Uthiyan Cheralathan

Uthiyan Cheralathan
1st Chera Ruler
Reign 130 AD
Successor Nedum Cheralathan
Spouse Veliyan Nallini
Issue Nedum Cheralathan
House Chera
List of Chera kings
Early Cheras
Uthiyan Cheralathan  ·   Nedum Cheralathan  ·   Selva Kadumko Valiathan   ·   Senguttuvan Chera  · Illam Cheral Irumporai  ·   Mantaran Cheral
Interregnum (c.300800)
Later Cheras
Kulashekhara Varma 800-820
Rajashekhara Varma 820-844
Sthanu Ravi Varma 844-885
Rama Varma Kulashekhara 885-917
Goda Ravi Varma 917-944
Indu Kotha Varma 944-962
Bhaskara Ravi Varma I 962-1019
Bhaskara Ravi Varma II 1019-1021
Vira Kerala 1021-1028
Rajasimha 1028-1043
Bhaskara Ravi Varma III 1043–1082
Ravi Rama Varma 1082-1090
Rama Varma Kulashekhara 1090-1102
Related articles
Silappatikaram  ·   Patiṟṟuppattu
Muchiri  ·   Thondi  · Vanchi
Tholan  · Śaṅkaranārāyaṇa
Cheraman Perumal  ·   Mukundamala
Kollam Era
Battle of Kandalur Salai
School of Astronomy and Mathematics  ·   Vazhapalli plates

Uthiyan Cheralatan (Perum Chorru Udiyan Cheralathan, Athan I), or Udiyanjeral (AD c. 130) is the first recorded Chera ruler of the Sangam period in ancient South India.[1][2] He had his capital at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (central Kerala) and expanded the kingdom northward and eastward from his original homeland. His lifetime is broadly determined to be between first and third century AD. His queen was Veliyan Nallini, the daughter of Veliyan Venman. Uthiyan Cheralathan was a contemporary of the Chola ruler Karikala Chola. He is praised for his elephant corps and cavalry.

His famous royal kitchen is said to have been at Kuzhumur. He is even fabled to have fed the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war.

During the reign of Uthiyan Cheralathan, foreign trade by the famous sea port Muziris flourished, bringing great prosperity to his kingdom. Uthiyan Cheralatan assumed the title "Vanavaramban" which could either mean "one whose kingdom reaches up to the sky" or "the one who's loved by the gods". The latter title was previously adopted by the Maurya emperor Ashoka. He went into several battles and in the Battle of Venni with Karikala Chola, his back was injured while leading the army. Being unable to bear the disgrace he is believed to have committed suicide by starvation, a common practice at the time. It is said that some of his companions also died with him unwilling to part him. Uthiyan Cheralatan was succeeded by his son, Nedum Cheralathan.

Notes

  1. Singh 2008, p. 384.
  2. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.

References


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