Rama Varma Kulashekhara

Rama Varma (fl. late 11th century CE[5]), with title Kulasekhara Perumal Chakravarthikal, was the last ruler of the Chera Perumal dynasty of medieval Kerala.[6][7] He was a contemporary to Chola kings Kulottunga I (1070–1120) and Vikrama Chola (1118–35 AD).[7] Rama Kulaskehara is best known for recovering Kollam-Trivandrum-Nagercoil region from the powerful Chola empire around 1100 AD.[7]

Rama Varma
Kulasekhara Perumal
Koyil Adhikarikal
Cheraman Perumal
Cheramanar (Tamil)
Chakravarthikal (Ma Ko)
Thiruvadi
Perunna temple inscription (1099 AD)
King of Chera Perumal Kingdom
Reign1089–c.1122 AD[1]
PredecessorBhaskara Ravi"Manukul adithya" (c. 1036–1089 CE)[2]
SuccessorVira Kerala[3]
IssueVira Kerala[4]
HouseChera Perumal dynasty
ReligionHinduism

Inscriptions dated in the regnal years of Rama Kulsekhara can be found at Panthalayani Kollam near Quilandy, Thiruvalur (on Periyar), Perunna near Changanassery, Nedumpuram Thali and at Kollam.[8] An inscription dated to 1122 AD, found at Thiruvalanchuzhi, Tanjore (dated in the regnal year of king Vikrama Chola), also remembers Rama Kulasekhara.[8]

Kollam functioned as the second headquarters of the Chera/Perumal kingdom towards the final phase of Rama Varma's rule. According to scholars, "the strategic advantage of marriage relations with the old ruling clan of Kollam in securing the loyalty of Venad can also be considered in the light of continuous Chola-Pandya attacks in south Kerala".[9] There is a tradition that Vira Kerala, a ruler of Kollam in early 12th century, was a son of the last Chera king.[10]

Timeline

Corrections by M. G. S. Narayanan on K. A. Nilakanta Sastri and Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan Pillai are employed.[7]

  • 1089 - Rama Kulasekhara comes to the Chera/Perumal throne.
  • 1091- port Vizhinjam is called "Rajendra Chola Pattinam" by Kulottunga Chola.

Kulottunga Chola's south Kerala campaign
  • Probably conducted by Chola general Naralokavira Kalinga Rayan.
  • c. 1097 - Fall of Kollam to the Cholas (Venad and the Ay country under the Cholas).
    • References to "chaver" warriors in Kuda Malai Nadu (meaning Kerala here) ascending the "Unique Heaven" in battles
    • "Subdued the numerous forces of the Keralas"... "making obedient the rebel vassal kings"
    • "victory over the Bow Emblem"..."the Chera king's retreat from the battle field"

Recovery of Kollam
  • c. 1100/02 AD - the proposed recovery of Kollam by the Chera/Perumal. Cholas eventually fixes their boundary at Kottar (leaving the Venad and the Ay country to the Chera/Perumals).
  • c. 1102 - Mention of a council attended by king Rama Kulasekhara and Mana Vikrama Punthurakkon (the future Zamorin).

Vikrama Chola's south Kerala campaign
  • Conducted for Vikrama Chola by Jatavarman Parakrama Pandya
  • c. 1102–c. 1118 - Vikrama Chola's wars against the Cheras
    • Capture of Venad and the Ay country by the Chola-Pandyas.
    • Defeat of the Chera in a "single campaign" in Malai Natu. Levied tribute from the Chera/Perumal king.
    • "Kupaka" (Venad) king offeres his daughter in marriage to Parakrama Pandya.
    • Parakrama Pandya visits Anantapuram Temple.
  • By 1121 - An unnamed Kupaka (Venad) king defeats Pandya king Rajasimha and conquers up to Nanjinatu and Kottar.
  • 1122 - a Tanjore inscription of Vikrama Chola mentions the flight of the Chera/Perumal king. Rama Kulasekhara is remembered in a Tiruvanjuli inscription.
  • 1126 - Cholapuram temple inscription of Vira Kerala (possibly the son of Rama Kulasekhara[10]).

Epigraphic records

Note: Material: granite, script: Vattezhuthu with Grantha, and language: Old Malayalam (unless otherwise stated)

Year Location Contents
Nature Royal Name Notes[8]
c. 1089 (no regnal year) Panthalayani Kollam Bhagavathi temple inscription - courtyard of Panthalayani Kollam Bhagavathi temple Royal order "Kulasekhara - Koyil Adhikarikal" Koyil Adhikarikal orders that out of the Annual Dues (the Attaikoil) from Panthalayani Kollam, the Village Assembly (the Ur) was granted five nazhi out of every six nazhi and the melpadi of Thathamangalam
1092 AD (3rd regnal year) Thiruvalur temple inscription (built into the entrance of the temple) - on Periyar Temple committee resolution "Kulasekhara Perumal"
  • A council of the Village Assembly (the Ur) and the Village Assembly Secretary (the Pothuval) in the presence of certain Kadaingothu Narayanan Ravi Koyil at the Aralur temple.
  • The council unanimously appoint the priests of the temple, fix remuneration and terms of service.
1099 AD (10th regnal year) Perunna temple inscription (west side of the central shrine in temple) Royal order "Kulasekhara" King residing and issuing orders from the Great Temple (the Nediya Thali) at Kodungallur.
  • King sitting in council with the Four Brahmin Ministers (the Nalu Thali) and the Thrikkunnappuzha at the Great Temple at Kodungallur.
  • The king ordered the cancellation of Annual Dues (the Attaikkol) and War Tax (the Arantai) from Perunneyathal.
  • The institution of Namaskaram and Maparatham with the above amount and handed it over to the Perunneyathal Village Assembly (the Ur) and Village Assembly Secretary (the Pothuval).
  • Royal orders to this effect were sent to the Kuthippadis through messengers.
  • The record specifically mentions that the king caused a stone marking the cancellation of the War Tax to be erected there.
1099 - 1100 AD (10th and 11th regnal years) Nedumpuram Thali inscriptions (right side of half-wall of the entrance corridor through the vathilmadam of the temple)
  • Temple inscription (10th year)
  • Temple committee resolution (11th year)
  • "Ma[ha] Ko Rama" (10th year)
  • King's name or regnal year not mentioned (11th year)
  • 10th year: Period of Manangattu Kumaran Ravi as the chief of Nedumpurayur Nadu.
    • Pulloor Kumaran Kumarathichan, the leader of the Nair warriors of Nedumpurayur Nadu, supervises the Nedumpuram temple, making some arrangements in the temple.
  • 11th year: Period of Thalappulathu Kandan Kumaran as the chief of Nedumpurayur Nadu.
    • Kanjirappalli Ravi Kannapiran, the leader of the Nair warriors of Nedumpurayur Nadu, sitting in council in the temple decided to cancel the decision taken by Pulloor Kumaran Kumarithichan, the former leader of the Nair warriors of Nedumpurayur Nadu.
    • Kannapiran gave orders to this effect to the officials of Nithyaviyareswaram temple. Fine is prescribed for the violation of the rules.
  • Dated in 278 Kollam Era
  • 1102 AD (13th regnal year)
 Rameswaram temple inscription (Kollam) (pillar set up in the courtyard of Rameswaram temple) Royal order "Rama Thiruvadi, Koyil Adhikarikal, Sri Kulasekhara, Chakravarthikal"
  • Rama Varma calls himself "Chakravarthikal" - i.e., independent ruler. Residing and issuing orders from Panankavil Palace, "Kurakkeni" Kollam
  • King sitting in council with the Arya Brahmins, the Four Brahmin Ministers (the Nalu Thali), the Leader of the Thousand Nairs (the Ayiram), the Leader of the Six Hundred Nairs of Venadu (the Arunutruvar), and Mana Vikrama Punthurakkon, the chief of Eranadu and other feudatory chiefs (the samantha).
  • King made amends for some offence against the Arya Brahmins by donating paddy for the daily feeding of Brahmins and leasing out a Crown Land for that purpose to Kumara Udaya Varma, the chief of Venad.
  • The king makes provision for Koothu (the Dance) and offering at Thirukkunavaya (Jain?) temple.
  • Witnesses are mentioned
1122 AD - 4th regnal year of king Vikrama Chola (coronation 1118 AD)

Material: granite blocks, script: Tamil, and language: Tamil.

 Thiruvanchuli/Tiruvalanjuli temple inscription (Tanjore) - south wall of the mandapa in front of the central shrine in Kapardiswara temple Temple inscription "Cheramanar Rama Varma"
  • Dated in the regnal years of king Vikrama Chola.
  • Mentions a gift of 14 kashu for a garland to the deity of the temple for the benefit of the Chera king Rama Varma.

Literary evidences
  • Medieval Malayalam sloka - names the last "Cheraman" as "Rama Varma".[11]
"Arum nerittu nillar ariya netuvirippoteto vanmelallo
Nireki pantotukkattakhilagunanidhe Ceraman Ramavarma".

Medieval Malayalam sloka, Ulloor S. Parameswara Ayyar, Vijnanadeepika, IV

See also
  • Chera dynasty
  • Kulothunga Chola I

References
  1. As per M. G. S. Narayanan (1972)
  2. As per M. G. S. Narayanan (1972)
  3. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 86.
  4. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 86.
  5. Narayanan, M. G. S. 2002. ‘The State in the Era of the Ceraman Perumals of Kerala’, in State and Society in Premodern South India, eds R. Champakalakshmi, Kesavan Veluthat, and T. R. Venugopalan, pp.111–19. Thrissur, CosmoBooks.
  6. Menon, A Sreedhara (1 January 2007). A Survey Of Kerala History. D C Books. ISBN 9788126415786. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  7. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 125 - 130.
  8. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 20. 125 - 130, 467-470.
  9. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 154.
  10. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 171.
  11. Ulloor S. Parameswara Ayyar, Vijnanadeepika, IV, P; Elamkulam, P. N. Kunjan Pillai, Kerala Charithrathile Iruladanja Edukal, (Kottayam, 1953. Reprint. 1963.) pp. 147-8.
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