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Madurai, India,
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Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India, with a history dating all
the way back to the Sangam period of the pre Christian era. The glory of
Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier part of this
millennium; it later on came under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom
after its ransack by the ravaging armies of Delhi (Malik Kafur). During
the 16th and 18th centuries, Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the
foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar. The Sangam period poet Nakkeerar
is associated with some of the Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar -
that are enacted as a part of temple festival traditions even today.
The Sangam age or the Golden age of Tamil literature – produced
masterpieces way back in the Pre christian era and in early 1st millennium
. Madurai was the seat of the Tamil Sangam or Academy of learning. The
entire city of Madurai, is built around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
– the temple par excellence. Concentric rectangular streets surround the
temple, symbolizing the structure of the cosmos.
As early as the 3rd century BC, Megasthanes visited Madurai. Later many
people from Rome and Greece visited Madurai and established trade with the
Pandya kings. Madurai flourished till 10th century AD when it was captured
by Cholas the arch rivals of the Pandyas.
The Cholas ruled Madurai from 920 AD till the beginning of the 13th
century. In 1223 AD Pandyas regained their kingdom and once again become
prosperous. Pandian Kings patronised Tamil language in a great way. During
their period, many master-pieces were created. "Silapathikaram", the great
epic in Tamil was written based on the story of Kannagi who burnt Madurai
as a result of the injustice caused to her husband Kovalan. In April 1311,
Malik Kafur, the general of Alauddin Khilji who was then the ruler of
Delhi, reached Madurai and raided and robbed the city for precious stones,
jewels, and other rare treasures. This led to the subsequent raids by
other Muslim Sultans. In 1323, the Pandya kingdom including Madurai became
a province of the Delhi empire, under the Tughlaks.
The 1371, the Vijayanagar dynasty of Hampi captured Madurai and it became
part of the Vijayanagar empire. Kings of this dynasty were in habit of
leaving the captured land to governors called Nayaks. This was done for
the efficient management of their empire. The Nayaks paid fixed amount
annually to the Vijayanagar empire. After the death of Krishna Deva Raya
(King of Vijayanagar empire) in 1530 AD, the Nayaks became independent and
ruled the territories under their control. Among Nayaks, Thirumalai Nayak
(1623-1659) was very popular, even now he is popular among people, since,
it was he who contributed to the creation of many magnificent structures
in and around Madurai. The Raja Gopuram of the Meenakshi Amman Temple, The
Pudu Mandapam and The Thirumalai Nayakar's Palace are living monuments to
his artistic fervor.
Madurai started slipping into the hands of the British's East India
Company. In 1781, British appointed their representatives to look after
Madurai. George Procter was the first collector of Madurai.
Now after India's independence, Madurai is one of the major districts of
Tamilnadu State. Later on Madurai district was bifurcated into two
districts namely Madurai and Dindugul Districts. In Madurai District,
there are 15 State Assembly constituencies and two parliament
constituencies.
The history of Madurai will not be complete without mentioning the name of
RaniMangammal, the woman of great skill and sagacity. History does not
provide many instances of ruling queens in Tamil Nadu. Though it was
considered that women were not suited to succeed the throne of a kingdom,
Rani Mangammmal, however shines in almost solitary eminence as an able and
powerful ruler in Tamil Nadu.
Madurai is famous for its temples.The Aappudaiyaar Koyil Tevara Stalam and
the Koodalazhagar Divya Desam are the most important temples one should
rarely miss to go. In the vicinity of Madurai is Tirupparamkunram, one of
the 6 padai veedu shrines of Murugan (glorified in Madurai Sangam
Nakeerar’s Tirumurugaatruppadai). Also in the vicinity of Madurai is
Alagar Koyil, one of the prominent Divya Desam shrines of the Sri
Vaishnavite faith.
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