Sthanu Ravi Varma

Sthanu Ravi
"Kulasekhara" Deva
The art-form known as Kudiyattam is associated Kulasekhara.
Ruler of Chera Perumal Kingdom
Reign844/45 – 870/71 AD
PredecessorN/A
SuccessorRama Rajasekhara
IssueKizhan Atikal Ravi Neeli[1]
Regnal name
Kulasekhara[2]
HouseChera Perumal of Makotai[3]
ReligionHinduism

Sthanu Ravi Varma (Early Malayalam and Tamil: Ko Tanu Iravi), known as the Kulasekhara, was the Chera Perumal ruler of Kerala in southern India from 844/45 to 870/71 AD.[4][5][6] He is the earliest Chera Perumal ruler known to scholars.[6]

The Chera Perumal relations with the Chola dynasty were inaugurated during the reign of Sthanu Ravi.[7] The famous Quilon Syrian Christian copper plates are dated in the fifth regnal year of king Sthanu Ravi. Two more inscriptions dated in the regnal years of Sthanu Ravi can be found at Irinjalakuda Kudalmanikyam Temple, and at Thiruvatruvay, Thiruvalla.[8] Koyil Adhikarikal (the Royal Prince) during the time of Sthanu Ravi was his son-in-law (husband of his daughter) Vijayaraga.[7] Sthanu Ravi had a son born to him in or about 870 AD.[9] He was succeeded by Rama Rajasekhara (870/71–c. 883/84).[6]

Sthanu Ravi probably abdicated the throne toward the end of his reign and became a Vaishnavite alvar saint known as Kulasekhara Alvar (seventh of the twelve mystic alvars).[10] He is also identified with playwright Chera king Kulasekhara Varma.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ As per MGS, 1972
  2. ^ As per MGS, 1972
  3. ^ As per MGS, 1972
  4. ^ Noburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 143-44.
  5. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 65-66.
  6. ^ a b c 'Changes in Land Relations during the Decline of the Cera State,' In Kesavan Veluthat and Donald R. Davis Jr. (eds), Irreverent History:- Essays for M.G.S. Narayanan, Primus Books, New Delhi, 2014. 74-75.
  7. ^ a b Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 64-66 and 78-79.
  8. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 436.
  9. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 79-80.
  10. ^ 'Changes in Land Relations during the Decline of the Cera State,' In Kesavan Veluthat and Donald R. Davis Jr. (eds), Irreverent History:- Essays for M.G.S. Narayanan, Primus Books, New Delhi, 2014. 74-75 and 78.
  11. ^ Noburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 143.
  12. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 46-48 .
  13. ^ Veluthat, Kesavan. 2004. 'Mahodayapuram-Kodungallur', in South-Indian Horizons, eds Jean-Luc Chevillard, Eva Wilden, and A. Murugaiyan, pp. 471–85. École Française D'Extrême-Orient.