Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan was a feudatory of the Chola kings Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...

 and chief of the Samanthas of North Arcot

North Arcot

The Indian District of North Arcot was split on 30-09-1989 into Tiruvannamalai-Sambuvarayar and North Arcot Ambedkar .- History :...

. He was married to Kundavai, the elder sister of Raja Raja I. The territory under his authority was known as Vallavaraiyarnadu. Vandiyadevan is idealized in Kalki's romantic novel Ponniyin Selvan

Ponniyin Selvan

Ponniyin Selvan is a 2400 page 20th-century Tamil historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Written in 5 volumes, this narrates the story of Arulmozhivarman , one of the kings of the Chola Dynasty during the 10th-11th century CE period.-Historical background:Ponniyin Selvan is a historical...

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Origins

His origins and clan are subjects of great debate. Kalki Krishnamurthy

Kalki Krishnamurthy

Kalki was the pen name of R. Krishnamurthy , a noted Tamil writer, film & music critic, Indian independence activist and journalist from Tamil Nadu, India.- Biography:...

 strongly believed his clan is Vaanar Kulam (Bana Kingdom

Bana Kingdom

The Banas were a dynasty of South India, who claimed descent from the asura Mahabali. The dynasty takes its name from Bana, the son of Mahabali. The Banas faced opposition from several neighbouring dynasties and served some major dynasties such as the Cholas and Pandyas as feudatories, sometimes...

 / Magadai Mandalam

Magadai

Magadai or Magadai Mandalam was a Tamil dynasty that flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries near the modern-day Aragalur. Aragalurudaiya Ponparappinan Rajarajadevan, alias Magadesan, was the Bana chief who ruled this region around 1197...

) and depicted the same in his famous novel Ponniyin Selvan

Ponniyin Selvan

Ponniyin Selvan is a 2400 page 20th-century Tamil historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Written in 5 volumes, this narrates the story of Arulmozhivarman , one of the kings of the Chola Dynasty during the 10th-11th century CE period.-Historical background:Ponniyin Selvan is a historical...

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Evidences

His name is referred in Thanjavur Big Temple inscription in which he is referred to as the husband of Kundavai Pirattiyar

Kundavai

Kundavai was an historic name for a number of women of royal lineage connected with the Chola dynasty in southern India around the 10th century....

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A life sized statue depicting Vanthiyathevan controlling a horse is erected in Chennai near Anna Flyover in Mount Road as an honour to this great personality during the first tenure of Mr. Karunanidhi as Chief Minister (This was to capture the banning of horse race by the government of Tamil Nadu is a different background altogether)

External links

1. Ponniyin Selvan - Complete Novel in Tamil Wikisource (Unicode)
2. Rajakesari, a new novel written by Gokul Seshadri, happens during the later part of Rajaraja Chola's life. It is a historic thriller that can be read in full from Varalaaru monthly e-magazine's website.To read the novel, Click here
3. Cherar Kottai (Part-II of Rajakesari), another novel also by Gokul Seshadri happens during the early part of Rajaraja Chola's life. It fully explains the circumstances under which Rajaraja makes his first and memorable victory over Kanthaloor Chalai - a chera martial arts academy. It is a historic fiction that can be read from Varalaaru monthly e-magazine's website.To read the novel, Click here
4. Kalvettu Sonna Kadaigal Series in Varalaaru.com Magazine
   Varalaru
   Varalaru is a monthly web magazine dedicated to South Indian History. With more than , this magazine strives to bring lesser known facts about various temples of South India which are rich in inscriptions and sculptures....