Chera

From Freepedia

The Cheras were one of the three ancient Tamil dynasties who ruled the southern peninsula of India at the beginning of its recorded history.

The Cheras ruled over the Malabar Coast in southwestern India, which now forms part of the modern day state of Kerala in the Indian Union. The other two major dynasties were theCholas in the eastern Coromandel Coast and Pandyas in the south central peninsula. These dynasties held sway in the later centuries BCE, called the Sangam era, in which period the Tamil language, arts and literature flourished.

The Chera capital was Vanchi, whose exact location is still a matter of conjecture. Possibilities range from Karur, near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, to areas closer to Kochi. Records of the reigns of as many as twenty-five Cheran kings are available, including the dates of their reigns and the record of their accomplishments. They typically maintained large armies, warred with neighboring kingdoms and actively suppressed piracy on the high seas. In attempts to restore harmony, they sometimes inter-married with the families of their rivals. Throughout the reign of the Cheras, trade continued to bring prosperity to Kerala, with spices, ivory, timber and gems being exported to the Middle East and to southern Europe.

While Hinduism has ever been the principal way of life of this region, many other religious traditions came to this area during the period of the Chera kings. Both Buddhism and Jainism came to Kerala by the 3rd-2nd century BCE. Trade with the Middle East established early contact with Judaism; indeed, some accounts speak of King Solomon’s court receiving spices, ivory and peacocks from Kerala. Fleeing the ravages of the sack of Jerusalem, Jewish settlers may have arrived as early as c.70 CE. Christianity may also have made early inroads. Malabar Christian folklore and some Eastern Christianity writings claim Thomas the Apostle visited this region in 52 CE.

List of Ancient Chera Kings

Name of King	Period	Son of	Capital
Udiyancheralatan	N/A	NA	NA
Antuvancheral	NA	NA	NA
Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	56-115	Udiyancheralatan	NA
Cheran Chenkutuvan	N/A	Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	NA
Palyanai Sel-Kelu Kuttuvan	115-130	Udiyancheralatan	NA
Poraiyan Kadungo	NA	Antuvancheral	NA
Kalankai-Kanni Narmudi Cheral	115-140	Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	NA
Vel-Kelu Kuttuvan	130-185	Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	NA
Adukotpattu Cheralatan	140-178	Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	NA
Selvak-Kadungo	131-155	Poraiyan Kadungo	NA
Kuttuvan Irumporai	NA	Vel-Kelu Kuttuvan	NA
Ilamcheral Irumporai	241-257	Kuttuvan Irumporai	NA
Tagadur Erinda Perumcheral	185-201	Selvak-Kadungo	NA
Yanaikat-sey Mantaran Cheral	201-241	Tagadur Erinda Perumcheral	NA
Perumkadungo	257-287	Yanaikat-sey Mantaran Cheral	NA
Ilamkadungo	287-317	Perumkadungo	NA
Kanaikal Irumporai	367-397	NA	NA

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External Links

• Inscriptions of India -- Complete listing of historical inscriptions from Indian temples and monuments