Rama Kulasekhara


Rama Kulasekhara was the last ruler of the medieval Chera dynasty of Kerala. He was a contemporary of the Chola kings Kulottunga I and Vikrama Chola. Rama Kulaskehara is best known for briefly recovering the Kollam-Trivandrum-Nagercoil region from the powerful Chola empire around 1100–1102 AD.
Inscriptions related to Rama Kulasekhara have been found at Panthalayani Kollam near Quilandy, Thiruvaloor, Perunna near Changanassery, Nedumpuram Thali, and Kollam. The weakened authority of the Chera ruler is evident in some of these inscriptions. In 1099 AD, the leader of the Nair warriors in central Kerala is recorded as administering the affairs of the Nedumpuram Thali; a state-sponsored royal temple. In 1102 AD, Rama Kulasekhara is attested in an inscription as having publicly atoned for "wrongs committed" against the Brahmin community—an act that was highly unusual for a reigning Chera ruler. An inscription of a Chera princess, dated to 1122 AD and found at Thiruvalanchuzhi in Tanjore, also refers to Rama Kulasekhara.
Kollam functioned as the second headquarters of the medieval Chera kingdom during the final phase of Rama Kulasekhara's rule. According to scholars, "the strategic advantage of marriage relations with the old ruling clan of Kollam in securing the loyalty of Venadu can also be considered in the light of continuous Chola-Pandya attacks in south Kerala". There is also a tradition that Vira Kerala, a ruler of Kollam in early 12th century, was a son of the last Chera king.

Career

Rama Kulasekhara, according to records from Kerala, ascended the medieval Chera throne around c. 1089/90 AD. "Rama" was his personal name, while "Kulasekhara" functioned as his coronation title. The earliest known record of the king, in which he is styled "Kulasekhara–Koyil Adhikarikal", is found in the courtyard of the Panthalayani Kollam Bhagavathi Temple in northern Kerala. Another inscription referring to him as "Kulasekhara Perumal", dated to 1092 CE, is located at the Thiruvaloor temple in the Periyar valley.

Kulottunga Chola's Kerala campaign

Between 1077 and 1081 AD, the Chola ruler Kulottunga I conducted a campaign that successfully brought the Pandya and Chera countries, which were perhaps allied at the time, back under Chola authority. This campaign involved extensive military activity along the border between the Ay and Pandya countries.' Inscriptions describe the conquest of the Pandya country, the southern Western Ghats, and Cape Comorin, while placing emphasis on the delimitation of the boundaries of the Pandya country. They further record that while the "chaver" warriors of Kuda Malai Nadu attained their "unique heaven", Kulottunga rewarded his mounted commanders by granting them settlements along every major route, including one at Kottar, intended to strike terror into his enemies. Another record states that the Cholas subdued the numerous forces of the Keralas and compelled the obedience of rebellious groups of vassal kings.'
It appears that Chola forces advanced northwards from the south as far as the port of Kollam around 1097 AD. This thrust was probably led by the Chola general Naralokavira Kalinga Rayan.' A new era, known as "Kollam Azhintha Andu", perhaps commemorating this victory, was inaugurated by the Pandyas in 1097 AD. Literary references to Kulottunga's victory over the Chera Bow Emblem, the capture of Kanthalur Shala, the retreat of the Chera king from the battlefield, and the Chola occupation of Vizhinjam should be understood in connection with these events. Significantly, the port of Vizhinjam was renamed "Rajendra Chola Pattinam" by the Cholas in 1091 AD.'
The weakened authority of the Chera ruler during this period is evident from several inscriptions. In 1099 AD, Pulloor Kumaran Kumarathichan, the leader of the Nair warriors of Nedumpurayur Nadu in central Kerala, is recorded as administering the affairs of Nedumpuram Thali, a royal temple that had originally been state-sponsored. Earlier in the same year, Rama Kulasekhara, together with the Four Brahmin Ministers and the Thrikkunnappuzha, is recorded as residing at and issuing orders from the Great Temple at Kodungallur. In this record, the king ordered the cancellation of the Annual Dues and the War Tax levied on Perunneyathal.

Recovery of Kollam

Rama Kulasekhara appears to have recovered Kollam around c. 1102 AD.' A major battle, perhaps involving Mana Vikrama of Eranadu and his Nair warriors — known as the "Poonthura Nairs" — seems to have played a crucial role in this recovery. The Chola advance into the port of Kollam must therefore have been short-lived, with their forces perhaps retreating to Kottar.'
A reference survives to a council held at Kollam in 1102 CE, attended by king Rama Kulasekhara, his Brahmin council Nalu Thali, the Commander of the Thousand Nairs, the Leader of the Nairs of Venadu, and, among others, Mana Vikrama "Punthurakkon" — the future Zamorin — described as "the first among the samanthas". At this council, Rama Kulasekhara is said, in a somewhat unusual act, to have publicly atoned for the "wrongs" committed by him against the Brahmins. This record was probably issued in the aftermath of the violent recovery of Kollam.

Vikrama Chola's south Kerala campaign

The later years of Rama Kulasekhara's reign witnessed Vikrama Chola's campaign in south Kerala against the medieval Chera state.' This expedition was probably carried out by the Pandya Jatavarman Parakrama.' Records mention the defeat of the Chera in Malai Nadu, the levying of tribute from the Chera king, and the capture of Vizhinjam and Kanthalur Shala. The "Kupaka" ruler also appears to have offered his daughter in marriage to Parakrama Pandya; Parakrama is also recorded as having visited the Anantapuram Temple during this period.' The Vikrama Colan Ula remembers a coronation ceremony attended by the Thondaiman, who in a single campaign scattered the armies of Malai Nadu; the Kalingar Kon, who with his victorious banner put to flight many a prince in Vengai, Vizhinjam, Kollam, Irattam and Oddam; the king of Venadu, who drove the rogue elephant which caused people to tremble; the munificent Nulamban, who conquered Kottar belonging to the Pandyas, and Kollam; Thrigarthan, who overthrew Kongu and knocked down the crags of Kodagu; besides the Keralan and others.'
A Tanjore inscription of Vikrama Chola, dated to his fourth regnal year, notably refers to the flight of the Chera king to the Sea.' Rama Kulasekhara is also remembered in a Thiruvalanjuli inscription dated to 1122 AD, associated with a certain Kizhan Adikal or Chera princess. By 1121, an unnamed Kupaka ruler had defeated Pandya king Rajasimha and extended his conquests as far as Nanjinadu and Kottar.' Vira Kerala, the independent ruler of Venadu, is mentioned in a Cholapuram temple inscription dated to 1126 CE.
There is a tradition that the last Chera ruler of Kerala, towards the end of his reign, shifted his capital from Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur) to Kollam and became the ancestor of the Venadu rulers through his marriage to the Venadu princess. According to this tradition, the later rulers of Kodungallur were descended from his sister. Ramavarma's son, Vira Kerala, inherited his political authority and the title "Kulasekhara Perumal" in Kollam, while his sister's son, born to a Brahmin, inherited his religious authority in Kodungallur along with the sacred title "Koyil Adhikarikal". Traditional accounts further date the first marital alliances between princes bearing the title "Koyil Adhikarikal" and Venadu princesses to Kollam Era 300.

Epigraphic records

Note: Material: granite; script: Vattezhuthu with Grantha; and language: early Malayalam.

Quilon Inscription of Kollam 278

  • Sources: Travancore Archaeological Series & 'Index to Cera Inscriptions'

Literary evidences

A medieval Malayalam sloka names the last "Cheraman" as "Rama Varma".

Patron of Vasubhatta

Vasubhatta, a famous Yamaka poet of medieval Kerala, names his patron king as "Rama". A later commentary on a poem by Vasubhatta says that "Kulasekhara" was the regnal title of king Rama. Scholars generally consider this a result of confusion on the part of the commentators who were separated in time from Vasubhatta. Some scholars identify king Rama Kulasekhara as the patron of poet Vasubhatta. This view is generally found unacceptable on several counts.

Accounts of disappearance

It is popularly believed in the Kerala tradition that the last Chera ruler disappeared from the Kerala "mysteriously". In a popular version of the legend, the last Chera ruler or the Cheraman Perumal, before his departure from Kerala, converted to Islam. The legends are not clear about the religion the king seems to have converted. However, the legend of Cheraman Perumal was used by the later kings in Kerala for the legitimation of their rule.
Identification of the Cheraman Perumal from the legend with Rama Kulasekhara remains an ambiguous hypothesis.