Ay dynasty

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Ay

The modern port of Vizhinjam. Vizhinjam was the medieval headquarters of the Ay kingdom
The modern port of Vizhinjam. Vizhinjam was the medieval headquarters of the Ay kingdom
Capital
  • Podiyil Mala (early historic)
  • Vizhinjam (medieval)
Common languagesTamil
Religion
Hinduism

Ay dynasty was a Tamil ruling lineage which controlled the south-western tip of the peninsula, from the early historic period up to the medieval period.[1] The clan traditionally held sway over the harbour of Vizhinjam, the fertile region of Nanjinad, and southern parts of the spice-producing Western Ghat mountains. The dynasty was also known as Kupaka in medieval period.[2]

The Ay formed one of the major chieftains of early historic (pre-Pallava) Kerala, along with the Cheras of central Kerala and the Musakas of Elimalai in the north.[3][4] Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century AD) described the "Aioi" territory as extending from the Baris (Pamba) to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari). The elephant was the emblem of the Ay.[5]

The medieval Ay lineage has its origins in the hill-chiefs of early historic (pre-Pallava) south India.[6][1] The Ay kingdom functioned as a buffer state between the powerful Pandyas/Cholas and the Cheras (Kerala) in the medieval period.[5] A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788 AD), Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884[7]), and Vikramaditya "Varaguna" (r. c. 884–911/920 AD[7]) figure as the Ay chiefs of the harbour of Vizhinjam.[4] The famous Brahmin salai at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day Trivandrum, was located in the Ay kingdom. The salai was sacked by Chola emperor Rajaraja I (985–1014 AD[8]) in c. 988 AD.[4] Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in the region till c. 10th century AD.[9]

Origin[edit]

It is speculated that the name Ay is derived from the early Tamil word "Ay" meaning cowherd.[10] The cowherds were known as Ayars in Tamil even as they were known as Ahirs and Abhiras in the North India. Tradition says that the Ahirs in the 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 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 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. Krsna or Visnu. Another name for the Ayars was Pothuvar or Konar.[11][12]

The Ay kings continued to cherish their association with the Yadu-kula and Krsna in the later times also as seen in their copper plate grants and inscriptions.[13]

According to Alf Hiltebeitel, Konar is a regional name for Yadava, the caste to which Krishna belongs.[14] 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".[15][16]

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.[17][18] Sri Padmanabha in Trivandrum was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.[5]

History[edit]

Ancient Silk Road map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).
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.[5] Members of the Ay family – of the Podiyil Hills (the Aykudi) – were related to the early historic Cheras of central Kerala.[4] Towards the close of the early historic period, Pandya supremacy might have extended to the Ay territory (through it is likely that the Ay gained their independence during the Kalabhra period).[4][5]

Ay chieftains of early historic south India[edit]

A number of Ay chiefs such as Andiran, Titiyan and Atiyan are mentioned in the early Tamil poems.[4]

  • Ay Andiran is praised by early Tamil poets such as Mudamochiyar, Odakizhar, and Kiranar in Purananuru.[4] 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.[5]
  • Ay Titiyan (the Podiyil Chelvan) is praised by authors Paranar and Bhuta Pandya (the Pandya chief) in Akananuru. It seems that Ay Titiyan was a vassal of the Pandya ruler Bhuta Pandya.[4][5]
  • 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.[4]
  • An Ay ruler took part in the famous battle of Talai-yalankanam, in which the Pandya chief Nedum Chezhiyan defeated several of his enemies.[5]

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.[19] Persons (the Vels) belonging to the Ay family were the chieftains of the Vel country.[20]

  • Veliyan Venmal Nallini was the wife of the Chera chieftain Utiyan.[20]
  • Veliyan Venman Ay Eyinan was the leader of the Chera warriors against Nannan of Ezhimalai.[20]

Pandya foray into the Ay country[edit]

Trivandrum Museum Stone Inscription of Maran Chadayan (latter half of the 8th century)

In c. 765 AD, 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).[21][9] This event is also remembered in the Velvikkudi plates (3rd regnal year, Nedum Chadayan) as "the suppression of the rebellious Ay-Vel".[21]

The Pandya foray into south Kerala brought the Chera-Perumal rulers into the conflict and a prolonged Pandya-Ay/Chera struggle followed.[21]

  • 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).[22]
  • 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).[19]

Detachment of Venad[edit]

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.[23] Venad (the country of the Vel people) with its base at Kollam came under influence of the Chera-Perumal kingdom[9] 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).[23][1] 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). [24]

Srimara Srivallabha was succeeded on the Pandya throne by Varaguna II (r. 862–885 AD).[4] The Ay kings of Vizhinjam remained vassals of the Pandyas, as indicated by the surname of the then king Vikramaditya (r. c. 884–911/920 AD[7]).[4]

The Pandyas were defeated in the "great battle of Sripurambiyam" in c. 885 AD.[25] Chera Perumal's considerable influence in the Ay country following this battle is visible in two records discovered from that region.[25] A record of the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli, the wife of Chera Perumal Vijayaraga, can be found in Tirunandikkara, a Shiva temple located in the Ay country.[26][27] In 898 AD, Vikramaditya Varaguna is seen making huge land gifts to the Srimulavasa Buddhist vihara in the Chera Perumal kingdom (the Paliyam copper plates).[4]

The chieftains of Venad, owing allegiance to the Chera-Perumals, were determined on extending their sway into the Ay kingdom.[4] Their opportunity might have came in the disorder following the Chola defeat at Takkolam (mid-10 century AD).[4] The Venad chieftains were eventually successful in capturing the whole Ay country down to Kottaru.[4] In general, the influence of the Kerala rulers spread into the southern Ay territory in the 10th century AD.[9]

Chola influence in Ay country[edit]

The famous salai at Kantalur, somewhere near present-day Trivandrum, was located in the Ay country (865 AD, Huzur/Parthivapuram Plates, Karunanthadakkkan). The salai was sacked by Chola emperor Rajaraja I in c. 988 AD (fourth regnal year).[4][8]

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.[4] The kings of Kollam (i. e., Venad), Kodungallur (the Chera Perumal), and Kolladesam (Mushika) were also defeated by the Cholas (Senur inscription, 1005 AD).[28] There is a possibility that the Venad chieftains tried to recapture the old Ay region after the raids by Rajaraja I. 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[4]).[9]

Major medieval Ay grants[edit]

Major medieval Ay grants[7]
Grant name Date Notes
Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha (r. c. 856/57–884 AD)
Parthivapuram Grant

(Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates)

Regnal year 9 = 865 AD
  • Tamil (ending portion in Sanskrit)[29]
  • Establishment of Vishnu temple in Parthivasekharapuram (Parthivapuram)[29][30]
  • Establishment of Parthivapuram Salai with the temple[29][30]
  • Mentions the 'Rules of Parthivapuram Salai'[29][30]
  • Calls the king a member of the 'Nanda and Yadava family'.[29]
Parthivapuram Grant
Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I Regnal year 14 = 870 AD
  • Tamil (Vattezhuthu)[31]
  • A private donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple[31]
Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I
Tiruvidaikkodu inscription II Regnal year 22 = 878 AD
  • Tamil (Vattezhuthu)[31]
  • Donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple by Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha [31]
Vikramaditya Varaguna (r. c. 884–911/920 AD)
Thirupparappu Plates[32][33] 9th century AD[32]
  • Mentions king Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha.[32]
Thirupparappu Plates
Thirunandikkarai (Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates) Regnal year 8 = 892 AD
  • Tamil (Tamil script with Grantha)[34]
  • Murukan Chendi as the queen of king Vikramaditya Varaguna (the Ay-kula Mahadevi) [34]
  • Donation of land by the king to the queen.[34]
Thirunandikkarai Inscription
Paliyam Copper Plates 898 AD[35]
  • A large land donation to a Buddhist vihara in central Kerala by Vikramaditya Varaguna.[36][37]
Paliyam Copper Plates

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ganesh, K.N. (June 2009). "Historical Geography of Natu in South India with Special Reference to Kerala". Indian Historical Review. 36 (1): 3–21. doi:10.1177/037698360903600102. ISSN 0376-9836. S2CID 145359607.
  2. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 179.
  3. ↑ Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 191 - 193, 435 - 437. [1]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 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 [2]
  6. ↑ Gurukkal, Rajan. “DID STATE EXIST IN THE PRE-PALLAVAN TAMIL REGION.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 63, 2002, pp. 138–150.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 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.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Noburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Ganesh, K. N. Agrarian Relations and Political Authority in Medieval Travancore (A. D. 1300-1750). Doctoral Thesis. Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1987. 22-25.
  10. ↑ A Dictionary Of The Tamil And English Languages, Volume 1, Page 131
  11. ↑ Journal of Indian History. Department of Modern Indian History. 2003.
  12. ↑ Richard, Guy (1982). Religious Festivals in South India and Sri Lanka. Manohar. p. 128.
  13. ↑ Padmaja, T. (2002). Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: history, art, and traditions in Tamilnāḍu. Abhinav publications. p. 33-35. ISBN 9788170173984.
  14. ↑ Alf Hiltebeitel. The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : from Gingee to Kurukserta, Volume 1. Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 1991 - 487 pages. p. 91.
  15. ↑ Allchin, Frank Raymond (1963). Neolithic Cattle-keepers of South India. Cambridge University. p. 101.
  16. ↑ Hiltebeitel, Alf (1988). The Cult of Draupadi. University of Chicago Press. p. 35. ISBN 9780226340463.
  17. ↑ Aiya, V. Nagam. The Travancore State Manual. Vol 1. Part 2. Trivandrum: The Travancore Government Press, 1906 [3]
  18. ↑ Ganesh, K.N. (February 1990). "The Process of State Formation in Travancore". Studies in History. 6 (1): 15–33. doi:10.1177/025764309000600102. ISSN 0257-6430. S2CID 162972188.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 75.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 106.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 93-94.
  22. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 106.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 94-95.
  24. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 107.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 97.
  26. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 96-98.
  27. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 109-110.
  28. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 118-119 and 137-138.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Three Inscriptions of Kokkarunandadakkar. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. I (1910 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 10–14.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Hartmut Scharfe (2018). Education in Ancient India. BRILL Academic. pp. 175–176. ISBN 978-90-474-0147-6.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Three Inscriptions of Kokkarunandadakkar. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. I (1910 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 14–15.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Tirupparappu Fragmentary Set of Copper-Plates. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. XIII (1912 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 197–99.
  33. ↑ 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.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. The Huzur Office Plate of Vikramaditya Varaguna. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. I (1910 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 02–03.
  35. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 109-110.
  36. ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 97.
  37. ↑ Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. Two Inscriptions of Vikramaditya Varaguna. Travancore Archaeological Series. Vol. XII (1912 ed.). Madras: Government of Travancore. pp. 192–93.
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