Etymology
The word Chera is derived from Cheral, a corrupted form of Classical Tamil word, Charal, meaning "declivity of a mountain". The Chera Kings were called Chera-alatan (alatan means "lord"). Cheras are sometimes referred to as "Keralas" among historians. The word "Kerala" is possibly the Canarese variation of the Tamil word "Cherala". The name "Kerala" first ever finds place in a historical document as Kedalaputho ("Keralaputra") in Asoka's edicts (261 BC). Historians consider "Keralaputra" (Sanskrit for "son of Kerala" or "son of Chera") as an alternate name of Cheras. The Graeco-Roman trade map Periplus Maris Erythraei refers to this Keralaputra as Celobotra. Pliny the Elder, the Roman commander who visited India in the 1st century AD, also describes Cheras as "Calobotras (Caelobothras)". The Greek Ambassador Megasthenes (4th century BC) as "Charmae". He says that the force of the rulers of the "Charmae" is highly depended on their 60 war elephants.
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