Cheraman Perumal Nayanar

Cheraman Perumal Nayanar
Depiction of Cherman Perumal Nayanar in Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur
Personal
ReligionTamil Shaivism (Bhakti)
Notable work(s)
  • Ponvannattandadi
  • Thiruvarur Mummanikkovai
  • Adiyula or Thirukkailayajnana Ula
Organization
TempleThiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple

Cheraman Perumal Nayanar (Malayalam: ചേരമാൻ പെരുമാൾ നായനാർ; Tamil: சேரமான் பெருமாள் நாயனார்; literally meaning Chera king the Nayanar) was a bhakti poet-musician and religious teacher (one of the sixty-three nayanars) of Tamil Shaiva tradition in medieval south India.[1] The Cheraman Perumal's friendship with Sundarar, one of the 'Three Nayanars', is celebrated in the bhakti tradition.[2] The legend of the Cheraman Perumal is narrated in the hagiographic Periyapuranam, composed by Chekkizhar, a courtier of Chola Kulottunga II, in mid-12th century AD. The collection is based on an earlier work by Nambiyandar Nambi (10th-11th centuries AD).[3][4] Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple in Kodungallur is associated with the Perumal and Chundaramurtti Nayanar.[5]

The Cheraman Perumal is credited as the author of 'Ponvannattandadi', hymns in praise of the Lord of Chidambaram, 'Thiruvarur Mummanikkovai', in honor of the deity of Thiruvarur, and 'Adiyula' (the first of the ulas) or 'Thirukkailayajnana Ula', in praise of Shiva.[6][7][2] Historians tentatively identify the saint with Rama Rajasekhara, the 9th century ruler of the Chera Perumal kingdom of Kerala.[1][8]

  1. ^ a b Karashima, Noboru, ed. (2014). "States in Deccan and Kerala". A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. Oxford University Press. pp. 146–47. ISBN 978-0-19-809977-2.
  2. ^ a b Veluthat, Kesavan (2004). "Mahodayapuram-Kotunnallur: a Capital City as a Sacred Centre". South Indian Horizon: Felicitation Volume for François Gros. École Française D'Extrême-Orient. pp. 471–85.
  3. ^ Muthaliyar, C. K. Chuppiramaniya, ed. (1954). Periyapuraṇam. Coimbatore: Kovai Tamil Cankam.
  4. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 46–47. ISBN 9788188765072.
  5. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 152–153. ISBN 9788188765072.
  6. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 382–383. ISBN 9788188765072.
  7. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 48–50. ISBN 9788188765072.
  8. ^ Veluthat, Kesavan (2017). "The Temple and the State in Medieval South India". Studies in People's History. 4 (1): 15–23. doi:10.1177/2348448917693729. S2CID 158422635.