Ay dynasty - Revision history

Kuldeep Singh Deep: slightly cleaned up structure based on references further and cleaned formatting based on references

2026-03-13T20:39:41Z

slightly cleaned up structure based on references further and cleaned formatting based on references

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WikiDwarf at 15:53, 18 October 2021

2021-10-18T15:53:48Z

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2402:3A80:19B0:476E:D841:710D:ECEF:4976 at 13:23, 18 October 2021

2021-10-18T13:23:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 18 October 2021
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	The medieval Ay lineage has its origins in the hill-chiefs of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]]) south India.<ref name=":73">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":62" /> The Ay kingdom functioned as a buffer state between the powerful [[Pandyan dynasty\|Pandyas]]/[[Chola dynasty\|Cholas]] and the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras (Kerala)]] in the medieval period.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" /> A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788 AD), Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884<ref name=":2">Gurukkal, Rajan. ''The Agrarian System and Socio-Political Organisation Under the Early Pandyas c. AD 600-1000.'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1984. 29-30.</ref>), and [[Vikramaditya Varaguna\|Vikramaditya "Varaguna"]] (r. c. 884–911/920 AD<ref name=":2" />) figure as the Ay chiefs of the harbour of Vizhinjam.<ref name=":034"/> The famous [[Brahmin]] ''salai'' at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day [[Thiruvananthapuram\|Trivandrum]], was located in the Ay kingdom. The ''salai'' was sacked by Chola emperor [[Raja Raja Chola I\|Rajaraja I]] (985–1014 AD<ref name=":04">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.</ref>) in c. 988 AD.<ref name=":034"/> Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in the region till c. 10th century AD.<ref name=":83">Ganesh, K. N. ''Agrarian Relations and Political Authority in Medieval Travancore (A. D. 1300-1750).'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1987. 22-25.</ref>		The medieval Ay lineage has its origins in the hill-chiefs of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]]) south India.<ref name=":73">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":62" /> The Ay kingdom functioned as a buffer state between the powerful [[Pandyan dynasty\|Pandyas]]/[[Chola dynasty\|Cholas]] and the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras (Kerala)]] in the medieval period.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" /> A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788 AD), Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884<ref name=":2">Gurukkal, Rajan. ''The Agrarian System and Socio-Political Organisation Under the Early Pandyas c. AD 600-1000.'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1984. 29-30.</ref>), and [[Vikramaditya Varaguna\|Vikramaditya "Varaguna"]] (r. c. 884–911/920 AD<ref name=":2" />) figure as the Ay chiefs of the harbour of Vizhinjam.<ref name=":034"/> The famous [[Brahmin]] ''salai'' at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day [[Thiruvananthapuram\|Trivandrum]], was located in the Ay kingdom. The ''salai'' was sacked by Chola emperor [[Raja Raja Chola I\|Rajaraja I]] (985–1014 AD<ref name=":04">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.</ref>) in c. 988 AD.<ref name=":034"/> Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in the region till c. 10th century AD.<ref name=":83">Ganesh, K. N. ''Agrarian Relations and Political Authority in Medieval Travancore (A. D. 1300-1750).'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1987. 22-25.</ref>
	== Origin ==		== Origin ==
	It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] word "Ay" meaning cowherd.<ref>A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131</ref> The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil .Where they were known as [[Ahir]]s and [[Abhira tribe\|Abhiras]] in the [[North India]]. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the [[Pandya dynasty\|Pandya country]] came to Tamilakam along with the ancestors of the Pandya. Potiya mountain region and its capital was known as Ay-kudi. Nacchinarkiniyar, in his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the Tolkappiyam, describes a tradition relating to the migration of the Yadava race with a sage Agastya, who repaired to [[Dvārakā\|Dwaraka]] and took with him the 18 kings of the line of Krsna and moved to the South. There, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had brought with him.		It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] word "Ay" meaning cowherd.<ref>A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131</ref> The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil .Where they were known as [[Ahir]]s and [[Abhira tribe\|Abhiras]] in the [[North India]]. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the [[Pandya dynasty\|Pandya country]] came to Tamilakam along with the ancestors of the Pandya. Potiya mountain region and its capital was known as Ay-kudi.

	In the [[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram\|Parthivasekarapuram]] inscription of Kokkurunandakkan, the Ay ruler claims to have belonged to the line of Ayars. People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, Koyalars and Idayars. According to the Tolkappiyam, the presiding deity of the mullai region was Mayon i.e. [[Krishna\|Krsna]] or [[Vishnu\|Visnu]]. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or [[Konar (caste)\|Konar]].<ref>{{cite book\|title=Journal of Indian History\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=konar+idaiyar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiprt350qHxAhUR7XMBHQi8Ae44ChDoATAAegQIBxAD\|year=2003\|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ\|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka\|last=Richard\|first=Guy\|publisher=Manohar\|year=1982\|page=128}}</ref>		In the [[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram\|Parthivasekarapuram]] inscription of Kokkurunandakkan, the Ay ruler claims to have belonged to the line of Ayars. People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, Koyalars and Idayars. According to the Tolkappiyam, the presiding deity of the mullai region was Mayon i.e. [[Krishna\|Krsna]] or [[Vishnu\|Visnu]]. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or [[Konar (caste)\|Konar]].<ref>{{cite book\|title=Journal of Indian History\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=konar+idaiyar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiprt350qHxAhUR7XMBHQi8Ae44ChDoATAAegQIBxAD\|year=2003\|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ\|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka\|last=Richard\|first=Guy\|publisher=Manohar\|year=1982\|page=128}}</ref>

	The Ay kings continued to cherish their association with the [[Yadu\|Yadu-kula]] and Krsna in the later times also as seen in their copper plate grants and inscriptions.<ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&pg=RA1-PA34\|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnāḍu\|last=Padmaja\|first=T.\|publisher=Abhinav publications\|year=2002\|isbn=9788170173984\|page=33-35}}</ref>

	According to [[Alf Hiltebeitel]], Konar is a clan name to which [[Krishna]] belongs.<ref>{{cite book\|title=The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1\|author=Alf Hiltebeitel\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1991 - 487 pages\|page=91}}</ref> Several vaishnavite texts associate Krishna with the Aayar clan or konar, most notably the [[Thiruppavai]], composed by goddess [[Andal]] herself, most notably referring Krishna as the “Aayar kulathu mani vilakke”. The clan name is interchangeable with the names ''Konar'' and ''Kovalar'' being derived from Tamil word ''Kōn'', which can mean "king" and "herdsmen".<ref name="allchin">{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA101\|title=Neolithic Cattle-keepers of South India\|last=Allchin\|first=Frank Raymond\|publisher=Cambridge University\|year=1963\|page=101}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ui5gju8MwDUC&pg=PA35\|title=The Cult of Draupadi\|last=Hiltebeitel\|first=Alf\|publisher=University of Chicago Press\|year=1988\|isbn=9780226340463\|page=35\|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel}}</ref>		According to [[Alf Hiltebeitel]], Konar is a clan name to which [[Krishna]] belongs.<ref>{{cite book\|title=The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1\|author=Alf Hiltebeitel\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1991 - 487 pages\|page=91}}</ref> Several vaishnavite texts associate Krishna with the Aayar clan or konar, most notably the [[Thiruppavai]], composed by goddess [[Andal]] herself, most notably referring Krishna as the “Aayar kulathu mani vilakke”. The clan name is interchangeable with the names ''Konar'' and ''Kovalar'' being derived from Tamil word ''Kōn'', which can mean "king" and "herdsmen".<ref name="allchin">{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA101\|title=Neolithic Cattle-keepers of South India\|last=Allchin\|first=Frank Raymond\|publisher=Cambridge University\|year=1963\|page=101}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ui5gju8MwDUC&pg=PA35\|title=The Cult of Draupadi\|last=Hiltebeitel\|first=Alf\|publisher=University of Chicago Press\|year=1988\|isbn=9780226340463\|page=35\|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel}}</ref>

	The medieval Ay claimed that they belonged to the [[Vrishni]] lineage and this claim was advanced by the rulers of [[Venad]] and [[Travancore]].<ref name="google.co.in22">Aiya, V. Nagam. ''The Travancore State Manual.'' Vol 1. Part 2. Trivandrum: The Travancore Government Press, 1906 [https://books.google.com/books?id=AVd1AQAAQBAJ&pg=PT222#v=onepage&q&f=false]</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal\|last=Ganesh\|first=K.N.\|date=February 1990\|title=The Process of State Formation in Travancore\|journal=Studies in History\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=15–33\|doi=10.1177/025764309000600102\|s2cid=162972188\|issn=0257-6430}}</ref> [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple\|Sri Padmanabha]] in Trivandrum was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />		[[Padmanabhaswamy Temple\|Sri Padmanabha]] in Trivandrum was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />
	== History ==		== History ==
	[[File:Silk route.jpg\|thumb\|Ancient [[Silk Road]] map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).\|right]]		[[File:Silk route.jpg\|thumb\|Ancient [[Silk Road]] map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).\|right]]

2402:3A80:19B0:476E:D841:710D:ECEF:4976 at 13:18, 18 October 2021

2021-10-18T13:18:37Z

2402:3A80:19B0:476E:D841:710D:ECEF:4976 at 13:12, 18 October 2021

2021-10-18T13:12:13Z

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2402:3A80:1C1C:8E40:A295:D3C9:62D0:AB44: Clear and detailed information is already specified in the Origins section that these Ayars were Yadavas that migrated from north to the south.

2021-09-27T19:11:40Z

Clear and detailed information is already specified in the Origins section that these Ayars were Yadavas that migrated from north to the south.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:41, 28 September 2021
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	== Origin ==		== Origin ==
	It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] word "Ay" meaning cowherd.<ref>A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131</ref> The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil even as they were known as [[Ahir]]s and [[Abhira tribe\|Abhiras]] in the [[North India]]. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the [[Pandya dynasty\|Pandya country]] came to Tamilakam along with the ancestors of the Pandya. Potiya mountain region and ~~it's~~ capital was known as Ay-kudi. Nacchinarkiniyar, in his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the Tolkappiyam, describes a tradition relating to the migration of the Yadava race with a sage Agastya, who repaired to [[Dvārakā\|Dwaraka]] and took with him the 18 kings of the line of Krsna and moved to the South. There, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had brought with him.		It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] word "Ay" meaning cowherd.<ref>A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131</ref> The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil even as they were known as [[Ahir]]s and [[Abhira tribe\|Abhiras]] in the [[North India]]. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the [[Pandya dynasty\|Pandya country]] came to Tamilakam along with the ancestors of the Pandya. Potiya mountain region and its capital was known as Ay-kudi. Nacchinarkiniyar, in his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the Tolkappiyam, describes a tradition relating to the migration of the Yadava race with a sage Agastya, who repaired to [[Dvārakā\|Dwaraka]] and took with him the 18 kings of the line of Krsna and moved to the South. There, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had brought with him.

	In the [[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram\|Parthivasekarapuram]] inscription of Kokkurunandakkan, the Ay ruler claims to have belonged to the line of Yadavas or Ayars. People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, Koyalars and Idayars. According to the Tolkappiyam, the presiding deity of the mullai region was Mayon i.e. [[Krishna\|Krsna]] or [[Vishnu\|Visnu]]. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or [[Konar (caste)\|Konar]].<ref>{{cite book\|title=Journal of Indian History\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=konar+idaiyar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiprt350qHxAhUR7XMBHQi8Ae44ChDoATAAegQIBxAD\|year=2003\|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ\|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka\|last=Richard\|first=Guy\|publisher=Manohar\|year=1982\|page=128}}</ref>		In the [[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram\|Parthivasekarapuram]] inscription of Kokkurunandakkan, the Ay ruler claims to have belonged to the line of Yadavas or Ayars. People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, Koyalars and Idayars. According to the Tolkappiyam, the presiding deity of the mullai region was Mayon i.e. [[Krishna\|Krsna]] or [[Vishnu\|Visnu]]. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or [[Konar (caste)\|Konar]].<ref>{{cite book\|title=Journal of Indian History\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=konar+idaiyar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiprt350qHxAhUR7XMBHQi8Ae44ChDoATAAegQIBxAD\|year=2003\|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ\|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka\|last=Richard\|first=Guy\|publisher=Manohar\|year=1982\|page=128}}</ref>

imported>Rdp060707: Reverted edits by 117.221.15.122 (talk) to last revision by Armader: nonconstructive edits

2021-08-05T05:55:54Z

Reverted edits by 117.221.15.122 (talk) to last revision by Armader: nonconstructive edits

New page

{{short description|former dynasty of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Ay
|common_name = Ay dynasty
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
|p1 =
|p2 =
|s1 =
|s2 =
|s3 =
|year_start =
|year_end =
|Village administration by individuals=
|date_start =
|date_end =
|event_start =
|event_end =
|image_coat =
|symbol_type =
|image_map = Vizhinjam Port aerial view.jpg
|image_map_caption = The modern port of [[Vizhinjam]]. Vizhinjam was the medieval headquarters of the Ay kingdom
|capital =
*Podiyil Mala (early historic)
*[[Vizhinjam]] (medieval)
|common_languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|government_type =
|title_leader =
|leader1 =
|year_leader1 =
|leader2 =
|year_leader2 =
|leader3 =
|year_leader3 =
|leader4 =
|year_leader4 =
|leader5 =
|year_leader5 =
|currency =
|category=
|footnotes =
|demonym=|area_km2=|area_rank=|GDP_PPP=|GDP_PPP_year=|HDI=|HDI_year=|today=}}

'''Ay dynasty''' was an Indian [[Yadava]] or [[Ahir|Ayar]] ruling lineage which controlled the south-western tip of the peninsula, from the early historic period up to the medieval period.<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal|last=Ganesh|first=K.N.|date=June 2009|title=Historical Geography of Natu in South India with Special Reference to Kerala|journal=Indian Historical Review|volume=36|issue=1|pages=3–21|doi=10.1177/037698360903600102|s2cid=145359607|issn=0376-9836}}</ref> The clan traditionally held sway over the harbour of [[Vizhinjam]], the fertile region of [[Nanjinad]], and southern parts of the spice-producing [[Western Ghats|Western Ghat]] mountains. The dynasty was also known as '''Kupaka''' in medieval period.<ref>Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 179.</ref>

The Ay formed one of the major chieftains of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]]) [[Kerala]], along with the [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]] of central Kerala and the [[Mushika dynasty|Musakas of Elimalai]] in the north.<ref name=":72">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":034">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 191 - 193, 435 - 437. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&dq=PERUMALS+OF+KERALA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2gJ6O9NzcAhUHq48KHSHsCaEQ6AEILDAB]</ref> [[List of Graeco-Roman geographers|Greek geographer]] [[Claudius Ptolemy]] (2nd century AD) described the "Aioi" territory as extending from the [[Pamba River|Baris (Pamba)]] to [[Kanyakumari|Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari)]]. The [[Indian elephant|elephant]] was the emblem of the Ay.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon">''A Survey of Kerala History'', A. Sreedhara Menon, D C Books Kerala (India), 2007, {{ISBN|81-264-1578-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-264-1578-6}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&dq=chera+dynasty&source=gbs_navlinks_s]</ref>

The medieval Ay lineage has its origins in the hill-chiefs of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]]) south India.<ref name=":73">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":62" /> The Ay kingdom functioned as a buffer state between the powerful [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandyas]]/[[Chola dynasty|Cholas]] and the [[Chera dynasty|Cheras (Kerala)]] in the medieval period.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" /> A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788 AD), Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884<ref name=":2">Gurukkal, Rajan. ''The Agrarian System and Socio-Political Organisation Under the Early Pandyas c. AD 600-1000.'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1984. 29-30.</ref>), and [[Vikramaditya Varaguna|Vikramaditya "Varaguna"]] (r. c. 884–911/920 AD<ref name=":2" />) figure as the Ay chiefs of the harbour of Vizhinjam.<ref name=":034"/> The famous [[Brahmin]] ''salai'' at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day [[Thiruvananthapuram|Trivandrum]], was located in the Ay kingdom. The ''salai'' was sacked by Chola emperor [[Raja Raja Chola I|Rajaraja I]] (985–1014 AD<ref name=":04">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.</ref>) in c. 988 AD.<ref name=":034"/> Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in the region till c. 10th century AD.<ref name=":83">Ganesh, K. N. ''Agrarian Relations and Political Authority in Medieval Travancore (A. D. 1300-1750).'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1987. 22-25.</ref>

== Origin ==
It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early [[Tamil language|Tamil]] word "Ay" meaning cowherd.<ref>A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131</ref> The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil even as they were known as [[Ahir]]s and [[Abhira tribe|Abhiras]] in the [[North India]]. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya country]] came to Tamilakam along with the ancestors of the Pandya. Potiya mountain region and it's capital was known as Ay-kudi. Nacchinarkiniyar, in his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the Tolkappiyam, describes a tradition relating to the migration of the Yadava race with a sage Agastya, who repaired to [[Dvārakā|Dwaraka]] and took with him the 18 kings of the line of Krsna and moved to the South. There, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had brought with him.

In the [[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram|Parthivasekarapuram]] inscription of Kokkurunandakkan, the Ay ruler claims to have belonged to the line of Yadavas or Ayars. People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, Koyalars and Idayars. According to the Tolkappiyam, the presiding deity of the mullai region was Mayon i.e. [[Krishna|Krsna]] or [[Vishnu|Visnu]]. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or [[Konar (caste)|Konar]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of Indian History|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=konar+idaiyar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiprt350qHxAhUR7XMBHQi8Ae44ChDoATAAegQIBxAD|year=2003|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka|last=Richard|first=Guy|publisher=Manohar|year=1982|page=128}}</ref>

The Ay kings continued to cherish their association with the [[Yadu|Yadu-kula]] and Krsna in the later times also as seen in their copper plate grants and inscriptions.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&pg=RA1-PA34|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnāḍu|last=Padmaja|first=T.|publisher=Abhinav publications|year=2002|isbn=9788170173984|page=33-35}}</ref>

According to [[Alf Hiltebeitel]], Konar is a regional name for [[Yadava]], the caste to which [[Krishna]] belongs.<ref>{{cite book|title=The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1|author=Alf Hiltebeitel|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1991 - 487 pages|page=91}}</ref> Several vaishnavite texts associate Krishna with the Aayar caste, or konar, most notably the [[Thiruppavai]], composed by goddess [[Andal]] herself, most notably referring Krishna as the “Aayar kulathu mani vilakke”. The caste name is interchangeable with the names ''Konar'' and ''Kovalar'' being derived from Tamil word ''Kōn'', which can mean "king" and "herdsmen".<ref name="allchin">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA101|title=Neolithic Cattle-keepers of South India|last=Allchin|first=Frank Raymond|publisher=Cambridge University|year=1963|page=101}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ui5gju8MwDUC&pg=PA35|title=The Cult of Draupadi|last=Hiltebeitel|first=Alf|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=1988|isbn=9780226340463|page=35|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel}}</ref>

The medieval Ay claimed that they belonged to the Yadava or [[Vrishni]] lineage and this claim was advanced by the rulers of [[Venad]] and [[Travancore]].<ref name="google.co.in22">Aiya, V. Nagam. ''The Travancore State Manual.'' Vol 1. Part 2. Trivandrum: The Travancore Government Press, 1906 [https://books.google.com/books?id=AVd1AQAAQBAJ&pg=PT222#v=onepage&q&f=false]</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Ganesh|first=K.N.|date=February 1990|title=The Process of State Formation in Travancore|journal=Studies in History|volume=6|issue=1|pages=15–33|doi=10.1177/025764309000600102|s2cid=162972188|issn=0257-6430}}</ref> [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple|Sri Padmanabha]] in Trivandrum was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />

== History ==
[[File:Silk route.jpg|thumb|Ancient [[Silk Road]] map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).|right]]
[[File:Periplous of the Erythraean Sea.svg|thumbnail|Names, routes and locations of the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'' (1st century CE)]]
The Ay clan was one of the major hill-chiefs of early historic south India.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" /> Members of the Ay family – of the Podiyil Hills (the Aykudi) – were related to the early historic [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]] of central Kerala.<ref name=":034"/> Towards the close of the early historic period, [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandya]] supremacy might have extended to the Ay territory (through it is likely that the Ay gained their independence during the [[Kalabhra dynasty|Kalabhra]] period).<ref name=":034"/><ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />
=== Ay chieftains of early historic south India ===
A number of Ay chiefs such as Andiran, Titiyan and Atiyan are mentioned in the early Tamil poems.<ref name=":034"/>

* Ay Andiran is praised by early Tamil poets such as Mudamochiyar, Odakizhar, and Kiranar in ''[[Purananuru]]''.<ref name=":034"/> He is mentioned in the ''Purananuru'' as the "Lord of Podiyil Mala" in southern Western Ghats. He is said to have defeated the Kongu chiefs and pursued them to the Arabian Sea. He was an elder contemporary of the Chera chief Antuvan Cheral.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />
* Ay Titiyan (the Podiyil Chelvan) is praised by authors Paranar and Bhuta Pandya (the [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandya]] chief) in ''[[Akanaṉūṟu|Akananuru]]''. It seems that Ay Titiyan was a vassal of the Pandya ruler Bhuta Pandya.<ref name=":034"/><ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />
* Ay Atiyan, successor to Ay Titiyan, is mentioned by authors Paranar and Madurai Kanakkayanar in ''Akananuru''. Paranar and Kanakkayanar also mention Podiyil Mala, the Ay base, as the property of Pachupun Pandya (Azhakiya Pandya), the successor to Bhuta Pandya.<ref name=":034"/>
* An Ay ruler took part in the famous battle of Talai-yalankanam, in which the Pandya chief Nedum Chezhiyan defeated several of his enemies.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />

Originally the whole region of Venad (Vel+natu = the country of the Vel people, related to the Ay family) was part of the larger Ay-Vel territory.<ref name=":0">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 75.</ref> Persons (the Vels) belonging to the Ay family were the chieftains of the Vel country.<ref name=":3">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 106.</ref>

* Veliyan Venmal Nallini was the wife of the [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] chieftain Utiyan.<ref name=":3" />
* Veliyan Venman Ay Eyinan was the leader of the Chera warriors against Nannan of [[Ezhimalai]].<ref name=":3" />

=== Pandya foray into the Ay country ===
[[File:Trivandrum Museum Stone Inscription of Maranjadaiyan.jpg|thumb|Trivandrum Museum Stone Inscription of Maran Chadayan (latter half of the 8th century)|354x354px]]
In ''c.'' 765 AD, [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandya]] king Jatila Paranthaka/Nedum Chadayan Varaguna I (r. 765–815 AD) sacked port [[Vizhinjam]] by defeating the Vel chieftain (the Vel Mannan, who might have been related to the Ay family) and took possession of the Ay-Vel country ("the fertile country along with its magnificent treasures") (Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Parantaka, 17th year).<ref name=":1">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 93-94.</ref><ref name=":83" /> This event is also remembered in the Velvikkudi plates (3rd regnal year, Nedum Chadayan) as "the suppression of the rebellious Ay-Vel".<ref name=":1" />

The Pandya foray into south Kerala brought the [[Chera/Perumals of Makotai|Chera-Perumal rulers]] into the conflict and a prolonged Pandya-Ay/Chera struggle followed.<ref name=":1" />

* The Pandya king "Maran Chadayan" Jatila Paranthaka destroyed a fort at Aruviyoor (Aruvikkarai near [[Thalakulam]]) by defeating Chadayan Karunanthan of "Malai Nadu" in 788 AD (23rd year, Kalukumalai inscription).<ref>Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 106.</ref>
* In 792 AD (27th year, Jatila Paranthaka) the Chera warriors (the Cheramanar Padai) are seen fighting for a fort at Vizhinjam and at Karaikkotta (Karaikkodu near Thalakulam) against a commander of Maran Chadayan (Trivandrum Museum Inscription of Maran Chadayan).<ref name=":0" />

=== Detachment of Venad ===
In the 9th century, as a result of the encroachment of the Pandyas and Chera-Perumals, the ancient Ay territory was partitioned into two portions.<ref name=":4">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 94-95.</ref> Venad (the country of the Vel people) with its base at [[Kollam]] came under influence of the [[Chera-Perumal kingdom]]<ref name=":83" /> while the Ay kingdom, or what was left of it, with its base at [[Vizhinjam]] came under the influence of the Pandya ruler Srimara Srivallabha (r. 815–862).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":62" /> Larger Cinnamanur Plates do mention a victory of king Srivallabha at Vizhinjam. Ay vassal of the Pandya king Srimara Srivallabha was certain Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha (r. c. 856/57–884). <ref>Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 107.</ref>

Srimara Srivallabha was succeeded on the Pandya throne by Varaguna II (r. 862–885 AD).<ref name=":034" /> The Ay kings of Vizhinjam remained vassals of the Pandyas, as indicated by the surname of the then king [[Vikramaditya Varaguna|Vikramaditya]] (r. c. 884–911/920 AD<ref name=":2" />).<ref name=":034" />

The Pandyas were defeated in the "great battle of Sripurambiyam" in c. 885 AD.<ref name=":6">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 97.</ref> Chera Perumal's considerable influence in the Ay country following this battle is visible in two records discovered from that region.<ref name=":6" /> A record of the [[Kizhan Adigal|Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli]], the wife of Chera Perumal [[Goda Ravi|Vijayaraga]], can be found in Tirunandikkara, a Shiva temple located in the Ay country.<ref name=":042">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 96-98.</ref><ref name=":5">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 109-110.</ref> In 898 AD, Vikramaditya Varaguna is seen making huge land gifts to the Srimulavasa [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[vihara]] in the Chera Perumal kingdom (the [[Paliyam copper plates]]).<ref name=":034" />

The chieftains of Venad, owing allegiance to the Chera-Perumals, were determined on extending their sway into the Ay kingdom.<ref name=":034" /> Their opportunity might have came in the disorder following the Chola defeat at [[Battle of Takkolam|Takkolam]] (mid-10 century AD).<ref name=":034" /> The Venad chieftains were eventually successful in capturing the whole Ay country down to Kottaru.<ref name=":034" /> In general, the influence of the Kerala rulers spread into the southern Ay territory in the 10th century AD.<ref name=":83" />

=== Chola influence in Ay country ===
The famous ''salai'' at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day [[Thiruvananthapuram|Trivandrum]], was located in the Ay country (865 AD, Huzur/Parthivapuram Plates, Karunanthadakkkan). The ''salai'' was sacked by Chola emperor [[Raja Raja Chola I|Rajaraja I]] in c. 988 AD (fourth regnal year).<ref name=":034" /><ref name=":04" />

The entire region to the south of [[Trivandrum]], including the port of [[Vizhinjam]] and [[Cape Comorin]], came under the control of king Rajaraja in the early 11th century.<ref name=":034" /> The kings of Kollam (i. e., Venad), Kodungallur (the [[Chera Perumal]]), and Kolladesam ([[Mushika dynasty|Mushika]]) were also defeated by the Cholas (Senur inscription, 1005 AD).<ref name=":10">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 118-119 and 137-138.</ref> There is a possibility that the Venad chieftains tried to recapture the old Ay region after the raids by Rajaraja I. Chola [[Rajadhiraja Chola|Rajadhiraja]] claims to have "confined the undaunted king of Venadu [back] to the Chera kingdom [from the Ay country]......and liberated the [Ay] king of Kupaka...and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi after the capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan [the Chera king] hid himself in terror inside the jungle" (this event is dated c. 1018-19 AD<ref name=":034" />).<ref name=":83" />

== Major medieval Ay grants ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 75%;"
|+Major medieval Ay grants<ref name=":2" />
!Grant name
!Date
!Notes
!
|-
! colspan="4" |Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha (r. c. 856/57–884 AD)
|-
|[[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram|Parthivapuram Grant]]
(Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates)
|Regnal year 9 = 865 AD
|
* Tamil (ending portion in Sanskrit)<ref name=":32">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|title=Three Inscriptions of Kokkarunandadakkar|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=|isbn=|edition=1910|series=Travancore Archaeological Series|volume=I|location=Madras|pages=10–14}}</ref>
* Establishment of Vishnu temple in Parthivasekharapuram (Parthivapuram)<ref name=":32" /><ref name="Scharfe2018"/>
* Establishment of Parthivapuram [[Śālā|Salai]] with the temple<ref name=":32" /><ref name="Scharfe2018">{{cite book|author=Hartmut Scharfe|title=Education in Ancient India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GMyiDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA175|year=2018|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=978-90-474-0147-6|pages=175–176}}</ref>
* Mentions the 'Rules of Parthivapuram Salai'<ref name=":32" /><ref name="Scharfe2018"/>
* Calls the king a member of the 'Nanda and Yadava family'.<ref name=":32" />
| [[File:Parthivapuram Grant (9th century AD).png|Parthivapuram Grant|center|frameless|304x304px]]
|-
|Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I
|Regnal year 14 = 870 AD
|
* Tamil (Vattezhuthu)<ref name=":88">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|title=Three Inscriptions of Kokkarunandadakkar|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=|isbn=|edition=1910|series=Travancore Archaeological Series|volume=I|location=Madras|pages=14–15}}</ref>
* A private donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple<ref name=":88" />
|[[File:Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I (9th century AD), south India.png|Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I|293x293px|center|frameless]]
|-
|Tiruvidaikkodu inscription II
|Regnal year 22 = 878 AD
|
* Tamil (Vattezhuthu)<ref name=":88" />
* Donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple by Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha <ref name=":88" />
|
|-
! colspan="4" |'''[[Vikramaditya Varaguna]] (r. c. 884–911/920 AD)'''
|-
|Thirupparappu Plates<ref name=":89">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|title=Tirupparappu Fragmentary Set of Copper-Plates|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=|isbn=|edition=1912|series=Travancore Archaeological Series|volume=XIII|location=Madras|pages=197–99}}</ref><ref name=":232">Gurukkal, Rajan. ''The Agrarian System and Socio-Political Organisation Under the Early Pandyas c. AD 600-1000.'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1984. 29-30.</ref>
|9th century AD<ref name=":89">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|title=Tirupparappu Fragmentary Set of Copper-Plates|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=|isbn=|edition=1912|series=Travancore Archaeological Series|volume=XIII|location=Madras|pages=197–99}}</ref>
|
* Mentions king Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha.<ref name=":89">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|title=Tirupparappu Fragmentary Set of Copper-Plates|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=|isbn=|edition=1912|series=Travancore Archaeological Series|volume=XIII|location=Madras|pages=197–99}}</ref>
|[[File:Tirupparappu fragmentary copper plate inscription (Ay dynasty).jpg|Thirupparappu Plates|293x293px|center|frameless]]
|-
|Thirunandikkarai (Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates)
|Regnal year 8 = 892 AD
|
* Tamil (Tamil script with Grantha)<ref name=":TTH" />
*Murukan Chendi as the queen of king Vikramaditya Varaguna (the Ay-kula Mahadevi) <ref name=":TTH">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|title=The Huzur Office Plate of Vikramaditya Varaguna|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=|isbn=|edition=1910|series=Travancore Archaeological Series|volume=I|location=Madras|pages=02–03}}</ref>
* Donation of land by the king to the queen.<ref name=":TTH" />
|[[File:Thirunandikkarai Inscription (Vikramaditya Varaguna).png|Thirunandikkarai Inscription|293x293px|center|frameless]]
|-
|[[Paliyam Copper Plates]]
|898 AD<ref name=":12">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 109-110.</ref>
|
* A large land donation to a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] vihara in central Kerala by Vikramaditya Varaguna.<ref name=":33">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 97.</ref><ref name=":TP">{{Cite book|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|title=Two Inscriptions of Vikramaditya Varaguna|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=|isbn=|edition=1912|series=Travancore Archaeological Series|volume=XII|location=Madras|pages=192–93}}</ref>
|[[File:Paliyam copper plate (Vikramaditya Varaguna).jpg|Paliyam Copper Plates|367x367px|center|frameless]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Vizhinjam]]
* [[Pandya dynasty]]
* [[Chera dynasty]]
*[[Chera/Perumals of Makotai|Cheras of Makotai]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{coord missing|Kerala|Tamil Nadu}}
{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ay Kingdom}}
[[Category:History of Kerala]]
[[Category:History of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Chera dynasty]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:48, 18 October 2021
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	\|footnotes =		\|footnotes =
	\|demonym=\|area_km2=\|area_rank=\|GDP_PPP=\|GDP_PPP_year=\|HDI=\|HDI_year=\|today=}}		\|demonym=\|area_km2=\|area_rank=\|GDP_PPP=\|GDP_PPP_year=\|HDI=\|HDI_year=\|today=}}
	'''Ay dynasty''' was an THAMIZH [[Ahir\|Ayar]] ruling lineage which controlled the south-western tip of the peninsula, from the early historic period up to the medieval period.<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal\|last=Ganesh\|first=K.N.\|date=June 2009\|title=Historical Geography of Natu in South India with Special Reference to Kerala\|journal=Indian Historical Review\|volume=36\|issue=1\|pages=3–21\|doi=10.1177/037698360903600102\|s2cid=145359607\|issn=0376-9836}}</ref> The clan traditionally held sway over the harbour of [[Vizhinjam]], the fertile region of [[Nanjinad]], and southern parts of the spice-producing [[Western Ghats\|Western Ghat]] mountains. The dynasty was also known as '''Kupaka''' in medieval period.<ref>Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 179.</ref>		'''Ay dynasty''' was an THAMIZH [[Ahir\|Ayar]] ruling lineage which controlled the south-western tip of the peninsula, from the early historic period up to the medieval period.<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal\|last=Ganesh\|first=K.N.\|date=June 2009\|title=Historical Geography of Natu in South India with Special Reference to Kerala\|journal=Indian Historical Review\|volume=36\|issue=1\|pages=3–21\|doi=10.1177/037698360903600102\|s2cid=145359607\|issn=0376-9836}}</ref> The clan traditionally held sway over the harbour of [[Vizhinjam]], the fertile region of [[Nanjinad]], and southern parts of the spice-producing [[Western Ghats\|Western Ghat]] mountains. The dynasty was also known as '''Kupaka''' in medieval period.<ref>Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 179.</ref>

	The Ay formed one of the major chieftains of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]]) [[Kerala]], along with the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras]] of central Kerala and the [[Mushika dynasty\|Musakas of Elimalai]] in the north.<ref name=":72">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":034">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 191 - 193, 435 - 437. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&dq=PERUMALS+OF+KERALA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2gJ6O9NzcAhUHq48KHSHsCaEQ6AEILDAB]</ref> [[List of Graeco-Roman geographers\|Greek geographer]] [[Claudius Ptolemy]] (2nd century AD) described the "Aioi" territory as extending from the [[Pamba River\|Baris (Pamba)]] to [[Kanyakumari\|Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari)]]. The [[Indian elephant\|elephant]] was the emblem of the Ay.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon">''A Survey of Kerala History'', A. Sreedhara Menon, D C Books Kerala (India), 2007, {{ISBN\|81-264-1578-9}}, {{ISBN\|978-81-264-1578-6}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&dq=chera+dynasty&source=gbs_navlinks_s]</ref>		The Ay formed one of the major chieftains of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]]) [[Kerala]], along with the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras]] of central Kerala and the [[Mushika dynasty\|Musakas of Elimalai]] in the north.<ref name=":72">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":034">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 191 - 193, 435 - 437. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&dq=PERUMALS+OF+KERALA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2gJ6O9NzcAhUHq48KHSHsCaEQ6AEILDAB]</ref> [[List of Graeco-Roman geographers\|Greek geographer]] [[Claudius Ptolemy]] (2nd century AD) described the "Aioi" territory as extending from the [[Pamba River\|Baris (Pamba)]] to [[Kanyakumari\|Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari)]]. The [[Indian elephant\|elephant]] was the emblem of the Ay.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon">''A Survey of Kerala History'', A. Sreedhara Menon, D C Books Kerala (India), 2007, {{ISBN\|81-264-1578-9}}, {{ISBN\|978-81-264-1578-6}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&dq=chera+dynasty&source=gbs_navlinks_s]</ref>
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	The medieval Ay lineage has its origins in the hill-chiefs of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]]) south India.<ref name=":73">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":62" /> The Ay kingdom functioned as a buffer state between the powerful [[Pandyan dynasty\|Pandyas]]/[[Chola dynasty\|Cholas]] and the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras (Kerala)]] in the medieval period.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" /> A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788 AD), Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884<ref name=":2">Gurukkal, Rajan. ''The Agrarian System and Socio-Political Organisation Under the Early Pandyas c. AD 600-1000.'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1984. 29-30.</ref>), and [[Vikramaditya Varaguna\|Vikramaditya "Varaguna"]] (r. c. 884–911/920 AD<ref name=":2" />) figure as the Ay chiefs of the harbour of Vizhinjam.<ref name=":034"/> The famous [[Brahmin]] ''salai'' at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day [[Thiruvananthapuram\|Trivandrum]], was located in the Ay kingdom. The ''salai'' was sacked by Chola emperor [[Raja Raja Chola I\|Rajaraja I]] (985–1014 AD<ref name=":04">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.</ref>) in c. 988 AD.<ref name=":034"/> Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in the region till c. 10th century AD.<ref name=":83">Ganesh, K. N. ''Agrarian Relations and Political Authority in Medieval Travancore (A. D. 1300-1750).'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1987. 22-25.</ref>		The medieval Ay lineage has its origins in the hill-chiefs of early historic (pre-[[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]]) south India.<ref name=":73">Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.</ref><ref name=":62" /> The Ay kingdom functioned as a buffer state between the powerful [[Pandyan dynasty\|Pandyas]]/[[Chola dynasty\|Cholas]] and the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras (Kerala)]] in the medieval period.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" /> A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788 AD), Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884<ref name=":2">Gurukkal, Rajan. ''The Agrarian System and Socio-Political Organisation Under the Early Pandyas c. AD 600-1000.'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1984. 29-30.</ref>), and [[Vikramaditya Varaguna\|Vikramaditya "Varaguna"]] (r. c. 884–911/920 AD<ref name=":2" />) figure as the Ay chiefs of the harbour of Vizhinjam.<ref name=":034"/> The famous [[Brahmin]] ''salai'' at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day [[Thiruvananthapuram\|Trivandrum]], was located in the Ay kingdom. The ''salai'' was sacked by Chola emperor [[Raja Raja Chola I\|Rajaraja I]] (985–1014 AD<ref name=":04">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.</ref>) in c. 988 AD.<ref name=":034"/> Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in the region till c. 10th century AD.<ref name=":83">Ganesh, K. N. ''Agrarian Relations and Political Authority in Medieval Travancore (A. D. 1300-1750).'' Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1987. 22-25.</ref>
	== Origin ==		== Origin ==
	It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] word "Ay" meaning cowherd.<ref>A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131</ref> The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil ~~even as~~ they were known as [[Ahir]]s and [[Abhira tribe\|Abhiras]] in the [[North India]]. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the [[Pandya dynasty\|Pandya country]] came to Tamilakam along with the ancestors of the Pandya. Potiya mountain region and its capital was known as Ay-kudi. Nacchinarkiniyar, in his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the Tolkappiyam, describes a tradition relating to the migration of the Yadava race with a sage Agastya, who repaired to [[Dvārakā\|Dwaraka]] and took with him the 18 kings of the line of Krsna and moved to the South. There, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had brought with him.		It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] word "Ay" meaning cowherd.<ref>A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131</ref> The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil .Where they were known as [[Ahir]]s and [[Abhira tribe\|Abhiras]] in the [[North India]]. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the [[Pandya dynasty\|Pandya country]] came to Tamilakam along with the ancestors of the Pandya. Potiya mountain region and its capital was known as Ay-kudi. Nacchinarkiniyar, in his commentary on the prefatory sutra to the Tolkappiyam, describes a tradition relating to the migration of the Yadava race with a sage Agastya, who repaired to [[Dvārakā\|Dwaraka]] and took with him the 18 kings of the line of Krsna and moved to the South. There, he had the forests cleared and built up kingdoms settling therein all the people he had brought with him.

	In the [[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram\|Parthivasekarapuram]] inscription of Kokkurunandakkan, the Ay ruler claims to have belonged to the line of ~~Yadavas or~~ Ayars. People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, Koyalars and Idayars. According to the Tolkappiyam, the presiding deity of the mullai region was Mayon i.e. [[Krishna\|Krsna]] or [[Vishnu\|Visnu]]. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or [[Konar (caste)\|Konar]].<ref>{{cite book\|title=Journal of Indian History\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=konar+idaiyar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiprt350qHxAhUR7XMBHQi8Ae44ChDoATAAegQIBxAD\|year=2003\|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ\|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka\|last=Richard\|first=Guy\|publisher=Manohar\|year=1982\|page=128}}</ref>		In the [[Parthasarathy temple, Parthivapuram\|Parthivasekarapuram]] inscription of Kokkurunandakkan, the Ay ruler claims to have belonged to the line of Ayars. People who lived in the mullai region were called as Ayars, Koyalars and Idayars. According to the Tolkappiyam, the presiding deity of the mullai region was Mayon i.e. [[Krishna\|Krsna]] or [[Vishnu\|Visnu]]. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or [[Konar (caste)\|Konar]].<ref>{{cite book\|title=Journal of Indian History\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DTVuAAAAMAAJ&dq=konar+idaiyar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiprt350qHxAhUR7XMBHQi8Ae44ChDoATAAegQIBxAD\|year=2003\|publisher=Department of Modern Indian History}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PozZAAAAMAAJ\|title=Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka\|last=Richard\|first=Guy\|publisher=Manohar\|year=1982\|page=128}}</ref>

	The Ay kings continued to cherish their association with the [[Yadu\|Yadu-kula]] and Krsna in the later times also as seen in their copper plate grants and inscriptions.<ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&pg=RA1-PA34\|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnāḍu\|last=Padmaja\|first=T.\|publisher=Abhinav publications\|year=2002\|isbn=9788170173984\|page=33-35}}</ref>		The Ay kings continued to cherish their association with the [[Yadu\|Yadu-kula]] and Krsna in the later times also as seen in their copper plate grants and inscriptions.<ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&pg=RA1-PA34\|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnāḍu\|last=Padmaja\|first=T.\|publisher=Abhinav publications\|year=2002\|isbn=9788170173984\|page=33-35}}</ref>

	According to [[Alf Hiltebeitel]], Konar is a ~~regional~~ name ~~for [[Yadava]], the caste~~ to which [[Krishna]] belongs.<ref>{{cite book\|title=The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1\|author=Alf Hiltebeitel\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1991 - 487 pages\|page=91}}</ref> Several vaishnavite texts associate Krishna with the Aayar ~~caste,~~ or konar, most notably the [[Thiruppavai]], composed by goddess [[Andal]] herself, most notably referring Krishna as the “Aayar kulathu mani vilakke”. The ~~caste~~ name is interchangeable with the names ''Konar'' and ''Kovalar'' being derived from Tamil word ''Kōn'', which can mean "king" and "herdsmen".<ref name="allchin">{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA101\|title=Neolithic Cattle-keepers of South India\|last=Allchin\|first=Frank Raymond\|publisher=Cambridge University\|year=1963\|page=101}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ui5gju8MwDUC&pg=PA35\|title=The Cult of Draupadi\|last=Hiltebeitel\|first=Alf\|publisher=University of Chicago Press\|year=1988\|isbn=9780226340463\|page=35\|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel}}</ref>		According to [[Alf Hiltebeitel]], Konar is a clan name to which [[Krishna]] belongs.<ref>{{cite book\|title=The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1\|author=Alf Hiltebeitel\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1991 - 487 pages\|page=91}}</ref> Several vaishnavite texts associate Krishna with the Aayar clan or konar, most notably the [[Thiruppavai]], composed by goddess [[Andal]] herself, most notably referring Krishna as the “Aayar kulathu mani vilakke”. The clan name is interchangeable with the names ''Konar'' and ''Kovalar'' being derived from Tamil word ''Kōn'', which can mean "king" and "herdsmen".<ref name="allchin">{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA101\|title=Neolithic Cattle-keepers of South India\|last=Allchin\|first=Frank Raymond\|publisher=Cambridge University\|year=1963\|page=101}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ui5gju8MwDUC&pg=PA35\|title=The Cult of Draupadi\|last=Hiltebeitel\|first=Alf\|publisher=University of Chicago Press\|year=1988\|isbn=9780226340463\|page=35\|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel}}</ref>

	The medieval Ay claimed that they belonged to the ~~Yadava or~~ [[Vrishni]] lineage and this claim was advanced by the rulers of [[Venad]] and [[Travancore]].<ref name="google.co.in22">Aiya, V. Nagam. ''The Travancore State Manual.'' Vol 1. Part 2. Trivandrum: The Travancore Government Press, 1906 [https://books.google.com/books?id=AVd1AQAAQBAJ&pg=PT222#v=onepage&q&f=false]</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal\|last=Ganesh\|first=K.N.\|date=February 1990\|title=The Process of State Formation in Travancore\|journal=Studies in History\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=15–33\|doi=10.1177/025764309000600102\|s2cid=162972188\|issn=0257-6430}}</ref> [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple\|Sri Padmanabha]] in Trivandrum was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />		The medieval Ay claimed that they belonged to the [[Vrishni]] lineage and this claim was advanced by the rulers of [[Venad]] and [[Travancore]].<ref name="google.co.in22">Aiya, V. Nagam. ''The Travancore State Manual.'' Vol 1. Part 2. Trivandrum: The Travancore Government Press, 1906 [https://books.google.com/books?id=AVd1AQAAQBAJ&pg=PT222#v=onepage&q&f=false]</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal\|last=Ganesh\|first=K.N.\|date=February 1990\|title=The Process of State Formation in Travancore\|journal=Studies in History\|volume=6\|issue=1\|pages=15–33\|doi=10.1177/025764309000600102\|s2cid=162972188\|issn=0257-6430}}</ref> [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple\|Sri Padmanabha]] in Trivandrum was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.<ref name="Sreedhara Menon" />
	== History ==		== History ==
	[[File:Silk route.jpg\|thumb\|Ancient [[Silk Road]] map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).\|right]]		[[File:Silk route.jpg\|thumb\|Ancient [[Silk Road]] map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).\|right]]