SSC
According to Sangam literature, the founder (earliest known ruler) of the Chera dynasty was:
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Answer: Option D — Uthiyan Cheralathan
Detailed Solution
According to Sangam literature, Uthiyan Cheralathan (Udiyanjeral) is regarded as the earliest known ruler (founder) of the Chera dynasty.
About Uthiyan Cheralathan:
He is mentioned in Sangam poems, especially in the "Pathitrupathu" (Padirruppattu), a collection of poems about the Chera kings.
According to tradition, he is said to have fed both armies during the Kurukshetra war of the Mahabharata (a legend, not history), which earned him the title "Perunchottu Uthiyan Cheralathan" ("Uthiyan of the great feast").
His capital is believed to have been at Kuzhumur.
About the Cheras:
- The Cheras ruled the region of present-day Kerala and parts of western Tamil Nadu.
- They were one of the three crowned kingdoms (muvendar) of the Sangam age, along with the Cholas and the Pandyas.
- Their capital was Vanji (Karur), and their important ports were Muziris (Muchiri) and Tondi.
- Their emblem was the bow and arrow.
- They traded with the Romans, exporting pepper, spices and other goods.
Famous Chera rulers:
- Uthiyan Cheralathan: the earliest known ruler.
- Nedum Cheralathan: his son, who is said to have defeated the Yavanas (Greeks or Romans) and taken the title "Imayavaramban" (one whose boundary extended to the Himalayas).
- Senguttuvan ("the Red Chera"): the most famous Chera king; according to the "Silappadikaram", he brought a stone from the Himalayas to make an image of Kannagi, and started the "Pattini" cult (worship of Kannagi).
The Pathitrupathu:
- It is a collection of ten groups of ten poems each, praising ten Chera kings (eight groups survive).
- It is an important source for the history of the Cheras.
Other Sangam kings:
- Karikala: the most famous Chola king of the Sangam age; he built a dam (Kallanai) on the Kaveri.
- Nedunjeliyan: a famous Pandya king, who won the Battle of Talaiyalanganam.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Senguttuvan was a later Chera king.
- ✗Karikala was a Chola king.
- ✗Nedunjeliyan was a Pandya king.
Quick tip
Remember: earliest Chera king = Uthiyan Cheralathan (Pathitrupathu); Senguttuvan = Kannagi (Pattini) cult; Chera capital = Vanji; port = Muziris; emblem = bow.
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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.