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Chera dynasty

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For district of Kuala Lumpur, see Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, the town in Spain, see Chera, Valencia, for the town in Selangor, see Cheras, Selangor.
சேரர்
Cheras

Chera territories
Official language Tamil
Capitals Karur (Vanchi Muthur)
Government Monarchy
Preceding state Unknown
Succeeding states Gangas, Zamorins, Kochi, Travancore, Hoysala, Vijayanagara


The Chera dynasty (Tamil: சேரர்) was one of the ancient Tamil dynasties that ruled southern India from ancient times until around the fifteenth century CE. The Early Cheras ruled over the Coimbatore, Karur and Salem Districts in South India, which now forms part of the modern day Tamil Nadu (Kongu Nadu). The other two major Tamil dynasties were the Cholas in the eastern Coromandel Coast and Pandyas in the south central peninsula. These dynasties began ruling before the Sangam era (300 BCE - 200 CE) during which the Tamil language, arts and literature flourished.

The Sangam Chera capital was Vanchi Muthur (otherwise called Karuvur, modern Karur)[1]. Their kingdom ranged from Coimbatore, Namakkal, Karur, Salem, Dharmapuri and Erode in Tamil Nadu, also controlling areas closer to the region from Malai Nadu or hill country (modern Kongu Nadu). Chera rulers warred frequently with their neighbouring kingdoms. They sometimes inter-married with the families of the rival kings as a means of political alliances. Throughout the reign of the Cheras, trade continued to bring prosperity to Tamil Country (part of which is modern north Kerala), with spices, ivory, timber, pearls and gems being exported to Egypt, Rome, Greece, Phoenicia, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Persia. Evidence for extensive foreign trade from ancient times is available throughout Kongu Nadu, Coimbatore, Palani, Karur, Salem and Dharmapuri. Muziris, has been referenced by ancient writers, such as the author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea to be an inland port probably Musiri near Karur in TamilNadu upstream on the river Kaveri. Sangam Cheran coins and inscriptions are found only in Karur, Erode and Coimbatore region of modern Tamil Nadu (Kongu Nadu). The Chera kings are also caled Kongar Kons or the Kongu kings.

While Cheras had their own religion (Hinduism), other religious traditions came to this area during the period of the Chera kings. Jainism came to Kongu Nadu by the second century BCE.

The Keralavarman kingdom, also called the kollam Kerala Varmans Cheras ruled from Kodungalloor. Of early Chera feudatory origin and not related to the Sangam and Bhakti Tamil Cheras themselves, there seems to be a major shift in the culture of Kerala during this period. They are often confused with the Sangam Tamil Cheras who are entirely different from the Kerala Varmans.

History

In early Tamil literature the Chera rulers are referred to as Cheral, Kuttuvan, Irumporai, Kollipurai and Athan. Chera rulers were also called Kothai or Makothai. The nobility among the Cheras were called Cheraman in general. The word Kerala, of possible Prakrit origins, does not appear in Sangam Literature. Ashoka's edicts mention an independent dynasty known by the name Ceraputta, who were outside Ashoka's empire. The unknown author of Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions Chera as Cerobothra whose capital is Karur, while Pliny, the Roman historian of the first century, calls it Caelobothras. It is believed that religiously the Cheras were Shaivites.[2] The kings of the dynasty refered to themselves as Vanavar.[3]

Sangam Cheras

The only source available for us regarding the early Chera Kings is the anthologies of the Sangam literature. Scholars now generally agree that this literature belongs to the first few centuries CE.[4] The internal chronology of this literature is still far from settled. The Sangam literature is full of names of the kings and the princes, and of the poets who extolled them. Despite a rich literature that depicts the life and work of these people, these are not worked into connected history so far. Their capital is stated to be modern Karur in Tamilnadu and were also called Kongars.

Pathirruppaththu, the fourth book in the Ettuthokai anthology mentions a number of Chera Kings of the Chera dynasty. Each King is praised in ten songs sung by the Court Poet and the Kings are in the following order:

  1. Nedum Cheralathan,
  2. Palyane Chel Kezhu Kuttuvan,
  3. Kalankai Kanni Narmudi Cheral,
  4. Kadal Pirakottiya Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan,
  5. Attu Kottu Pattu Cheralathan,
  6. Chelva Kadunko Azhi Athan,
  7. Thakadur Erintha Perum Cheral Irumporai,
  8. Kudako Ilam Cheral Irumporai.

The first two kings were the sons of Uthiyan Cheralathan and Veliyan Nallini. The third, fourth and fifth kings were sons of Nedum Cheralathan, while the mother of fourth King (also known as Chenkuttuvan) was Chola Princess Manikilli. Chelva Kadunko Vazhiyathan was the son of Anthuvan Cheral Irumporai and Porayan Perumthevi. Perum Cheral Irumporai was the son of Vazhiyathan and Ilam Cheral Irumporai was the son of a Chera ruler Kuttuvan Irumporai (son of Mantharan Cheral Irumporai).[citation needed]

Archaeology has also found epigraphic evidence regarding these early Cheras.[5] The most important of these is the Pugalur (Aranattarmalai) inscription. This inscription refers to three generations of Chera rulers Adam Cheral Irrumporai, his son Perumkadungo, and his son Ilamkadungo. The charter was issued when Perum Kadungo was the ruler monarch and Ilam Kadungo was appointed prince. Athan refers only to a crowned King of Chera dynasty who accepted this title at the time of coronation. Athan Cheral Irumporai was the son of Perum Cheral Irumporai. It therefore follows that Perumkadungo was the son of a crowned King of the Chera Dynasty. Perum Kadunko means that he was the Senior Ko (Senior ruler) of Kadunadu, located in the Tamilnadu side of the Sahya Mountains.

'Purananuru' refers to Udiyan Cheral, who probably ruled in the first – second centuries CE. It is said that he fed the rival armies during the war of Mahabharata. Imayavaramban Neduncheralathan, another Sangam age king claimed to have conquered up to the Himalayas and to have inscribed his emblem in the face of the mountains. Senguttuvan was another famous Chera, whose contemporary Gajabahu II of Lanka according to Mahavamsa visited the Chera country.[6]

The early Cheras controlled a large territory of Kongu Nadu. The also ruled the kodunthamizh regions of Travancore (Venadu) and the Malabar (Kuttanadu) west coast through vassals. They were in contact with the Satavahanas in the north and with the Romans and Greeks.[7] Trade flourished overseas and there was a considerable exchange of gold and coins, as seen by archaeological evidence and literature. The Romans brought vast amounts of gold in exchange of 'Kari' (Pepper) and precious Stones and a large number of Roman coins have been found in sites of Coimbatore, Namakkal, Karur and Salem in Tamilnadu, Roman- Chera collaborative mint found inKongu Nadu. [2] [3]

Medieval Cheras

Little is known about the Cheras between c. third century CE and the eight century CE. An obscure dynasty, the Kalabhras, invaded the Tamil country, displaced the existing kingdoms and ruled for around three centuries. They were displaced by the Pallavas and the Pandyas in the sixth century CE. A Pandya ruler, Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman (c.730 – 765CE), mentioned in a number of Pandya copper-plate inscriptions, was a prominent ruler during this period. He claims to have defeated a prominent Chera king. The name of the Chera king is not known, however from the details of the battles between the Pandya and the Chera, the Chera territory ceded seems to have included the entire Malabar and Travancore (Kuttanadu and Venadu) and the southern Pandya country from Kanyakumari to Thirunelveli the seat of the Cheras being in Karur Kongu Nadu. The Chera kings took the title of Perumal during this period and patronised the Vaishnavite sect. Kulasekara Alwar who ruled in the 8th century became a devotional Vaishnavite poet. Pallavas also mention in their inscriptions about their battles with the Cheras. Pulakesin II, in his Aihole inscription mentioned " Pulikesin II, driving the Pallava behind the forts of Kanchi, reached as far south as the Kaveri river, and there caused prosperity to the Chola, Chera and Pandya".[8]

In the reign of Pandya Parantaka Nedumjadaiyan (765 – 790), the Cheras were still in Karur and were a close ally of the Pallavas. Pallavamalla Nadivarman defeated the Pandya Varaguna with the help of a Chera king. Cultural contacts between the Pallava court and the Chera country were common.[9] The Saivite saint Cheraman Perumal and the other is the Vaishnavite saint Kulasekhara, were famous in the Hindu religious movements. Kulasekhara became one of the celebrated Alvars and his poems came to be called the Perumal Thirumozhi. Cheraman Perumal ruled around the eighth and the ninth centuries. In this Kulasekhara calls himself Kongar Koman (the king of the Kongu people) hailing from Kollinagar (Karur). Adi Shankara was his contemporary. Kongumandala Satakam also says that Cheraman Perumal went to Kayilai with Sundarar from Kongu Nadu. The copperplate inscriptions of the region also refer to Chera as Vellala rayan and the presence of the Cheravamsam and Cheralan clans (gotrams) in the Kongu Vellala Gounder (caste) whose native temples (kuladeivams) are located around the Karur region further support this.

Notes

  1. ^ Nagaswami, R. (1995). Roman Karur: A peep into Tamil's past. Brahad Prakashan, Madras.http://www.tamilartsacademy.com/books/roman%20karur/cover.html
  2. ^ P. 104 Indian Anthropologist: Journal of the Indian Anthropological Association By Indian Anthropological Association
  3. ^ P. 15 The Ācārya, Śaṅkara of Kāladī: A Story By Savita R. Bhave, M. G. Gyaltsan, Muṣṭafá Amīn, 1933- Madugula, I S Madugula
  4. ^ The age of Sangam is established through the correlation between the evidence on foreign trade found in the poems and the writings by ancient Greek and Romans such as Periplus of the Erythrian Sea. See Nilakanta Sastri, K.A., History of South India, pp 106
  5. ^ See report in Frontline, June/July 2003 [1]
  6. ^ See Mahavamsa – http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/. Since Senguttuvan (Kadal pirakottiya Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan) was a contemporary of Gajabahu II he was the Chera King during 170-185 CE.
  7. ^ These foreigners were called Yavana in the ancient times
  8. ^ See Verse 31 Aihole Inscription of Pulakesi II - http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/HISTORY/primarydocs/Epigraphy/AiholeInscription.htm
  9. ^ See A History of South India – pp 146 – 147

References


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