A BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY ON MEDIEVAL CHOLAS AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE CHERAS {KERALAS} OF THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD {A.D.801 - A.D 1120}
Introduction
During the periods of the nineth and the tenth centuries, the Chera country was ruled by three principal royal dynasties known as the Ayes, Venads and Kulasekaras from three distinctive regions of Kerala (the Sanskritised version of Chera), and the kings of these three dynasties and the other Chieftains ruling small regions of rest of the Kerala, all were generally referred to as the Cheras or Keralas by the people of Chola & Pandiya countries of this period.
The Aye dynasty were ruling a region covering from the present Nagerkoil of Tamil Nadu the southern end of the Aye kingdom, upwards into Kerala to the present Anjuthengu in the north of the present Thiruvananthapuram, and was known as Aye Nadu. Their capital was at Vilignam a seaport city south of Thiruvananthapuram. The Aye Nadu also included the Kanthalursalai - a military and Vedic studies acadamy and an armoury centre of the Aye kings, and was located deep south beyond the Vilignam along the sea coast closer to Nagerkoil the southern end of the Aye kingdom.
The Venad dynasty were ruling a region beyond Anjuthengu covering a region upto Kottayam, known formally as Venadu and also as Kollam Desam with their capital at Kollam (proper), also a seaport city on the west Kerala.
The Kulasekara dynasty were ruling a region of Kerala beyond Kottayam further north upto and around the present region of Kolikkodu (Calicut) and known as Kudamalai Nadu, with their capital at Mahodayapuram (Kodungolur) a seaport city also known as Makothai, and a second interior capital known as Uthakai in the Kongu country of that period (the present Udhagamandalam region of the Tamil Nadu, bordering the Kerala also known as Udhagai), which was under their rule during this period.
Unlike the Aye and the Venad dynasty, the vast territory ruled by Kulasekara dynasty covered many small regions called "Nadus" under different names, which were ruled by the local Chieftans who accepted the authority of the Kulasekara dynasty, and ruled their respective regions as subordinates to them.
The Chera kings from A.D.801 up to the advent of Vijayalaya Chola
Towards the beginning of the nineth century{i.e. A.D.801} a powerful Chera king known as Kulasekaran {A.D.801-820} was ruling in Kudamalainadu of the Kerala country covering the length of the Kolli - Malai (hills) regions in central and north Kerala, from his capital at Mahodayapuram.
He has claimed for himself the titles "Kolik-kon", "Kudal- nayagan", "Kongar Kon" confirming his authority over Koliyur (the Uraiyur of the Chola country), and Kudal (the Madurai of the Pandiya country), and also over the Kongu country. It was probably during this period the Uthahai became the second capital of the Kulasekara dynasty with a member of the Kulasekara family appointed to rule over this region.
Kulasekaran was an ardent devotee of - Sri Rama (regarded as an incarnation of God Vishnu), and hence the Vaishnavites of this period referred to him as Kulasekara Perumal in reverence.
He made pilgrimages to Thiruvarangam (Sri Rangam) in Cholanadu, and Thiruvenkatam (Thiruppathi) in Thondainadu - among others, and has composed a set of hyms - in Tamil in praise of God Vishnu named as "Perumal Thirumoli", and in Sanskrit named as "Muhunda Mala". He abdicated the Chera throne to lead a holy life and was venerated as one of the twelve great Tamil Vaishnava Saints, known as the Kulasekara Alvar.
The Chera king Kulasekaran had a son by the name Rajasekaran. With the abdication of Kulasekara from Chera throne, his son Rajasekaran {A.D.820-844} became the king of the Chera country. He was also known by the name Cheraman Perumal and unlike his father was an ardent devotee of God Siva.
Rajasekaran while ruling the Chera country from Mahodayapuram spent most of his time in religious activities and in meditation at the Siva Temple in Thiruvanjaikkalam at Kodungolur (Mahodayapuram) in the Kerala country. It was during this time one of the great Tamil Saiva Saint of Tamil Nadu - the Sundaramurthi Nayanar made a pilgrimage to the Thiruvarur Temple in the Chola country. The Chera king Rajasekaran with utmost desire to meet this great Tamil Saiva Saint, also went to Thiruvarur at this same time.
Here with the blessings of God Siva of Thiruvarur the Chera king composed hyms in Tamil in his praise known as "Mummanikkovai". From there he went along with the Tamil Saint Sundarmurthi Nayanar to the Siva shrine at Vedaranniyam in the Chola country and other Siva Shrines all over the Pandiya country. He composed further hyms in Tamil in praise of God Siva known as "Ponnvanna Anthathi" and "Thirukkalyana Gnana Ulla" and became to be known and venerated as Cheraman Perumal Nayanar. All the above hyms composed by him have been included in the eleventh "Thirumurai" (Thirumurais are a collection of the sacred hyms in Tamil, sung on God Siva by various Tamil Saiva Saints of TamilNadu and few from the Kerala State).
Finally at the eager request of the Cheraman Perumal Nayanar the Tamil Saiva Saint Sundaramurthi Nayanar opted to visit the palace of this Chera king at his capital city of Mahodaiyapuram in the Chera country travelling through Kongunadu the present Udagamandalam (Udagai) region of TamilNadu.
While being here in A.D.844 the Saint Sundaramurthi Nayanar died. Unable to bear the grief of the death of this great Saint, the Cheraman Perumal Nayanar too met his death soon thereafter in the same year.
It was during the period of the Chera king Kulasekaran and partly during the period of the Chera king Rajasekaran, the great Saiva Saint of Chera (Kerala) country namely the Sankaracharya who founded the Advaita doctrine lived in Kerala.
It also appears the Tamil Saiva Saint known as Venattu Adigal from Venad in the Chera country though not classified under the sixty- three Tamil Saiva Saints of Tamil Nadu, the hyms composed by him named `Thiruvisaippa" on God Siva of Chidambaram in Chola country, has been included in the nineth Thirumurai. It appears the Venattu Adigal lived during a period after the Tamil Saiva Saint the Sundaramurthi Nayanar.
The Chera king Rajasekara alias Cheraman Perumal Nayanar was followed by his son the king Sthanu Ravi alias Ravi Varma Kulasekaran (alias Ko-Kandan) (A.D.844 - 885) on the Chera throne at Mahodayapuram. Sthanu Ravi too was a Saivite like his father. He had a daughter by the
I have been reading all the articles. Sri hari sir with his repository of knowledge is an asset to this group. I am absorbed by this article, which should probably go into Files section.
The reason why it contains so many unknown facts is that this info has been gathered from a book written by keralite historian after analyzing all the kerala resources.
Mr.Srihari had actually mentioned the name of this book in forum hub - I can't remember now.
One of the best I have ever read. Dispels many myths.
Dear Mr Srihari its a privilage to have someone so learned in our midst...a very very warm welcome sir...
I have read this article I think in foryum hub or somewhere and even posted in our group sometime ago...
there are a few questions I would like to raise..
1. what was the language spoken n cheranadu because it comprises of all of present day kerala and south karnataka...did they speak tamil..must have especially if their kings had contributed to tamil literature with theur songs....so when did Malayalam make its appearance???
2. was there any logical reason for the great kings of tamil nadu to have their capitals so close to one another.....Uraiyur and Thanjavur were within a days horse ride from Vanji(if asuming that this was present day Karur is vanji as some Scholars say) like wise it will be two days horse ride from Madhurai ...when the panya kingdom expanded to kumari in south why would they have their capital so close to enemy land.....
3. My understanding was sundaracholar was the sound of arinjava and a vaithumbarayar princess(no historic evidence Kalki's PS)
4.I thought the Thirupurambaam war was fought between Varaakunapandiyan and Aparajithavarman pallavan+Vijayalaya nad aditha cholas+ganga king pritheevipathi and the pallipadai was for ganga king who died here.
If Rajasimhan fought with the cholas it would mean he had to coss the chola kingdom and fight north of them....sounds like kazhuthai chuthi mookai thoduvathu???
I would be vey grateful if someone could answer these questions
I have printed out all the pages mailed by you .. it runs to about 60 Pages.. Every single page is Very informative..
Among everything, I personally consider the subject Historical Survey as a Master piece. Very well done... Comprehensive...Needed to us..
Leaving the very best, I confine to some discussable points alone :
1. Adhi Sankara is stated to belong to the 8th Century. There is scope for disageement w.r.t. Guruparampara of Sankara mutts; 2. Kulasekara identified with Vishnu! Great ! This should have prompted Tvgdu Copper Plates to describe Rajaraja also as avathar of Vishnu! Kalki's Grand opening ... unfolds infront of my eyes again.. 3. Seraman Perumal : Whoever seen the Mezanine floor of Rajarajeswaram would have realised the significance attached by RR to Seramanperumal + Sundaramurthy Naayanar. Seraman & Sundaramurthy reach Kaliash with their mortal bodies (as per pictures)..SM on Airavatham & Seraman on his Horse.. (Dr Kalaikkovan pointed out a Vaanan hanging on the tail of Arvthm and added that some one has got Doctorate on that single theme alone!).. Sundara's Thiruneunjikkalam (Seraman capital) padikam - last of his - is reported to have been written enroute and handed over to Nandhidevar and through him sent to earth !
This should have kindled a great desire in RR - to reach Kailash with the mortal body ... He was in search of similar friend or Guru - in the calibre of Sundarar. That's why speculations float around Nambiandar nambi / Karuvurar.... and the alike...
4. Paranthaha I's wife was Arumozhi.. Arinjaya's .. Adithya .. This should have prompted Sundara to name his SONS after their grand / great-grand mothers! Male members of family were named after female elder members! Tamilnadu CM insists on Mother's initial incorpn!
5. Panchavan Madevi (3) to : Uthama / Rajaraja / Rajendra... Dr.Kalaikkovan has written extensively on Pazhuvur.. He summarises that the Great (Chera) Kings of Pazhuvur could hold only a period of about 150 yrs in the larger span of 400 yrs of Chola history.. You also provided some reasons : Cheras affliation to Pandyas.. uprise against Cholas .. inspite of matramonial alliances with the Chozhas..
The debacle was very rapid after 987 AD when RR found Ravidasan & co of Chera sect as Drohins! Pazhuvettarayars did not find their names in Chola history after the 7th year of Rajendra! (Only a servant of PVTR figures!)
Yes Sir, the frame work your have provided will produce several Doctors in the years to come ! Salutations to Thee!