Saturday, March 24, 2012

Nedumudi Killi Chola

Period:  Probably 150 AD - 200 AD

Nedumudi Killi was an early Chola king who lived during Silappadhikram period. His father and the famous Chera king Chenguttuvan's mother Narchonai were siblings. Hence, Chenguttuvan fought with nine competitors of Nedumudi Killi after his father's demise and made him as the Chola king.

The king was also called as Venver Killi, Maavan Killi, Killi, Vadiver Killi and Suzhar Killi.

Banas were princes who ruled North Arcot region. He married the Bana princess Ceerthi by name. His only son was Udaya Kumaran.

He had a younger brother named Ilan Killi, who ruled the country with Kanchipuram as his capital.

Within few years since he became the king, the Pandian king and Chera king attacked Chola land. It is not known who were those kings; there is a possibilitiy that there were few Pandian and Chera princes during that period. They were controlled and defeated by Ilan Killi in a place named 'Kariyaru'.

Manimegalai, the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi, had religious powers. Using that, she was feeding the poor people in Poompuhar. When the king came to know, he invited her to his palace and honoured her. He also coverted his prison into a 'Dharma sala'.

Udaya Kumaran fell in love with Manimegalai. However, Manimegalai, being a Buddhist saint, was interesting only in serving the poor. She diguised herself into a female named Kaya Chandikai. However, Udaya Kumaran knew this and still he was disturbing Manimegalai. By mistaking that Udaya Kumaran was running after his wife, Kaya Chandikai's husband Vidhyadhar killed him and went back to his own country. Manimegalai was put behind the bars by the king. The queen took her out of the prison and kept her under house arrest in her palace. She tortured her; utlimately she realized the greatness of Manimegalai and let her go.

Manimegalai went to various places. Ultimately, she came to know that there was a major poverty in Kanchipuram. To control the same, she went there. She was honoured by Ilan Killi. He also showed her the Buddhist temple that he had built.

Nedumudi Killi once fell in love with a girl he met in Poompuhar beach. He lived with her for one month and then he couldn't find her. From a Buddist, he came to know that she was Naga king Valaivanan's daughter Peelivalai. Peelivalai gave birth to a son. He sent that boy with a Chetti merchant in a ship to Poompuhar. The ship submerged in the ocean; the Chettiar somehow escapted to the land and told about this to the king. As the king thought he lost his son, he forgot everything including the annual Indra Vizha celebration. Due to this, the entire Poompuhar city was submerged in the ocean.

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