THE SIEGE of MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE, Madurai (1311 AD)

During the dark phase of Delhi Sultanate's invasion of Madurai, a Pandyan king stood up to defend the honor of Meenakshi Amman temple in face of a relentless enemy.

Grit, devotion and bravery!

Alauddin Khilji sent his general Malik Kafur on an expedition to the southern kingdoms of India, leading to the capture of Warangal, overthrowing of Hoysalas on the south of river Krishna, and invasion of Madurai.(1)

Malik Kafur was not seeking to expand the borders of the Delhi Sultanate. He was on a military treasure hunt on Khilji’s behalf. Malik's victory over Hoysala king Veera Ballala and loot of Hindu temples at Halebidu sent alarm bells ringing through the Pandyan Kingdom.(2)

The Pandyan kings had sent military support to Hoysalas but it didn't work out in Veera Ballala's favor. On the contrary it enraged malik kafur who developed a grudge against Pandyas.(3)

Malik Kafur however after hearing about the raised strength of Pandyan army and its defensive positions was reluctant towards carrying out his expedition further south.(4)

Alauddin ordered and sent reinforcements to Malik Kafur to attack Madurai after hearing about its riches via Veera Virupaksha Ballala who was sent to Delhi as an act of peace by his defeated father Veera Ballala.(5)

As a Shaivite, Sundara Pandyan was instigated by the destruction of the Hindu temples. He assembled his forces and planned to march them to face the invading armies of Delhi Sultanate.(6)

This idea was opposed by his brother Vira Pandyan who felt that taking a defensive position might be more advantageous. Finally they agreed on an offensive defensive strategy. Sundara Pandyan was to meet Kafur head on with Vira in charge of defense.(7)

Sundara ordered his army to march leaving Vira to safeguard Madurai. The Pandyan army managed to reach till Melaithirukattupalli but their reliance on the river Kaveri as the water source turned disastrous as the river ran dry during the hot summer of 1311.(8)

The exhausted Pandyan army planned to march west in search of a nearby water source near Tiruchirapalli. Malik's forces who had tactically planned out their ration and water supplies, met Sundara Pandyan much before Tiruchirapalli.(9)

Pandyan supply chain's strategic gaffe got them into a huge trouble. They didn't account for river Kaveri completely drying up during summers. The physically exhausted Pandyan army easily fell prey to the Kafur's army. Sundara Pandyan was taken captive.(10)

Few Pandyan cavaliers managed to escape to Madurai to report their defeat to Vira Pandya. The victorious Sultanate went on plundering the temples of Tiruchirapalli and Srirangam.(11)

The walled city of Madurai was now left only with the Vira Pandyan's men. Their defensive aim was revised to safeguarding Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple.(12)

Understanding the fact that they were largely outnumbered, the defenders only hope was to hold Delhi's forces long enough for them to negotiate.(13)

Kafur's siege on Madurai continued for weeks but it turned futile as his army lacked reliable siege weapons like Trebuchets. The ones in service were not the best. Portability comes at a price.(14)

On the other hand, continuous guerilla raids by Pandyan defense formations on the Sultanate infantry increased the casualties on Kafur's side.(15)

The Pandyan archers took positions on the temple's 14 Gopurams. The plunder of city outside the temple premises by kafur's army continued.(16)

Malik Kafur lost half of his army, but finally managed to breach a portion of the temple's outside wall after weeks of siege. They entered the temple premises and began to destroy all standing structures within range.(17)

Chaos and direct conflict ensued. The devotees put a fake wall over the sanctum to protect the deities of meenakshi and sundareshwar. Heat, limited supplies and fatigue was gradually getting to kafur and his men.(18)

Vira Pandyan and his soldiers, faced with collosal losses yet managed to hold the line, thus making Malik Kafur to finally appeal for negotiations. It was all ending in a stalemate for kafur.(19)

Ceasefire was offered on the following terms:

1. Handing of all treasures belonging to the Meenakshi temple and Madurai treasury which included 96,000 gold coins and precious stones(20)

2. Half of the rice rationed inside the temple walls. (21)

3. All the elephants and horses available with Pandyas.(22)

In return, Vira Pandyan was promised the release of his brother, Sundara Pandyan and calling off the campaign.(23)

Hence the siege ended. The Pandyan empire went into decline after this loot by Kafur. Bottomline is the temple and its sanctum was saved from one of the most cruel men in the history of India.(24)

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