| Vijayaraga | |
|---|---|
| Ruler of the Chera Kingdom | |
| Reign | c. 883/84—c. 895 AD[1] |
| Predecessor | Rama Rajasekhara[1] |
| Successor | Goda Goda (or) Kerala Kesari[1] |
| Spouse | Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli |
| Issue |
|
| House | Chera (medieval Kerala) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Vijayaraga (fl. c. 849—895 AD) was the Chera ruler of medieval Kerala from c. 883/84—c. 895 AD.[1] The reign of Vijayaraga likely witnessed the expansion of Chera Perumal influence into the neighboring Ay and Mushika or Ezhimala countries (southern and northern Kerala).[2]
Vijayaraga appears as the royal prince as early as the fifth regnal year of the Chera Perumal king Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (c. 849 AD).[3] Records indicate that he married the daughter of Kulasekhara (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neel).[3] An inscription referring to this princess has been found in the southern Ay country.[4] It is also possible that Vijayaraga was the nephew (sister's son) of Kulasekhara.[5] Two of his daughters were married to the Chola king Parantaka I.[6]
Vijayaraga was formerly identified with king Goda Ravi (r. 905/06—c. 943/44) of the Chera Perumal dynasty.[1][5]
Sources[edit | edit source]
Inscriptions[edit | edit source]
- Quilon Syrian copper plates (849 AD) — Mentioned as the royal prince (the Koyil Adhikarikal) under king Sthanu Ravi (r. 844/45—c. 870/71 AD).[3]
- Thirunandikkara inscription — inscription of a Chera Perumal princess (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli), wife of Vijayaraga and daughter of Kulasekhara.[3]
- Thiruvotriyur inscription (936 AD, 29th regnal year) — inscription of a Chera Perumal princess (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neel), wife of Chola king Parantaka I and daughter of Vijayaraga.[3]
Battle with the Ezhimala rulers[edit | edit source]
Vijayaraga is likely the same ruler described as the Kerala king 'Jayaraga' in the Mushika Vamsa Kavya, an 11th-century dynastic chronicle from the northern Ezhimala country. According to the kavya, Jayaraga married the daughter of Kunchi Varma, the Ezhimala ruler of that period.[2] The text also states that Vijayaraga later led a military expedition to the Ezhimala country against his brother-in-law Ishana, with the forces reportedly meeting on the banks of the Parassini or Kottappuzha River. It was apparently Goda Varma "Keralaketu", the son of Jayaraga, who eventually re-established an uneasy peace between the two kingdoms, with Jayaraga receiving tribute.[2]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Devadevan, Manu V. (2020). "Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State". The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 122. ISBN 9781108857871.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 65-67 and 97-98. ISBN 9788188765072.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Narayanan, M. G. S., ed. (2013) [1972]. "Index to Cera Inscriptions". Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 437-38 and 442-43. ISBN 9788188765072.
- ↑ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 96–97. ISBN 9788188765072.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 65–67. ISBN 9788188765072.
- ↑ Spencer, George (1982). "Ties that Bound: Royal Marriage Alliance in the Chola Period". Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Asian Studies. Hong Kong: Asian Research Service: 723.