Kadungon

Who is Kadungon?

Kadungon was a Pandya king who revived the Pandya rule in South India in the 7th century CE. Along with the Pallava king Simhavishnu, he is credited with ending the Kalabhra rule, marking the beginning of a new era in the Tamil speaking region. Most historians, including R. C. Majumdar, state the period of Kadungon rule as 590–620 CE.

The Sangam literature mentions early Pandya dynasty, which is believed to have gone into obscurity during the Kalabhra interregnum. The dynasty was revived by Kadungon, who is considered as the first important Pandya ruler.

Not much is known about Kadungon. Most of the knowledge about him comes from the Velvikudi inscription of the Pandya king Parantaka Nedunchadaiyan. According to this inscription, Kadungon defeated several petty chieftains and destroyed "the bright cities of unbending foes". It describes him as the one who liberated the Pandya country from the Kalabhras and emerged as a "resplendent sun from the dark clouds of the Kalabhras". His defeat of Kalabhras was hailed as the triumph of Brahminism.

Kadungon's title was "Pandyadhiraja", and his capital was Madurai. He was succeeded by his son Maravarman Avanisulamani.