Vijayaraga
| 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), also known as Jayaraga, was a Chera ruler of medieval Kerala who reigned from c. 883/84 to c. 895 AD.[1][2] The period of Vijayaraga likely witnessed the expansion of medieval Chera influence into the neighboring Ay and Ezhimala countries (southern and northern Kerala).[2]
Vijayaraga appears as a royal prince as early as the fifth regnal year of the Chera king Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (c. 849 AD).[3] Records indicate that he married Kulasekhara's daughter, called "Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli".[3] An inscription referring to this princess has been discovered in the southern Ay country.[4] It is also possible that Vijayaraga was the nephew (sister's son) of Kulasekhara.[5] Vijayaraga's daughter, "Ravi Neeli" or "Kizhan Adikal ", was married to the Chola king Parantaka I.[6][7]
Vijayaraga was formerly identified with king Goda Ravi (r. 905/06—c. 943/44) of the medieval Chera dynasty of Kerala.[1][5]
Sources
[edit]Inscriptions
[edit]- 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 medieval Chera princess (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli), the wife of Vijayaraga and the daughter of Kulasekhara.[3]
- Thiruvotriyur inscription (936 AD, 29th regnal year) — inscription of a medieval Chera princess (Kizhan Adikal alias Ravi Neel), the wife of the Chola king Parantaka I and the daughter of the Chera or Kerala ruler "Vijayaraga".[3]
Battle with the Ezhimala rulers
[edit]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 opposing 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 countries, with Jayaraga receiving tribute.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ a b c d Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 65-67 and 97-98. ISBN 9788188765072.
- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ a b Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 65–67. ISBN 9788188765072.
- ^ Narayanan, M. G. S., ed. (2013) [1972]. "Index to Cera Inscriptions". Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 442–43. ISBN 9788188765072.
- ^ Gillet, Valérie (2024). Minor Majesties: The Paluvettaraiyars and Their South Indian Kingdom of Paluvur. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 17-18 and 253.