Ay dynasty (transliteration: Āy, ), also known as Kupaka in medieval period,
The Ay formed one of the major rulers of early historic Kerala, along with the Chera dynasty of central Kerala and the Mushika dynasty in the north.
The Ay kingdom, whose ancient rulers could, at that time, be considered among the several "political chiefs", functioned as a buffer state between the powerful Pandyan dynasty/Chola dynasty and the Chera dynasty during the medieval period.
Origins
The medieval Ay lineage claimed its origins from the hill-chiefs the same name (the Ays) from early historic (pre-
Pallava dynasty) south India.
Members of the Ay family – of the
Pothigai – were related to the early historic
Chera dynasty of central Kerala.
Sri Padmanabhaswamy was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.
Relation to Travancore Royal Family
The Travancore Royal Family also traced their ancestry back to the Ay and Chera rulers.
As maintained by
The Travancore State Manual (1906), the Ay dynasty "originated" from the ruling royal dynasties of
North India.
According to P. Shungoonny Menon (1878), the Ay family were classified as
Kshatriya (by the
Nambudiri) and were related to the
Mushika dynasty dynasty of northern
Kerala.
History
The Ay clan was one of the major hill-chiefs (or the
Velir) of early historic south India.
Members of the Ay family – of the
Pothigai – were related to the early historic
Chera dynasty of central Kerala/western Tamil Nadu.
In ancient Tamil literature, they are represented as falling under the influence of the
Pandya dynasty at certain times and under the Chera sphere of control at others.
Towards the close of the early historic period,
Pandyan dynasty supremacy might have extended to the Ay territory (through it is likely that the Ay gained their independence during the
Kalabhra dynasty period).
Ay chieftains of early historic south India
A number of Ay (the Ay-vels) chiefs such as Andiran, Titiyan and Atiyan are mentioned in the early Tamil poems.
These rulers were renowned for their possession of numerous elephants, their control over the mountainous marches of the southernmost section of the
Western Ghats, including the prominent
Pothigai, as well as their palaces,
chariots, and horses.
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Ay Andiran is praised by early Tamil poets such as Uraiyur Enicheri Muda Mochiyar, Turaiyur Odaikizhar, and Kuttuvan Kiranar in Purananuru.
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Ay Titiyan or the Podiyil Chelvan is praised by authors Paranar and Bhuta Pandya (the Pandyan dynasty ruler) in Akananuru.
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Ay Atiyan, successor to Ay Titiyan, is mentioned by authors Paranar and Madurai Kanakkayanar in Akananuru. Paranar and Kanakkayanar also mention Podiyil Mala, the Ay base, as the property of Pachupun Pandya ("the Azhakiya Pandya"), the successor to Bhuta Pandya.
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An Ay ruler took part in the famous battle of Talai-yalankanam, in which the Pandya chief Nedum Chezhiyan defeated several of his enemies.
Originally the whole region of Venad kingdom (Vel+natu = the country of the Vel people, related to the Ay family) was part of the larger Ay-Vel territory.
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Veliyan Venmal Nallini, or "Venmal Nallini, the daughter of the Veliyan", was the wife of the Chera dynasty ruler Utiyan Cheralatan (dated to c. 130 CE).
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"Veliyan Venman" Ay Eyinan, possibly the son of the same Veliyan, was a prominent figure among the warriors assembled by the Chera ruler Perum Cheral Irumporai (c. 190 CE) to oppose Nannan of Ezhimalai (fl. c. 180 CE) in the renowned battle of Pazhi.
As medieval political chiefs
The Ay rulers of early medieval south India were among several local "political chiefs" who acknowledged the authority of major dynasties such as the
Chera dynasty or the
Pandya dynasty. Along with the
Mushika dynasty of northern Kerala, the Ays notably traced their lineage back to the early historic period. This ancient ancestry distinguished them from other chiefly families in Kerala, who were typically of more recent origin or had been "nominated" by the medieval Cheras.
However, shifts in allegiance between the Pandyas and the Cheras persisted. Although the Ay rulers adopted Pandya royal surnames such as "Srivallabha" and "Varaguna", they did not employ Pandya regnal years in their inscriptions, indicating a degree of autonomy despite the association.
Inscriptional evidence indicates that renewed
Pandya dynasty incursions into the southern Kerala began in the mid-8th century CE. Around 765 CE,
Pandyan dynasty king Jatila Paranthaka/Nedum "Maran" Chadayan Varaguna I (r. 765–815 CE) notably sacked the Ay port of
Vizhinjam by defeating the Vel chieftain (the "Vel Mannan", who might have been related to the Ay family) and took possession of the Ay-Vel country ("the fertile country along with its magnificent treasures") (Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Parantaka, 17th regnal year).
This event is perhaps also remembered in the Velvikkudi plates (3rd regnal year, Nedum Chadayan) as "the suppression of the rebellious Ay-Vel" (or at the battle of "nattukkurumbu").
The Pandya foray into southern Kerala may have drawn the medieval Chera rulers into the conflict, leading to a prolonged Pandya–Ay/Chera struggle.
By the 9th century CE, as a result of the encroachments of the Pandyas and the medieval Chera rulers, the ancient Ay territory was partitioned into two portions.
Srimara Srivallabha was succeeded on the Pandya dynasty throne by Varaguna II (r. 862–885 CE).
The Pandyas were defeated in the "great battle of Sripurambiyam" around 885 CE.
Legacy
In general, the influence of the Kerala rulers — such as the chieftains of
Venad, who owed allegiance to the medieval Chera rulers — seems to have extended into the southern Ay territory in the 10th century CE.
By the early 11th century, the entire region, including the port of
Vizhinjam and
Cape Comorin, had come under the control of the imperial
Chola dynasty.
The Senur inscription of emperor
Rajaraja I, dated to 1005 AD, notably mentions only the ruler of
Kollam (i. e., Venad) in southern Kerala.
There is a possibility that the Venad chieftains, following the Chola raids, attempted to recapture the old Ay region. Emperor Rajadhiraja claims to have "confined the undaunted king of Venadu back to the Cheranatu from... and liberated the Ay king of Kupaka... and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi flowers after the capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan the hid himself in terror inside the jungle" (an event dated to c. 1018/19 CE
A branch of the Ay family, which had established itself at Thrippappur and exercised control over the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, later appears to have merged with the Kizhperur house, the ruling lineage of Venad.
Major medieval Ay grants
+Major medieval Ay grants |
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| Parthivapuram Grant
(Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates) or (the "Huzur Office Plates of Kokkarunandadakkar") |
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Regnal year 9 = 865/66 CE (Ilamkulam; Narayanan, 1972)
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Regnal year 9 = 869 CE (Krishnan, 1989)
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Tamil (ending portion in Sanskrit).
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Establishment of Parthasarathy Vishnu Temple, Parthivapuram.
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Establishment of Parthivapuram Salai with the temple.
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Mentions the 'Rules of Parthivapuram Salai'.
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Calls the king a member of the 'Nanda and Yadava family'.
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| Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I | Regnal year 14 = 870 CE
(Narayanan, 1972) |
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Tamil (Vattezhuthu)
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A private donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple.
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| Tiruvidaikkodu inscription II | Regnal year 22 = 878/79 CE (Narayanan, 1972) |
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Tamil (Vattezhuthu)
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Donation to the Tiruvidaikkodu Shiva temple by Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha.
|
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| Thirunandikkarai (Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates) | Regnal year 8 = 892 CE (Narayanan, 1972) |
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Tamil (Tamil script with Grantha).
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Murukan Chendi as the Ay-kula Mahadevi.
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Donation of land by Vikramaditya to Murukan Chendi.
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| Paliyam Copper Plates | Regnal year 15 = 898 CE (Revised from 925 AD, Narayanan, 1972) |
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A large land donation to a Buddhism vihara in central Kerala by Vikramaditya Varaguna.
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Thirupparappu Plates | 9th century CE |
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Mentions king Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha.
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See also
Notes
Sources
Citations
