Kongu Chera dynasty Cheras of Karur (Vanchi) | |
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8th/9th century AD–11th/12th century AD | |
![]() Kongu country with respect to the Chola Empire and the Chera Perumal kingdom (marked as "Chera") | |
Capital | |
Common languages | |
Religion | Hinduism |
History | |
• Established | 8th/9th century AD |
• Disestablished | 11th/12th century AD |
Today part of | India |
Kongu Chera dynasty, or Cheras or Keralas [1] of Kongu or Karur, or simply as the Chera dynasty, were a medieval royal lineage in south India, initially ruling over western Tamil Nadu and central Kerala. [2] The headquarters of the Kongu Cheras was located at Karur-Vanchi (Karur), the ancient base of the early historic Cheras, in central Tamil Nadu. [3] [4] The Chera rulers of Kongu were subordinate to or conquered by Chalukya, Pallava and Pandya kings. [5] Rashtrakuta and Chola rulers are also said to have overrun the Kongu Chera country. [6] [7]
The Kongu Cheras claimed that they were descended from the Cheras who flourished in pre-Pallava (early historic) south India. [8] Present-day central Kerala detached from Kongu Chera kingdom around 8th-9th century AD to form the Chera kingdom on the western coast (fl. c. 9th – 12th century AD). [3] The exact relationship between the two branches of the Chera family, one based in Karur and the other based in Kodungallur, is not known to scholars. [4]
The Kongu Cheras are often described as the members of Chandra-Aditya Kula (the Luni-Solar Race) in around 9th-11th centuries AD. Kongu Cheras appear to have been absorbed into the Pandya political system by 10th-11th century AD. [4] A collateral branch of the Kongu Cheras, known as "Kongu Cholas", later ruled the Kongu country under the Cholas. [9]
The terms "Kerala" and "Chera" are interchangeably used in most of the ancient and medieval sources. Both can be a reference to the particular Tamil clan (the Cheras or the Keralas) or the particular geographical region (western Tamil Nadu and central Kerala). This naming conventions differ entirely from present-day sensibilities. Corrections by M. G. S. Narayanan (Perumals of Kerala, 1972) on K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (revised 2nd ed.) and Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan Pillai are employed in the below description.
Kongu Cheras or "Keralas" of Karur initially appear as the rulers of western Tamil Nadu and central Kerala (in the early medieval period). [3] The family claimed that they were descended from the Cheras who flourished in pre-Pallava (early historic) south India. [3] It is likely that the Cheras had a system of joint rule with each prince from the family ruling in a different region (Karuvur-Vanchi, Muchiri-Vanchi or Thondi). [10] [11]
By the beginning of early medieval period, Karur (in interior Tamil Nadu) had acquired much prominence with respect to the other two centers, Muchiri-Vanchi and Thondi (both in Kerala). [3] Karur came to be known by the 8th – 9th centuries AD as "Vanchi manakaramana Karur". [12] [13] There was a possible domination of present-day Kerala regions of the old Chera country by the Kongu Cheras of Karur (probably via some form of viceregal rule). [3]
There are clear attestations of repeated Pandya conquests of the Kerala/Chera country in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. [16] Pandya king Sendan was known as the "Vanavan", an ancient name for the Chera king. [16] Arikesari Maravarman, another Pandya ruler, probably defeated the "Keralas" or Cheras on several occasions. [16] [4] His successor Ko Chadayan Ranadhira also made gains against the Cheras. [17]
The so-called "renewal of the capital city of Vanchi (Karur) along with Kudal (Madurai) and Kozhi (Uraiyur)" by the Pandya king Rajasimha I (730 – 65 AD), described in the Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan Varaguna (765 – 815 AD), may suggest a Pandya occupation of the Kongu Chera capital Karur. [18] It is known that when Jatila Parantaka went to war against the Adigaman of Tagadur (Dharmapuri), the Keralas and the Pallavas went to the aid of the latter though "the Pandyas drove them back to the quarters from which they had emerged" (Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Parantaka, 17th year). [18] Perhaps the Chera branch from present-day Kerala had crossed the Western Ghat Mountains to offer support to the Adigaman and after defeat they were pursued up to the Palghat Gap by the Pandya forces. [19]
Rashtrakuta inscriptions mention "an alliance of Dravida kings including "Kerala", Pandya, Chola and Pallava who were defeated" (E. I., XVIII). The Keralas mentioned there might be the Kongu Cheras who had already submitted to the Pandyas (not Chera Perumals of Kerala). [20]
The ancient Chera country, except central Kerala, gradually passed into the Pandya sphere of influence. [18] The western portions of the Chera country became, slowly but surely, an independent kingdom, the Chera kingdom with its own headquarters at Kodungallur (c. early 9th century AD). [18] The branch of Chera family survived in Kongu country, now Pandya vassals, are described in later inscriptions (dated to 9th-11th centuries AD) as members of Chandra-Aditya Kula (the Luni-Solar Race). [4] This seems to suggest a process of integration with the Pandya royal family (the Lunar Race) via royal marriages. [18] The two branches of the Chera family, the Kongu Cheras and the Chera Perumals, supported by the Pandyas and the Cholas respectively, were rivals in this period. [21]
When the Chola king Parantaka I conquered the Pandyas in 910 AD, the Cheras of the western coast (Kerala) might have allowed to have rule parts of Kongu country (the fate of the Kongu Chera country, then ruled by Kongu Cheras, upon the fall of Madurai is not known). [21] Pandya king Rajasimha II, who was defeated by Parantaka I, is known to have found asylum in the Chera country or Kerala (c. 920 AD). [21] Chola king Sundara (c. 956 – c. 973 AD) had a Chera or Kerala princess among his queens. [25]
Kongu Chera country was subsequently conquered by the Cholas (late 10th-early 11 centuries). [4] [26]
A line of independent rulers known as "Kongu Cholas" (with Chola titles) ruled the Kongu country in c. 13th century AD. These were probably members of a collateral branch of the Kongu Cheras (or the descendants of Chola "viceroys" to the Kongu country). [26]
Unlike the Chera Perumals of the west coast, the Kongu Cheras are known for their signature coins. [31]
A silver coin with Nagari legend "sri vira keralasya" (11th–12th centuries AD) in British Museum is generally attributed to Kongu Cheras. [31] Another coin known as "anai achu" (the elephant mould"), with the bow and arrow symbol, can also be a Kongu Chera product. [31] The anai achu coin was current in western Tamil Nadu and to some extent in Kerala in the 12th–13th centuries AD. [31]
Several stone and copper inscriptions of the Kongu Cheras, probably Chola vassals, dated by palaeography to 9th – 11th centuries AD, are found in places like Vellalur, Namakkal, Pazhani, Perur, Dharmapuram, Erode and Tirukkannapuram. [4] They are generally described in inscriptions as members of Chandra-Aditya Kula (the Luni-Solar Race). [4]
Kongu Chera (Pandya princes) | Notes | |
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Ravi Kota | [4] |
|
Kantan | [33] | |
Kantan Ravi | [32] | |
Kantan Vira Narayana | [33] | |
Ravi Kantan "Vira Chola" | [34] [32] |
|
Vira Kota | [32] | |
Vira Chola Kalimurkka [36] |
| |
Kalimurkka Vikrama Chola [36] |
| |
Vira Kerala Amara Bhujanga Deva | [37] [29] | |
Amara Bhujanga Deva | [4] | |
Vira Kerala | [4] |
|
Kerala Kesari Adhirajaraja Deva | [39] [32] |
Aditya Chola I, the son of Vijayalaya Chola, was the Chola king who laid the foundation of the Chola Empire with the conquest of the Pallava Kingdom and the occupation of the Western Ganga Kingdom and Kongu Nadu. Aditya Chola I was succeeded by his eldest son Parantaka Chola I.
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