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.

Chenguttuvan Chera

Period:  Probably 150 AD - 200 AD

Cheran Chenguttuvan was a famous early Chera king who lived during Silappadhikram period. The Chola king Nedumudi Killi's father and his 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.

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.