Vijayaraga ( fl. c. 849—895 AD) was the Chera Perumal ruler of medieval Kerala from c. 883/84— c. 895 AD. The reign of Vijayaraga likely witnessed the expansion of Chera Perumal influence into the neighboring Ay dynasty and Mushika dynasty countries (southern and northern Kerala).
Vijayaraga appears as the royal prince as early as the fifth regnal year of the Chera Perumal king Sthanu Ravi ( c. 849 AD). Records indicate that he married the daughter of Sthanu Ravi (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neel). An inscription referring to this princess has been found in the southern Ay dynasty. It is also possible that Vijayaraga was the nephew (sister's son) of Kulasekhara. Two of his daughters were married to the Chola dynasty king Parantaka I.
Vijayaraga was formerly identified with king Goda Ravi ( r. 905/06—c. 943/44) of the Chera Perumal dynasty.
Sources
Inscriptions
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Quilon Syrian copper plates (849 AD) — Mentioned as the royal prince (the Koyil Adhikarikal) under king Sthanu Ravi ( r. 844/45— c. 870/71 AD).
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Thirunandikkara inscription — inscription of a Chera Perumal princess (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli), wife of Vijayaraga and daughter of Sthanu Ravi.
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Thiruvotriyur inscription (936 AD, 29th regnal year) — inscription of a Chera Perumal princess (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neel), wife of Chola king Parantaka I and daughter of Vijayaraga.
Battle with the Ezhimala rulers
Vijayaraga is likely the same ruler described as the Kerala king 'Jayaraga' in the
Mushika-vamsha, an 11th-century dynastic chronicle from the northern Ezhimala country. According to the kavya, Jayaraga married the daughter of Kunchi Varma, the Ezhimala ruler of that period.
The text also states that Vijayaraga later led a military expedition to the Ezhimala country against his brother-in-law Ishana, with the forces reportedly meeting on the banks of the Parassini or Kottappuzha River. It was apparently Goda Varma "Keralaketu", the son of Jayaraga, who eventually re-established an uneasy peace between the two kingdoms, with Jayaraga receiving tribute.