Far East Kingdoms

Cheras

The Cheras were an ancient Dravidian royal dynasty of Tamil origin who ruled in regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India, over a wide area comprising Venad, Kuttanad, Kudanad, Pazhinad, and more. In other words, they governed the area between Kanya Kumari in the south to Kasargod in the north. This included Palghat, Coimbatore, Salem and Kollimalai. The capital was Vanchi, which the Romans who actively traded with the Cheras knew as Muzris.

Vedic influence seemed to have been minimal before the advent of Brahmanism. The Cheras had no particular religion - even the caste system was absent from their society - but ancestral worship was popular. The war goddess was known as Kottavai. There were no structural temples. Images of gods were kept in the open air, probably under a tree, and an established priesthood was conspicuously absent. Structural temples came into existence after the arrival of the Brahmins. Agriculture was the main occupation for most common folk. Foreign trade also flourished. Tools and tackles were made of iron. Fishing, hunting, spinning, weaving, carpentry, and salt manufacture were all important. Precious stones, pearls, and spices were exported from Kerala. Ports included Muzris, Tyndes, Barace and Nelaynda. The king's income depended on the war booty he collected, plus land revenue and taxes. The ruler was called 'ko' or 'kon' or 'kadumko' (great king), and these kings were generally known by their titles, which were based on personal peculiarity, a singular habit, or an important achievement.

(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha.)

Early Cheras (Samgam Period)
c.270 BC - c.110 BC

The Chera kings have been rather vaguely described in the Sangam literature (the Sangam age encompasses the first four centuries of the Christian era). Their historical dating is conspicuously absent and genealogy is lacking.

The important kings were Uthiyan Cheralathan, Nedum Cheralathan, Palayanai Sel Kelu Kuttuvan, Narmudi Cheral, Vel Kelu Kuttuvan, Adu Kottu Patta Cheralathan, Selvakodunko Vellatan, Perumcheral Irumporai, and Ilamcheral Irumporai.

fl c.270 BC

Perumchottu Uthiyan Cheralathan

First recorded king.

Perumchottu is a contemporary of the great Chola, King Karikala. After suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chola ruler in the Battle of Venni, he commits suicide.

The Chera Tiruvanchikkulam Siva Temple

Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan

Son. Ruled for 58 years.

During his long reign, Imayavaramban Kudako Nedun Cheralatan consolidates the Chera dynasty and extends its frontiers. He inflicts a crushing defeat on his sworn enemies, the Kadambas of Banavasi. Imayavaramban’s reign is of special significance to the development of art and literature in the kingdom. Kannanar is his poet laureate.

Selva-kodunkovaliyatan

fl c.170s BC

Peruncheral Irumporai

Son. Ruled for 17 years.

This king is mentioned in the eight decade of the century by the poet Arisil Kilar as winning a great victory at Takadur against Adiyaman and two great kings.

Ilam cheral Irumporai

Son. Ruled for 16 years.

The king is described by Perunkundrur Kilar as the lord of the cities Tondi, Kongu and Puli. He defeats Perunchola Ilam Palaiyan Maran and Vicci and destroys the five forts.

Antuvan Cheral

Chola King Killivalavan captures the Chera capital, Karur, although it is hard to conclude an approximate date for this due to a lack of data.

Andtuvan Cheral Irumporai

Two references are available regarding this king, one in the colophon of Pattirupattu (ancient Tamil literature), in which Selvakkadunko Valiyathan is mentioned as the son of the Antuvan Cheral; and other in the colophon to the Purananuru (Literature) of Uraiyur, Mociyar.

fl c.120 BC

Kanaikkal Irumporai

This Chera king marches against Kocengannan, the Chola king, who defeats him at the Battle of the Ovur and takes him captive. he is imprisoned at Kunavayil Kottam (Purananuru: 74). Poigaiyar, the Chera court poet, sings ‘Kalavali Narpattu’ in praise of Kocengannan to secure his release, but the Chera king, feeling insulted when he is not given water to quench his thirst, breathes his last before his release can be ordered.

The Cheras return to obscurity for the next nine centuries, before re-emerging to create the Second Chola empire.

AD 670 - 710

Arikesari Maravarman of the Pandyas is credited with defeating the Chera king in multiple battles between these dates. Kochadaiyan Ranadhiran of the Pandyas also subdues them.

Second Chera Empire
AD 800 - 1102

There is little information available on the Cheras between the third to eighth centuries AD. An obscure dynasty, the Kalabhras, invaded the Tamil country, displacing the existing kingdoms, and ruled for around three centuries. In turn they were displaced by the Pallavas and the Pandyas in the sixth century AD, but just after the eclipse of the Kalabhras, the Second Chera Empire made its appearance in the annals of Kerala history.

Mahodyapuram (modern Kodangallur) was its capital. It was founded by Kulasekhara Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars. The Alvars were Tamil saints who composed and sang hymns in praise of Vishnu (the Preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer). They were exponents of the Bhakti (devotional) cult in southern India. The Alvars gave great impetus to the Bhakti cult in southern India between the seventh and tenth centuries.

800 - 820

Kulasekhara Alvar

A scholar and a great patron of the arts, Kulasekhara Alvar composes five dramas: the Perumal Tirumozhi in Tamil, and Mukundamala, Tapatisamvarna, Subhadradhamala and Vichchinnabhiseka, all in Sanskrit, which testify to his scholarship.

The Chera second empire Mahavishnu Kshetram at Thrikodithanam

820 - 844

Rajasekhara Varman

825

This king founds the 'Kollam Era' of Kerala, which begins in 825. He is also reputed to issue the Vazhappali Inscription, the first epigraphical record of the Chera kingdom.

844 - 855

Sthanu Ravi Varman

A contemporary of Chola King Aditya I.

851

The Tillaisthanam Inscription indicates that this king is on friendly terms with the Chola monarch. His reign witnesses a flourishing trade between Kerala and China. This is even testified by the Arab merchant Sulaiman who visits India in this year.

855

After Sthanu Ravivarman's death, hostilities break out between the Cheras and the Cholas, which continue until the disintegration of the Chera kingdom. The Pandyas of Madurai also involve themselves in the conflict.

1090 - 1102

Rama Varma Kulasekhara

The last Chera king.

Rama Varma Kulasekhara shifts his capital to Quilon after the Cholas sack Mahodyapuram during his reign. He defeats the Cholas but is not able to regain his kingdom thanks to his enmity with the local Brahmins. His kingdom is restricted to South Kerala (and also known as Venad).

Rama Varma's death signals the destruction of the Chera empire. Other kingdoms grow up in the region to succeed the Cheras, in the form of the Zamorins of Calicut, Travancore, Kochi, the Eastern Gangas, the Hoysalas and Vijaynagar kingdom.