Magadai
Magadai or Magadai Mandalam was a Tamil kingdom that flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries near the modern-day Aragalur. Aragalurudaiya Ponparappinan Rajarajadevan, alias Magadesan, was the Bana chief who ruled this region around 1197. There were three important chieftains in this region:
- Kadava with capitol at Kudalur near Cuddalore and Sendamangalam
- Malaiyamaan with capitol at Tirukkoyilur and Killiyur
- Magadai mandalam with its chief
- *Rajarajan
- *ponparappina-perumal
- *vira Magadan Rajarajadevan pon parappinan Magadaipprumal
The Magadai Mandalam was at the height of their power during the transition of Chola dynasty to Pandyan and Hoysala. There are a large number of inscriptions about the Magadai chiefs in North and South Arcots, Chingleput and Thanjavur districts.
There are Buddha idols in the fields and a Buddha statue in the temple in Thiyaganur village near Aragalur. There is a possibility that descendants of the Magadhan Empire could have settled in this area on their way south to Sri Lanka.