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KERALA, or CHERA

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Originally appearing in Volume V15, Page 753 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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KERALA, or CHERA , the name of one of the three See also:ancient See also:Dravidian kingdoms of the Tamil See also:country of See also:southern See also:India, the other two being the Chola and the Pandya. Its See also:original territory comprised the country now contained in the See also:Malabar See also:district, with See also:Travancore and See also:Cochin, and later the country included in the See also:Coimbatore district and a See also:part of See also:Salem. The boundaries, however, naturally varied much from See also:time to time. The earliest references to this See also:kingdom appear in the edicts of See also:Asoka, where it is called Keralaputra (i.e. son of Kerala), a name which in a slightly corrupt See also:form is known to See also:Pliny and the author of the Periplus. There is See also:evidence of a lively See also:trade carried on by See also:sea with the See also:Roman See also:empire in the See also:early centuries of the See also:Christian era, but of the See also:political See also:history of the Kerala kingdom nothing is known beyond a See also:list of rajas compiled from See also:inscriptions, until in the loth See also:century the struggle began with the Cholas, by whom it was conquered and held till their over-throw by the Mahommedans in 1310. These in their turn were driven out by a See also:Hindu See also:confederation headed by the chiefs of See also:Vijayanagar, and Kerala was absorbed in the Vijayanagar empireuntil its destruction by the Mahommedans in 1565. For about 8o years it seems to have preserved a See also:precarious See also:independence under the naiks of See also:Madura, but in 164o was conquered by the Adil Shah See also:dynasty of See also:Bijapur and in 1652 seized by the See also:king of See also:Mysore. See V. A. See also:Smith, Early Hist. of India, See also:chap. xvi. (2nd ed., See also:Oxford, 1908).

End of Article: KERALA, or CHERA

Additional information and Comments

Kerala has an ancient tradition from the Stone Ages. Dolmens of the Ancient Chera Nobility exist in plenty in Marayur- Kaarayur region 45 Km from Munnar in the present Kerala State. Engraving on rocks by ancient people are still existing in Marayur, Wynad and Tenmala regions. Narvu, Thondi, Muchiri (Muziris) were the ancient ports which traded with China, Egypt, Rome etc., 20 centuries ago. Kerala was ruled by the First Chera Dynasty during first 3 centuries of CE. There are a large numbers of poems on Chera Kings in the Sangam Literature like 'Pathittupathu', 'Puranauru', 'Akanauru' etc. The first Chera Dynasty declined in the 3rd century and got revived in the 9th century. This second Chera Dynasty remained in power till 1102 CE when their capital Mahodayapuram was burned down by Kulothunga Chola, the King of Cholas. For more details on the first Chera Dynasty and their Origin log on to www.keralahistory.net
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