| Rajasekhara | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of "Cherman Perumal" Nayanar (Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur) | |
| Ruler of Kulasekhara/Kodungallur Chera Kingdom | |
| Reign | 9th century CE [1] |
| Successor | Sthanuravi |
| Died | Tiruvanchikkulam (Kodnguallur) |
| Religion | Hinduism (Shaiva) |
Rajashekhara (fl. 9th century CE [2] ) was a ruler of the Kodungallur Chera/Kulashekhara kingdom in medieval Kerala, southern India. It was during his reign - in 825 CE - the calendar known as the Kollam Era commenced. The calendar is also known as "Malayalam Era" [3] Rajashekhara is reputed to have issued the Vazhapalli Copper Plates — the earliest epigraphical record of a Chera king to be discovered from Kerala. [4] The Hindu saint Adi Shankara was a contemporary of Rajashekhara. Shivanandalahari, attributed to Sankara, indirectly mentions the Chera ruler as Rajashekhara. [3] Rajashekhara also figures in Vidyaranya's Shankaravijaya. [3] Rajashekhara was succeeded by king Sthanu Ravi. [3]
Kerala is a state on the southwestern, Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions. Spread over 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is the twenty-second largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census, Kerala is the thirteenth-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state.
Adi Shankara was an early 8th century Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism.
Vidyaranya is variously known as a kingmaker, patron saint and high priest to Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, the founders of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was the 12th Jagadguru of the Śringeri Śarada Pītham from 1380-1386.
Rajasekhara is identified by some historians with Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, the venerated Shaiva (Nayanar) poet-musician. [5] [6] [3] [7] According to Chekkizhar, Cheraman Perumal Nayanar made a pilgrimage to the major Shaiva shrines of southern India with his friend Nayanar lyricist Chundarar in his later years. The two saints are believed to have died at the city of Thiruvanchikkulam (modern Kodungallur).
Shaivism is one of the major traditions within Hinduism that reveres Shiva as the Supreme Being. The followers of Shaivism are called "Shaivites" or "Saivites". It is one of the largest sects that believe Shiva — worshipped as a creator and destroyer of worlds — is the supreme god over all. The Shaiva have many sub-traditions, ranging from devotional dualistic theism such as Shaiva Siddhanta to yoga-oriented monistic non-theism such as Kashmiri Shaivism. It considers both the Vedas and the Agama texts as important sources of theology. The origin of Shaivism may be traced to the conception of Rudra in the Rig Veda.
The Nayanars were a group of 63 saints in the 6th to 8th century who were devoted to the Hindu god Shiva in Tamil Nadu. They, along with the Alwars, their contemporaries who were devoted to Vishnu, influenced the Bhakti movement in Tamil. The names of the Nayanars were first compiled by Sundarar. The list was expanded by Nambiyandar Nambi during his compilation of material by the poets for the Tirumurai collection, and would include Sundarar himself and Sundarar's parents.
Sekkizhar was a saint and a contemporary of Kulothunga Chola II. He compiled and wrote the Periya Puranam in 4253 verses, recounting the life stories of the sixty-three Shaiva Nayanars, the devotees of Shiva. Sekkizhar himself was later canonised and his work, the Periyapuranam became the twelfth and final book of the sacred Saiva canon.
