The third Sangam was held at the present Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The third sangam had 449 poets and the important ones among them include Nakkirar, Iraiyanar, Kapilar, Paranar, Sattanar, Auvikyar etc.
Varagunavarman II succeeded his father Srimar and ruled the Pandyan empire from 862 to 880 A.D. He made attempts to raise the prestige of Pandyan dynasty by invading the Chola territory.