Pandya, aka: Pāṇḍya; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Pandya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य) was one of the four sons of King Janāpīḍa. His janapada was the Pāṇḍyas.

1) Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य).—A King of Vidarbha who was a great devotee of Śiva. One day while he was performing Śivapūjā at dusk he heard a loud noise outside the city and before completing the worship he went out and faced the enemies who were attempting to enter the city and killed its leader. He returned after the fight and without completing the worship took his meals. It was a sin to do so and the King was therefore born in his next birth as Satyaratha, a King, and was killed by his enemies. (Śatarudrasaṃhitā, Śiva Purāṇa). (See full article at Story of Pāṇḍya from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य).—(A Tamilian dynasty of Kings.) A place of Purāṇic fame in Dakṣiṇa Bhārata. The three states Cera, Cola and Pāṇḍya were from early times renowned states of Dakṣiṇa Bhārata. Historically and Puraṇically Pāṇḍya was a state of eminence.

2) (A.) Historically. The Pāṇḍya dynasty of Kings is very ancient, The exact period of its beginning is still unknown. Megasthanes who lived in the fourth century B.C. has made mention of the Pāṇḍya dynasty in his diary. Julian, an emperor of Italy, who lived in 361 A.D. is stated to have received visitors from Pāṇḍyadeśa. The Pāṇḍya dynasty was revived and elevated under the leadership of Katuṅka in the 7th century A.D. From that time till the 16th century Madura was the capital of Pāṇḍyadeśa. The Uccāṅgī dynasty which was ruling the places to the south of Tuṅgabhadrā during the period from 9th century to 13th century A.D. is believed to be a part of the Pāṇḍyavaṃśa which had gone from Madura. A continuous history of the Pāṇḍya line of Kings is not available. Many Kings bear names like Jātavarmā or Māravarmā. The Pāṇḍya Kings were devotees of Śiva even from the period of the Jainas. At times they have ruled over the combined kingdoms of Cera and Cola. During the period from the 12th to the 14th century A.D. Pāṇḍya was ruled by five of the most valiant rulers and at that time the Pāṇḍyadeśa included all the places in south India up to Nellore. But the power of the Pāṇḍyas waned when the power of the Sultans who ruled Delhi spread to the south. After 1370 A.D only on rare occasions has the power of the Pāṇḍyas spread to the north of river Kāverī. In 1312 A.D. Kerala got herself free from the hold of the Tamilian Kings. (Pāṇḍyarājya).

1a) Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य).—A son of Āndira and chief of the Pāṇḍyadeśa.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 6; Matsya-purāṇa 48. 5.

1b) One of the four sons of Janāpīḍa; his state, Pāṇḍyadeśa.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 6.

1c) A southern tribe;¹ Kingdom of.²

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 56. Matsya-purāṇa 114. 46; Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 124.
• 2) Matsya-purāṇa 163. 72.

Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.13.20, II.28.48, III.86.10, VI.46.50) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Pāṇḍya) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Kavya (poetry)

Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—The district of Tinnevelley and Madura in modern Madras presidency. In the Raghuvaṃśa (VI. 59-60), Kālidāsa mentions Uragapura as the capital of the Pandya king.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य).—The South Indian dynasty that ruled over Madurai and Rāmeśvaram in South India.

India history and geogprahy

Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य) is the name of a country included within Dakṣiṇapatha which was situated to the south of the Vindhyas according to the Yādavaprakāśa. Dakṣiṇāpatha is a place-name ending is patha mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Pāṇḍya as included within Dakṣiṇapatha is also mentioned by Rājaśekhara (fl. 10th century) in his Kāvyamīmāṃsā (chapter 17) who places Dakṣiṇapatha ahead of Māhiṣmatī.

Pāṇḍya (पाण्ड्य) (or Paṃḍiya) is the name of a locality situated in Dakkhiṇāpatha (Deccan) or “southern district” of ancient India, as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—The Paṃḍiyas (Pāṇḍyas) are mentioned in the R.E. II and III of Asoka. Their country lay outside the southern frontiers of his vast kingdom. Asoka was in friendly terms with the Paṃḍiyas who had probably two kingdoms, one including Tinnevelly on the south and extending as far north as the high lands in the neighbourhood of the Coimbatore gap, the other including the Mysore State.

Pandya Dynasty (300 BCE–1650 CE):—The high period of the late Dravidian style of the Pandyas can be placed during 1100-1350 AD. The Pandyas followed the Cholas. Magnificent temples erected by the late Pandyas equal the late Chola gopuras at Chidambaram. The eastern gopuram at Chidambaram erected by Sundara Pandya (AD 125I-1268), and the ones at Jambukesvaram and Srirangam are magnificent structures closely resembling the Chola gopuras.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

paṇḍyā (पंड्या).—m ( H) A tribe of Hindustani Brahmans or an individual of it.

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paṇḍyā (पंड्या) [or पंड्याऊस, paṇḍyāūsa].—m (See puṇḍyāūsa) A variety of sugarcane.

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pāṇḍyā (पांड्या).—m A half-grown tiger. 2 A village-officer. He is employed in the customs &c. The term is understood by Shudras of the kuḷakaraṇī. 3 ( H) A title of Brahmans of the pañcagauḍa division (Hindustani Brahmans); the bhaṭa or family or personal priest amongst the bhayyā or para- dēśī people.

paṇḍyā (पंड्या).—m A tribe of Hindusta'ni' Bra'h- mans or an individual of it.

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paṇḍyā (पंड्या) [or paṇḍyāūsa, or पंड्याऊस].—m A variety of sugar- cane.

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pāṇḍyā (पांड्या).—m A half-grown tiger. A village officer. A title of Brahmans of the pañcagauḍa division (Hindustani Brah mans).

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Pāṇḍyā (पाण्ड्या).—m. (pl.) Name of a country and its inhabitants; तस्यामेव रघोः पाण्ड्याः प्रतापं न विषेहिरे (tasyāmeva raghoḥ pāṇḍyāḥ pratāpaṃ na viṣehire) R.4.49.

-ṇḍyaḥ A king of that country; पाण्ड्योऽयमंसार्पितलम्बहारः (pāṇḍyo'yamaṃsārpitalambahāraḥ) R.6.6.

Derivable forms: pāṇḍyāḥ (पाण्ड्याः).

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