{{Short description|Early Pandya King (c. 210 CE)}} {{Multiple issues| {{More footnotes needed|date=February 2023}} {{One source|date=February 2023}} {{Weasel|date=June 2025}} }} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{use Indian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox royalty | title = Thalaiyalankanathu Cheru-venda (he who won the [[Battle of Talaiyalanganam]])<ref>{{cite book |title=Puranānūru: Translation in English with Meanings |url=https://archive.org/details/purananurutransl0000unse/page/22/mode/1up |publisher=Kondrai |year=2013 |page=22 |access-date=26 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |title=A History of South India |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.16035/page/120/mode/1up |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1955 |page=121 |access-date=26 April 2026}}</ref> | reign = 210 CE | dynasty = [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandyan]] }} {{Pandyan}}
'''Nedunjeliyan II'''{{efn|Also transliterated as Neṭuñceḻiyaṉ. ([[ISO 15919]])}} ({{circa|210 CE}}) ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: நெடுஞ்செழியன்) was an [[Early Pandyan Kingdom|Early Pandyan King]] during the [[Sangam era]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mendis |first=G. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PVrUcdi4ZikC&dq=%22Nedunjeliyan+II%22&pg=PA1 |title=The Early History of Ceylon and Its Relations with India and Other Foreign Countries |date=1996 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0209-0 |language=en}}</ref> He is known for defeating a [[confederacy]] of [[Cholas]] and [[Cheras]] at [[Thalayamangalam]], near [[Tiruvarur]], conquering most of the [[Tamils|Tamil]] region, and contributing to Pandyan [[astrology]]. His deeds have been described in detail in the ''[[Maduraikkanci|Madurai]]'' text.
==Reign== {{Main|Battle of Talaiyalanganam}}
Nedunjeliyan II was a descendant of [[Nedunjeliyan I]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-24 |title=India - Shunga, Maurya, Magadha {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/India/The-Shunga-kingdom#ref485315 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> His reign is generally fixed in the early 3rd century CE.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Discover Nedunjeliyan II: The Pandya King's Legacy |url=https://www.oneindiaonline.com/nedunjeliyan-II.php |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=www.oneindiaonline.com}}</ref> Nedunjeliyan II ascended the throne at young age. Soon after, the kingdom was invaded by the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] and [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] dynasties. Nedunjeliyan II defeated the invaders and pursued the retreating forces to Talaiyalanganam,(identified with a village of almost the same name, Talai-Alam-Kadu, eight miles north-west of [[Tiruvarur]] district) deep inside Chola territory.<ref name="Nilakanta Sastri 1929">{{Cite book |last=Nilakanta Sastri |first=K. A. |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5955 |title=The Pandyan kingdom : from the earliest to the sixteenth century |date=1929 |publisher=Luzac, London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Aiyangar |first=S. Krishnaswami |date=1921–22 |title=The Age of Perundēvanār, the Author of the Tamil Bhāratam |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44525668 |journal=Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=61–62 |jstor=44525668 }}</ref> The Chera king [[Yanaikatchai Mantaran Cheral Irumporai|Mandaranjeral Irumporai]] was taken captive by Nedunjeliyan II. During the battle Pandyan Nedunjeliyan ll captured entire [[Tamilakam]] up to [[Coorg]] and [[Mangalore]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alain Daniélou |url=http://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani |title=A brief history of India |date=2003 |publisher=Inner Traditions |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-89281-923-2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thalaiyaalagaanathu Seruvendra Pandyan Nedunchezhian: Battle, Battles and the Thalaiyalangaanam Battle (Part II) |url=https://www.tamilculture.com/thalaiyaalagaanathu-seruvendra-pandyan-nedunchezhian-battle-battles-and-the-thalaiyalangaanam-battle-part-ii |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=TamilCulture.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.16035 |title=History of South India |date=1958 |language=English}}</ref>
Following his victory of [[Battle of Talaiyalanganam]],<ref name="Nilakanta Sastri 1929"/> Nedunjeliyan II mounted a campaign against the [[Velirs]], Millalai, and Muttur.<ref name=":0" />
==Contribution to astrology and temple architecture== Nedunjeliyan II is recognised for his contributions to promoting [[astrology]] and temple architecture.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Building on his ancestors' reverence for celestial sciences, he is credited with encouraging the construction of temples dedicated to the [[Navagraha]]s, the nine planetary deities in [[Hinduism]]. These temples were not only centers of worship but also hubs for astronomical study, showcasing the dynasty's understanding of celestial alignments.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
Nedunjeliyan II's efforts to integrate astrology into spiritual and scientific practices left a lasting influence on South Indian culture. Those temples, which he endorsed during his reign, reflected the Pandya dynasty’s engagement with celestial sciences and inspired further exploration of cosmic-human relationships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jyothisham |url=https://jyothisham.com/blogs/the-astrological-legacy-of-nedunjeliyan-ii:-promoter-of-navagraha-temples-and-astronomical-alignment |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=jyothisham.com}}</ref>
Many of these [[temple]]s were designed with precise astronomical alignments, such as capturing sunlight during [[solstice]]s or [[Equinox|equinoxes.]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} This integration of science and spirituality reflected the Pandyan dynasty's belief in the influence of celestial phenomena on governance, [[agriculture]], and daily life.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Nedunjeliyan II's efforts helped solidify the role of [[astrology]] in Tamil culture, leaving a lasting legacy in the region.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==General citations== * {{cite book|title=[[A History of South India: From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar]]|first=K. A. Nilakanta|last=Sastri|authorlink=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|page=115}} * [https://jyothisham.com/blogs/the-astrological-legacy-of-nedunjeliyan-ii-promoter-of-navagraha-temples-and-astronomical-alignment Jyothisham, The Astrological Legacy of Nedunjeliyan II: Promoter of Navagraha Temples and Astronomical Alignment] * {{Cite web |last=Team |first=Jyothisham |date=January 2025 |title=The Astrological Legacy of Nedunjeliyan II: Promoter of Navagraha Temples and Astronomical Alignment |url=https://jyothisham.com/blogs/the-astrological-legacy-of-nedunjeliyan-ii-promoter-of-navagraha-temples-and-astronomical-alignment |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=jyothisham.com |language=English}}
{{Pandya dynasty}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Pandya dynasty]] [[Category:3rd-century Indian monarchs]] [[Category:Indian monarchs]]