History

Madurai was the heart of literary and artistic activity during the early centuries before and after Christ.The early history of the city, in fact at least until the 13th century A.D. is irrevocably tied with the fortunes of the Pandya clan which ruled the far south of India with Madurai as its capital.

Madurai played host to the Third Sangam and has been greatly remembered in popular memory for the immense literary activity which produced some of the greatest bards and epic-writers in Tamil literary history, ranging from figures like Nakirar of Sangam fame to the late medieval child-poet Kumaragurubarar.

It also hosted the literary conclaves that produced the first Tamil epics Silappathikaaram and other literary masterpieces. Underlying this literary activity was royal patronage and the Pandya kings were overly enthusiastic in the promotion of litery activity, some of them being notable poets themselves.

In the early centuries of Christ there existed voluminous sea-trade between the lands of the Mediterranean, most notably with Rome and the lands of South India. The trade in pearls, gemstones, live animals and other exotic produce brought not just foreign products but ideas and people as well.

Jainism was for most of Madurai's early history a successful rival to the Brahmanic faith. Interestingly the earliest inscriptions (2nd century B.C) in the Madurai environs belong to Jain ascetics who inscribed them on nearby granitic outcrops. Many other notable Jain sites like Sittanavasal are also to be found in the Pandya domain, most in close proximity to Madurai.

Also gracing the city in the early centuries of the first millenium were the Saiva and Vaishnava saints who produced the devotional literature represented in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandam (Vaishnava) and the Tevaram corpus (Saiva).

In Madurai's history the child-saint Sambandar was probably most famous for having performed the conversion of the Pandya king who adhered to the Jaina faith. In a series of miracles the Saiva saint shamed the Jaina advisors of the King, who later suffered the terrible fate of impalement.

Meenakshi Temple which is heart of Madurai was built in early centuries A.D and enhanced by almost all hindu rulers of Madurai.

Vijayanagar rulers appointed Governors known as Nayaks or Nayyakars to administer this newly annexed territory. By 1545 the Nayaks became more autonomous, establishing the Madurai Nayak dynasty ruling up to 1740s.

Meenakshi temple was reopened and the Nayaks, most notably Thirumalai Nayak, contributed much to the rebuilding of the temple that had almost been destroyed during the Muslim rule. The Nayaks made lasting contributions to the city's architecture such as the Raja Gopuram of the Meenakshi Temple, and the Thirumalai Nayak Palace. After the Vijayanagar empire collapsed in 1565, the Nayak dynasty continued to rule Madurai for about two centuries.

Rani Mangammal (1689-1704) was other notable ruler who made large contributions to the city's structures. During her reign Shivaji Bhonsle, the great Maratha Ruler, invaded the south; and so did Chikka Deva Raya of Mysore and other Muslim rulers, resulting in chaos and instability all around.Rani Mangammal stood up against these invasions. The kingdom began to break up after her rule as her successors were weak rulers, and invasions of Madurai recommenced.

Madurai soon started slipping into the hands of the British East India Company. By 1801, the whole of Madurai district, which then was made up of Dindigul, Palani, Kodaikkanal, Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai was brought under the control of British East India Company.

Now after India's independence, Madurai is one of the major districts of Tamilnadu State. In 1984, the Vast Madurai district was bifurcated into two districts namely Madurai and Dindugul Districts. Subsequently in 1997, Madurai district was bifurcated into two districts namely Madurai and Theni Districts. In Madurai District, there are 10 State Assembly constituencies and two parliament constituencies.

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