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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