Cenkuttuvan

Cenkuttuvan
Katal Pirakottiyavan
Chera ruler
Reignc. 188 – 243
SpouseIllanko Venmal
HouseChera
FatherNedum Cheralathan[1]
MotherUraiyur Chola Nalconai
Chera dynasty
Early Cheras
-
  • Kadummipudha Chera
  • Ko Athan Cheral Irumporai
  • Perum Kadungo (Irumporai)
  • Ilam Kadungo (Irumporai)
-
Kongu Chera dynasty (Karur)
  • Ravi Goda
  • Kanthan Ravi
  • Vira Goda
  • Vira Narayana
  • Vira Chola
  • Vira Kerala
  • Vira Kerala Amarabhujangadeva
  • Kerala Kesari Adhirajarajadeva
Chera/Perumals of Makotai (Kerala)

Cheran Chenkuttuvan (c. 2nd century CE), literally 'the Alluring Kuttuvan Chera', identified with Katal Pirakottiya Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan,[2] was the most celebrated Chera dynasty ruler of the early land of Tamilnadu in early historic South India.[2][3]

The Kuttuvan is eulogized by Paranar in the fifth decade of Patitrupattu of the Ettutokai anthology (early Tamil texts).[4] The Kuttuvan successfully intervened in a succession dispute in the Chola country and established his relative on the Chola throne.[2] The Kadambas ― helped by the Yavanas (perhaps Greek or Roman mariners) ― attacked the kuttuvan by sea, but the Chera ruler destroyed their fleet.[2] He is said to have defeated the Kongu people and a warrior called Mokur Mannan.[2] Under his reign, the Chera territory included Kollimalai near Karur in the east and Vanchi, Tondi and Mantai on the western coast (Kerala).[5][6] Kuttanadu in Kerala is after his name, which was one of his major capitals. The base of major ancient temples in land of Kerala was established by Chenguttuvan.

Military achievements of Senguttavan are described in an exaggerated manner in the medieval Tamil epic poem Cilappatikaram.[1] A method, known as Gajabahu Synchronism/Triple Synchronism, based on text proper, canto 30:160 of the epic, is used by scholars to date Chenkuttavan Chera to c. 2nd century CE.[7]

  1. ^ a b Subbarayalu, Y. 2014. 'Early Tamil Polity', in A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. ed. Noburu Karashima, pp. 50–51. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  2. ^ a b c d e K.G. Sesha Aiyar, Chera Kings of the Sangam Period, London, 1937. 21-23.
  3. ^ "Classical Indo-Roman Trade". Economic and Political Weekly. 48 (26–27). 5 June 2015.
  4. ^ Zvelebil, Kamil. ''The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India''. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1973. 52–53.
  5. ^ Menon 1967.
  6. ^ Menon 2007, pp. 67–68.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).