandian dynasty. He ruled till the saka period 1675 that is equivalent to 1753 AD. It seems that somewhere in the 18th century they became completely irrelevant due to the administrative reforms of the British.