Chera dynasty
Decad of Pathitrupattu Chera Relation Bard Notes
II Imayavaramban Nedum Cheral Athan Son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan ( by Veliyan 's daughter Nallini ) Kannanar Nedum Cheral Athan was also known as Imayavaramban . He is praised for having subdued seven crowned kings to achieve the title of adhiraja . Kannanar also lauds the Chera for conquering enemies from Kumari to the Himalayas ( and carving the Chera bow emblem on the Himalayas ) . Nedum Cheral Athan , famous for his hospitality , gifted Kannanar with a part of Umbar Kattu . The greatest of his enemies were the Kadambus ( possibly Kadambas ) whom he defeated in battles . Nedum Cheral Athan is said to have conquered an island , which had the kadambu tree as its guardian , by crossing the ocean . Poet Mamular also sings of his conquest of Mantai . He also punished and extracted ranson from the Yavanas . Chola Neytalankanal Ilam Set Chenni captured Pamalur , which belonged to the Chera Kudakko Nedum Cheral Athan . The Chera fought the Cholas at Por ( and both combatants died in the battle )
III Palyanai Sel Kelu Kuttuvan Son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan ( younger brother of Imayavaramban Nedum Cheral Athan ) Palai Kauthamanar Credited as the conqueror of Konkar Nadu . Described as lord of Puzhi Nadu and the Cheruppu and Aiyirai Mountains . Headquarters was located on the mouth river Periyar
IV Kalankai Kanni Narmudi Cheral Son of Imayavaramban Kappiyattukku Kappiyanar Narmudi Cheral led an expedition against Nedumidal Anji ( identified with the Adigaiman/ Satyaputra of Tagadur ) . Initially the Chera was defeated by Nannan of Ezhimala in the battle of Pazhi , later defeated and killed Nannan in the battle of Vakai Perum Turai . Performed his coronation using holy water from both the western and eastern oceans ( brought by a relay of elephants ) . Also known as Vanavaramban
V Kadal Pirakottiya Chenguttuvan Son of Nedum Cheral Athan Paranar Chenguttuvan is identified with Kadal Pirakottiya Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan . Chenguttuvan was a son of Imayavaramban Nedum Cheral Athan . Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan is often identified with the legendary Chenguttuvan Chera , the most illustrious ruler of the Early Cheras . Under his reign , the Chera territory extended from Kollimalai ( near Karur Vanchi ) in the east to Thondi and Mantai ( Kerala ) on the western coast . The wife of Chenguttuvan was Illango Venmal ( the daughter of a Velir chief ) . In the early years of his rule , the Kuttuvan successfully intervened in a succession dispute in the Chola territory and established his relative Nalam Killi on the Chola throne . The rivals of Killi were defeated in the battle of Nerivayil , Uraiyur . The Kadambas are described as the arch enemies of the Chera ruler . Kuttuvan was able to defeat them in the battle of Idumbil , Valayur ( Viyalur ) . The fort of Kodukur in which the Kadamba warriors took shelter was stormed . Later the Kadambas ( helped by the Yavanas ) attacked Kuttuvan by sea , but the Chera ruler destroyed their fleet . Kuttuvan is said to have defeated the Kongu people and a warrior called Mogur Mannan ( one of the Chera 's allies was Arugai , an enemy of the Mogurs ) . According to Chilapathikaram , Chenguttuvan lead his army to north India to get the sacred stone from the Himalayas to sculpt the idol of godess Pattini
VI Adu Kottu Pattu Cheral Athan Successor of Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan ( son of Imayavaramban Nedum Cheral Athan and brother of Narmudi Cheral ) Kakkai Padiniyar Nachellaiyar ( poetess ) Probably identical with the Perum Cheral Athan who fought against the Chola Karikala at the battle of Venni . In the battle of Venni , Uthiyan Cheral was wounded on the back by Karikala . Unable to bear the disgrace , the Chera committed suicide by slow starvation . Controlled the port of Naravu
VII Selva Kadumko Valia Athan Son of Anthuvan Cheral Kapilar Selvakadumko Valia Athan controlled Pandar and Kodumanam ( Kodumanal ) . He married the sister of the wife of Nedum Cheral Athan . Selva Kadumko defeated the combined armies of the Pandyas and the Cholas . Father of Perum Cheral Irumporai . Died at Chikkar Palli . Identified with Mantharan Poraiyan Kadumko . Pasum Put-Poraiyan and Perumput-Poraiyan . He is sometimes identified as the Ko Athan Cheral Irumporai mentioned in the Aranattar-malai inscription of Pugalur ( c. 2nd century CE )
VIII Tagadur Erinta Perum Cheral Irumporai Arichil Kizhar Tagadur Erinta Perum Cheral Irumporai defeated the combined armies of the Pandyas , Cholas and that of the chief of Tagadur Adigaman Ezhni at Tagadur . He is also called the lord of Puzhinadu and the lord of Kollimalai and the lord of [ Poom ] Puhar . Puhar was the Chola headquarters . Perum Cheral Irumporai also annexed the territories of a minor Idayar chief called Kazhuval ( Kazhuvul ) . Addressed as Kodai Marba . Father of Illam Cheral Irumporai
IX Kudakko Illam Cheral Irumporai Perunkundur Kizhar Illam Cheral Irumporai defeated Perum Chola , Ilam Pazhaiyan Maran and Vicchi , and destroyed five forts . Lord of Tondi , Kongar Nadu , Kuttuvar Nadu , and Puzhi Nadu . Described as the descendant of Nedum Cheral Athan
Cheras of ancient south India -- Cheras from early Tamil texts
A method known as Gajabahu-Chenguttuvan synchronism , is used by some historians to date the events described in the early Tamil texts to c. 1st - 2nd century CE . [ 35 ] Despite its dependency on numerous conjectures , the method is considered as the sheet anchor for the purpose of dating the events in the early Tamil texts . [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] Ilango Adigal author of the legendary Tamil epic poem Chilapathikaram describes Chenguttuvan as his elder brother . He also mentions Chenguttuvan 's decision to propitiate a temple ( virakkallu ) for the goddess Pattini ( Kannaki ) at Vanchi . [ 40 ] A certain king called Gajabahu , often identified with Gajabahu , king of Sri Lanka ( 2nd century CE ) , was present at the Pattini festival at Vanchi . [ 41 ] [ 42 ] In this context , Chenguttuvan can be dated to either the first or last quarter of the 2nd century CE . [ 11 ] Uthiyan Cheral Athan is generally considered as the earliest known ruler of the Chera family from the Tamil texts ( and the possible hero of the lost first decad of Pathitrupattu ) . Uthiyan Cheral was also known as `` Vanavaramban '' ( Purananuru ) . His headquarters were at Kuzhumur ( Akananuru ) . [ 43 ] He is described as the Chera ruler who prepared food ( `` the Perum Chotru '' ) for Pandavas and the Kauravas at the Kurukshetra War ( Purananuru and Akananuru ) . [ 43 ] He Married Nallini , daughter of Veliyan Venman , and was the father of Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan ( Pathitrupattu ( II ) ) . . [ 43 ] Uthiyan Cheral Athan is probably identical with the Perum Cheral Athan who fought against the Chola Karikala at the battle of Venni . In the battle of Venni , the Chera was wounded on the back by the Chola ruler Karikala . Unable to bear the disgrace , the Chera committed suicide by slow starvation . [ 43 ]
The Chera dynasty (or Cēra) was one of the principal lineages in the early history of the present day states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in southern India. Together with the Cholas of Uraiyur and the Pandyas of Madurai, the early Cheras were known as one of the three major powers (muventar) of ancient Tamilakam (a macro region in south India) in the early centuries of the Common Era. The people of the Chera country owed their importance to exchange of spices, especially black pepper, with Middle Eastern and Graeco-Roman merchants. The age and antiquity of the dynasty is difficult to establish. The Cheras of the early historical period (c. second century BCE - c. third century CE) are known to have had their original centre at Karur/Karuvur-Vanchi in interior Tamil Nadu and harbours at Muchiri (Muziris) and Thondi (Tyndis) on the Indian Ocean coast (Kerala). The early historic (pre-Pallava) Chera chiefdom is often described as a redistributive economy based on kinship. It was largely shaped by agriculture, of both crops and livestock, and predatory politics. Inscriptions discovered from Karur dated to c. 1st - 2nd century CE, describe Ilam Kadungo, son of Perum Kadungo, and the grandson of Ko Athan Cheral of the Irumporai clan. Inscribed portrait coins with Brahmi legends give a number of names, such as Mak-kotai, Kuttuvan Kotai, Kollippurai, and Kolli Irumporai. Reverse of these coins often contained the Chera bow and arrow symbol. The anthologies of early Tamil poems are a major source of information about the early Cheras. The poems mention the names of a number of Chera chiefs, and the court poets who extolled them.