Flag of Pandya

The Flag of Pandya (Tamil: பாண்டியர் கொடி) was used by Pandyan Dynasty consisted of the single fish or twin fish.[1][2] There is no reference or description about the flag. Therefore, any Pandya flags used in media are created for the purpose of illustration. There are flags with double fish or single fish as per archaeological findings and historians's illustration.[3][4]

The Pandyan twin fish engraved on coin of Uttama Chola.

Pandya Flag

Name	(Twin fish flag)
Adopted	700s BCE

12th-century Tamil court poet Ottakoothar's verse mentions about Pandya flag while comparing to Chola flag.[5][6]

வெற்றிப் புலிக்கொடிக்கு மீனமோ அம்மானே? - Ottakoothar

The verse literally means that "Can the fish flag (Pandya's) be at par with the tiger flag (Chola's)"?.

Legend

Pandya king Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan I's double fish carp black granite bas-relief in Koneswaram temple – Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.

According to legend, Avatar of the Hindu Goddess Meenaatchi, who has fish shaped eyes, was born as the daughter of a Pandya king. Pandya emblem was a fish and it represented the dynasty, including in coins, etc. The word Meenatchi (Meen+Aatchi ) is a mix of the Tamil words meen (Fish) and "Aatchi" (Rule), which means Fish Rule.[7]

See also

• Flags of Tamils
• Flag of Chola
• Flag of Pallava

References

1. "Masterpieces in metal". Institute For Oriental Study, Thane. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
2. Nelson, J.H. Political History of the Madura Country. Asian Educational Services.
3. Walter Codrington, Hubert. Ceylon Coins and Currency. Asian Educational Services.
4. History & Civics For Vi (Tn). Tata McGraw-Hill Education.
5. "ஒட்டக்கூத்தரும் புகழேந்தியும்". Tamil Wikisource. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
6. "எட்டுத் தொகையும் தமிழர் பண்பாடும்". Tamil Virtual Academy. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
7. "Sri Meenaatchi (Parvathi)". Hindu Society of Minnesota. Retrieved 13 May 2014.