Chera Chola Pandya History In Tamil: A Brief Overview of the Three Ancient Tamil Kingdoms
The Chera, Chola, and Pandya dynasties were the three most prominent kingdoms that ruled over the Tamil people in ancient and medieval India. They were collectively known as the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam, a term that refers to the geographical region of southern India where the Tamil language and culture flourished.
The history of these kingdoms spans over a thousand years, from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE, and is marked by periods of rivalry, alliance, conquest, and cultural exchange. They also interacted with other regional powers such as the Pallavas, the Pandyas, the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, and the Vijayanagara Empire, as well as foreign traders and invaders such as the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese, and Mongols.
Chera Chola Pandya History In Tamil.pdf
The Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms were instrumental in developing and promoting south Indian art, architecture, literature, religion, and administration. They built magnificent temples, palaces, forts, and monuments that showcase their artistic and engineering skills. They also patronized poets, scholars, saints, and musicians who composed works in Tamil and Sanskrit that are considered classics of Indian literature. They also fostered a rich religious and philosophical tradition that included Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Shaivism.
In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the history of each of these kingdoms, highlighting their origins, achievements, challenges, and legacy.
The Chera Dynasty
The Chera dynasty was one of the oldest Tamil kingdoms that ruled over parts of present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The earliest references to the Cheras are found in the Ashokan edicts of the 3rd century BCE, where they are mentioned as one of the neighboring kingdoms of the Mauryan Empire. The Cheras are also mentioned in ancient Tamil literature such as the Sangam poems and the Silappatikaram.
The Cheras were known for their maritime trade and naval prowess. They had contacts with various regions of Asia and Africa, such as Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, China, Egypt , and Rome . They exported spices , ivory , pearls , gems , textiles , and metalware , and imported gold , silver , wine , olive oil , coral , and pottery . They also issued coins with their emblem of a bow and arrow.
The Cheras reached their peak of power and glory under King Kulashekhara Varman (800-825 CE), who is also known as Cheraman Perumal. He expanded his kingdom to include most of Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu. He also patronized art , literature , and religion . He is credited with building the famous Shiva temple at Thiruvanchikulam , which is one of the oldest temples in India. He also composed a Sanskrit poem called Kumarasambhavam , which narrates the story of the birth of Kartikeya , the son of Shiva and Parvati.
The Chera dynasty declined after the 9th century CE due to internal conflicts , invasions by the Cholas , and the rise of local chieftains . The last known Chera ruler was Rama Varma Kulashekhara (1090-1122 CE), who was defeated by the Cholas . The Chera legacy is still preserved in the culture , language , and traditions of Kerala.
The Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was one of the most powerful and longest-ruling Tamil kingdoms that dominated south India , Sri Lanka , and Southeast Asia . The earliest references to the Cholas are found in the Sangam literature of the 1st-3rd centuries CE , where they are described as a fierce warrior clan that fought against other Tamil kings . The Cholas are also mentioned in inscriptions , coins , sculptures , and monuments from various periods.
The Cholas rose to prominence under King Vijayalaya (850-871 CE), who captured Tanjore from the Pallavas . He established Tanjore as his capital and built a temple dedicated to Shiva there . He also consolidated his rule over parts of Tamil Nadu and
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