Cheran senguttuvan biography channel

2nd century Chera dynasty ruler fashionable south India

Chenkuttuvan (c. CE), word for word 'the Righteous Kuttuvan', title Kadal Pirakottiya, identified with KadalottiyaVel Kezhu Kuttuvan,^[6] was the most famed Chera ruler of early celebrated South India. He is further mentioned in Chilappathikaram, the Dravidian epic by Chera prince Ilanko Adikal.^[6]

Chenkuttavan is eulogized by sonneteer Paranar in the fifth period of Pathitrupathu Collection of justness Ettuthokai anthology of the initially Tamil texts. The flow unbutton Yavana or Graeco-Roman gold, aspect Indian Ocean spice trade, average South India under Chenkuttavan research paper vividly described in ancient Dravidian poems.

According to Tamil literature, nobleness Chera ruler successfully intervened inconvenience a succession dispute in goodness neighboring Chola country and potent his relative on the Chola throne. He is said nominate have defeated the Kongar give out (Chilappathikaram), the powerful chieftain Nannan, and another chieftain called Mokur Mannan. He probably was a- member of the Muchiri-Karur bough of the Chera family. Bring round his reign, the Chera tract included the Malabar Coast (present-day Kerala) and interior Kongu country.

Military achievements of Chenkuttavan are declared - albeit in an extravagant manner - in the primitive Tamil epic poem Chilappathikaram. Uncut method, known as Gajabahu Synchronism/Triple Synchronism, based on text apt, canto of the poem, equitable used by scholars to time Chenkuttavan Chera to c. Ordinal century CE.

Early Tamil texts

Chenkuttavan abridge praised by poet Paranar careful the fifth decade of Pathitrupathu Collection of the Ettuthokai anthology.

Chenkuttavan was the son of honesty Chera ruler Imayavaramban (Nedum Cheralathan) and a princess from descendants of the Cholas of Uraiyur.^[6] The wife of Chenkuttuvan was certain Illanko Venmal, the damsel of a Velir chieftain. According to Pathitrupathu, Chenkuttuvan ruled rectitude Chera country for 55 years.

The patikam to Pathitrupathu, decad Thoroughly, mentions Chera prince Ilanko Adikal and the expedition of Chenkuttuvan to bring the sacred cube from which to form goodness Pattini idol (scholars are longedfor the opinion that the patikam is a later interpolation pick on the text).

Relation with maritime trade

Poet Paranar praised the Chera somebody for his naval powers -

"Kuttuvan not finding an antipathetic worthy to fight with became angry, with martial might harassed the sea and with crack spear drove back the ocean whose wave rose high".

Early Dravidian poems Purananuru refer to high-mindedness "hill products" and "sea products", later mainly being precious necklet, of Chenkuttuvan and to honesty Yavana or Graeco-Roman gold avoid "reached ashore by boats", nonthreatening person exchange. Chenkuttuvan's mastery over honesty sea might have led be against the often used title Kadal Pirakottiya, which roughly translates style "One who Lagged the The briny Behind".

Martial achievements

Poet Paranar also Chenkuttuvan's military prowess -

"Kuttuvan of the Gold Garland, whose army destroyed the beauty make known many lands, till the call for rose loud of the drums used in numerous battles farm the monarchs of the nation between Comorin (Cape Comorin) smidgen the south and Himalayas, influence mountain that rises high gorilla the northern boundary."

It is filmed that Chenkuttuvan successfully intervened develop a succession dispute in rectitude Chola territory and established sovereignty relative (brother-in-law) Killi on say publicly Chola throne. The rivals presentation Killi were later defeated bank the battle at a speck known as "Nerivayil" (leading gain the death of nine pristine contenders to the throne). Chenkuttuvan also defeated a chieftain titled "Pazhaiyan" Mokur Mannan (one submit the Chera's allies was Arukai, an enemy of the central of Mokur) (Pathitrupathu, 45, Totally Pathikam and Chilappathikaram, XXVIII, )^[6] He also conquered the Kongar people (Kongu people) in put in order martial campaign (Chilappathikaram, XXV, ).

The Chenkuttuvan was able to be concerned Nannan, another powerful chieftain, mosquito a battle at a mark called "Viyalur" (in the kingdom of Nannan). The "fort" preceding Kodukur, in the Kongu native land, was also destroyed.

According to orderly few verses in Pathitrupathu, significance warriors of the Chenkuttuvan hand-me-down bull-hide shields to protect woman from the enemy darts (Pathitrupathu, 45).

Chenguttavan Chera in Chilappathikaram

Authorship provide the Tamil epic Chilappathikaram assignment traditionally ascribed to prince Ilanko Adikal (literally "the prince ascetic"), who appears in the office as the younger brother accuse Chenkuttuvan Chera. The third corner of Chilappathikaram (the Vanchi Kantham) deals with Chenkuttuvan's expedition show consideration for bring the virakkallu (sacred stone) from the Himalayas for resourcefulness idol of goddess Kannaki ferry Pattini.

According to the patikam dominate Chilappathikaram, the royal astrologer chimp the court of Chera crash predicted that (the younger prince) Ilanko would succeed the social event. Ilanko at once chose sort out renounce his claims to class throne and live a viability of an ascetic. He shifted to a monastery (Kunavayir Kottam) on the outskirts of Vanchi, where he composed epic Chilappathikaram.

Context

Chera king Chenkuttuvan and his king Ilanko Venmal were moved contempt Kannaki's tragic story and integrity queen wanted her to rectify worshipped as a "Goddess engage in Chastity". Chenkuttuvan thus asked potentate court for advice, which recommended to carve out a comrade block from the sacred Range for the virakkallu (the divine stone for the Kannaki idol).

The king then ordered the pugnacious expedition to the Himalayas. Chenkuttuvan, starting from his capital Vanchi, first moved his army achieve the Blue Mountain (the Nilgiris), where he was welcomed through learned Brahmanas, people from Konkana country, the Karunatar, people immigrant the Kongu country, the Ovar and Sanjaya, the envoy confiscate king Nutruvar Kannar (the Satavahana). Sanjaya informed Chenkuttuvan that position Nutruvar Kannar have no differences with the Chera ruler. Chenkuttuvan responded, that he needed boats to cross the River Ganges.

The Chera army thus marched get paid the Ganges, crossed it house the boats supplied by significance the Nutruvar Kannar, and camped in the uttara country. Presently the northern Arya rulers brusque by Kanaka, Vijaya, sons submit Balakumara, and allied princes Uttara, Vichitra, Rudra, Bhairava, Chitra, Singha, Dhanurdhara and Sveta encountered excellence forces of Chenkuttuvan with shipshape and bristol fashion huge army. After a remarkable battle, the northern alliance was defeated. The stone for goodness Kannaki Pattini idol was additionally secured.

Princes Kanaka and Vijaya were taken as prisoners and laid low to the southern country. Two-and-half months after his departure Chenkuttuvan victoriously returned to Vanchi, vicinity the temple for Kannaki Pattini was consecrated with the virakkallu from the Himalayas.

The Bhagavati Holy place, in Kodungallur, Kerala, is stated to be the Kannaki holy place thus consecrated.

Dating Chenkuttavan Chera

A stance known as Gajabahu Synchronism/Triple Simultaneity is used by the scholars to date Chenkuttavan Chera line of attack 2nd century CE. The practice is often criticized for fraudulence dependency on numerous conjectures. Subdue, epigraphical/archeological evidence broadly seems make somebody's acquaintance support the Gajabahu chronology.

According less Chilappathikaram (text proper, canto ), several neighboring kings were welcome by Chenkuttavan to the instatement of Kannaki-Pattini at Vanchi. That included the "Arya" kings Kanaka and Vijaya, the Kongu passing away of Kudaku, the king show signs Malva, and "Kayavaku", the laborious of Lanka. Kayavaku, the advantageous of Lanka, can be remains identified with Gajabahu I, phony of Sri Lanka (r. c. — CE). In this situation, Chenkuttavan (and the early Dravidian poems) can be dated give permission either the first or behind quarter of the 2nd hundred CE.

The method is considered by the same token the "sheet anchor" for illustriousness purpose of dating the goings-on in the early historic Dravidian texts (and early historic rulers of southern India).

In popular culture

Films

• The film Tamil film Raja Rani () by A. Bhimsingh layout actor Sivaji Ganesan playing representation role of Chenkuttavan in spick play within the film.
• Chenkuttavan remains briefly portrayed by an unknown actor at the beginning rule the Tamil-language film Poompuhar ().

References

Bibliography

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