Chera

The Chera dynasty was one of the principal lineages in the early history of the present day states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in southern India. Together with the Cholas of Uraiyur and the Pandyas of Madurai, the early Cheras were known as one of the three major powers (muventar) of ancient Tamilakam (a macro region in south India) in the early centuries of the Common Era.

Variants

• Chera dynasty
• Cēra
• Sera
• Chera (चेर) = Kerala (केरल )(AS, p.344)

History

The Chera country was geographically well placed to profit from maritime trade via the extensive Indian Ocean networks. Exchange of spices, especially black pepper, with Middle Eastern and Graeco-Roman merchants are attested in several sources. The Cheras of the early historical period (c. second century BCE - c. third century CE[]) are known to have had their original centre at Karur in interior Tamil Nadu and harbours at Muchiri (Muziris) and Thondi (Tyndis) on the Indian Ocean coast (Kerala).

The early historic pre-Pallava Tamil polities are often described as a "kinship-based redistributive economies" largely shaped by "pastoral-cum-agrarian subsistence" and "predatory politics". Tamil Brahmi cave label inscriptions, describe Ilam Kadungo, son of Perum Kadungo, and the grandson of Ko Athan Cheral of the Irumporai clan. Inscribed portrait coins with Brahmi legends give a number of Chera names. Reverse of these coins often contained the Chera bow and arrow symbol. The anthologies of early Tamil texts are a major source of information about the early Cheras. Chenguttuvan, or the Good Chera, is famous for the traditions surrounding Kannaki, the principal female character of the Tamil epic poem Chilapathikaram. After the end of the early historical period, around the 3rd-5th century CE, there seems to be a period where the Cheras' power declined considerably.

Cheras or Keralas of the Kongu country are known to have controlled western Tamil Nadu and central Kerala in early medieval period. Present-day central Kerala probably detached from Kongu Chera kingdom around 8th-9th century AD to form the Chera Perumal kingdom (c. 9th- 12th century AD). The exact nature of the relationships between the various branches of Chera rulers is somewhat unclear. Some of the major dynasties of medieval south India - Chalukya, Pallava, Pandya, Rashtrakuta, and Chola - seems to have conquered the Chera or Kerala country. Kongu Cheras appear to have been absorbed into the Pandya political system by 10th/11th century AD. Even after the dissolution of the Perumal kingdom, royal inscriptions and temple grants, especially from outside Kerala proper, continued to refer the country and the people as the "Cheras or Keralas".

The rulers of Venad (the Venad Cheras or the "Kulasekharas"), based out of the port of Kollam in south Kerala, claimed their ancestry from the Perumals. In the modern period the rulers of Cochin and Travancore (in Kerala) also claimed the title "Chera".

The Expansion of Chera (Sera), Nevar, Kirita Nagas In India

Dr Naval Viyogi writes....[p.32]: Kashmir to Assam, Himalyan ranges have been the largest centre of the abode of Naga race since dark age of prehistoric time. But their traces are still visible in the form of ethnic groups, social and religious traditions, old architectural remains, inscriptions, coins, name of cities and places all over India.

In some parts of Ceylon and in ancient Malabar country , ancient Nagas established their rule. The Tamil literature of first century A.D. has repeated description of Naga-Nadu or the Country of Nagas. Still tooay Malabar coast is one of the largest Cenires Naga Worship. In South, Travancore temple of Nagercoil is famous.

CF. Oldham has thrown much light on this subject. He writes "The Dravidians were divided into Chera, Choru and Pandyas in ancient time. Chera or Sera (in ancient Tamil Sarai is synonym of serpent in Dravidian language. It is clear from the words like Chera-Mandel (Coromandal) Naga-Dipa (serpent Island), and Naga-Nadu' (Naga country) that Dravidians of South were of Asura or Naga family. In addition to the above, the Cheru or Sirai had also spread in all the Gangatic valley, which are in existence still to-day. They maintain their origin from some Naga deity or Devta. (Elliot, sup Glossary N. W. F. PP 135-36) Cherus are most ancient people. They possessed a large part of Gangatic valley

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[p.33]: and lived there from time immemorial. During the incendiary, time of the Muslim invaders, Cherus were forced to draw hands from their lands and now they are landless people. They are undoubtedly blood relatives of Dravidian Cheras."

From the various traditions of Chera people, it seems that they were closely related to Lichchhavis and Nevaras of Nepal such as election of king of five or six families, ceremonial royal functions and coronation and wearing of royal insignia. Various customs of both the Nevars an Lichchhavis and Dravidian people of South are quite similar. All are snake worshippers. As Neel Nag is venerable in Kashmir, similarly Karkotak Nag is venerable in Nepal. The venerable deity of Vaisali at the capital of Lichchhavis, was serpent or Nag. The marriage customs of Nevars and Lichchhavis are similar to those of Tamil of South on the basis of these evidences, it can be concluded that these people would have been of one race or tribe in origin.

Among the Nevars, heredity is decided after the matriarchal tradition. Such a tradition of heredity was sometime prevalent among the Arattas, Andhakas Vahikas and also Takkas or Takhya people of Punjab. It means heredity right was transferred to sister's son instead of once own son. Hence Nevars are blood relatives of Dravidians.

Similarly people of Naga race residing in Himalaya region of Himachal Pradesh were known Kirtas. The word Kir means serpent or Nag. Chera people living in the Khasi hills of Assam are also of Naga race. Their chiefs or kings are known as 'siem' whose dead-body is buried in a hallowed out trunk of a large tree.

The town of Cherapunji (Means, estate of Cheras) is also named after the name of this tribe. Col James Tod informs that, "This ancient relation between the Suryabanshi chiefs and the Chawaras or Sauras of Saurashtra (Saura+ Rashtra) is still maintained after a lapse of more than one thousand years....the present heir apparent of a line of one hundred kings, the prince Jawan Singh (1828-38) is the off spring of Chawara mother, the daughter of a petty chieftain of Gujrat." It is clear from this description that Chawara Rajputs were born from the Sauras or Chauras after whom Saurashtra} took its name. Saura is Gujrati form of Chaura or Chera.

In short, we can say that the Kir or Kirit of Himalaya region, Saraj or Sevraj of Satluj Beas valley, Saura or Chawara of Saurashtra, Sevari or Cheru of Gangatic valley, Saurya of central province, Chera or Sera of Khasi hills and Kera, Chera, Sera or Serai of South India all are worshippers of serpents and they are all different branches of Naga race. Chera branch of Khasi has been stated to be of Dinaric Alpine race by

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[p.34]: Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya and A.B. Keith.It means some of them were ethnically of Alpine race, some others were Dravidians and others blended race of both of them.

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Dr Naval Viyogi writes....South India has been the home of naga-worship since prehistoric period, where every house and village worship cobra. The great popularity of this cult in South is testified by snake slabs or Nagakals, which are usually found some times in great number at the entrance of town or village. Some famous serpent temples are reported to exist at Nagpatnam, Nagercoil, etc. So it is clear that Naga-worshipping people or Naga race had their sway throughout India in remote past. In short we can say that Kir or Kirit in Himalayan region, Saraja or Sevaraj in Satluj and Beas valley, Soura or Chawara in Saurashtra, Sevari or Cheru in Gangatic vallley, Saurya in central province, Chera or Sera in Khasi hills and Kera, Chera, Sera or Serai in south India all are Naga-worshipping tribes who were putting up and are still putting up in different parts of India. It means they were in power in the whole nation in pre-historic and historic times. Thus the tradition of Nag-worship and Naga race had spread up in the whole nation in ancient time.

केरल

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...केरल (AS, p.223) एक भारतीय राज्य, जो भारत के दक्षिण-पश्चिम सीमा पर स्थित है। इसकी राजधानी तिरुवनन्तपुरम (त्रिवेन्द्रम) है। केरल को 'भारत का मसालों का बगीचा' कहा जाता है। यह मलय पर्वत की क्रोड में बसा हुआ प्रदेश है, जिसमें भूतपूर्व त्रावणकोर और कोचीन की रियासतें सम्मिलित हैं। केरल का उल्लेख महाभारत, सभापर्व 31, 71 में इस प्रकार है- "पांड्यांश्च द्रविडाश्चैव सहितांश्चोड्र केरलै:, आंध्रास्तालवनांश्चैव कलिंगानुष्ट्रकर्णिकान्।"

महाभारत सभापर्व 51 में केरल और चोल नरेशों द्वारा युधिष्ठिर को दी गई चंदन, अगुरु, मोती, वैदूर्य तथा चित्रविचित्र रत्नों की भेंट का उल्लेख है- "चंदनागरु चानन्तं मुक्तावैदूर्यचित्रका:, चोलश्च केरलश्चोभौ ददतु: पांडवाय वै"।

केरल तथा दक्षिण के अन्य प्रदेशों को सहदेव ने अपनी दिग्विजय यात्रा के दौरान जीता था। 'रघुवंश' (4,54) में कालिदास ने केरल का उल्लेख इस प्रकार किया है- "भयोत्सृष्टविभूषाणां तेन केरलयोषिताम्, अलकेषु चमूरेणश्चूर्णप्रतिनिधी कृत:" अर्थात् "दिग्विजय के लिए निकली हुई रघु की सेनाओं के केरल पहुंचने पर केरल की युवतियों, जिन्होंने भय से सारे विभूषण त्याग दिए थे, की अलकों में सेना की उड़ाई हुई धूलि ने प्रसाधन के चूर्ण का काम किया।

सम्राट अशोक के शिलालेख 2 में पांड्य, सातियपुत्र और केरल राज्यों का उल्लेख है। ताम्रपर्णी नदी तक इनका विस्तार माना गया है। परवर्ती काल में केरल को 'चेर' भी कहा जाता था, जो केरल का रूपांतर मात्र है।

केरल की मुख्य नदियाँ 'मुरला', 'ताम्रपर्णी', 'नेत्रवती' और 'सरस्वती' आदि हैं। इतिहासकार हेमचंद्र रायचौधरी के अनुसार उड़ीसा में महानदी के तट पर स्थित वर्तमान सोनपुर के पास के प्रदेश को भी केरल कहते थे, क्योंकि यहाँ स्थित 'ययाति नगरी' से केरल युवतियों का सम्बंध धोई कवि ने अपने 'पवनदूत' नामक काव्य में बताया है; किंतु यह तथ्य संदेहास्पद है।