Koon_Pandiyan
Koon Pandiyan
Ancient Tamil monarch
Koon Pandiyan ("The hunch-backed Pandyan") was the nickname of a king who ruled Madurai around 7th century. Some historians identify him with the Pandyan king Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman.[2]
He converted from Jainism to Shaivism, converted under the influence of Sambandar. According to a Shaivite legend, after his conversion, he ordered a massacre of 8000 Jains in Samanatham. Sambandar is said to have cured his hunched back, after which he was known as Sundara Pandya ("Beautiful Pandyan").[3]