The Cheras were one of the three ancient Tamil dynasties who ruled the southern tip of the peninsula of India for most of its early history.
The Cheras ruled over the Malabar coast in the South Western India. This is the modern day Kerala State in the Indian Union. The other two major dynasties were Cholas in the eastern Coramandal coast and Pandyas in the south central peninsula. These dynasties came into existence in the later centuries BCE and were in constant conflict with one another. Despite this (or because of it) in this period Tamil language, arts and literature prospered.
The Chera capital was Vanchi. Its exact location is still a matter of conjecture. Possibilities range from Karur, near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, to areas closer to Kochi. Twenty five Cheran kings are recorded, including details of their reigns and accomplishments. They secured and maintained large armies, and fought neighboring kingdoms to acquire or expand their domain. They confronted and crushed piracy on the high seas. In an tempt to restore harmony they sometimes married women of warring neighbors.
Throughout the reign of the Cheras, Trade continued to bring prosperity to Kerala with spices, ivory, timber and gems being exported to the Middle East and southern Europe.
Belief systems as well as products were exchanged. Early beliefs and religious practices generally has a naturist or animist basis people housed the elements of the cosmos as well as the trees and animals, believing that such entities embodied the spirits of deities. It seem that ancestor worth was also practiced the early stone monuments being indicative of this custom. Cheras kings prayed to a goddess whom they honored with chanting, drumming and rice offerings. Around the 3rd to 2nd centuries BCE, both Buddhism and Jainism came to Kerala. Trade with the Middle East may have established early contact with Judaism. In fact some accounts relate King Solomon’s court as receiving spices, ivory and peacocks form Kerala. Fleeing the ravages of Jerusalem, Jewish settlers may have arrived as early as 70 CE. Christianity may also have made inroads, with some accounts suggesting that Thomas the Apostle arrived in 52CE.
Throughout the reign of the Cheras, trade continued to bring prosperity to Kerala, with spices, ivory, timber, pearls and gems being exported to the Middle East and to southern Europe.
Perum Cheral Irumporai was the son of Azhiyathan and Ilam Cheral Irumporai was the son of a chera ruler Kuttuvan Irumporai of unknown decent.
The name of the Chera king is not known, however from the details of the battles between the Pandya and the Chera, the Chera territory seems to have included the entire Malabar coastand the southern Pandya country from Kanyakumari to Thirunelveli.
Chera (or Kerala) is the name of a Tamil dynasty that for over eleven centuries ruled most of the area of the modern state of Kerala as well as western districts of what is now the state of TamilNadu in southern India.
The Chera capital was originally Vanji, on the Periyar River near Cochin; later Tiru-vanjikkalam near the mouth of that river became the capital.
Today the modern population in the area of the former Chera kingdom is probably ethnically similar to the ancient inhabitants, and the Dravidian languages of Tamil and Malayalam are spoken in the region.
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