Chera dynasty

The Chera dynasty was one of the major Tamil dynasties, which controlled the southwestern coast of India and parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, from antiquity to the 15th century. The other two were the Cholas and the Pandyas. These three dynasties began their reign prior to the third Sangam period ( 300 BC) and ruled independently to the Indian Middle Ages, partly beyond.

The early Cheras

On the Ashoka edicts there is an inscription, after which there would be an independent territory in the south, that is Ceraputta. In the Periplus Maris Erythraei the country Cerobothra is mentioned. Pliny the Elder described it as Caelobothras. It is believed that the Cheras were followers of Shaivism. The early Cholas ruled a large area in southwest India, including the present-day Kerala over vassals. They kept relations with the Satavahanas and flourishing trade relations with the Romans and Greeks over the sea. The gold from abroad was mainly exchanged for pepper. Archaeologists also found coins of the Romans. The capital of Cheras was Karur.

In the early Sangam literature, there are different names for the Cheras: Cheral, Kuttuvan, Irumporai, Kollipurai and Athan. They were titled as Kothai or Makothai. Even they called themselves Vanavar. The entire nobility of the Cheras was called Cheraman.

The following rulers are mentioned in Padirruppattu:

The first two kings were sons of Uthiyan Cheralathan and Veliyan Nallini, while the third, fourth, and fifth king had each a son of Nedum Cheralathan. Chola princess Manikilli was the mother of the fourth king, who was also called Chenkuttuvan. The sixth king was the son of Anthuvan Cheral Irumporai and Porayan Perumthevi. The seventh was the son of the sixth king. The eighth king was the son of the Chola ruler Kuttuvan Irumporai, son of Mantharan Cheral Irumporai.

In the Pagalur inscription, there are three generations following Adam Cheral Irrumporai, his son Perumkadungo, and his son Ilamkadungo.

In Purananuru there is the king Udiyan Cheral, who may have lived in the 1st to 2nd century. Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan, another ruler of the Sangam period, indicates his territory extended to the Himalayas to have. Meanwhile, reports the Buddhist Mahavamsa of Ceylon that one of their rulers visiting Chenkuttuvan, a Chera king was.

The Cheras of the Bhakti era

Little is known about the Cheras of the 5th to the 8th century. An unknown power that Kalabhras, invaded the Tamil area, and then reigned for about three centuries. The Kalabhras were then sold in the 6th century by the Pallavas and the Pandyas. Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman ( 730-765 ), Pallava ruler, reported it on a copper plate that he should have beaten a Chera king. The name of the Chera king is not known, but one can conclude how great this Chera Empire was, which is still surrounded the southwest coast and the extreme south of India from the copper plate.

Pulakesin II, a Chalukya ruler, wrote about his campaign to the south: " Pulikesin II, the back beat the Pallava behind the walls of Kanchi, came to the south to the river Kaveri and led the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas to prosperity. "

During the reign of the Pandya king Parantaka Nedumjadaiyan ( 765-790 ), the Cheras were still in Karur and were engverbündete ally of the Pallavas. Pallavamalla Nadivarman hit the Pandya Varaguna the assistance of the Chera king. The cultural exchange flourished. The Chera kings took the title " Perumal " and promoted the Vaishnavism. Kulasekkara Alvar, Chera king in the 8th century, was devoted to pious vishnuistischen poetry. The Cheraman Perumal Shaivait and Vishnuit Kulasekkara were important figures of Hinduism movement. Kulasekkara later became a celebrated Bhakti Alvar (Acts ). His work became known as Perumal Thirumozhi. He was a contemporary of Adi Shankara.

The end of Cheras

I. Rajaraja invaded in the year 994 in the heartland of the Chera and destroyed the fleet of Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi ( 978-1036 ) at the Battle of Kandalur Salai. Thus, the Cheras were greatly weakened. They could still several decades to successfully defend against the Chola to defend, but the death of the last Chera king Rama Varma Kulasekhara ended its ruling dynasty. The lands Venad and Travancore came to Rama Varma's death under its independent rulers Udaya Marthanda Varma (1175-1195) and Ravi Varma Kulasekkara (1299-1314), who was a descendant of the Cheras, the highpoint. Under Ravi Varma Kulasekkara there was hitherto unparalleled cultural development and scholarship. Also for his diplomatic skill he could reap much glory. So he was able to pacify the Pandya kingdom after the Delhi Sultanate devastated the country. After the death of Ravi Varma Kulasekkara there was no significant Cheras more.

List of Chera kings

  • Udiyan Cheral
  • Antuvan Cheral
  • Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan ( 56-115 )
  • Cheran Chenkuttuvan ( from 115 )
  • Palyani Chel Kezhu Kuttuvan ( 115-130 )
  • Poraiyan Kadungo ( from 115 )
  • Kalankaikanni Narmudi Cheral ( 115-140 )
  • Velkezhu Kuttuvan ( 130-185 )
  • Selvak Kadungo ( 131-155 )
  • Adukotpattu Cheralatan ( 140-178 )
  • Kuttuvan Irumporai ( 178-185 )
  • Tagadur Erinda Perumcheral ( 185-201 )
  • Yanaikat - sey Mantaran Cheral ( 201-241 )
  • Ilamcheral Irumporai ( 241-257 )
  • Perumkadungo ( 257-287 )
  • Ilamkadungo ( 287-317 )
  • Kanaikal Irumporai ( 367-397 )
  • Cheruman Perumal ( 8th century )
  • Kulasekkara Alvar (8th- 9th century)
  • Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi (978-1036)
  • Rama Varma Kulasekkara (1020-1102)
  • Ravi Varma Kulasekkara (around 1250-1314 )
Chola dynasty Pandyan Dynasty Satavahana dynasty Pallava dynasty Chalukya dynasty
181949
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