Chera

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The Cheras were one of the three ancient Tamil dynasties who ruled the southern peninsula of India at the beginning of its recorded history.

The Cheras ruled over the Malabar Coast in southwestern India, which now forms part of the modern day state of Kerala in the Indian Union. The other two major dynasties were the Cholas in the eastern Coromandel Coast and Pandyas in the south central peninsula. These dynasties held sway in the later centuries BCE, called the Sangam era, in which period the Tamil language, arts and literature flourished.

The Chera capital was Vanchi, whose exact location is still a matter of conjecture. Possibilities range from Karur [ Vanjimanagar, R.Raghava Iyengar , ], near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, to areas closer to Kochi, the most probable of which being Thiruvanchikulam near Kodungallur. Records of the reigns of as many as twenty-five Cheran kings are available, including the dates of their reigns and the record of their accomplishments. They typically maintained large armies, warred with neighboring kingdoms and actively suppressed piracy on the high seas. In attempts to restore harmony, they sometimes inter-married with the families of their rivals. Throughout the reign of the Cheras, trade continued to bring prosperity to Kerala, with spices, ivory, timber and gems being exported to the Middle East and to southern Europe.

While Hinduism has ever been the principal way of life of this region, many other religious traditions came to this area during the period of the Chera kings. Both Buddhism and Jainism came to Kerala by the 3rd-2nd century BCE. Trade with the Middle East established early contact with Judaism; indeed, some accounts speak of King Solomon’s court receiving spices, ivory and peacocks from the ports of Overy(Ophir) in Pandyan kingdom and Tondi in Chera kingdom. Fleeing the ravages of the sack of Jerusalem, Jewish settlers may have arrived as early as c.70 CE. Christianity may also have made early inroads. Malabar Christian folklore and some Eastern Christianity writings claim Thomas the Apostle visited this region in 52 CE.

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List of Ancient Chera Kings

Name of King	Year of accession	Capital
Maavali Chera a.k.a Mahabali	c.1150 B.C.E.	VAANAGA PADI
Parasuramar Aadan	c.1050 B.C.E.	CELLOOR
Utiyan CEral-Aatan , Perun-CORRu	c.900 B.C.E.	NARAVU
Nedun-Ceral-Aadan -I , Imaya-Varamban	680 B.C.E.
Vaenganai Ceral Poanthu IrumboRai	225 B.C.E.	VANJI(in his later years)
Antuvan-Ceral IrumboRai	180 B.C.E.
PoRaiyan Kadun-Ko	115 B.C.E.
Perun-Ceral Irumborai , OLvaaL	100 B.C.E.
Aadu-koatpattu Ceral-Aadan	51 B.C.E.
Kuttuvan Koadhai	45 B.C.E.
KaruvoorAeriya ELvAtkOpperuNCEral IrumpoRai	20 B.C.E.
Kuda-Ko Ilan-Ceral-Aadan	10 C.E.
Perun-Ceral-Aadan	40 C.E.
Kuda-ko Nedun-Ceral-Aadan	99 C.E.
Cen-Kuttuvan; Kadal piRakkoattiya Vaelkezhu Kuttuvan	99 C.E.
Selva-Kadun-Ko Vaazhi-Aadan Paalai paadiya; Sikkarpalli tunciya;	120 C.E.
Perum-Kadun-Ko Vaazhi-Aadan thagadoor erindha; marutham paadiya;	137 C.E.
Maari VeN-Ko	165 C.E.
Irumborai , KaNai-kaal	198 C.E.
CHERA KINGS FROM THON'DI
Kodhai Maarban a.k.a Kuttuvan Kodhai (2nd son of Cen-kuttuvan)	120 C.E.	THON'DI
Yanaikat-sey Mantaran Cheral IrumboRai	124 C.E.
Maakkoadhai , Kottambalaththu tunciya	143 C.E.