Nedum Cheralathan
| Nedum Cheralathan | |
|---|---|
| Imayavarampan[1] | |
 An early historic Chera coin from south India (with a Roman helmet) | |
| 2nd (recorded) Chera ruler | |
| Reign | fl. c. 155 CE[2] |
| Predecessor | Uthiyan Cheralathan[1] |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | Chera Dynasty |
| Father | Uthiyan Cheralathan[1] |
| Chera dynasty |
|---|
  |
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
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1957). Comprehensive History of India, vol. 2: The Mauryas and Satavahanas. Bombay: Orient Longman. pp. 504–18.
- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ a b c d e Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1957). Comprehensive History of India, vol. 2: The Mauryas and Satavahanas. Bombay: Orient Longman. pp. 519–20.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Aiyar, K. G. Sesha (1937). "Udiyan Ceralatan". Chera Kings of the Sangam Period. London: Luzac and Co. pp. 10-14 and 37-38.
- ^ Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 52–53.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
[edit]- Singh, Upinder (2008), A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th century, New Delhi: Pearson Longman, ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0
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