Cherar Kottai: Difference between revisions

| author        = [[Gokul Seshadri]]

| illustrator  = [[Gokul Seshadri]]

| series        = [[Rajakesari]]

| pages        = 1100 (2 Volumes)

| followed_by  =  

'''''Cherar Kottai''''' (Tamil:சேரர் கோட்டை), meaning "''Fortress of Chera Kings''" is a [[Tamil language]] [[historical novel]] in two volumes written by [[Gokul Seshadri]]. The story is based on the first military conquest of the great Chola King [[Rajaraja Chola]] in [[Kerala]]<ref>Rajaraja's first military raid was in the Southern Direction, as per Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates</ref> at a place known as Kanthalur Salai.<ref>The earliest epigraphical reference to Kanthalur occurs in an inscription dated 988 AD, which is the third regnal year of the King.</ref> Though it is a work of fiction, it is based on extensive historic research and delves deep into present day [[Kalaripayattu]] and [[Varma (name)|Varma]] Sastra.

==Plot summary==

988 AD. King [[Rajaraja Chola]] is contemplating on a military raid over Kanthalur Salai - a martial arts academy in the Chera Country (present day [[Kerala]]). Circumstantial evidences are pointing to the fact that the current head of this Salai, Thirunarayana Bhattadhiri, might have played a crucial role in the brutal killing of king Rajarajan's elder brother, crown prince [[Aditha Karikalan]] - 20 years back. However, the King ([[Rajaraja Chola]]) is hesitant to undertake a regular military raid - given the fact that Sala is a well respected university<ref>M.G.S.Narayanan, Bachelor of Science, Aspects of Aryanization in Kerala</ref> and is attached to a Shiva temple.<ref>T.N.Subramaniyam, Pandiyar Cheppedugal Pathu, Ulaga Tamil Araichi Niruvanam</ref>

Unable to move forward, the king and his royal companions seek the help of a Buddhist Monk by name Mahakasyapa Thera, the head of Bhadaratitta Monastery at [[Nagappattinam]], the erstwhile seaport of Cholas.<ref>Gokul Seshadri, New Perspectives on Nagappattinam, Nagappattinam to Suvarnadweepa, ISEAS, Singapore</ref> Upon his instructions, an innovative plan hitherto not adopted by any other Chola king, is considered. Thereafter, the story proceeds at breakneck speed in which the readers travel through the ancient Pandiya and Kerala territories with two young Chola warriors - cherry picked to execute the plan. Unaware of their fate and why they were  selected for the task, the two young warriors - Kamban Araiyan<ref>An inscription at Tiruppalanam Apathsahayeswara Temple talks of a Chola general by name Kamban Araiyan and his military achievements in Chera Country</ref> and Paraman Malapadi<ref>An inscription inscribed in the South Wall of Durga Shrine at Kachapeswara temple, Kanchipuram talks of a Chola General by name Paraman Malapadi - South Indian Inscriptions</ref> proceed with immense trust in their king and the almighty.

As the heroes reach their destination, the southern tip of erstwhile [[Tamil Nadu]] viz [[Kanniyakumari]], they realize that their fates are intertwined and their selection is not arbitrarily as originally thought. Trying to equip themselves for a seemingly impossible task, they have to discover their true self and identity in order to win a competition that will alter their lives - and that of Chola country - forever.

The story was originally serialized in [http://www.varalaaru.com Varalaaru.com] a monthly web magazine from 2007 onwards and published as a two volume book by Kamalam books in July 2012. Later on, a revised second edition of the book was published by Palaniappa Brothers in 2015.