Ay dynasty | |||||||
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 AYS (AY-VELS) | |||||||
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| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
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| Today part of | |||||||
Ay dynasty (transliteration: Āy,IPA:[aːj]), also known asKupaka in medieval period,[2] was an Indian dynasty which controlled the south-western tip of thepeninsula, from the early historic period up to the medieval period.[3] The clan traditionally held sway over the port ofVizhinjam, the fertile region ofNanjinad, and southern parts of the spice-producingWestern Ghat mountains.[2]
The Ay formed one of the major rulers of early historicKerala, along with theCheras of central Kerala and theMushikas of Ezhimalai in the north.[4][1]Greek geographerClaudius Ptolemy (2nd century CE) described the "Aioi" territory as extending from theBaris (Pamba) toCape Comorin (Kanyakumari).[5] Theelephant was the emblem of the early historic Ay rulers.[5]
The Ay kingdom, whose ancient rulers could, at that time, be considered among the several "political chiefs", functioned as a buffer state between the powerfulPandyas/Cholas and theCheras (Kerala) during the medieval period.[5][6] A number of kings such as Chadayan Karunanthan (788/89 CE), Karunandatakkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884 CE[7]), andVikramaditya "Varaguna" (r. c. 884–911/920 CE[7]) figure as the Ay chiefs of the port of Vizhinjam.[1] The famousBrahminsalai at Kanthalur, somewhere near present-dayTrivandrum, was located in the Ay kingdom. Thesalai was sacked by Chola emperorRajaraja I (985–1014 CE)[8] in c. 988 CE.[1] Historians assume that the Ay were a leading power in south Kerala till c. 10th century CE.[9]
The medieval Ay lineage claimed its origins from the hill-chiefs the same name (the Ays) from early historic (pre-Pallava) south India.[4][3] Members of the Ay family – of the Podiyil Hills (the Aykudi) – were related to the early historicCheras of central Kerala.[1]
Sri Padmanabhaswamy was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family.[10] The medieval Ay claimed that they belonged to theYadava orVrishni lineage (Paliyam Copper Plates).[11][12] This claim was advanced by the later rulers ofVenad andTravancore.[11] Ays are also described as having come to the south India fromDwaraka along with sageAgastya.[5]
TheTravancore Royal Family also traced their ancestry back to the Ay and Chera rulers.[12][11] As maintained byThe Travancore State Manual (1906), the Ay dynasty "originated" from the ruling royal dynasties ofnorthern India.[12] According to P. Shungoonny Menon (1878), the Ay family were classified asPure Kshatriyas (by theNambudiri Brahmins) and were related to the Mushika dynasty of northernKerala.[13]
The Ay clan was one of the major hill-chiefs of early historic south India.[5] Members of the Ay family – of the Podiyil Hills (the Aykudi) – were related to the early historicCheras of central Kerala.[1] Towards the close of the early historic period,Pandya supremacy might have extended to the Ay territory (through it is likely that the Ay gained their independence during theKalabhra period).[1][5]
A number of Ay chiefs such as Andiran, Titiyan and Atiyan are mentioned in the early Tamil poems.[1]
Originally the whole region of Venad (Vel+natu = the country of the Vel people, related to the Ay family) was part of the larger Ay-Vel territory.[14] Persons (the Vels) belonging to the Ay family were the chieftains of the Vel country.[15]
The Ay rulers of early medieval south India were among several local "political chiefs" who acknowledged the overlordship of a major monarch, such as the Chera or the Pandya. Much like the Mushikas of northern Kerala, the medieval Ays traced their descent back to the early historic period. Thus, the Ays and Mushikas were distinct from the other "hereditary" or "nominated" chiefly families of Kerala.[6]
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Inc. 765 CE,Pandya king Jatila Paranthaka/Nedum "Maran" Chadayan Varaguna I (r. 765–815 CE) sacked portVizhinjam 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 year).[9][16] This event is 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").[16]
The Pandya foray into south Kerala brought theChera-Perumal rulers into the conflict and a prolonged Pandya-Ay/Chera struggle followed.[16]
In the 9th century CE, as a result of the encroachment of the Pandyas and Chera-Perumals, the ancient Ay territory was partitioned into two portions.[17]Venad (the country of the Vel people) with its base atKollam came under influence of theChera-Perumal kingdom[9] while the Ay kingdom, or what was left of it, with its base atVizhinjam came under the influence of the Pandya ruler Srimara Srivallabha (r. 815–862).[17][3] Larger Cinnamanur Plates do mention a victory of king Srivallabha at Vizhinjam. Ay vassal of the Pandya king Srimara Srivallabha was certain Karunanthadakkkan Srivallabha (r. c. 856/57–884).[18]
Srimara Srivallabha was succeeded on the Pandya throne by Varaguna II (r. 862–885 CE).[1] The Ay kings of Vizhinjam remained vassals of the Pandyas, as indicated by the surname of the then kingVikramaditya (r. c. 884–911/920 CE[7]).[1]
The Pandyas were defeated in the "great battle of Sripurambiyam" in c. 885 CE.[19] Chera Perumal's considerable influence in the Ay country following this battle is visible in two records discovered from that region.[19] A record of theKizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli, the wife of Chera PerumalVijayaraga, can be found in Tirunandikkara, a Shiva temple located in the Ay country.[19][20] In 898 CE, Vikramaditya Varaguna is seen making huge land gifts to the SrimulavasaBuddhistvihara in the Chera Perumal kingdom (thePaliyam copper plates).[1][6]
The chieftains of Venad, owing allegiance to the Chera-Perumals, were determined on extending their sway into the Ay kingdom.[1] Their opportunity might have came in the disorder following the Chola defeat atTakkolam (mid-10 century CE).[1] The Venad chieftains were eventually successful in capturing the whole Ay country down to Kottaru.[1] In general, the influence of the Kerala rulers spread into the southern Ay territory in the 10th century CE.[9]
The famoussalai at Kantalur, somewhere near present-dayTrivandrum, was located in the Ay country (865 CE, Huzur/Parthivapuram Plates, Karunanthadakkkan). Thesalai was sacked by Chola emperorRajaraja I in c. 988 CE (fourth regnal year).[1][8]
The entire region to the south ofTrivandrum, including the port ofVizhinjam andCape Comorin, came under the control of king Rajaraja in the early 11th century.[1] The kings of Kollam (i. e., Venad), Kodungallur (theChera Perumal), and Kolladesam (Mushika) were also defeated by the Cholas (Senur inscription, 1005 CE).[21] There is a possibility that the Venad chieftains tried to recapture the old Ay region after the raids by Rajaraja I. CholaRajadhiraja claims to have "confined the undaunted king of Venadu [back] to the Chera kingdom [from the Ay country]......and liberated the [Ay] king of Kupaka...and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi after the capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan [the Chera king] hid himself in terror inside the jungle" (this event is dated c. 1018/19 CE[1]).[9]
It is known that a branch of the Ay family from Trippappur merged with the Kizhperur royal house ofVenad.[22]
| Grant name | Date | Summary | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karunanthadakkan Srivallabha (r. c. 856/57–884 CE) | |||
| Parthivapuram Grant (Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates) or (the "Huzur Office Plates of Kokkarunandaḍakkar") | .png) | ||
| Tiruvidaikkodu inscription I | Regnal year 14 = 870 CE (Narayanan, 1972) | %2c_south_India.png) | |
| Tiruvidaikkodu inscription II | Regnal year 22 = 878/79 CE (Narayanan, 1972)[23] | ||
| Vikramaditya Varaguna (r. c. 884–911/920 CE) | |||
| Thirunandikkarai (Trivandrum Huzur Office Plates) | Regnal year 8 = 892 CE (Narayanan, 1972) | .png) | |
| Paliyam Copper Plates | Regnal year 15 = 898 CE (Revised from 925 AD, Narayanan, 1972)[28][29] | .jpg) | |
| Thirupparappu Plates[31][7] | 9th century CE[31] |
| .jpg) |
