Poonjar dynasty

The kingdom of Poonjar
പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം
Kingdom of medieval Kerala
1160–1947
A map showing the distribution of princely states in Kerala
Capital		Poonjar
Languages		Tamil, Malayalam
Religion		Hinduism
Political structure		Monarchy
Raja
•	12th century	Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal
Historical era		Kollam Era
•	Established	1160
•	Disestablished	1947
Area
•	1800s	4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
•	1900s	87 km2 (34 sq mi)
Today part of		Kottayam district Idukki district Theni district

Poonjar dynasty (Malayalam:പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം) (Tamil:பூஞ்சார் பேரரசு) was one of the royal dynasties in medieval Kerala descended from the Pandya kings of Madurai. History has it that Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal, a Pandya king as the sole founder of the dynasty. It was a minor principality in the central Travancore region which covered the parts of present day Dindigul, Cumbum, Kudallor, Bodinayakkanur, Vandiperiyar, Peerumedu and Kannan Devan hills.

In 1157 CE, Kulothunga Chola, a famed Chola king entered in a battle with Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal, who was a Pandya king. Kulothunga's first attempt to defeat him went unsuccessful but, his next attempt became successful which resulted in the failure of Manavikrama. Upon the failure, Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreebhallava as the raja of Pandya kingdom and left Madurai with his family and some trusted servants. Later, he settled in Gudalloor region with his family and administered from there. When he came to know about the availability of land at cheap rates in Kerala, he shifted to Thekkumkoor via Kumily, Periyar, Kolahalamedu and Vagamon. He also carried out the idols of Madhura Meenakshi, their kuladevatha (tutelary deity) and Sundareswarar (Shiva) which was used in the chariot festival in Madurai Meenakshi temple. These idols were later installed in the Poonjar Meenakshi temple on the banks of Meenachil river.