First empire

After the close of the Sangam age, the first Pandyan empire was established by Kadungon defeating the Kalabhras in the sixth century. The following is a chronological list of the Pandyan emperors based on an inscription found on the Vaigai riverbeds.

Kadungon (560 – 590)
Maravarman Avani Culamani (590 – 620)
Cezhiyan Cendan (620 – 640)
Arikesari Maravarman Nindraseer Nedumaaran (640

 – 674)
Kochadaiyan Ranadhiran (675 – 730)
Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman Rajasinga (730 – 765)
Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan (765 – 790)
Rasasingan II (790 – 800)
Varagunan I (800 – 830)
Sirmara Srivallabha (830 – 862)
Varaguna II (862 – 880)
Parantaka Viranarayana (862 – 905)
Rajasimha III (905 – 920)

After the defeat of the Kalabhras, the Pandyan kingdom grew stronger and stronger and witnessed a steady increase in its power and territory. With the Cholas in obscurity, the Tamil country was divided between the Pallavas and the Pandyas, the river Kaveri being the frontier between them.

After Vijayalaya Chola conquered Thanjavur, defeating the Muttarayar chieftains around 850, the Pandyas went into a period of decline. They were constantly harassing the Chola overlords occupying their territories. Parantaka Chola I invaded the Pandyan territories and defeated Rajasinha II. However, Pandyas reversed this defeat to gain back most of their lost territories.
The following list gives the names of the Pandyan kings who were active during the tenth and the first half of eleventh century. It is difficult to give their date of accession and duration of their rule.

Sundara Pandya I
Vira Pandya I
Vira Pandya II
Amarabhujanga Tivrakopa
Jatavarman Sundara Chola Pandya
Maravarman Vikrama Chola Pandya
Maravarman Parakrama Chola Pandya
Jatavarman Chola Pandya
Srivallabha Manakulachala (1101 – 1124)
Maaravaramban Seervallaban (1132 – 1161)
Parakrama Pandyan (1161 – 1162)
Kulasekara Pandyan III
Vira Pandyan III
Jatavarman Srivallaban (1175 – 1180)
Jatavarman Kulasekara Devan (1180 – 1216)
Pandyan revival

The thirteenth century was the greatest period in the history of the Pandyan Empire. Their power reached its zenith under Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan in the middle of the thirteenth century. The foundation for such a great empire was laid by Maravarman Sundara Pandya early in the thirteenth century.

Maravarman Sundara Pandya (1216 – 1238)
Sundaravaramban Kulasekaran II (1238 – 1240)
Maaravaramban Sundara Pandyan II (1241 – 1251)
Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (1251 – 1268)
Maaravaramban Kulasekara Pandyan I (1268 – 1311)
Sundara Pandyan IV (1309 – 1327)
Vira Pandyan IV (1309 – 1345)End of the Pandyans

After being overshadowed by the Pallavas and Cholas for centuries, Pandyan glory was briefly revived by the much celebrated Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan in 1251 and the Pandyan power extended from the Telugu countries on banks of the Godavari River to the northern half of Sri Lanka. On the death of Maaravaramban Kulasekara Pandyan I in 1308, a conflict stemming from succession disputes arose amongst his sons. Sundara Pandya and Vira Pandya fought each other for the throne. Soon Madurai fell into the hands of the invading armies of the Delhi Sultanate. Pandyas and their descendants were confined to a small region around Thirunelveli for a few more years and after the seventeenth century C.E. no more is heard of them. After Madurai fell into the hands of the invading armies of the Delhi Sultanate, the Pandyas sought the help of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Vijayanagar Empire replaced the Delhi Sultanate in Madurai and appointed Nayaks governers to rule from Madurai. There are many historic reasons for the closer relations with the Pandyan kingdom of Madurai and the Paravas community. The Paravas were the chiefs of the coastal region and they ruled their areas as subordinates of the Pandyas of the Sangam age.[1]

The Paravas' headquarters was located at Korkai Harbor during the regime of the Pandyan kingdom and they all spread out into 22 fishing hamlets, namely Rajackal Mangalam, Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Kumari muttam, Kootapuli, Perumanal, Idinthakarai, Kuthenkuly, Uvari, Periathalai, Pudukarai, Manapad, Alanthalai, Thiruchendur, Virapandianpatnam, Thalambuli, Punnaikayal, Palayakayal, Tuticorin, Vaippar, Chethupar, Vembar, and Mookur in the pearl fishery coast of the Gulf of Mannar and the adjacent Comerin coast. Tuticorin, the port city of the Pandyan kingdom, has always been a stronghold of the Paravas. They had a succession of kings among them, distinguished by the title Adiarasen. Some of these chiefs seem to have resided at Uttara Kosmangay near Ramnad. The story of this city itself is clear evidence to this fact. Later, the leaders were called by the following names: Thalaivan, Pattankattiyars, and Adappannars. Kumarimuttom can be considered as the western boundary for the community as the people are also inhabitants of Muttom and Pillaithoppu.