Uthiyan Cheralathan

Uthiyan Cheralathan
1st Chera Ruler
Reign	130 AD
Successor	Nedum Cheralathan
Spouse	Veliyan Nallini
Issue	Nedum Cheralathan
House	Chera

List of Chera kings Early Cheras Uthiyan Cheralathan  ·   Nedum Cheralathan  ·   Selva Kadumko Valiathan   ·   Senguttuvan Chera  · Illam Cheral Irumporai  ·   Mantaran Cheral Interregnum (c.300–800)

Later Cheras Kulashekhara Varma 800-820 Rajashekhara Varma 820-844 Sthanu Ravi Varma 844-885 Rama Varma Kulashekhara 885-917 Goda Ravi Varma 917-944 Indu Kotha Varma 944-962 Bhaskara Ravi Varma I 962-1019 Bhaskara Ravi Varma II 1019-1021 Vira Kerala 1021-1028 Rajasimha 1028-1043 Bhaskara Ravi Varma III 1043–1082 Ravi Rama Varma 1082-1090 Rama Varma Kulashekhara 1090-1102

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Uthiyan Cheralatan (Perum Chorru Udiyan Cheralathan, Athan I), or Udiyanjeral (AD c. 130) is the first recorded Chera ruler of the Sangam period in ancient South India.^[1][2] He had his capital at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (central Kerala) and expanded the kingdom northward and eastward from his original homeland. His lifetime is broadly determined to be between first and third century AD. His queen was Veliyan Nallini, the daughter of Veliyan Venman. Uthiyan Cheralathan was a contemporary of the Chola ruler Karikala Chola. He is praised for his elephant corps and cavalry.

His famous royal kitchen is said to have been at Kuzhumur. He is even fabled to have fed the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war.

During the reign of Uthiyan Cheralathan, foreign trade by the famous sea port Muziris flourished, bringing great prosperity to his kingdom. Uthiyan Cheralatan assumed the title "Vanavaramban" which could either mean "one whose kingdom reaches up to the sky" or "the one who's loved by the gods". The latter title was previously adopted by the Maurya emperor Ashoka. He went into several battles and in the Battle of Venni with Karikala Chola, his back was injured while leading the army. Being unable to bear the disgrace he is believed to have committed suicide by starvation, a common practice at the time. It is said that some of his companions also died with him unwilling to part him. Uthiyan Cheralatan was succeeded by his son, Nedum Cheralathan.

Notes

1. Singh 2008, p. 384.
2. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.

References

• Singh, Upinder (2008), A history of ancient and early medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century, New Delhi: Pearson Longman, ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0