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m Changing short description from "2nd century Chera Dynasty rule in south India" to "2nd century Chera Dynasty ruler in south India" (Shortdesc helper)
Added N. Subramanian’s historical interpretation of Purananuru verse 2, clarifying that the Mahabharata feeding tradition is considered anachronistic and historically implausible, and that the verse may instead refer to resistance against Satavahana incursions in northern Kongu.
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{{Chera Dynasty}}
{{Chera Dynasty}}
'''Uthiyan Cheralathan''' ("'''Perum Chottu Uthiyan"''') is earliest known ruler [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] of [[Sangam period|early historic south India]] (c. 1st - 4th century CE) from available literary sources.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=384}}<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=60–61}}</ref> He had his headquarters at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (southern [[Kerala]]). His lifetime was in the late first and early second century CE (he died in 130 after a battle with Karikala Chola). His consort was Veliyan Nallini, the daughter of Veliyan chief Venman.
'''Uthiyan Cheralathan''' ("'''Perum Chottu Uthiyan"''') is earliest known ruler [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] of [[Sangam period|early historic south India]] (c. 1st - 4th century CE) from available literary sources.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=384}}<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=60–61}}</ref> He had his headquarters at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (southern [[Kerala]]). His lifetime was in the late first and early second century CE (he died in 130 after a battle with Karikala Chola). His consort was Veliyan Nallini, the daughter of Veliyan chief Venman.
==Reign==
===Conflict with The Satavahanas===
{{cquote|"You are [[king]] of a country with prosperous towns! The sky is your limit! O Greatness who gave unlimited rice, until those hundred men wearing golden thumpai flower garlands had seized the land and perished in the field fighting furiously against the five whose horses wore swaying plumes!”|source= [[Purananuru]] verse - 2<ref>{{cite book
|title=Purananuru: Translation in English with meanings
|author=Vaidehi Herbert
|publisher=Kondrai
|location=Chennai
|year=2013
|page=27  |url=https://archive.org/details/purananurutransl0000unse/page/27/mode/1up
}}</ref>
}}
According to N. Subramanian, [[Purananuru]] verse 2, which refers to Uthiyan Cheralathan (also called  as Perum Choru Uthiyan), does not support the later traditiona claim that he fee both the hundred  Kauravas and Pandavas during the Mahabharata war . It's Unhistorical and Subramanian considers such an interpretation anachronistic and historically implausible, as the epic is placed several millennia earlier. Instead, the verse is interpreted in a historical context, suggesting that Uthiyan Cheralathan, along with allied chieftains such  the Five Velirs, may have give the  military support and successfully resisted incursions by the [[Satavahana]] dynasty in the northern Kongu region.<ref>{{cite book
<nowiki>|</nowiki>last=Subrahmanian
<nowiki>|</nowiki>first=N.
<nowiki>|</nowiki>title=History of Tamilnad
<nowiki>|</nowiki>edition=3rd
<nowiki>|</nowiki>publisher=Koodal Publishers
<nowiki>|</nowiki>location=Madurai
<nowiki>|</nowiki>year=1978
<nowiki>|page=68  |</nowiki>url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462306/page/n67/mode/1up


Uthiyan is fabled to have fed the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the [[Mahabharata war|Mahabharata War]] (Kauravas and Pandavas aren't explicitly mentioned, could be any Northern war). Uthiyan Cheralatan assumed the title "Vanavaramban" which could either mean "One whose Kingdom Reaches up to the Sky" or "the One who is Loved by the Gods". The latter title was previously adopted by the [[Maurya]] emperor [[Ashoka|Asoka]].
Uthiyan is fabled to have fed the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the [[Mahabharata war|Mahabharata War]] (Kauravas and Pandavas aren't explicitly mentioned, could be any Northern war). Uthiyan Cheralatan assumed the title "Vanavaramban" which could either mean "One whose Kingdom Reaches up to the Sky" or "the One who is Loved by the Gods". The latter title was previously adopted by the [[Maurya]] emperor [[Ashoka|Asoka]].


Uthiyan's elephant corps and cavalry forces are particularly praised in the early Tamil literature. He went into several battles and in the [[battle of Venni]] (Vennil) with Karikala Chola, he was wounded on the back while leading the warriors (Akam 55). Being unable to bear the disgrace he committed suicide by slow starvation. It is said that some of his "Companions" also committed suicide with him [unwilling to part him] (Akam 55). Uthiyan Cheralatan was succeeded by his son, [[Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan|Nedum Cheralathan]].<ref>Kankasabhai, V., ''The Tamil Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.'' New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1904. 90.</ref>
Uthiyan's elephant corps and cavalry forces are particularly praised in the early Tamil literature. He went into several battles and in the [[battle of Venni]] (Vennil) with Karikala Chola, he was wounded on the back while leading the warriors (Akam 55). Being unable to bear the disgrace he committed suicide by slow starvation. It is said that some of his "Companions" also committed suicide with him [unwilling to part him] (Akam 55). Uthiyan Cheralatan was succeeded by his son, [[Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan|Nedum Cheralathan]].<nowiki><ref>Kankasabhai, V., </nowiki>''The Tamil Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.'' New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1904. 90.</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 16:51, 10 September 2026

Uthiyan Cheralathan
Vanavaramban
Perum Chottu Uthiyan
1st (recorded) Chera Ruler
Reignc. 105-130 CE
SuccessorNedum Cheralathan
SpouseVeliyan Nallini
Issue
HouseChera

Uthiyan Cheralathan ("Perum Chottu Uthiyan") is earliest known ruler Chera of early historic south India (c. 1st - 4th century CE) from available literary sources.[1][2] He had his headquarters at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (southern Kerala). His lifetime was in the late first and early second century CE (he died in 130 after a battle with Karikala Chola). His consort was Veliyan Nallini, the daughter of Veliyan chief Venman.

Reign

Conflict with The Satavahanas

"You are king of a country with prosperous towns! The sky is your limit! O Greatness who gave unlimited rice, until those hundred men wearing golden thumpai flower garlands had seized the land and perished in the field fighting furiously against the five whose horses wore swaying plumes!”

— Purananuru verse - 2[3]

According to N. Subramanian, Purananuru verse 2, which refers to Uthiyan Cheralathan (also called as Perum Choru Uthiyan), does not support the later traditiona claim that he fee both the hundred Kauravas and Pandavas during the Mahabharata war . It's Unhistorical and Subramanian considers such an interpretation anachronistic and historically implausible, as the epic is placed several millennia earlier. Instead, the verse is interpreted in a historical context, suggesting that Uthiyan Cheralathan, along with allied chieftains such the Five Velirs, may have give the military support and successfully resisted incursions by the Satavahana dynasty in the northern Kongu region.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Singh 2008, p. 384.
  2. ↑ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  3. ↑ Vaidehi Herbert (2013). Purananuru: Translation in English with meanings. Chennai: Kondrai. p. 27.
  4. ↑ {{cite book |last=Subrahmanian |first=N. |title=History of Tamilnad |edition=3rd |publisher=Koodal Publishers |location=Madurai |year=1978 |page=68 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462306/page/n67/mode/1up Uthiyan is fabled to have fed the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the Mahabharata War (Kauravas and Pandavas aren't explicitly mentioned, could be any Northern war). Uthiyan Cheralatan assumed the title "Vanavaramban" which could either mean "One whose Kingdom Reaches up to the Sky" or "the One who is Loved by the Gods". The latter title was previously adopted by the Maurya emperor Asoka. Uthiyan's elephant corps and cavalry forces are particularly praised in the early Tamil literature. He went into several battles and in the battle of Venni (Vennil) with Karikala Chola, he was wounded on the back while leading the warriors (Akam 55). Being unable to bear the disgrace he committed suicide by slow starvation. It is said that some of his "Companions" also committed suicide with him [unwilling to part him] (Akam 55). Uthiyan Cheralatan was succeeded by his son, Nedum Cheralathan.<ref>Kankasabhai, V., The Tamil Eighteen Hundred Years Ago. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1904. 90.

References