Third Sangam in Madurai

India is a vast and substantial nation that has been governed by one of the most magnanimous dynasties of the world. Either these dynasties had Indian origin or got their birth from areas of west or north around the world. Instead of becoming a temporary dynasty in the country, these dynasties decided to loot India to its fullest and settled here for their whole lifetime. 

One such period of the enormous ruling was in the Sangam period which was inhabited by the three most liberal regimes of Indian History i.e., Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. These monarchies thrived in almost all the characteristics of belief and faith, society, economy and administration of their kingdoms. There were three Tamil Sangams that were built to accentuate the literary and poetic skills of the Sangam people. 

Sangam Period

The Sangam period was inhabited by the three most magnanimous regimes of Indian History, Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. The period of the Sangam dynasty went on from 300 BCE to 300 AD in the areas of South India which lie to the south of rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna. This eternity was designated after the Sangam academies (Academy formed by Tamil poets) that prospered during the Pandya regime. A total of three Tamil Sangams were built in the ancient period of South India from the 3rd century BCE to AD. 

From the three Tamil Sangams, the first one is speculated to have been located at Madurai which was given attention to by the Legendary sages and Gods. However, no such literary work is available from the Sangam held at Madurai. The second one was located at Kapadapuram from which the most significant survivor was the Tolkappiyam, literary work. The last one was held at Madurai and this is the only Sangam from where we got some of the useful sources that provide us information regarding this Dynasty. 

Third Sangam or Madurai College of Antiquity

Madurai College of Antiquity is the third Sangam academy that was built during the Sangam period. The Academy was built under the care and supervision of 49 Pandyan Kings and 449 participle poets, which ran for about 1850 years in the historical times. However, it was demolished at the time when Christianity emerged in the Southern part of India, which led to its downfall.   

All the literary works that provide us with detailed information about the Sangam period originated from Madurai College of Antiquity or the Third Sangam. The seat of the third Sangam was on the ridges of the spiritual pond of Golden lotuses, in the magnificent city of Madurai. Interestingly, the last and the third one out of the three Tamil Sangams only gave us some promising and decent information. 

The literary sources from Madurai College of Antiquity gave evidence of two thousand poems which have been composed by over 470 poets of those times. It is these poems that have been combined into the major context of Tamil Literature, comprising eight compilations and ten idylls. Apart from this, it is also understood from literary sources that the third Sangam arose and was formed with the supervision of 49 poets of the Sangam period. 

The most fascinating of all is the saga on how there was an intense confrontation between the poets of the Sangam period and how Shiva came into rescue for resolving this conflict between the poets. The existence of Madurai College of Antiquity has been confirmed by Andal Tiruppavai and Appar Thevarum. Apart from this, it was also confirmed that about forty poets had Madurai augmented as a prefix to their names. 

The most significant literary work of the Sangam period, Tolkappiyam, is said to have been launched in the court of one of the most significant Pandya rulers, Nilam Tharu Thiruvil Pandya. It would be intriguing to know that the highest contribution of the poems in the Sangam period were from poets like Kapilar, Nakkiran, Mamulanar, Paranar and Uruththiran Kannan. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sangam dynasty was inhabited by the three most magnanimous regimes of Indian History, Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. The period of the Sangam dynasty went on from 300 BCE to 300 AD in the areas of South India which lie to the south of rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna. The literary works from the Sangams provide a very elaborated and defining development in the Sangam Period. The most significant works have been derived from the last and third one out of the three Tamil Sangams. All the literary works that provide us with detailed information about the Sangam period originated from Madurai College of Antiquity or the Third Sangam. The existence of Madurai College of Antiquity has been confirmed by Andal Tiruppavai and Appar Thevarum.