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{{Short description|Legendary Pandya King of Madurai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Malayadhvaja Pandya
| title = [[Maharaja]] of [[Madurai]]
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Statue of Malayadhwaja Pandya
| succession = [[Pandya dynasty|King of Madurai & Korkai and Emperor of Pandyan dynasty]]
| reign = 1200 BCE
| predecessor = Kulashekara Pandya
| successor = [[Meenakshi]]
| father = Kulashekara Pandya
| birth_place = [[Madurai]], [[Pandya Nadu]]
| dynasty = [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandya]]
| spouse = [[Kanchanamalai]]
| issue = [[Meenakshi]]
}}
{{Pandyan}}

'''Malayadhvaja Pandya''' ({{Langx|ta|மலயத்வஜ பாண்டியன்|translit=Malayadhvaja Pāṇḍyan}}), also known as '''Sharangadhvaja Pandya''', is a legendary<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pottamkulam |first=George Abraham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x4kkEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT212 |title=Tamilnadu A Journey in Time Part II: People, Places and Potpourri |date=2021-03-17 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-63806-520-3 |pages=212 |language=en}}</ref> king of [[Madurai]] and ruler of the [[Pandya empire|Pandya Empire]]. He is mentioned in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. His queen consort is [[Kanchanamalai]]. He is the father of the goddess and queen of [[Madurai]], [[Meenakshi]].

== Legend ==
According to a legend found in the Tamil text ''[[Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam|Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam]]'', the childless Malayadhvaja Pandya and his wife perform ninety-nine [[ashvamedha]] [[yajna]]s to propitiate the gods, seeking a son for the succession.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harman |first=William P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F_siW9T3ev4C&pg=PA113 |title=The Sacred Marriage of a Hindu Goddess |date=1992 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0810-2 |pages=113 |language=en}}</ref> However, a three-year-old girl emerged from the yajna fire, bearing three breasts, upon the lap of the queen. A heavenly voice stated that the royal couple should treat her like a son, and that she would lose the third middle breast when she met her future husband.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dimitrova |first1=Diana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2JgDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT131 |title=Divinizing in South Asian Traditions |last2=Oranskaia |first2=Tatiana |date=2018-06-14 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-12360-0 |pages=131 |language=en}}</ref> The girl is named Taḍātakai, and subsequently raised as Malayadhvaja Pandya's male heir, trained in archery and horseriding. The king names her as his successor before his death. She is renamed Meenakshi by Sage [[Agastya]] during her ascension of the throne. She has her minister, named Sumati, to assemble a large army, and conquers the realms of neighbouring kingdoms, hoping to come across her destined husband. After defeating Indra, she marshals her forces against Kailasha, the abode of Shiva. Upon meeting the deity, Meenakshi's third breast fell, and she recognised him as her groom. Returning to Madurai, Meenakshi married Shiva, who adopted the title of Sundara Pandya, with [[Vishnu]] offering her hand in marriage.{{sfn|Harman| 1992| p= 44-47}}{{sfn|Brockman| 2011| pp= 326–327}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Abram |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEhJBfbhTAAC&pg=PA503 |title=South India |last2=Guides (Firm) |first2=Rough |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-103-6 |pages=503 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Mahabharata ===
King Malayadhvaja appears in the ''Mahabharata''. His father, Kulashekara Pandya, is portrayed as slain by Krishna and his country invaded. To avenge his father's death, Prince Malayadhvaja obtains weapons from [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Balarama]], and [[Kripa]]. In valour, Prince Malayadhvaja is said to be mighty warrior whose valor is nothing lesser than [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]] and [[Karna]]. He then desired to destroy the city of [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]], Krishna's capital, and to subjugate the whole world. Sage [[Agastya]] and [[Varuna]], however, counselled him against that decision and granted him his father's kingdom and made him king. He was present during the [[Swayamvara|svayamvara]] of [[Draupadi]] and brought jars of [[sandalwood]] and [[agarwood]] perfumes and jars of gold for [[Yudhishthira]]'s rajasuya. During the [[Kurukshetra War]], he sided with the [[Pandava|Pandavas]] and is mentioned as a powerful charioteer and warrior. On 16th Day, when [[Ashwatthama]] was about to kill [[Arjuna]], Malayadhvaja Pandya defends Arjuna and engaged in a combat with Ashwatthama. After the fierce battle, Malayadhvaja Pandya was killed by Ashwatthama and people hailed Malayadhvaja Pandya's brave death.

=== Bhagavata Purana ===
Malayadhvaja Pandya is described to be a sage-king and a "conqueror of cities" in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''. He takes Vaidarbhi, the daughter of the king of [[Vidarbha]], as his wife, and performs austerities seeking to propitiate Krishna upon the Kulachala mountains. After a century of such practices, he is described to have gained divine wisdom from Vishnu himself and renounced the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bryant |first=Edwin F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c-_DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT274 |title=Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhagavata Purana |date=2017-07-11 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-71439-0 |pages=274 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last=Brockman |first=Norbert C. |title=Encyclopedia of Sacred Places |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JkSk4euA-TEC |year=2011 |location=California |publisher=ABC-CLIO, LLC |isbn=978-1-59884-655-3}}

{{Pandya dynasty}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pandyan Empire]]
[[Category:People from Madurai]]
[[Category:Pandyan kings]]

Malayadhvaja Pandya - Revision history

Curi Hospital at 02:03, 21 July 2025