Reign 7th century CE House Pandyan dynasty | Spouse Mangayarkkarasiyar | |
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Koon Pandiyan (Tamil: கூன் பாண்டியன், "The hunch-backed Pandyan") was the nickname of a king who ruled Madurai around 7th century. Some historians identify him with the Pandyan king Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman.
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He converted from Shaivism to Jainism, but then re-converted under the influence of Sambandar. According to a Saivite legend, after his re-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").
Conversion to Shaivism
In the 7th century, Jainism was one of the major religions in South India. The king Koon Pandian had embraced Jainism, but wife Mangaiarkkarasi and his minister Kulachirai Nayanar were both Shaivites. When the king suffered from an boils and incurable fever, the two invited the Shaivite saint Sambandar to Madurai. Sambandar is said to have cured his fever and his hunched back. After this, the king became a Shaivite, and several of his subjects converted to Shaivism during his rule. The Tamil poet Sekkizhar honored Koon Pandiyan, Kulachirai and Mangaiarkkarasi by naming them among the 63 Nayanars in Periya Puranam.
According to a Saivite legend, when the Jains in Samanatham refused to convert to Shaivism, the king ordered their killings with the consent of Sambandar. Around 8000 Jains were said to have been killed by impalement in which the victims were forcefully put over sharp, tall, conical structures in sitting posture. However, this legend is not found in any Jain text, is believed to be a fabrication made up by the Saivites to prove their dominance.
Legacy
Koon Pandiyan is said to have died without a legitimate heir, and after his death, a number of claimants fought with each other to control the kingdom.