|
|
| Home
» Madurai |
|
About Madurai |
|
| |
We get the first account of Madurai in Sangam literature. The Sangam period was popularly known as the Golden age of Tamil literature. The city of Madurai was itself a seat of high learning during the period and saw the production of some of the finest pieces of Tamil literature in the early part of the first millennium and the era preceding it. The city was centered around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, which was the heart of the temple festival traditions known as Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar. The revered name of the famous Sangam poet Nakkeerar is associated with this tradition of ancient Madurai.
Madurai was ruled by the Pandya kings until it passed into the hands of Cholas in the tenth century of the Christian era. The Pandya kings had established trade links with Rome and Greece, which brought prosperity into the region of their suzerainty. The growth of trade suffered during the period of Chola rulers who continued to rule the area till the beginning of the thirteenth century.
| |
The attempt by the Pandyas to regain their territories from the Cholas finally succeeded in 1223 AD, and Madurai found back its lost glory and became prosperous again. The Pandyas rulers were known to be a great patron of Tamil language and many masterpieces of Tamil literature were created during their rule over the region.
The early part of the fourteenth century saw many raids on Madurai by the rulers of Delhi Sultanate and it became a part of the Delhi empire, under the Tughlaks. The rising Vijayanagar empire seized Madurai from the clutches of Delhi rulers in 1371, and put it under the control of Nayaks. The Nayaks took the control in their own hands after the disintegration of the Vijanagar empire. The city saw the construction of many magnificent structures during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak. Some the monuments created during this period include the Pudu Mandapam, the Raja Gopuram of the Meenakshi Amman Temple and the Thirumalai Nayakar' Palace.
The period of Nayaks came to end as soon as the British established their full authority over Madurai, during the latter half of the eighteenth century. After getting freedom from the yoke of the British rule, Madurai became an important district of the Tamilnadu state. Later years saw the creation of a new district by the name of Dindugul from the old district of Madurai. Today, Madurai is known nationwide as a chief religious center, and is visited by people from across the country.
|
|
|
