Koon Pandiyan

Koon Pandiyan
Nindra Seer Nedumaran,[1] Ninraseernedumaran, Kun Pandya
Reign7th century CE
SpouseMangayarkkarasiyar
DynastyPandya

Koon Pandiyan ("The hunch-backed Pandyan") (Tamil: கூன் பாண்டியன்) was the nickname of a king who ruled Madurai around 7th century. Some historians identify him with the Pandyan king Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman.[2]

He converted from Jainism to Shaivism, converted under the influence of Sambandar. According to a Shaivite legend, after his conversion, he ordered a massacre of 8000 Jains in Samanatham. Sambandar is said to have cured his hunched back, after which he was known as Sundara Pandya ("Beautiful Pandyan").[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference TheHindu_2009_Staunch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "The Temple At Thirunallar". District Administration, Karaikal. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  3. ^ Marco Polo; Sir Henry Yule (1875). The Book of Sir Marco Polo, the Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East: Newly Tr. and Ed., with Notes, Maps, and Other Illustrations. J. Murray. pp. 317–. ISBN 9780404115425. Retrieved 16 August 2013.