JOURNAL

OF

THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY.

ART. I.-On the Geographical Limits, History, and Chronology of the Chera Kingdom of Ancient India, by MR. J. DowSON.

TRADITION and native records represent the southern portion of the Indian peninsula as being anciently divided into three contemporary kingdoms. 1. The Pandya. 2. Chola or Sora. 3. Chera, Sera or Konga. Of the first, a valuable account has been supplied by Professor Wilson, in Vol. III. of the Society's Journal; and of the other two, slight sketches have been given by the same learned writer, in the Introduction to his Catalogue of the M'Kenzie Collection: a more detailed notice of the last is the object of this paper.

The notices of this kingdom which have been published, have been drawn chiefly from a Tamil memoir, in the M'Kenzie Collection, called "Konga desa Charitra," or "Konga desa Rájákkal," of which a translation exists in the Library at the East India House; it has been noticed, in Professor Wilson's Catalogue, at p. 199, Vol. I., and in page 1 of the Rev. W. Taylor's Analysis of that Collection.

This Memoir gives the history of the Chera dynasty, of those Chola monarchs who held the country of Chera by conquest, and also of the Hoyisála or Bellála and the Vijayanagara dynasties, into whose power it successively fell. It is the only paper in the collection from which any useful notices of the Chera monarchs can be obtained, and the history of that dynasty rests at present mainly upon it. In style it is stated to be very different from the generality of Hindu writings of this class, and independently of its being our only authority, it merits a fuller notice than has yet been given of it. From the before-mentioned translation, the following Abstract of the first portion which relates to the Chera dynasty and its Chola conquerors, has been prepared, in which all important and useful information on that subject has been retained; the parts relating to the Bellála and Vijayanagara kings will be useful in any future accounts of those dynasties, but are unnecessary for our present purpose.

VOL. VIII.

B

The Rev. W. Taylor speaks of this memoir in high terms of commendation: he made a translation of the whole of it, which he intended for insertion in the "Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society;" it has however never appeared. In his Analysis of the M'Kenize Collection, he says it "is for the most part free from the mythological fable which usually disfigures Hindu documents, and is well supported by dates, in general referred to inscriptions which are mentioned, and many grants of land are specified with such reference. On the whole this is one of the best, and most valuable manuscripts in the collection." In qualification of this praise however, it must be observed that, the accounts it gives of the Hoyisála and Vijayanagara kingdoms differ in some instances from others, particularly in reducing the number of kings; and that implicit credence cannot be given to the dates in the first Part, will be seen from the observations which follow the Abstract; those of the second and third Parts appear to be tolerably correct.

The translation of this document in the volume of MSS. at the India House, is preceded by an introductory note, and an analysis of the first part relating to the Chera desa; to these no name is attached, but they are evidently the work of an European. The introductory matter supplies some valuable geographical information, which has been incorporated into the following observations upon that subject.

We will now give the abstract of the memoir, reserving further comment for the inquiry which will follow it.

1. The first king, named Sri Víra Rája Chakravartí, was born in the city of Skandapura, and was of the Reddy' or Ratta tribe (culam), and of the Súrya vamsa (solar race); he obtained the government of the country and ruled with justice and equity.

2. Govinda Raya, son of Víra Rája, was the next king.

3. Krishna Raya, son of Govinda Ráya, ruled next.

4. Kála Vallabha Ráya, son of Krishna Raya, was next in succession. Of these kings nothing more than their equity, justice, and renown is recorded.

5. Govinda Raya, son of Kála Vallabha, was the fifth in succession; he conquered the hostile rajas, exacted tribute from them, and ruled his country with justice and renown. This king made a grant of land to a Jaina Brahman, named Aristánan, for the performance of worship in the Jaina basti (temple) of Kongani Varma, in Vaisákha, A. Sál. 4,-year of the cycle, Subhánu (A.D. 82).

6. Chaturbhuja Kanara Deva Chakravartí succeeded; he was of the

1 A Telugu tribe. See Ellis's Mirasi Right, p. xii.

same race, but his parentage is not mentioned.

He is stated to have

had four hands'; he was versed in the art of archery and various sciences, and ruled with equity and renown, "obtaining the honorary insignia of all the other rájas."

A jaina named Nága Nandi, a learned and venerable man, was minister to the three last named rajas.

7. Tiru Vikrama Deva Chakravartí I., son of Chaturbhúja Kanara, succeeded, and was installed in A. Sál. 100 (A.D. 178), at Skandapura. The celebrated Sankaráchárya (called in the MSS. Sankara Deva) came to this king and converted him from the Jaina to the Saiva faith. After his conversion he marched into the southern country and conquered the Chola, Pándya, Kerala, and Malayálma countries, after which he returned. He made many grants in charity and in encouragement of the learned; a deed of grant, dated Vaisákha-sud A. Sál. 100,-year of the cycle, Sidhárthi (A.D. 178), to Narasimha Bhatt, Guru, of the Bharadwaja gotra, is stated to be in the temple of Sankara Deva, at Skandapura. This king governed the Karnáta as well as the Konga desa.

8. Kongani Varma Raya succeeded; he was of the Konávar or Konváyan tribe and Ganga kula, and was installed at Vijaya Skandapura in A. Sal. 111,-year of the cycle, Pramodúta (A.D. 188), and reigned for fifty-one years; he exacted tribute from many rájas whom he conquered, and "by his munificence and charity cleared away the sins of his predecessors of the Ganga race;" his title was Srimat Sampati Kongani Varma Dharma Mahádhi Ráya.

9. Srimat Mádhava Mahádhi Ráya, son of Kongani Varma, succeeded, and was installed in the government of the Konga desa, at Skandapura; he was learned in all the sciences and maxims of justice, ruled with equity, and was renowned for his munificence to the learned and the poor.

10. Srimat Hari Varma Mahádhi Ráya, son of Mádhava Raya, succeeded; he was installed at Skandapura, but "resided in the great city of Dalavanpura, in the Karnáta desa." He exacted tribute from many different rájas, and was renowned as an eminent hero among all kings; he ruled according to the maxims of polity, and being very wealthy made many grants of land, one of which is recited, viz., a grant of land in Tagatúr, a petta (suburb) of Tálakád to the Brahmans for the worship of Múlasthán Iswara in that place, dated Panguni, A. Sal. 210,-year of the cycle, Saumya (A.D. 288).

The writer of the MSS. has evidently understood the title Chatur-bhúja, “four armed,” as having a personal and literal reference to this prince; it is however a title of Vishnu, which is frequently assumed by his followers.

11. Vishnu Gopa Mahádhi Raya, son of Hari Varma, succeeded, and was installed at Tálakád or Dalavanpura; he conquered the Púrva-dik (eastern country) and was renowned as a great warrior; he made many grants to Brahmans and to the poor, and being a zealous votary of Vishnu, erected many temples to that deity; hence he derived his name of "Vishnu Gopa." "The Konga and Karnáta desas were both under his command:" having no children he adopted a lad of his own race, named him Mádhava, and resigned the crown to him.

12. Mádhava Mahádhi Ráya, adopted son of Vishnu Gopa, was installed at Dalavanpura, and ruled for some time under the orders of his father; but a son being born to Vishnu Gopa, that son was installed in the government.

13. Krishna Varma Mahádhi Ráya, son of Vishnu Gopa, was installed at Dalavanpura, and on that occasion he granted some "countries near the Kanavái and the mountains to his adoptive brother, Mádhava Mahádhi Ráya, who had lately ruled;" he governed the kingdom equitably; he was a zealous votary of Siva, and having set up a Linga at Dalavanpura granted some lands for its support: he had

no son.

14. Dindikára Ráya, son of Kúláti Ráya, of the family of Vishnu Gopa's adopted son Mádhava, ruled for some time, but was deposed by he Mantri Senapati of the late rája, who installed

15. Srimat Kongani Mahádhi Raya, son of Krishna Varma's younger sister, in A. Sál. 288,-year of the cycle, Parábhava (A.D. 366). This prince was learned in sciences and in languages, "he conquered all the desas and took tribute from their rájas," and granted many charities. A person named Yárachandra Dindikára Ráya, who had some desas under his charge during the reign of this king, made a grant of the village of Parola-kanúr near Alúr gráma.

16. Dúrvanítí Raya, son of Kongani Raya II., succeeded and ruled the Konga and Karnáta desas. This prince is represented to have been deeply versed in magic and the use of mantrams; by repeating the mystical word oм when his enemies were drawn up against him, they were enervated and dispirited, so that he obtained easy victories over them. He conquered the countries of Kerala, Pándya, Chola, Drávida, Andhra, and Kalinga, and exacted tribute from the rajas thereof; all hostile kings were afraid of him, and hence he was called Doony Veeroota Ráya (Dharma virodhi, or Punya virota) the unjust Ráya.

17. Múshakára Ráya, son of Dúrvanítí, succeeded, he was learned in the military art, and took tribute from those rájas whom his father had conquered, keeping them in subjection and fear. He resumed the

grants which had been made to the Brahmans and the poor; and hence he obtained the title of Brahmahatya Raya.

18. Tiru Vikrama II., son of Múshakára, succeeded; he was a learned man and well versed in the science of government; "he obtained possession of all the desas," and ruled them with justice.

19. Bhú Vikrama Ráya, son of Tiru Vikrama succeeded, and was installed in A. Sál. 461,-year of the cycle, Sidhárthi (A.D. 539). He ruled the two countries of Konga and Karnáta, and conquered many other countries. From the great number of elephants which he procured, the title of Gajapati was given to him; he had several weapons made of ivory which he kept by him as trophies of victory. He maintained all the charitable and religious grants which had been made by his ancestors in the countries which they had conquered, as well as in the Chera and Karnáta countries.

20. Kongani Mahádhi Raya III., succeeded his father Bhú Vikrama, and governed the countries with justice and equity. He made his brother commander of his armies, and several rájas having refused to pay tribute, he collected his armies and conquered the Chola, Pándya, Drávida, Andhra, Kalinga, Varada, and Maháráshtra desas, as far as the Nerbadda river, and took tribute from them; he then returned to his capital, Dalavanpura, which he strongly fortified, and made many benefactions. The title of Bhú Vikrama Ráya was taken by him. He acted in these campaigns, and in the government of the country, under the advice of his youngest brother Vallavagi Ráya.

21. Rája Govinda Raya succeeded his father, and ruled the country with equity and renown, subduing all the hostile rajas. He was "esteemed a most pure person in the Gangakula," and from his attachment to the Lingádhárí sect, was called Nandi Varma. This prince resided for some time at the city of Muganda-pattana.

22. Sivaga Mahá Ráya, brother of Govinda Ráya, succeeded; he was installed at Dalavanpura, but resided for some time at Mugandapattana, ruling the kingdom justly. In A. Sál. 591,-year of the cycle, Pramodúta (A.D. 668), he made a grant of the village called Halihalli to a learned Brahman of Drávida desa.

23. Prithiví Kongani Mahádhi Ráya, grandson (son's son) of Sivaga, succeeded; his commander-in-chief, Purusha Ráya, conquered the hostile rájas, and the king conferred upon him a grant of twelve villages near Skandapúra, and the title of Chavurya Parama Narendra Senádhipati, in Chaitra, A. Sál. 668,-year of the cycle, Párthiva (A.D. 746). This king ruled the country in felicity, and was known by the title Siva Mahá-rája.

24. Rája Malla Deva I., son of Vijayáditya Ráya, younger brother of