Chera Dynasty - Literary Sources

Literary Sources

The primary literary sources available regarding the early Chera Kings are the anthologies of Sangam literature, created between the years c. 300 BCE to 300 CE.

The earliest extant Sangam literary works, such as Kalittokai, mention a mythical and supposedly submerged continent called Kumari Kandam, which was believed to have been located to the south of the present-day Kanyakumari tens of thousands of years ago, between the then Kumari and Pahrali Rivers. Pandya kings such as Chenkon, and the Cheras, supposedly ruled this country. Sangam literature further says that they fought and defeated the Nāga tribes. Kalittokai again mentions a war between the combined forces of Villavars and the Meenavars (perhaps the Cheras and the Pandyas respectively), and the Nāgas, their arch-enemies, eventually losing the war.

Pathirruppaththu, the fourth book in the Ettuthokai anthology of Sangam Age, mentions a number of rulers of the Chera dynasty. Each ruler is praised in ten songs sung by the Court Poet. The rulers (many were heirs-apparent) are mentioned in the following order:

1. (King) Nedum Cheralathan – Kumatturk Kannanar
2. (Prince) Palyane Chel Kezhu Kuttuvan -Palaik Kantamanar
3. (Prince) Narmudi Cheral – Kappiyarruk Kappiyanar
4. (King) Senguttuvan Chera – Paranar
5. (Prince) Adu Kottu Pattu Cheralathan – Kakkaipatiniyar Nacellaiyar
6. (King) Selva Kadumko Valiathan – Kapilar
7. (Prince) Perum Cheral Irumporai – Aricil Kilar
8. (King) Ilam Cheral Irumporai – Perunkunrurk Kilar

The Cheras, the Pandyas and the Cholas are the three ruling dynasties of the southern region (Bharatavarsha) in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Cheras are possibly mentioned in Aitareya Aranyaka, and Mahabharata, where they take the sides with the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. However, historicity of these enthusiastic claims are challenged as the great war of Mahabharata is dated as early as 3102 BC, about 3 millenniums before the establishment of Chera dynasty.