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Uthiyan Cheralathan (c. 130 CE, titles "Vanavarampan" or "Perum Chottu") is the earliest known Chera ruler of early historic south India (c. 1st - 4th century CE) from extant Tamil literary sources. He is widely regarded as the hero of the lost decad of the Pathitruppathu collection (the first decad).

His royal consort was Veliyan Nallini, the daughter of Veliyan Venman. He was succeeded by his son Nedum Cheralathan. Uthiyan Cheralathan was known by the royal epithet "Vanavarampan" (meaning either "One whose kingdom is bounded by the Sky" or the "Beloved of the Gods"). The latter title was previously adopted by the Maurya emperor Ashoka.

According to tradition, Uthiyan Cheralathan supplied the rival armies of the epic battle of Mahabharata with food (hence the title "Perum Chottu"). A later Chera ruler, Kottambalathu Thunchiya Makkothai, locates the great kitchen of Uthiyan Cheralathan at a location called "Kuzhumur" (somewhere in present-day Kerala).

Uthiyan Cheralathan is sometimes identified with Cheraman Perum Cheralathan. Perum Cheralathan was the opponent of Chola ruler Karikala in the battle of Venni. In the battle, the Chera was wounded on the back while leading the warriors. Not being able to bear the disgrace, he committed suicide by slow starvation. It is said that some of his companions also committed suicide unwilling to part with him.

Reference

1. ^ Aiyar, K. G. Sesha (1937). "Udiyan Ceralatan". Chera Kings of the Sangam Period. London: Luzac and Co. pp. 5–10.
2. ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1957). Comprehensive History of India, vol. 2: The Mauryas and Satavahanas. Bombay: Orient Longman. pp. 504–18.
3. Subbarayalu, Y. (2014). "Early Tamil Polity". In Karashima, Noburu (ed.). A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 49–50.
4. Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Longman. pp. 384–85. ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0.
5. Kanakasabhai, V. (1997) . The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago. Asian Educational Services. p. 90. ISBN 978-81-206-0150-5.
6. ^ Aiyar, K. G. Sesha (1937). "Adu-kot-pattuc-Ceralatan". Chera Kings of the Sangam Period. London: Luzac and Co. pp. 29–32.

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