Ay Kingdom

Ay Kingdom

Ay dynasty (Aioi dynasty) ruled parts of southern India from the early Sangam age to the 10th century AD. At their zenith, the dynasty ruled an area extended from Tiruvalla in the north to Nagercoil in the south including the naturally rich Western Ghats in the east.

Ays were a prominent political power in the region before the Cheras established themselves. Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century AD) founds the Ay kingdom extending from River Baris (Pamba) to Kanyakumari. The former south Travancore (Nanjanad) was also included in the Ay kingdom. According to Purananuru, the capital was at Aykudi, Podiyil Malai (near Shenkottai) and later they established administrative capital at Vizhinjam. Elephant was the royal emblem of the Ay rulers. After 10th century, the state of Venad overpowered the Ays in southern Kerala and south-western Tamil Nadu.