Ko Kizhan Adikal Explained
Ko Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli was the traditional title of the queens/princesses of the Chera Perumal kingdom in medieval south India.[1] [2] It was initially assumed that Kizhan Adikal was a proper given name (and not a royal title).
The title was used by Kerala princesses (in the Tamil country) even after their marriages to Chola princes.[3]
Records
The title appears in the following inscriptions discovered from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Records associated with the Cholas
- "Ko Kizhan Adikal", mother of Chola prince Rajaditya, in a Tirunavalur/Tirumanallur inscription (c. 935 AD, 28th regnal year) of Chola king Parantaka I (907 — 955 AD) (EI VII, 19a).[4] [5]
- Lalgudi record of Cankaran Kunrappozhan, from Nandikkarai Puttur in Malainatu (Kerala), mentioning "Cheramanar makalar" "Ko Kizhan Adikal" (queen of Parantaka).[6]
- "Ravi Neeli" or "Kizhan Adikal ", daughter of "Cheramanar" or "Keralaraja" Vijayaraga, in a Tiruvotriyur inscription (936 AD, 29th regnal year) of king Parantaka I (Index 17 & SII III, 103).[7] [8]
- "Kizhan Adikal" appears in the Tiruvalla copper plates with her husband king Parantaka I (lines 109-111) (Index A80 & TAS II, III).[9]
There is a possibility that the princesses (1) and (3) are the same, or are sisters. If they were sisters, king Parantaka I married two distinct Chera Perumal princesses (the mothers of his two sons, Rajaditya and Arinjaya Chola).[10] The marriage between a Chera princess and Parantaka, c. 910 CE, is mentioned in the Udayendiram plates of Ganga king Prthivipati II Hastimalla.[11]
The velam of the Kizhan Adikal ("Kizhan Adikal Velam" or "Kizhai Velam") at Tanjavur is mentioned in three Chola inscriptions.
- Saranganatha Perumal Temple, Tiruchirai, Kumbakonam (5th regnal year) (SII 19, 150).
- Vedaranyeswara Temple, Vedaranyam, Tirutturaippundi, Tanjore (Parantaka I, 43rd regnal year) (SII 17, 530).
- Nageswaraswamin Temple, Kumbakonam (Aditya II Karikala, 4th regnal year, the mother of Rajaditya) — as "Udaya Pirattiyar Kizhan Adikal" (SII 3, 201).
Other Chera Perumal records
- "Ravi Neeli alias Kizhan Adikal", daughter of Kulasekhara and wife of Vijayaraga, in a Tirunandikkara inscription (9th century AD) (Index A7 & TAS IV, 36).[12]
- "Chatira Sikhamani alias Kizhan Adikal" or "Perumattiyar" in a Trikkakara inscription (953 AD) with Chera king Indu Goda (10th century AD) (Index A24 & TAS III, 36).[13]
- "Kizhan Adikal" in a Tiruvanchuli/Tiruvalanjuli temple (Tanjore) inscription mentioning Chera Perumal Rama Kulasekhara (fl. late 11th century AD) (SII III, 221).[14]
References
- Book: Narayanan, M. G. S.. Perumals of Kerala. CosmoBooks. 2013. 9788188765072. Thrissur (Kerala). 96-101, 437, 442, 445 and 473. 1972.
- 1987. 1920. Sastri. H. Krishna. No. 201. South Indian Inscriptions. III (Part III and IV). 377.
- Ali. Daud. 2007. The Service Retinues of the Chola Court. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 70. 3. 490. 10.1017/S0041977X0700081X. 40378936. 162530217.
- Book: Narayanan, M. G. S.. Perumals of Kerala. CosmoBooks. 2013. 9788188765072. Thrissur (Kerala). 100–101. 1972.
- Epigraphia Indica 7 (1902–03), no. 19a.
- South Indian Inscriptions 19 (1988), no. 408.
- South Indian Inscriptions 3 (1920), no. 103.
- Book: Perumals of Kerala. CosmoBooks. 2013. 9788188765072. Narayanan. M. G. S.. Thrissur (Kerala). 442–43. Index to Cera Inscriptions. 1972.
- Book: Perumals of Kerala. CosmoBooks. 2013. 9788188765072. Narayanan. M. G. S.. Thrissur (Kerala). 473. Index to Cera Inscriptions. 1972.
- Spencer. George. 1982. Ties that Bound: Royal Marriage Alliance in the Chola Period. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Asian Studies. Asian Research Service. Hong Kong. 723.
- South Indian Inscriptions 2 (1895), no. 76: v. 8.
- Book: Perumals of Kerala. CosmoBooks. 2013. 9788188765072. Narayanan. M. G. S.. Thrissur (Kerala). 437–38. Index to Cera Inscriptions. 1972.
- Book: Perumals of Kerala. CosmoBooks. 2013. 9788188765072. Narayanan. M. G. S.. Thrissur (Kerala). 445. Index to Cera Inscriptions. 1972.
- Narayanan. M. G. S.. 1993. Tewari. S. P.. A New Name in the Twilight of the Chera Kingdom in Kerala. Journal of the Epigraphical Society of India. The Epigraphical Society of India, Mysore. 19. 20.