The later Pāṇḍyas

The Pāṇḍya country roughly comprised the modern southern districts of Tamilnadu - Madurai, Sivagangai, Dindigal, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari. The Pāṇḍyas ruled the country continuously for several centuries with small interruptions from the neighboring countries and the aliens. They even controlled the entire Tamil land and some parts of Andhra. Inspite of their constant quarrels and wars with neighboring countries, they very much concentrated in the excavation of cave sanctuaries, monolithic and structural temples. During the later Pāṇḍya period (A.D.1190-1334) the rulers became more powerful and concentrated both in wars and in maintaining the status of the society, religion and art. They constructed around 165 temples in different villages. The book presents a comprehensive study of the later Pāṇḍya temples, their general and specific architectural features, sculptural embellishments, paintings on the walls and bronze images produced during the period of the study. It also traces the social life of the people, caste system prevailed and honors and recognition received by different caste people from the kings. The religious sects which prevailed and the patronage of the rulers, royal members and officials are elaborately dealt with. The development of literature and learning during the later Pāṇḍya period is also explained exhaustively. The book justifies the significant contribution of the later Pāṇḍyas in equal footing with the Pallavas, Choḻas and Vijayanagara-Nayaka rulers.