Kochchadaiyan Ranadhira

2026-09-09T10:00:33Z

2401:4900:CAA9:8F9:586A:BCFF:FEA6:B0C2: Added Pandyan king military achivements and pallava relationship information with citation

{{short description|Pandiyan king}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| title = Tenna - Vanavan , Sembiyan , [[Chola|Cholan]], Madura - Karunatakan , Kongar koman (Lord of Kongu country ) , King of Kings<ref>{{cite book
|editor=H. Krishna Sastri
|title=Epigraphia Indica
|volume=17
|year=1924
|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India
|page=332 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.48793/page/n331/mode/1up
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|title=Epigraphia Indica, Vol. 17
|editor=H. Krishna Sastri
|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India
|year=1923–1924
|page=341 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70170/page/n340/mode/1up
}}</ref>
| reign = ''r. c.'' 700 – 730 AD<ref>Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) ''A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar''. Madras, Oxford University Press. 165.</ref>
| coronation = ''c.'' 700 AD
| full name =
| predecessor = [[Arikesari Maravarman|Arikesari Maravarman Parankusan]]
| successor = [[Maravarman Rajasimha I]]
| spouse 1 = unnamed Pallava princess<ref>{{cite book |last=Jouveau-Dubreuil |first=G. |title=The Pallavas |year=1917 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |page=68 |url=https://archive.org/details/pallavas034964mbp/page/n147/mode/1up}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Nilakanta Sastri |first=K. A. |title=The Pandyan Kingdom: From the Earliest to the Sixteenth Century |year=1929 |publisher=Luzac |location=London |page=57 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5955/page/n63/mode/1up}}</ref>
| issue =
| dynasty = Pandya
| father = [[Arikesari Maravarman]]
}}
{{Pandyan}}
'''Kochchadaiyan,''' known as '''Ranadhira,''' (''r. c.'' 700 – 730 AD) was a [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]] king of early medieval south India. He was the son and successor of [[Arikesari Maravarman]] (''r. c.'' 640 – 690 CE).<ref>Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) ''A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar''. Madras, Oxford University Press. 165.</ref><ref name=":0">Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) ''A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar''. Madras, Oxford University Press. 149-50.</ref> The name of the king is famously omitted in the Tamil portion of the Larger Sinnamanur Plates.<ref name=":1">Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1929) ''The Pandyan Kingdom.'' London, Luzac and Company. 55-56.</ref>

== Reign ==
Kochadaiyan Ranadhira succeeded his father [[Arikesari Maravarman]].Kochadaiyan Ranadhira was known for his military prowess and conquests, which are recorded in historical accounts and Inscriptions. He also fought many wars and won during his reign. He had to fight many kings to gain supremacy in the south. The Velvikudi copperplates speak about his victory. Ranadhira defeated the [[Cheras]], [[Cholas]], [[Kongu Nadu|Kongas]], [[Karnatas]] and [[Ay dynasty|Ay chieftains]] in the battles.<ref name="Nilakanta Sastri 1929">{{Cite book |last=Nilakanta Sastri |first=K. A. |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5955 |title=The Pandyan kingdom : from the earliest to the sixteenth century |date=1929 |publisher=Luzac,London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book
| title = Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XVII (1923–24)
| editor = H. Krishna Sastri
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India
| location = Calcutta
| year = 1923
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| access-date = July 17, 2025
}}</ref> The Velvikkudi grant also mentions he victories at battles of Sengodi and Pudankodu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Devakunjari |first=D. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.108286 |title=Madurai Through The Ages: From The Earliest Times To 1801 A.d. |date=1957}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=NWtDAAAAYAAJ&q=pandya+maharathas&dq=pandya+maharathas&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwib_pq_-5qUAxUwUGwGHetVGtc4ChDoAXoECAkQAw#pandya%20maharathas |title=Epigraphia Indica |date=1983 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref>

== Titles ==
Kochadayan Ranathira bore several titles—Tennan Vanavan, Sembiyan, Cholan, King of Kings, Madurakarunatakan, and Kongar Koamaan—reflecting his military victories and authority over various regions, and he was also known by the title Ranadhira, meaning "ferocious warrior". He was known as Tennan Vanavan for defeating the [[Cheras]], Sembiyan and Cholan for defeating the [[Cholas]], Madurakarunatakan for defeating the [[Karnatas]] (i.e. [[Chalukyas of Badami|Chalukyas]]), and Kongar Koamaan (Lord of Kongas) for defeating the [[Kongu Nadu|Kongu]] country. During his reign, the dominance of the [[Pandya]] kingdom increased further.<ref name="Nilakanta Sastri 1929"/><ref name="EpigraphiaIndicaVol17">{{cite book
| title = ''Epigraphia Indica'', Volume 17
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India (hosted in Jain Foundation library)
| year = 
| accessdate = 16 July 2025
}}</ref>

These titles, documented in historical records such as the Velvikudi copper plates, provide insights into Kochadaiyan Ranadhira's significant military achievements and his success in expanding the Pandya kingdom's influence across the South Indian region.<ref name="EpigraphiaIndicaVol17">{{cite book
| title = ''Epigraphia Indica'', Volume 17
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India (hosted in Jain Foundation library)
| year = 
| accessdate = 16 July 2025
}}</ref><ref name="Nilakanta Sastri 1929"/>

== Military achievements ==
=== Expansion into Kongu country ===
Chadaiyan extended the Pandya influence into the [[Kongu Nadu|Kongu country]].<ref name=":0" /> The result of this foray does not appear to have been permanent as the Kongu country is said to have been conquered by his successor also.<ref name="Nilakanta Sastri 1929"/><ref name="EpigraphiaIndicaVol17">{{cite book
| title = ''Epigraphia Indica'', Volume 17
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India (hosted in Jain Foundation library)
| year = 
| accessdate = 16 July 2025
}}</ref>

=== Suppressing a revolt in the Ay country ===
Ranadhira also suppressed a revolt in the [[Ay dynasty|Ay country]] ([[Trivandrum]]-[[Tirunelveli]]). The Ay chieftain Ay Vel was defeated in the [[Battle of Marudur]] (Tiruppudaimarudur, Ambarasamudram) and had to acknowledge the Pandya supremacy.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="EpigraphiaIndicaVol17">{{cite book
| title = ''Epigraphia Indica'', Volume 17
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India (hosted in Jain Foundation library)
| year = 
| accessdate = 16 July 2025
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kumar |first=Raj |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=e8o5HyC0-FUC&pg=PA180&dq=kochadaiyan+King&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi3stWT_pqUAxXJwzgGHQFrLBgQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=kochadaiyan%20King&f=false |title=Encyclopaedia of Untouchables Ancient, Medieval and Modern |date=2008 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-664-8 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Asserting dominance over Cheras and Cholas ===
Chadaiyan is given the titles "Vanavan", "Chembiyan" and "Chola" which seem to claim supremacy over the [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] and [[Chola dynasty|Chola]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name="EpigraphiaIndicaVol17">{{cite book
| title = ''Epigraphia Indica'', Volume 17
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India (hosted in Jain Foundation library)
| year = 
| accessdate = 16 July 2025
}}</ref>

=== Victory over the chalukyas ===
In reign of [[Paramesvaravarman I]], he was attacked by the Chalukyan king [[Vikramaditya I]] and seized Kanchipuram after defeating the Pallava king. According to the [[Badami Chalukyas|Chalukyan]] records [[Vikramaditya I]] seems to have pushed on to the south, and he was encamped at Uragapura ([[Uraiyur]]) on the south bank of the Kaveri river on April 25 A.D. 674. Where he was opposed by [[Paramesvaravarman I]] and the [[Pandyan]] king Kochchadaiyan,near Trichinopoly a battle was fought at Peruvalanallur. And the Kendur plates say that [[Vikramaditya I]], fought with the [[Pandyas]].We have also Supposed that [[Pandya]] king was one of the three confederates who gained the victory at Peruvallanallur. [[Pallava]] and [[Pandya]] records equally claim that, in this battle the [[Badami Chalukyas|Chalukyas]] was defeated.The Velvikudi copper plates mention Ranadhira victory over the [[Karnatas]](i.e.,[[Chalukyas of Badami|Chalukyas]]) And bore the title of (Madurakarunatakan).<ref>{{Cite book
| title = Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XVII (1923–24)
| editor = H. Krishna Sastri
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India
| location = Calcutta
| year = 1923
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| access-date = July 17, 2025
}}</ref><ref name="Nilakanta Sastri 1929"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Subramaniam |first=N. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462306 |title=History Of Tamilnad |date=1962}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Allan |first=John |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=pMSFAAAAIAAJ&q=Peruvalanallur+war&dq=Peruvalanallur+war&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjD7Lu1ipCUAxUGSmwGHS70LTI4FBDoAXoECAoQAw#Peruvalanallur%20war |title=The Cambridge Shorter History of India |last2=Haig |first2=Sir Wolseley |last3=Dodwell |first3=Henry |date=1964 |publisher=S. Chand |language=en}}</ref> Defeated the Chalukyan forces led by [[Vikramaditya I]], in the [[Battle of Peruvallanallur]].According to N. Subramaniam, the title ‘Ranadhira’ could be interpreted as having been assumed after a victory over Vikramaditya I, also known as ‘Ranarasika’.<ref name="Kitabistam,Allahabad">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/historicalinscri035270mbp |title=Historical Inscriptions Of Southern INida |publisher=Kitabistam,Allahabad |others=BRAOU, Digital Library Of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=G Jouveau Dubreuil |url=http://archive.org/details/pallavas034964mbp |title=The Pallavas |date=1917 |others=Universal Digital Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Subramaniam |first=N. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462306 |title=History Of Tamilnad |date=1962}}</ref> Vikramaditya, despite commanding a large army, was forced to leave the battlefield.Based on these evidences, scholars such as [[D. C. Sircar]] theorize that Vikramaditya fought against the Pallavas as a subordinate of his brothers, and ascended the throne only after their deaths.{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=121}} The term "[[Three Crowned Kings|three kings]]" apparently refers to the [[Chola]], [[Chera]], and [[Pandya]] rulers who had allied with the [[Pallavas]].{{sfn|Durga Prasad Dikshit|1980|p=120}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chakravarti |first=N. p |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69621 |title=Epigraphia Indica Vol.22 |date=1933}}</ref><ref name="Kitabistam,Allahabad"/>

=== Victory over Maharathas ===

{{cquote|"at the great city called [[Mangalore|Maagalapura]], where the peacock danced with the cuckoo near tanks perfumed with opening flowers, (Kochadaiyan) attacked and destroyed the Maharathas (and thus) removed the word “common property” (with reference to) the country (bordering) on the roaring seas."<ref>{{cite book
|title=A History of South Kanara: From the Earliest Times to the Fall of Vijayanagara
|publisher=Department of Extension Service & Publications, Karnatak University
|location=Dharwar
|year=1970
|page=56 |url=https://archive.org/details/AHistoryOfSouthKanara/page/n98/mode/1up
}}</ref>
}}

He is also said to have attacked and defeated the "[[Marhatta (region)|Maharathas]]" in the city of Mangalapuram (modern [[Mangalore]]).<ref name=":1" /><ref name="EpigraphiaIndicaVol17">{{cite book
| title = ''Epigraphia Indica'', Volume 17
| url = https://www.jainfoundation.in/JAINLIBRARY/books/epigraphia_indica_vol_17_032571_std.pdf
| publisher = Archaeological Survey of India (hosted in Jain Foundation library)
| year = 
| accessdate = 16 July 2025
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramesh |first=K. V. |url=http://archive.org/details/shdgnga.a-history-of-south-kanara-from-thevearliest-times-to-the-fall-of-vijayan |title=A History of South Kanara from Thevearliest Times to the Fall of Vijayanagara |date=1965-12-31 |publisher=Karnatak University |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra Nath |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA455&dq=pandya+maharathas&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwib_pq_-5qUAxUwUGwGHetVGtc4ChDoAXoECAcQAw#v=onepage&q=pandya%20maharathas&f=false |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |date=1999 |publisher=New Age International |isbn=978-81-224-1198-0 |language=en}}</ref> The Velvikkudi copper plates, issued during the reign of Jatila Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan (also identified with Varaguna I, r. c. 765–815 CE), refer to a battle at Mangalapura (generally it identified with present-day Mangalore) in which the “Maharathas” were defeated. This event is often placed in the early 8th century CE and attributed to the reign of Kochadaiyan Ranadhira, the grandfather of Jatila Parantaka.( Varagunavarman l) According to Historian interpret the term “Maharathas” in this context as referring to the Chalukyas of Badami. In this view, the Chalukya ruler Vijayaditya (r. c. 696–733/734 CE) may have been involved in the conflict, possibly along with his subordinate, the Alupa ruler Prithvisagara, who is suggested to have been defeated at Mangalapura. However, the identification of the “Maharathas” with the Chalukyas is not universally accepted and remains a matter of scholarly interpretation.
The campaign is generally regarded as evidence of [[Pandyan]] expansion and influence along the western coast, including regions corresponding to present-day coastal [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Gururaja Bhatt |first=P. |title=Studies in Tuluva History and Culture |year=1975 |page=28 |url=https://ia801404.us.archive.org/31/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.143078/2015.143078.Studies-In-Tuluva-History-And-Culture_text.pdf}}</ref>

=== Pandya - Pallava relationship ===
Some historians have suggested that there may have been a marriage connection between the Pallava and Pandya royal families. J. Jouveau-Dubreuil proposed that Kochchadaiyan Ranadhira may have married a Pallava princess, possibly establishing a political connection between the Pallavas and Pandyas. K. A. Nilakanta Sastri also recorded the possibility of a marriage connection between Kochchadaiyan Ranadhira and a Pallava princess. The historical nature of this connection remains subject to differing interpretations based on the available evidence.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jouveau-Dubreuil |first=G. |title=The Pallavas |year=1917 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |page=68 |url=https://archive.org/details/pallavas034964mbp/page/n147/mode/1up}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Nilakanta Sastri |first=K. A. |title=The Pandyan Kingdom: From the Earliest to the Sixteenth Century |year=1929 |publisher=Luzac |location=London |page=57 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5955/page/n63/mode/1up}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranadheeran, Kochchadaiyan}}
[[Category:Pandyan kings]]
[[Category:History of Kerala]]
[[Category:735 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:8th-century Indian monarchs]]

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Kochchadaiyan Ranadhira