Little known Chola princes

Periya Puranam, the epic about the devotees of Lord Shiva, which was written by Sekkizhar has references about few Chola kings arguably during the period of Kalapirars. As there is no other historical record about these incidents or kings, the consolidated information is given in this post.

It is believed that Kootruva Nayanar was a Kalappirar king. He won many countries and wanted the Brahmins of Chidambaran to coronate him. The brahmins declined that citing that they would coronate only Cholas. They were afraid of him and hence they ran out to Chera country.

When Thandi Adigal of 8th century AD was arguing with Jains, the Chola king played the role of the judge. The Jain saints lost the competition and he sent them out of Tiruvarur.

During the period of Tirunavukkarasar, a Chola king was ruling from Pazhaiyarai. He helped the saint to discover the Shiv Linga idol which was hidden by the Jain saints. He also chased them away.

Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar went to Tiruppananthal. There, the Chola king was trying to straight the idol of Shiv Linga which was slightly slanting by pulling it by his elephants. As he was not successful, the saint tried and achieved the same.

The wife of Nedumaran, Mangaiyarkkarasi was probably the daughter of some Chola king. Nedumaran ruled Pandian kingdom from Madurai in the middle of 7th century AD. He was also called as 'Nelveli vendra Nindra Seer Nedumaran'.

Sundarar and Cheraman Peramal went to Pandian king (Kochchadaiyan Ranadheeran). Pandian had a Chola prince as his son in law. All four of them visited many pilgrim sites.

Also, there are references found in Vaishnaivite texts too. It appears that there was a Chola king during Tondaradi Podi Alwar's period. There was a Chola king named 'Dharma Varman'; his daughter Uraiyur Nachiar declined to marry anyone else other than Lord Vishnu. Tirumangai Alwar was a Chola general.

In 831 AD, there was a Chola prince Kumaarankusan by name. He was a great warrior and philanthropist.

In the middle of 9th century AD, the Pandian king Seemaran Seevallabhan won the battle in Kudamooku (Kumbakonam) over Chola, Ganga and Pallava kings. The Pallava king named 'Thellaru erindha Nandivarman' who was ruling between 825 AD and 847 AD won a Chola king (as per Nandi Kalampakam).

Overall, it appears that during the dark age, the Cholas lost thier power and were serving as princes from Pazhaiyarai under the control of Pallavas and Pandians. Few kings migrated to Andhra and ruled from Kadappa and Karnool regions; they were later called as Telugu Cholas.

Although there are no much historical records about the Chola kings during the dark age, to some extent the information given above is known from the following sources: Nandi Kalambakam book, Periya Puranam book, Vellore copper plates and Chinnamanoor copper plates.

Renadu Cholas

The princes who ruled Renadu region (current Cuddappah - Kurnool region) during the 7th century AD were called as Renadu Cholas. The Chinese traveler Yuan Chwang who visited this region in 639-640 AD has written that he had visited Chola kingdom. These kings claimed that they belonged to Karikala Chola's dynasty. It is not clear how and when these people moved to Andhra.They used lion symbol (not tiger).

As they had accepted the supermacy of Pallavas, their names also resemble Pallava kings. Nandi Varman was a Renadu Chola. He had three sons - Simha Vishnu, Suddhanandan, Dhananjayavarman. Dhananjayavarman's son was Mahendra Vikramavarman. He had two sons - Gunamudidan and Punyakumaran.Punyakumaran was the last king of Renadu Cholas. His wife name was 'Vasanta Pottri Chola Madevi'. She was believed to be from Chalukya dynasty.

Apart from those who mentioned above, there was a king named Chola Maha Rajathirajan Vikramaditya Satyadityanna. His wife was Ilan Chola Madevi. He ruled Renadu as well as Chittavud.

Pugazh Chola

Period: Probably between 300 AD and 600 AD

In Periya Puranam, there is a reference about Pugazh Chola. He became one of 63 nayanmars - the sacred devotees of Lord Shiva. He is believed to have lived during the Kalabhras (Kalappirar) period.

Kochenganan Chola

Period: Tamil Sanga Period or sometime between 400 AD and 600 AD

There are two different theories about Kochenganan Chola. Some scholars believe that he lived during the Tamil Sangam age and he was the one who fought with the Chera king Kanaikkal Irumborai. It is referred in Pura Nanooru.

There are other scholars who claim that Pura Nanooru did not talk about this king. According to them, this king was a powerful Chola king lived during Kalabhras period. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and built around 70 Shiva temples. He also won Kongu and Thondai countries. It is also believed that he could have fought with Buddha Varman Pallava and won him. Buddha Varman was the son of Simha Vishnu Pallava.

His parents were Suba Devan and Kamalavathi.

Udaya Kumaran Chola

Period:  Probably 150 AD - 200 AD

Udaya Kumaran was the son of Nedumudi Killi, who was an early Chola king lived during Silappadhikram period.  Banas were princes who ruled North Arcot region. The Bana princess Ceerthi was Udaya Kumaran's mother.

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.

Ilan Killi

Period:  Probably 150 AD - 200 AD

Ilan Killi was an early Chola king who ruled during the Silappadhikaram period.  He ruled the northern region of Chola with Kanchipuram as his capital. He had an elder brother Nedumudi Killi by name. 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.

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 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.

Nal Urudhiran Chola

Cholan Nal Urudhiran was an early Chola lived during the Sangam period. He was also a poet. There is nothing much known about this king.

Nedunkilli Chola

Period: Probably 1st century BC

Nedunkilli was one of the early Cholas. During the same peirod, there was another Chola kind named Nalankilli, the son of Karikalan, became the Chola ruler in Pumpuhar. Nedunkilli ruled the country from Aavur city. He occupied Urayur city from Nalankilli. Hence, Nalankilli attacked Aavur fort. Nedunkilli was not so brave as Nalankilli. He closed the doors of fort and was inside the fortress without facing Nalankilli. Then, he somehow escaped to Uraiyur. Nalankilli came to know this and attacked Uraiyur fort also. The Sangam poet Kovoor Kizhaar tried to make peace between them in vain. Ultimately, there was a battle between both the kings in a place called Kariyaru. Nedunkilli was killed in the battle.

Musukunda Chakravarthy

Period: Before 3rd century BC; no historical records

Musukunda Chakravarthy was a mythological king; he was believed to have ruled Chola kingdom from Karur city. As per certain Hindu Puranas such as Vishnu Purana and Skanda Purana, he had monkey face and human body.

He helped Devendra, the Lord of Devas, in a battle and became his friend. As a token of appreciation, he got seven Shiv Linga idols from Indira. He installed them in seven places in South India. Those sites are called as 'Saptavidanga Sthalam'.

As per the mythology, Indira sent a bhooth (ghost) to serve Musukundan. The bhooth served in a market place in Poompuhar city. It was believed that it used to punish the citizens if they missed to celebrate 'Indira Vizha' (festival to Indira) every year. The ghost was named as 'Nalangadi Bhootham'.

The references about this king are found in ancient books such as Silappadikaram, Manimegalai, Oru Thurai Kovai, etc.

Cholas during Kalappirar (Kalabhras) Period

 Tamil Nadu was ruled by Kalappirar aka Kalabhras for about three centuries from 3^rd or 4^th century AD. After their decline it was ruled by Pallavas and Pandyas for the next three centuries. Cholas came to limelight again in the middle of 9^th century AD during Vijayalayala Chola.

There is nothing much known about Cholas for about six centuries except for some references about them in some books such as Periya Puranam. It appears that some of them moved to Andhra area and called as Telugu Cholas and there were others who lived on the banks of river Kaveri. They either worked for Pandyas and Pallavas or married their women to them.

It is not clearly known who were Kalappirars actually. They appeared to be bandit group. It appears it was due to them that the Cholas declined in the 3rd century AD. They were defeated by Pandyas and Pallavas in the 6^th century AD. There are references about a Kalappirar king named Achchutavikkandan who claimed to have won Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas. He was a Buddhist. The reference was found in a book written by Buddhadatta (period: probably 450 AD).

 Although there are some records about Telugu Cholas, there are no much records about Tamil Cholas during Kalappirar period and Pallava/Pandya period. Only few references and records are available. Various Chalukya, Pandya, and Pallava kings claimed that they have won Cholas or captured Chola kingdoms. However, it is unknown how much truth was there in those records.

As per Periya Puranam, the Pandya king who lived during the period of Tirugnana Sambanda had a Chola princess named Mangaiyarkarasi as his wife. There was a Chola king named Pugal Chola Nayanar who won Karoor. When Sundarar went to Madurai along with Seraman Perumal, he saw a Chola prince who had married a Pandya princess. Uraiyur Nachchiyar who married Lord Ranganath was the daughter of the Chola king Dharmavarman.

Kochchenganan Chola

Kochchenganan Chola was an early Chola king who probably lived during the Tamil Sangam age. Similar to Karikala Chola, this king also has a lot of mythological stories more than historical records.

There are references to Kochchenganan in old Tamil works such as Kalingaththu Barani, Vikrama Chola Ula, Pura Nanooru and Periya Puranam. Unfortunately, most of them could be categorized only as myth and not as history. As per the mythology, this king was a spider in his previous birth.

Kochchenganan defeated the Chera king Kanaikkal Irumborai in a place called Kazhumalam near Karur. Kanaikkal was arrested and put behind the bars. Kanaikkal was a poet too. As per his poems found in the old Tamil work 'Pura Nanoonuru', he had to beg the soldiers for water. The poet Poigaiyaar intervened and got his released from the prison.

Kochchenganan built many Shiva temples. The prominent Shiva temple that was built by him is Tiruvanaikal temple.

Nambi Nedunchezhiyan

Nambi Nedunchezhiyan was a Chola prince who lived during the Tamil Sangam age. Nothing much is known about him.

Nalluruddhiran Chola

Nalluruddhiran Chola was an early Chola prince lived during the Tamil Sangam period. There is no much information available about him in the history. This king was also a poet. His poems are found in 'Kaliththogai'.

Pervai Kopperunarkilli

Pervai Kopperunarkilli was an early Chola king who lived during the Tamil Sangam period. Pervai Kopperunarkilli was sung in Agananooru. He had troubles with his father Tiththan and he was ruling from Uraiyur. He had a sister named Aiyai.

He was believed to be the son of Thiththan.

Tiththan

Tiththan was an early Chola king who believe to have lived even before the famous Karikala Chola. He had a son named Pervai Kopperunarkilli and a daughter named Aiyai. He was ruling from Uraiyur. He had problems with his son. Tiththan defeated Katti and Bana king who conquered Chola kingdom.

He was also a poet; his poem is found in 'Aga Nanoonuru'.

Verpakradakkai Perunar Killi

Verpakradakkai Perunar Killi was an early Chola king who lived during the Tamil Sangam period. Verpakradakkai Perunar Killi and the Chera king Kudakko Neduncheralathan fought. Both of them died in the battlefield. In the battle, he got help from the Tirukovalur king Malayaman. The reference is found in Pura Nanoonuru.

This king was also called as 'Rasasooyam Vetta Perunar Killi'. He had good relationship with his contemporary Chera king Mari Venko and Pandian king Kanaper Thandha Ukkira Peruvazhuthi.

Tirumavalavan

Tirumavalavan was an early Chola prince who lived during the Tamil Sangam period.

Perum Tirumavalavan Chola

Perum Tirumavalavan was an early Chola prince who lived during the Tamil Sangam age. He was the friend of Chera king Peruvazhuthi.

Kopperu Narkilli Chola

Kopperu Narkilli was an early Chola prince who ruled a small region in Chola kingdom during the Sangam period. There is no information availabel about him except for a poem in which it was written that once he was riding an elephant and the elephant carrying him ran away to Karur.