Ay dynasty

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Ay
Ay Kingdom.png
Ay Kingdom in 1st Century CE
Capital
Religion
Hinduism
Succeeded by
Venad (historical region) Blank.png

Ay was an ancient Indian dynasty which controlled the south-western tip of the Indian peninsula, from the early historic period up to the medieval period.The clan traditionally held sway over the port of Vizhinjam, the fertile region of Nanjinad, and southern parts of the spice-producing Western Ghat mountains. The dynasty was also known as Kupaka in medieval period. [1]

Contents

The Ay formed one of the major chieftains of early historic (pre-Pallava) Kerala, along with the Cheras of central Kerala and the Musakas of Elimalai in the north. [2] [3] Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century CE) described the "Aioi" territory as extending from the Baris (Pamba) to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari). The elephant was the emblem of the Ay. [4]

The Ay kingdom functioned as a buffer state between the powerful Pandyas/Cholas and the Cheras (Kerala) in the medieval period. [4] A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788 CE), Karunandatakkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884 [5] ), and Vikramaditya "Varaguna" (r. c. 884–911/920 CE [5] ) figure as the Ay chiefs of the port of Vizhinjam. [3] The famous Brahmin salai at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day Trivandrum, was located in the Ay kingdom. The salai was sacked by Chola emperor Rajaraja I (985–1014 CE [6] ) in c. 988 CE. [3] Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in the region till c. 10th century CE. [7]

Origin

The Ay was an ancient Hindu dynasty, ruled present-day Kerala region. [8] The Ay dynasty originated from the ruling Royal dynasties of northern region of India. [9]

The medieval Ay lineage has its origins in the hill-chiefs of early historic (pre-Pallava) south India. [2] [10]

The Travancore royal family in Trivandrum region was related to Chera and Ay dynasty. [11] [12] Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family. [4] The Ay formed one of the major chieftains of Kerala, they were related to Chera Dynasty of Central-South Kerala and Mushika Dynasty of Kannur region, they were classified as Pure kshatriya dynasties by the Nambudiri Brahmanas. [3] [13]

The Ay kings continued to cherish their association with the other Kshatriyas, Yadu-kula and Krsna in the later times also as seen in their copper plate grants and inscriptions. [14]

History

Ancient Silk Road map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue). Silk route.jpg
Ancient Silk Road map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).
Names, routes and locations of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE) Periplous of the Erythraean Sea.svg
Names, routes and locations of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE)

The Ay clan was one of the major hill-chiefs of early historic south India. [4] Members of the Ay family – of the Podiyil Hills (the Aykudi) – were related to the early historic Cheras of central Kerala. [3] Towards the close of the early historic period, Pandya supremacy might have extended to the Ay territory (through it is likely that the Ay gained their independence during the Kalabhra period). [3] [4]

Ay chieftains

A number of Ay chiefs such as Andiran, Titiyan and Atiyan are mentioned in the early Tamil poems. [3]

Originally the whole region of Venad (Vel+natu = the country of the Vel people, related to the Ay family) was part of the larger Ay-Vel territory. [15] Persons (the Vels) belonging to the Ay family were the chieftains of the Vel country. [16]

Pandya foray into the Ay country

Trivandrum Museum Stone Inscription of Maran Chadayan (latter half of the 8th century) Trivandrum Museum Stone Inscription of Maranjadaiyan.jpg
Trivandrum Museum Stone Inscription of Maran Chadayan (latter half of the 8th century)

In c. 765 CE, Pandya king Jatila Paranthaka/Nedum Chadayan Varaguna I (r. 765–815 CE) sacked port Vizhinjam by defeating the Vel chieftain (the Vel Mannan, who might have been related to the Ay family) and took possession of the Ay-Vel country ("the fertile country along with its magnificent treasures") (Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Parantaka, 17th year). [17] [7] This event is also remembered in the Velvikkudi plates (3rd regnal year, Nedum Chadayan) as "the suppression of the rebellious Ay-Vel". [17]

The Pandya foray into south Kerala brought the Chera-Perumal rulers into the conflict and a prolonged Pandya-Ay/Chera struggle followed. [17]

Detachment of Venad

In the 9th century, as a result of the encroachment of the Pandyas and Chera-Perumals, the ancient Ay territory was partitioned into two portions. [18] Venad (the country of the Vel people) with its base at Kollam came under influence of the Chera-Perumal kingdom [7] while the Ay kingdom, or what was left of it, with its base at Vizhinjam came under the influence of the Pandya ruler Srimara Srivallabha (r. 815–862). [18] [10] Larger Cinnamanur Plates do mention a victory of king Srivallabha at Vizhinjam. Ay vassal of the Pandya king Srimara Srivallabha was certain Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha (r. c. 856/57–884). [19]

Srimara Srivallabha was succeeded on the Pandya throne by Varaguna II (r. 862–885 CE). [3] The Ay kings of Vizhinjam remained vassals of the Pandyas, as indicated by the surname of the then king Vikramaditya (r. c. 884–911/920 CE [5] ). [3]

The Pandyas were defeated in the "great battle of Sripurambiyam" in c. 885 CE. [20] Chera Perumal's considerable influence in the Ay country following this battle is visible in two records discovered from that region. [20] A record of the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli, the wife of Chera Perumal Vijayaraga, can be found in Tirunandikkara, a Shiva temple located in the Ay country. [21] [22] In 898 CE, Vikramaditya Varaguna is seen making huge land gifts to the Srimulavasa Buddhist vihara in the Chera Perumal kingdom (the Paliyam copper plates). [3]

The chieftains of Venad, owing allegiance to the Chera-Perumals, were determined on extending their sway into the Ay kingdom. [3] Their opportunity might have came in the disorder following the Chola defeat at Takkolam (mid-10 century CE). [3] The Venad chieftains were eventually successful in capturing the whole Ay country down to Kottaru. [3] In general, the influence of the Kerala rulers spread into the southern Ay territory in the 10th century CE. [7]

Chola influence in Ay country

The famous salai at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day Trivandrum, was located in the Ay country (865 CE, Huzur/Parthivapuram Plates, Karunanthadakkkan). The salai was sacked by Chola emperor Rajaraja I in c. 988 CE (fourth regnal year). [3] [6]

The entire region to the south of Trivandrum, including the port of Vizhinjam and Cape Comorin, came under the control of king Rajaraja in the early 11th century. [3] The kings of Kollam (i. e., Venad), Kodungallur (the Chera Perumal), and Kolladesam (Mushika) were also defeated by the Cholas (Senur inscription, 1005 CE). [23] There is a possibility that the Venad chieftains tried to recapture the old Ay region after the raids by Rajaraja I. Chola Rajadhiraja claims to have "confined the undaunted king of Venadu [back] to the Chera kingdom [from the Ay country]......and liberated the [Ay] king of Kupaka...and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi after the capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan [the Chera king] hid himself in terror inside the jungle" (this event is dated c. 1018-19 CE [3] ). [7]

Major medieval Ay grants

Major medieval Ay grants [5]
Grant nameDateNotes
Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha (r. c. 856/57–884 CE)
Parthivapuram Grant

(Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates)

Regnal year 9 = 865 CE
  • Tamil (ending portion in Sanskrit) [24]
  • Establishment of Vishnu temple in Parthivasekharapuram (Parthivapuram) [24] [25]
  • Establishment of Parthivapuram Salai with the temple [24] [25]
  • Mentions the 'Rules of Parthivapuram Salai' [24] [25]
  • Calls the king a member of the 'Nanda and Yadava family'. [24]
Parthivapuram Grant Parthivapuram Grant (9th century AD).png
Parthivapuram Grant
Tiruvidaikkodu inscription IRegnal year 14 = 870 CE
  • Tamil (Vattezhuthu) [26]
  • A private donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple [26]
Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I (9th century AD), south India.png
Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I
Tiruvidaikkodu inscription IIRegnal year 22 = 878 CE
  • Tamil (Vattezhuthu) [26]
  • Donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple by Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha [26]
Vikramaditya Varaguna (r. c. 884–911/920 CE)
Thirupparappu Plates [27] [5] 9th century CE [27]
  • Mentions king Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha. [27]
Thirupparappu Plates Tirupparappu fragmentary copper plate inscription (Ay dynasty).jpg
Thirupparappu Plates
Thirunandikkarai (Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates)Regnal year 8 = 892 CE
  • Tamil (Tamil script with Grantha) [28]
  • Murukan Chendi as the queen of king Vikramaditya Varaguna (the Ay-kula Mahadevi) [28]
  • Donation of land by the king to the queen. [28]
Thirunandikkarai Inscription Thirunandikkarai Inscription (Vikramaditya Varaguna).png
Thirunandikkarai Inscription
Paliyam Copper Plates 898 CE [22]
  • A large land donation to a Buddhist vihara in central Kerala by Vikramaditya Varaguna. [20] [29]
Paliyam Copper Plates Paliyam copper plate (Vikramaditya Varaguna).jpg
Paliyam Copper Plates

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 179.
  2. 1 2 Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 191–193, 435 - 437.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A Survey of Kerala History, A. Sreedhara Menon, D C Books Kerala (India), 2007, ISBN   81-264-1578-9, ISBN   978-81-264-1578-6
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  6. 1 2 Noburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Ganesh, K. N. Agrarian Relations and Political Authority in Medieval Travancore (A. D. 1300–1750). Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1987. 22-25.
  8. ↑ A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131
  9. ↑ Aiya, V. Nagam (1999). The Travancore State Manual. Kerala Gazetteers Department. ISBN   978-81-85499-32-1.
  10. 1 2 Ganesh, K.N. (June 2009). "Historical Geography of Natu in South India with Special Reference to Kerala". Indian Historical Review. 36 (1): 3–21. doi:10.1177/037698360903600102. ISSN   0376-9836. S2CID   145359607.
  11. ↑ Aiya, V. Nagam. The Travancore State Manual. Vol 1. Part 2. Trivandrum: The Travancore Government Press, 1906
  12. ↑ Ganesh, K.N. (February 1990). "The Process of State Formation in Travancore". Studies in History. 6 (1): 15–33. doi:10.1177/025764309000600102. ISSN   0257-6430. S2CID   162972188.
  13. ↑ Menon, P. Shungoonny (1878). A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times. Higginbotham.
  14. ↑ Padmaja, T. (2002). Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnāḍu. Abhinav publications. pp. 33–35. ISBN   9788170173984.
  15. 1 2 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 75.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 106.
  17. 1 2 3 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 93-94.
  18. 1 2 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 94-95.
  19. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 107.
  20. 1 2 3 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 97.
  21. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 96-98.
  22. 1 2 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 109-110.
  23. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 118-119 and 137-138.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Three Inscriptions of Kokkarunandadakkar. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. I (1910 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 10–14.
  25. 1 2 3 Hartmut Scharfe (2018). Education in Ancient India. BRILL Academic. pp. 175–176. ISBN   978-90-474-0147-6.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Three Inscriptions of Kokkarunandadakkar. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. I (1910 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 14–15.
  27. 1 2 3 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Tirupparappu Fragmentary Set of Copper-Plates. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. XIII (1912 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 197–99.
  28. 1 2 3 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. The Huzur Office Plate of Vikramaditya Varaguna. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. I (1910 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 02–03.
  29. ↑ Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Two Inscriptions of Vikramaditya Varaguna. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. XII (1912 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 192–93.

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