INDIA , THAT IS BHARAT -A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, #BHARAT[PART-68][EP-297]

CHERA PERUMALS

We have already studied earlier about two CHERAS — EARLY CHERAS & KONGU CHERAS or MEDIEVAL CHERAS . But the history of CHERAS can’t be complete until we study about the last CHERA i.e CHERA PERUMALS . CHERA PERUMALS of MAKOTAI were the ruling Dynasty who ruled KERALA from 844 AD to 1124 AD . Their capital was MAHODAYAPURAM or MAKOTAI .They were preceded by the KONGU CHERAS and succeeded by the Kingdom of COCHIN . Important rulers of this Dynasty were STHANU RAVI VARMA (844-870 AD) and RAMA KULASEKHARA (1089-1124 AD) . Common languages of the people were MIDDLE TAMIL , SANSKRIT and OLD MALAYALAM . And their religion was HINDUISM . Initially , their influence appeared limited to the area between QUILON and QUILANDY . But later , they extended their territory up to CHANDRAGIRI river in the north KERALA and to NAGERCOIL in the south .The CHERA PERUMALS were often described as the member of SURYA VAMSA (the solar race) .The CHERA PERUMALS , like other CHERA rulers , are often associated with TAMIL language and culture as they were frequently mentioned in ancient TAMIL TEXTS and inscriptions . CHERA PERUMALS kingdom derived most of its wealth from maritime spice trade with the Middle East . Fertile wet lands were another source of income to the kingdom specially in the PERIYAR VALLEY . However , DONALD R. DAVIS Jr. has written ,“The Cera kingdom was not a strong, absolute monarch by any means, but a confederation of lords and powerful Brahmin communities under the mantle of PERUMAL .”

CHERA ECONOMY

CHERA economy can be described as pastoral-cum-agranian . From 2nd century BC to 3rd century AD,  CHERA economy can be described as semi-tribal political economy . On the other hand , a historian like RAJAN GURRUKAL has described ancient South INDIA as a collection of “unevenly evolved and kingship-based redistributive economies.” The GRAECO-ROMAN merchants provided considerable economic pace for the CHERA Kingdom . Spice trade was the major area of export from the CHERA Kingdom . Some geopolitical advantages like favourable monsoon winds , the abundance of exotic spices in the interior Ghat mountains , the presence of a large number of riders connecting Ghats with the ARABIAN Sea — combined made the CHERAS a major centre of economic activities in the ancient southern INDIA . In the first century AD , the ROMANS conquered EGYPT , which probably established ROMAN dominance in the INDIAN Ocean spice trade from CHERA Kingdom . MUZIRIS was the most important centre in the MALABAR COAST which abounded with large ships of ROMANS , ARABS and GREEKS . Bulk of spices , ivory , timber , pearls and gems were exported to the Middle East and Mediterranean Kingdoms .The ROMANS brought vast amounts of gold in exchange for black pepper .The PLINY THE ELDER has lamented the drain of ROMAN gold into INDIA and the CHINA for luxuries like spices , silk and muslin . However , with the decline of the ROMAN EMPIRE in 3rd— 4th century AD , the CHINESE and ARABS established their trade monopoly over spice trade from the CHERA Kingdom .

CHERA SOCIETY & CULTURE

Most of the CHERA Population followed native DRAVIDIAN religions . Religious practices might have been consisted of conducting sacrifices to various gods , such as the god MURUGAN . Worship of departed heroes was a common practice in the CHERA Kingdom .The war Goddess KORRAVAI was propitiated with elaborate offerings of meat and toddy . KOTTAVA resembles the present day Goddess DURGA . It is said that the first wave of BRAHMIN migration came to the CHERA territory in the 3rd century BC with or behind the JAIN and BUDDHIST missionaries . While the majority of population followed native religious practices , migrated people followed HINDUISM , BUDDHISM and JAINISM . By the first century AD , CHRISTIANS and JEWS were also present in the CHERA Kingdom .The early TAMIL TEXTS have referred about social stratification in the CHERA society .The word KUDI denotes castes . Women enjoyed the high status in the society . Agriculture and pastoralism were the primary occupation of the people . Harvesting , threshing and drying have been mentioned in the TAMIL TEXTS as primary agricultural occupations of the people . Poets and musicians were held in high regard in the CHERAN society .

NOTE : THE SOURCES OF THE BLOG ARE TEXT BOOKS AND OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS ON THE SUBJECT .

TO BE CONTINUED ……………….