Second Pandya empire

After Rajaraja III, the Chola dynasty came to an end. From the 9^th century A.D., the Pandyas occupied a subordinate position and paid tribute to the Cholas. This condition prolonged upto the period of Kulottunga III. After Kulottunga III the Chola country lacked a competent ruler. The Pandyas exploiting this situation threw off the Chola yoke and established the later Pandyas empire.^[1] The Pandyas expanded their empire to Vellore in the West, to Nellore and Cuddappah on the North, with the seas on the two flanks^[2]. Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I, the Pandya King subdued Kopperunjinga II who ruled a part of the Chola country in A.D.1279. Very soon he brought the entire Tamil Country under the Pandyarule.^[3] Among the rulers of Second Pandya empire Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I (A.D. 1251-1268 A.D.) was a first rate hero and during his regime the Pandya Kingdom became the Pandya empire extending from Nellore and Cudappa districts in the North to the Cape comerin in the South.^[4] During his region Jatavarma Vira Pandya and Jatavarma Vikarama Pandya who were ruling as Governors in the Northern part of the Pandya empire may be regarded as the brothers of Jatavarma Sundra Pandya. I^[5] The Inscription of Jatavarma Vira Pandya engraved on the walls of the Adavalleswarar temple proves that this Munnjur was a part of the Second Pandya empire. Jatavarma Vira Pandya did considerable service to this Adavalleswarar temple. The importance given to this temple is proved by his inscription.

Munnjur Adavalleswarar temple is revealed by an inscription^[6] of Jatavarma Vira Pandya (A.D.1251-1268 A.D.) issued in his 10^th regnal year (A.D.1260) is found on the north side of the cella. The record registers a gift of village Adavalla Kuthanallur^[7] and its income for celebrating the Annual festival in the month of Masi^[8] and the same record also registers two ma of wet land^[9] and one ma of dry land^[10] and various taxes namely Sekkirai, Thattar Pattam, Erimeen Pattam and Sekku Kadamai^[11] for conducting daily pujas and the maintenance of the temple. From this we can infer that the Pandyas also donated villages to the Presiding deity of this temple. The name Vizhuvur was renamed as Adavalla Kuthanallur in the name of the Primal deity of the temple Munnjur. Moreover the land income and income from various taxes were used to celebrate the annual festival in the month of Masi of the Presiding deity. Further the record also mentions that the two ma of wet land, one ma of dry lands and various tax revenue income were also used for the maintenance of the temple. The revenue incurred from various taxes was made as regular income sources to the temple. The record registers the following taxes viz Chekkirai meaning income from traditional oil mills, Thattar pattam meaning tax collected from Gold Smiths and Chekku Kadamai meaning the tax collected from the Vaniyars who owned oil mills and worked in the traditional oils mills and Erimeen Pattam meaning tax collected from whom the fisher men of Munnur public Tank.^[12]

At the end of the Second Pandya Empire, there was a war of succession between Sundara Pandya and Vira Pandya. Meanwhile, Malikkafur the commander in chief of Ala-ud-din Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, exploiting the situation, invaded South India and pulled down the Pandya empire. Due to the invasion of Malikkafur, the later Pandya rule came to an end. Since then the Muslim rule ushered in Tamil Country. The Muslim conquerors harassed the Hindus and converted many of them to Islam forcibly. However, the Muslim rule did not last long and their rule came to an end in A.D. 1371.