Adi Veera Rama Pandian, also written as Ativirarama Pandya, is one of the later Pandya kings who ruled from Tenkasi as a subordinate ruler under the Vijayanagara kings. Adi Veera Rama Pandian, also known as Sri Vallabha, attained distinction as a scholar, poet and patron of arts and religion. He was proficient in both Sanskrit and Tamil. He reigned from 1564 – 1603 CE.
Several Tamil literary works are attributed to Adi Veera
Rama Pandian, the most important being Naitatam, an adaptation in Tamil verse
of the Sanskrit work Naishadam of Sri Harsha. According to tradition, Adi Veera
Rama Pandian decided on his adaptation, after he had listened to the Sanskrit
work. His work, which consists of 1172 verses, shows the author’s familiarity
with the earlier literary classics like the Kamba Ramayanam (the classic Tamil
Version of Kamban) and Jivaka Chintamani, a Jaina Classic.
Adi Veera Rama Pandian is also credited with translations of
Sanskrit religious works such as the Kurma Purana, Linga Purana and Kashi
Kandam in Skanda Purana. He also authored a small book known as Verriverkai or
Naruntohai containing moral aphorisms on the model of Kondrai-vendan of
Adi Veera Rama Pandian patronized literary figures such as
Serai Kavirajan, the author of eulogy on the deity of Kalahasti and Seyur
Murugan Ula (in praise of Subrahmanya) by Chidambaranar of Tiruvannamalai.
Adi Veera Rama Pandian’s contemporary was Paranjothiar, the
author of Thiruvilayadal Puranam. Another great scholar, Ellappa Nayanar, who
was the author of Arunaiantati, Tiruvarur Kovai, Arunachala Puranam,
Tiruvirinjai Puranam and Saundaryalahari urai also lived during his period.
Adi Veera Rama Pandian built two temples, one for Shiva and another for Vishnu, the former at Tenkasi and the latter nearby.