Ay kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Ay was the earliest ruling dynasty of the southern parts of present-day Kerala
, south India
. The Ay kings claimed descent from Yadavas or Ayar
.
. The Tamil kingdom of Ays is believed to have flourished from the early Sangam Age down to the 10th century AD with the capital at Nelkinda or Nelcynda near present day Thiruvalla, as mentioned by Plini who visited the Kerala region in the 1st century AD, under (or as an independent state) the suzerainty of the Madurai
Pandyan Dynasty
. The kingdom stretched from Thiruvalla in the north to Nagercoil
in the south. The most noteworthy rulers were Antiran, Atiyan and Titian. These kings were are extolled in the Tamil Sangam
Tamil poems. They were powerful until 10th century AD. But,their rule declined with the emergence of Tamil Venad
rulers (the capital of Venad was at Kollam). Around 1100 AD the Ay dynasty merged with Venad dynasty, forming the Venad
kingdom
The Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy refers to the region from River Baris (River Pampa
) which discharges into the sea at Thottapilly near Purakkadu to the north of present Kanyakumari
district as Aioi (Ay). Original home of these kings was at Aykudi near Palani
and were a tribe known as Veliyan. The queen of the first King of Chera dynasty
was Veliyan Nallini, obviously from this tribe. Veliyan Chieftain was the principal Military General of the First Chera
Kingdom. He annexed the Pandyan Trade Center located 22 km east of Thottapilly. This Trade center was called Nelcynda by the Roman scholar, Pliny the Elder
and the unknown author of 'Periplus Maris Erithrae'. Ptolemy
called it Nelkunda in his 'Geographia'. With the annexation of this trade center the Veliyan Chieftain was conferred the title "Ay" by the Chera King and the lands south of River Pampa
to the boundary of the chiefdom of Nanjil Valluvan (Thovala and Agastiswaram in Kanyakumari District
) was given to him as reward.
They established another Aykudi near Kuttalam in Tamil Nadu
and ruled from there. Ay rulers were one of the 18 independent rulers called Vel
in South India
. They later established their administrative capital at Vizhinjam
. The last Ay ruler Vikramadithya Varagunan transferred most of his remaining kingdom to a prince Veerakotha of Kulashekhara
or second Chera dynasty in the 10th century by a cooper plate edict called 'Paliam Chepped'. Later these lands were invaded by the Cholas. They were chased away by the last king of the Kulashekhara
Dynasty, Rama Varma Kulasekhara. The rulers of present Travancore Royal family
were also called Cheruay Moopan meaning the chieftain of the small Ay.
gives plenty of references to Ay Antiran, the greatest Ay ruler during the Sangam Age. He is referred to as the lord of the Podiyil mountain, the southern tip of the Western Ghats. He distinguished himself both as a warrior and as a man of peace. His brilliant achievement was his victory over the kings of the Kongu country. The Tin-neveli-Madurai region of Tamil Nadu recognised his suzerainty. Himself a patron of arts and letters, he extended his bounties to poets and other literary luminaries. Ay Antiran was a Saivite.
Karunandadakkan addressed himself to the arts of peace. He took much interest in the promotion of education and learning. His name is associated with the construction of the Parthivasekhar-apuram Vishnu temple. A Salai (Vedic college) was also established at this place. The famous Kandalur Salai is believed to have been established by him.
Vikramaditya Varaguna, the immediate successor distinguished himself as a tolerant ruler. The Paliyam Copper Plate Inscription testifies to this. This records the grant of extensive land to the Buddhist temple of Tirumulapadam, situated in the Chera empire. His region also was marked by a critical phase in the political supremacy between the Pandyas and the Cholas. Varaguna seems to have assisted the Pandyas in their fight against the Cholas. With the death of this ruler, the glory of the Ays departed. But, their rule declined with the emergence of Tamil Venad
rulers (the capital of Venad was at Kollam). Around 1100 AD the Ay dynasty merged with Venad dynasty, forming the Venad
kingdom
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, south India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Ay kings claimed descent from Yadavas or Ayar
Ayar
The word Ayar is derived from the Dravidian word "A" meaning cow. They were known as yadava in puranic history. In northern India they are still called Ahirs. In the Tamil land they were also called as Pothuvar or Commons apparently because they possosed friendship to the nagas and Tamil alike...
.
. The Tamil kingdom of Ays is believed to have flourished from the early Sangam Age down to the 10th century AD with the capital at Nelkinda or Nelcynda near present day Thiruvalla, as mentioned by Plini who visited the Kerala region in the 1st century AD, under (or as an independent state) the suzerainty of the Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
Pandyan Dynasty
Pandyan Kingdom
The Pandyan dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty. The Pandyas were one of the four Tamil dynasties , which ruled South India until the 15th century CE. They initially ruled their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a seaport on the Southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved...
. The kingdom stretched from Thiruvalla in the north to Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
in the south. The most noteworthy rulers were Antiran, Atiyan and Titian. These kings were are extolled in the Tamil Sangam
Sangam
The Tamil Sangams were assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to traditional Tamil accounts, occurred in the remote past. Three assemblies are described...
Tamil poems. They were powerful until 10th century AD. But,their rule declined with the emergence of Tamil Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
rulers (the capital of Venad was at Kollam). Around 1100 AD the Ay dynasty merged with Venad dynasty, forming the Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
kingdom
The Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy refers to the region from River Baris (River Pampa
Pampa
The Pampas are the fertile South American lowlands, covering more than , that include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Córdoba, most of Uruguay, and the southernmost Brazilian State, Rio Grande do Sul...
) which discharges into the sea at Thottapilly near Purakkadu to the north of present Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is also sometimes referred to as Cape Comorin. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is the geographical end of the Indian mainland. The district in Tamil Nadu where the town is located is called Kanyakumari...
district as Aioi (Ay). Original home of these kings was at Aykudi near Palani
Palani
Palani is a city and a municipality in the Dindigul district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located about 100 km South of Coimbatore City and 60 km west of Dindigul...
and were a tribe known as Veliyan. The queen of the first King of Chera dynasty
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
was Veliyan Nallini, obviously from this tribe. Veliyan Chieftain was the principal Military General of the First Chera
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
Kingdom. He annexed the Pandyan Trade Center located 22 km east of Thottapilly. This Trade center was called Nelcynda by the Roman scholar, Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
and the unknown author of 'Periplus Maris Erithrae'. Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
called it Nelkunda in his 'Geographia'. With the annexation of this trade center the Veliyan Chieftain was conferred the title "Ay" by the Chera King and the lands south of River Pampa
Pampa
The Pampas are the fertile South American lowlands, covering more than , that include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Córdoba, most of Uruguay, and the southernmost Brazilian State, Rio Grande do Sul...
to the boundary of the chiefdom of Nanjil Valluvan (Thovala and Agastiswaram in Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
) was given to him as reward.
They established another Aykudi near Kuttalam in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and ruled from there. Ay rulers were one of the 18 independent rulers called Vel
Vel
The Vel is the divine javelin/spear of the Hindu Deity Murugan.The spear used by ancient Tamils in warfare is also commonly known by this name.-Vel in Hindu Mythology:...
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. They later established their administrative capital at Vizhinjam
Vizhinjam
Vizhinjam is a locality of Thiruvananthapuram city in the Indian state of Kerala. Kovalam beach is just 3 km from Vizhinjam. The areas in and around Vizhinjam are known for its Ayurvedic treatment centers and internationally acclaimed beach resorts. As of 2001, the population was 18,566...
. The last Ay ruler Vikramadithya Varagunan transferred most of his remaining kingdom to a prince Veerakotha of Kulashekhara
Kulashekhara
Kulasekara Varman also known as Kulashekhara Alwar was the founder and King of the Later Chera Kingdom from 800 AD until his departure from public life, a devotional Vaishnavism poet and one of the 12 celebrated Alwars.The initial territories of Kulasekhara Varman included Kudamalainadu only...
or second Chera dynasty in the 10th century by a cooper plate edict called 'Paliam Chepped'. Later these lands were invaded by the Cholas. They were chased away by the last king of the Kulashekhara
Kulashekhara
Kulasekara Varman also known as Kulashekhara Alwar was the founder and King of the Later Chera Kingdom from 800 AD until his departure from public life, a devotional Vaishnavism poet and one of the 12 celebrated Alwars.The initial territories of Kulasekhara Varman included Kudamalainadu only...
Dynasty, Rama Varma Kulasekhara. The rulers of present Travancore Royal family
Travancore Royal Family
The Travancore Royal Family descended from the Venad line of the Cheras and ruled over the Indian state of Travancore until 1947.The Royal family, alternatively known as the Kupaka Royal Family, Thripappur Swaroopam, Venad Swaroopam, Vanchi Swaroopam etc., has its seat today at Trivandrum in...
were also called Cheruay Moopan meaning the chieftain of the small Ay.
Ay Antiran
PurananuruPurananuru
Purananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
gives plenty of references to Ay Antiran, the greatest Ay ruler during the Sangam Age. He is referred to as the lord of the Podiyil mountain, the southern tip of the Western Ghats. He distinguished himself both as a warrior and as a man of peace. His brilliant achievement was his victory over the kings of the Kongu country. The Tin-neveli-Madurai region of Tamil Nadu recognised his suzerainty. Himself a patron of arts and letters, he extended his bounties to poets and other literary luminaries. Ay Antiran was a Saivite.
Titiyan
The next important Ay ruler of the Sangam Age was Titiyan. Great poets like Kapilar and Paranar were his contemporaries. One great achievement of the monarch was that he settled some boundary disputes with the Pandyan Kingdom, when it was ruled by King Bhutapandya.Atiyan
Atiyan was another important ruler of the Ay kingdom during the Sangam Age. During his reign, the Ay kingdom was invaded by the Pandyas under Pasumpun Pandyan (Azhakia Pandyan) a warrior-king. Atiyan could not repulse the attack. He surrendered and lost those regions in Central and Southern Tra-vancore. Despite their best efforts, the Ays could not regain the prominence which they once enjoyed.Later Ay Kings
The immediate post Sangam Age was a dark period in the history of the Ays. During the 7th and 8th centuries the Ay-Pandyan conflict continued. But it was far from being productive of any advantage" to the Ays, despite a new friendship which they forged with the Cheras. However, in the 9th century, the Ay Kingdom came to be ruled by two illustrious rulers Karunandadakkan (857-85 AD) and his son Vikramaditya Vara-guna (885-925 AD).Karunandadakkan addressed himself to the arts of peace. He took much interest in the promotion of education and learning. His name is associated with the construction of the Parthivasekhar-apuram Vishnu temple. A Salai (Vedic college) was also established at this place. The famous Kandalur Salai is believed to have been established by him.
Vikramaditya Varaguna, the immediate successor distinguished himself as a tolerant ruler. The Paliyam Copper Plate Inscription testifies to this. This records the grant of extensive land to the Buddhist temple of Tirumulapadam, situated in the Chera empire. His region also was marked by a critical phase in the political supremacy between the Pandyas and the Cholas. Varaguna seems to have assisted the Pandyas in their fight against the Cholas. With the death of this ruler, the glory of the Ays departed. But, their rule declined with the emergence of Tamil Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
rulers (the capital of Venad was at Kollam). Around 1100 AD the Ay dynasty merged with Venad dynasty, forming the Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
kingdom
See also
- History of ThiruvananthapuramHistory of ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram city and several other places in the district occupy an important place in ancient tradition, folklores and literature of the State...
- History of KeralaHistory of KeralaThe history of Kerala goes back more than several millennia. Stone age carving in Edakkal Caves had pictorial writings believed to be dating to at least 5000 BC, from the Neolithic man, indicating the presence of a prehistoric civilization or settlement in this region. From as early as 3000 BC,...