Mangammal was the daughter of Tupakula Lingama Nayaka, and was the wife of a general of Madurai ruler
Chokkanatha Nayak (1659–1682). She married Chokkanatha Nayak and became the mother of Rangakrishna Muthu Virappa Nayak (1682—1689). When her husband died in 1682, he was succeeded by her son Rangakrishna Muthu Virappa Nayak. Upon the death of her son in 1689, her son's widow was pregnant. Her son was succeeded by her grandson in 1689. Her daughter-in-law committed
sati, and Mangammal became regent during the minority of her grandson Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha.
Regency During Mangammal's regency, many irrigation channels were repaired, new roads were constructed, avenue trees were planted, and several municipal buildings were completed, including temples and her "Spring Palace" at TumKum. The "Spring Palace" now houses the
Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai. She played a key role in assisting the
Mughal Army during the
Siege of Jinji (Gingee). Queen Mangammal had realized that the renegade
Rajaram had entrenched himself within Jinji and had been bent upon attacking
Thanjavur and
Madurai if the Mughal Army were to withdraw. Mangammal soon recognized
Aurangzeb as her suzerain and began to assist
Zulfiqar Khan in attacking the Jinji fort. When the fort was captured by both Zulfiqar Khan and Mangammal after 8 years, she and her family had control over the fort under the leadership of the Mughals. When her grandson, Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayaka, came of age in 1704, she and her prime minister, Achayya, refused to relinquish power. They were seized by the army commander and executed. Rani Mangammal first celebrated the Unjal festival in Meenakshi temple during the Tamil month of Ani. During the festivities, all the royal families visit the temple and pay tribute to Meenakshi Amman. Even today, we can see her contemporary portrait in the Unjal Mandapam. ==Gallery==