Nedum Cheralathan

Nedum Cheralathan
Adhiraja
2nd Chera Ruler
Reign	58 years
Predecessor	Uthiyan Cheralathan
Successor	Vel Kelu Kuttuvan
Spouse	Nalchonai
Issue	Vel Kelu Kuttuvan Ilango Adigal
House	Chera
Father	Uthiyan Cheralathan

List of Chera kings Early Cheras Uthiyan Cheralathan  ·   Nedum Cheralathan  ·   Selva Kadumko Valiathan   ·   Senguttuvan Chera  · Illam Cheral Irumporai  ·   Mantaran Cheral Interregnum (c.300–800)

Later Cheras Kulashekhara Varma 800-820 Rajashekhara Varma 820-844 Sthanu Ravi Varma 844-885 Rama Varma Kulashekhara 885-917 Goda Ravi Varma 917-944 Indu Kotha Varma 944-962 Bhaskara Ravi Varma I 962-1019 Bhaskara Ravi Varma II 1019-1021 Vira Kerala 1021-1028 Rajasimha 1028-1043 Bhaskara Ravi Varma III 1043–1082 Ravi Rama Varma 1082-1090 Rama Varma Kulashekhara 1090-1102

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Nedum Cheralathan (Nedunjeral Athan) was a Chera king of the Sangam period in ancient South India, contemporary to the Chola ruler Perunarkilli. He is considered as the second known Chera King as per the literary works during Sangam period, and particularly in the Second Ten of Pathirruppaththu. Nedum Cheralatan succeeded his father, Uthiyan Cheralathan and ruled the kingdom for 58 years as a Crown Prince first and as an absolute king later.

Biography

Nedunjeral Athan was born to Udiyanjeral.^[1] He was a powerful ruler with several victories over neighboring kings during his tenure to his credit. Nedum Cheralathan consolidated the Chera kingdom, extended its frontiers, and literature and art developed highly during his period. He inflicted a crushing defeat on his enemies, the Kadambas of Banavasi.

Kannanar was Nedum Cheralathan's court poet. Among those victories, he's believed to have won over seven crowned kings and thus obtained the status of Adhiraja. He defeated an enemy on the Malabar Coast and captured several Yavana traders, later releasing them for ransom.^[1]

Kuttuvan, the first son of Nedunjeral Athan, is supposed to have conquered Kongu and extended the power of the Cheras up to the eastern and western oceans. One of the Adan's sons achieved military success against Anji, a chieftain of Tagadur, and lead an expedition against a ruler named Nannan, who held sway in the area to the north of Malabar.^[2]

Death

Nedunjeral Adan fought a war against a Chola king, an encounter in which both the principal adversaries lost their lives.^[1][3]

Notes

1. Singh 2008, p. 384.
2. Singh 2008, p. 385.
3. A Survey of Kerala History by A Sreedhara Menon

References

• Singh, Upinder (2008), A history of ancient and early medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century, New Delhi: Pearson Longman, ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0