The Nayaks paid fixed amount annually to the Vijayanagar empire. This was done for the efficient management of their empire. Kings of this dynasty were in habit of leaving the captured land to governors called Nayaks. The 1371, the Vijayanagar dynasty of Hampi captured Madurai and Madurai became part of the Vijayanagar empire. In 1323, the Pandya kingdom including Madurai became a province of the Delhi empire, under the Tughlaks. This led to the subsequent raids by other Muslim Sultans. 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. “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. During their period, many master-pieces were created. Pandian Kings patronised Tamil language in a great way. In 1223 AD Pandyas regained their kingdom and once again become prosperous. The Cholas ruled Madurai from 920 AD till the beginning of the 13th century. Madurai flourished till 10th century AD when it was captured by Cholas the arch rivals of the Pandyas. Later many people from Rome and Greece visited Madurai and established trade with the Pandya kings. Madurai has a rich historical background in the sense that Lord Shiva himself performed sixty-four wonders called “Thiruvilaiyadals”.Īs early as the 3rd century BC, Megasthanes visited Madurai. So, the place was named Madurai – mathuram meaning “sweetness” in Tamil. On the day the city was to be named, Lord Shiva is said to have appeared and drops of nectar from his hair fell on the town. A city was soon planned with the temple as its centre. Kulasekara Pandya cleared the forest and built a temple around the Lingam. Dhananjaya, the farmer immediately reported this to King Kulasekara Pandya. One day, a farmer named Dhananjaya who was passing through the forest, saw Indra (The king of the gods), worshipping a swayambhu (self created Lingam ) under kadamba tree. It is narrated in legend that Madurai was originally a forest known as Kadambavanam.
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