First Pandyan Empire (6th – 10th centuries CE) Pandyan dynasty

manikkavacakar, minister of pandya king varagunavarman ii (c. 862 – 885 )



jatavarman veera pandyan s double fish carp black granite bas-relief of koneswaram temple in trincomalee, reminiscent of dynasty s coinage symbols found on island pre-modern era, installed after defeating usurper chandrabhanu of tambralinga. pandyan affairs in northern sri lanka grew stronger following intervention of srimara srivallabha in 815

after close of sangam age, first pandyan empire established kadungon in 6th century defeating kalabhras. following chronological list of pandya emperors based on inscription found on vaigai riverbeds. succeeding kings assumed titles of sadayavarman , maaravarman alternately, denoting followers of lord sadaiyan (sankan(r)/sivan) , lord thiru maal respectively.

after defeat of kalabhras, pandya kingdom grew steadily in power , territory. cholas in obscurity, tamil country divided between pallavas , pandyas, river kaveri being frontier between them.

after vijayalaya chola conquered thanjavur defeating muttarayar chieftains part of pandya family tree around 850, pandyas went period of decline. harassing chola overlords occupying territories. parantaka invaded pandya territories , defeated rajasimha iii. however, pandyas did not wholly submit cholas despite loss of power, territory , prestige. tried forge various alliances cheras , kings of lanka , tried engage cholas in war free chola supremacy. right times of parantaka 12th century times of kulottunga chola pandyas not overpower cholas right 880–1215 remained powerful empire spread on south india, deccan , eastern , western coast of india during period.

list of kings dates estimated k. a. nilakanta sastri:

kadungon (r. c. 590–620 ce)
maravarman avani sulamani (r. c. 590–620 ce)
jayantavarman alias seliyan sendan (r. c. 620-645 ce)
arikesari maravarman (r. c. 670–700 ce)
kochadaiyan ranadhiran (r. c. 700–730 ce)
maravarman rajasimha (r. c. 735–765 ce)
jatila parantaka nedunjadayan (r. c. 765–815 ce)
maravarman rajasimha ii (r. c. 815-817 ce)
varaguna (r. c. 817–835 ce)
srimara srivallabha (r. c. 815–862 ce)
varaguna ii (r. c. 862–885 ce)
parantaka viranarayanan (r. c. 880–905 ce)
maravarman rajasimha ii (r. c. 905–920 ce)




^ indrapala, karthigesu (2007). evolution of ethnic identity: tamils in sri lanka c. 300 bce c. 1200 ce. colombo: vijitha yapa. p. 324. isbn 978-955-1266-72-1. 
^ k.a.nilakanta sastry, advanced history of india (1970), allied publishers pvt. ltd., new delhi
^ n. subrahmanian 1962, pp. 133-136.