Nedum Cheralathan

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Nedum Cheralathan
Imayavarampan [1]
Early historic Chera coin from south India.jpg
An early historic Chera coin from south India (with a Roman helmet)
2nd (recorded) Chera ruler
Reignfl. c. 155 CE [2]
Predecessor Uthiyan Cheralathan [1]
Spouse
  • Chola Manakkilli [1]
  • Padumandevi [1]
Issue
House Chera Dynasty
Father Uthiyan Cheralathan [1]

Nedum Cheralathan (fl. c. 155 CE, [2] [1] title "Imayavarampan") was a Chera ruler of the early historic south India (c. 1st - 4th century CE), noted for his interactions with the Yavanas on the Malabar Coast. [2] He probably was a member of the Muchiri-Karur branch of the Chera family. [2] A city called "Maranthai" is described as the base of Nedum Cheralathan. [3]

Nedum Cheralathan was born to his processor Uthiyan Cheralathan and wife Veliyan Nallini. [4] He is praised in the Second Ten of Pathitruppathu Collection (composed by poet Kannanar). [5] The poet was, for composing the lyrics, rewarded with the free gift of 500 villages in an area called "Umbar Kadu" (somewhere in present-day Kerala) and a share in the revenue of the thennadu (the southern country) for 38 years. [4] [3] According to the poem, he ruled the Chera country for 58 years. [4]

He is praised for having subdued "seven kings" and carved the Chera bow emblem on the Himalayas (after conquering the whole land from the Himalayas to Comorin). [4] He is also said to have won the prestigious rank "adhiraja. [6] Among his martial conquests were the country of the Kadambu clan, possibly Kadambas, on an "island" ["iru munnirthuruthi"] on the Malabar Coast (with the sacred kadambu tree as their totem or guardian tree). It is described that the Chera crossed the ocean and uprooted the tree. [3] [4] He is also said to have conquered certain location called "Manthai". [2] [4] [3]

Nedum Cheralathan is also described to have won a victory over the Yavanas, probably Graeco-Roman marines on the Kerala coast. He captured several of them (punished them by pouring hot ghee on their heads) and later released them for a heavy ransom (in the form of diamonds and other precious stones and many utensils of fine workmanship). [4] [2] [3]

Imayavarampan Nedum Cheralathan is sometimes identified with Cheraman Kudakko Nedum Cheralathan. [4] [7] Cheraman Kudakko Nedum Cheralathan fought a battle against the Chola ruler Velpakradakkai Peruvirar "Perunar" Killi at a location called "Por" in the Chola country (over an area known as Pamalur), an encounter in which both Chera and Chola were killed. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1957). Comprehensive History of India, vol. 2: The Mauryas and Satavahanas. Bombay: Orient Longman. pp. 504–18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Subbarayalu, Y. (2014). "Early Tamil Polity". In Karashima, Noburu (ed.). A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 49–50.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1957). Comprehensive History of India, vol. 2: The Mauryas and Satavahanas. Bombay: Orient Longman. pp. 519–20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Aiyar, K. G. Sesha (1937). "Udiyan Ceralatan". Chera Kings of the Sangam Period. London: Luzac and Co. pp. 10-14 and 37-38.
  5. ↑ Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 52–53.
  6. ↑ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Longman. pp. 384–85. ISBN   978-81-317-1120-0.
  7. ↑ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Longman. pp. 384–85. ISBN   978-81-317-1120-0.

See also

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