Tondaiman


The Tondaiman family were Tamil rulers of the ancient Tondai Nadu division of Tamilakkam in South India. Their capital was at Kanchipuram.
They ruled with the Pallava dynasty, which controlled northern Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and had its capital at Kanchipuram. Hundreds of records and edicts exist pertaining to the Tondaiman rulers of Chola dynasty.

Sangam literature

Ruler Tondaiman Ilandirayan was mentioned in Purananuru as a king confronting Adhiaman; battle was avoided by the tactics of Avvaiyaar. He is said to be the founder of Pallava dynasty. Pathupaattu a sangam literature work mentioned that Tondaiman Ilandriyan ruled th Kanchipuram town before 2500 years.

Chola Empire

The Tondaiman title was borne by various chiefs in the Chola empire, notable ones being Karunakara Tondaiman and Naralokaviran alias Porkoyil Tondaiman who served as generals under Kulottunga I.
The poet Kambar wrote Silaiyezhupathu about Karunagara Tondaiman.

Origin

Aranthangi Tondaimans

The Aranthangi Tondaimans ruled Aranthangi from the 15th to the 18th centuries in southern Tamil Nadu.. There are references to the Aranthangi Tondaimans in temple inscriptions at Avudayarkovil, Alapiranthan, Palaiyavanam, Pillaivayal, Aranthangi, Kovilur, Paramandur, Palankarai, Piranmalai, Thiruvarankulam and Kurumbur. Similarly, the Aranthangi Tondaimans were an independent line of chieftains ruling from Aranthangi; they flourished about 200 years before the rule of the Thondaman dynasty of Pudukottai.
The Aranthangi Tondaimans were the chief patrons of the Avudayarkovil temple, and liberally donated to its maintenance. They donated land to the Tiruvarur, Rameswaram, Kanchipuram and Benares temples. About 25 copper plates indicating grants from the Aranthangi Tondaimans have been recorded so far; 16 are in the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam.