https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ay_AndiranAy Andiran - Revision history2026-07-31T10:19:20ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Ay_Andiran&diff=488498&oldid=prevSaurabh jain at 07:16, 21 December 20252025-12-21T07:16:18Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Early historic south Indian ruler}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox royalty<br />
| name = Ay Andiran<br />
| title = Ruler of the [[Ay dynasty|Ays]]<br />
| succession = <br />
| reign = ''fl.'' 2nd century AD{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=517–18 and 527-28}}<br />
| reign-type = <br />
| predecessor = <br />
| house = [[Ay dynasty]]<br />
| religion = [[Hinduism]]<br />
| image = <br />
| caption = <br />
}}<br />
'''Ay Andiran''' (''fl.'' 2nd century AD{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=517–18 and 527-28}}) was a [[velir|velir or hill chieftain]] of the [[Ay dynasty]] who ruled over the [[Pothigai|Pothigai Hills]] and the surrounding regions, including the south-western [[Malabar Coast]], of the [[Tamilakam|Tamil country]] in southern India during the early historic period.{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=53}}{{sfn|Sudaroli|2019|p=5}} He was an elder contemporary of the [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] ruler Anthuvan Cheral (dated to c. 140 CE).{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=517–18 and 527-28}} <br />
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In [[Sangam literature|the Sangam Literature (the early historic Tamil corpus)]], particularly in ''[[Purananuru]]'' (quatrain 128) and ''[[Kurunthokai]]'' (quatrain 84), he is mentioned as the Lord of the [[Pothigai|Pothigai Hills (or the Pothiyil-malai)]] in the [[Western Ghats]].{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=53}}{{sfn|Sudaroli|2019|p=5}} His headquarters was probably located at [[Aygudi|Aykudi]] in the Western Ghats.{{sfn|Sudaroli|2019|p=4}} He is extolled in [[Sangam literature|Sangam poetry]] for his benevolence toward poets, musicians, and dancing girls{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}} and is counted among [[last seven great patrons|the Last Seven Great Patrons (Kadai Ezhu Vallal)]] .{{sfn|Krishnan|Udayakumar|1996|p=97}}{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}<br />
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== Reign ==<br />
[[File:Agasthyarkoodam.JPG|thumb|307x307px|[[Pothigai|Pothigai Hills]]]]<br />
In [[Sangam literature|Sangam Literature]], Ay Andiran is portrayed as a ruler who held dominion over the [[Pothigai|Pothigai Hills]] in the southern stretches of the [[Western Ghats]] — densely forested and rich in elephants — which he employed extensively in warfare.{{sfn|Sudaroli|2019|p=4}}{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=53}} The luxurious "palace" of Ay Andiran is also described in ''[[Purananuru]]'' (quatrain 127).{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}<br />
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Poems praising Andiran, composed by the poet Uraiyur Eniseri Mudamosiyar, feature in ''Purananuru'' (quatrain 127-135 and 241).{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=54}} He is also mentioned by poets such as [[Paranar]] (''[[Akananuru]]'' 152 and 198), Mosi Kiran (''[[Kurunthokai]]'' 84), Kavirippumpattinam Karikkannar (''[[Natrinai]]'' 237), Umathur Kizhar Parangotranar (''Akananuru'' 69), Thuraiyur Odai Kizhar (''Purananuru'' 136), and in ''[[Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai|Sirupanatruppadai]]'' (lines 96-99).{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527}}{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}} In ''Akananuru'' (quatrain 15), his name appears alongside other minor Tamil rulers such as [[Mushika dynasty|Nannan]], [[Nalli (ruler)|Nalli]], Pindan, and Thitthan Veliyan.{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}<br />
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=== Battle against the Kongu rulers ===<br />
''Purananuru'' (quatrain 129-130) mentions the battles Andiran fought against the rulers of the [[Kongu Nadu|Kongu country]] (present-day western Tamil Nadu). The Kongars (the people of the Kongu country) are described as launching an attack on Andiran's territory with a large force of [[spearmen]].{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=56}} The poems recount that Andiran deployed his [[war elephant|elephant corps]], defeated the invaders, and drove them back toward [[Arabian Sea|"the western sea"]].{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=57}}<br />
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== Patronage ==<br />
Andiran is celebrated as one of [[Last seven great patrons|the Last Seven Great Patrons (Kadai Ezhu Vallal)]] in the Sangam Collections such as ''[[Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai|Sirupanatruppadai]]'' and ''[[Purananuru]]''.{{sfn|Sudaroli|2019|p=1}}{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=4}}{{sfn|Duraiarasan|2016|p=}} He extended generous patronage to poets and singers in his court, rewarding them with elephants, horses, and chariots.{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=53}}{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}} The poet Mosiyar's songs repeatedly praise the wealth of Andiran's land and his acts of generosity.{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=54}}<br />
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On one occasion, a "blue [[Nāga|naga]]" is said to have visited Andiran and gifted him a fine cloth. The naga explained that he had obtained the cloth through penance and that whoever wore it would be blessed with prosperity and long life.{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=58}} Believing it improper for a mortal to retain a divine gift, Andiran accepted the cloth as a gesture of respect but later dedicated it to the god [[Shiva|Shiva (the Al-mara-selvan)]] at a temple.{{sfn|Jagannathan|1959|p=59}}{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}{{sfn|Krishnan|Udayakumar|1996|p=97}}<br />
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== Death ==<br />
The death of Ay Andiran is mentioned by poets Kuttuvan Kiranar and Mosiyar in ''Purananuru'' (quatrains 240 and 241; respectively). Kiranar records that Andiran’s wives immolated themselves on his funeral pyre.{{sfn|Sastri|1957|p=527-28}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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=== Bibliography ===<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.tamilvu.org/ta/courses-degree-d011-d0113-html-d0113334-18874 |year=2016 |editor-last=Duraiarasan |editor-first=K. |title=Last Seven Great Patrons |lang=ta |publication-place=Chennai |work=[[Tamil Virtual University|Tamil Virtual Academy]] |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |access-date=}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Jagannathan |first=K. V. | author-link = Ki. Va. Jagannathan |title=Ezhu Peruvallalgal |location=Chennai |trans-title=Seven Great Patrons |lang=ta |year=1959 |publisher=Amutha Nilayam |url=https://www.tamilvu.org/library/nationalized/pdf/92-ki.va.ja/7peruvallalkal.pdf}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Krishnan |first=S. N. |url=https://www.tamildigitallibrary.in/admin/assets/book/TVA_BOK_0018936_Encyclopaedia_of_Tamil_Literature.pdf |title=Encyclopaedia of Tamil Literature |last2=Udayakumar |first2=P. |last3= |first3= |date=1996 |publisher=Institute of Asian Studies |volume=III |location=Madras |page=|chapter=Ay Andiran}}<br />
* {{cite book |last1=Raju |first1=S. |last2= |first2= |title=Historical Heritage of the Tamils |publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies |year=1983 |editor-last=Subramanian |editor-first=S. V. |location=Madras |chapter=The Chieftains of the Sangam Age |editor-last2=Thirunavukkarasu |editor-first2=K. D. |url=https://archive.org/details/lLXZ_historical-heritage-of-the-tamils-edited-by-s-v-subrahmanian-and-k-d-thirunavukk/page/256/mode/2up}}<br />
* {{cite book |last1=Sastri |first1=K. A. Nilakanta |author-link1= |url=http://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/comprehensive-history-india-vol-ii-mauryas-and-satavahanas |title=Comprehensive History of India, Vol. 2: The Mauryas and Satavahanas |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1957 |isbn= |location=Bombay |pages= |chapter= |orig-year=}}<br />
* {{cite journal |last=Sudaroli |first=P. |title=Kadai Elu Vallalgal |trans-title=Last Seven Great Patrons |lang=ta |journal=Shanlax |url=https://www.shanlaxjournals.in/pdf/TS/V3N3/ts_v3_n3_i2_023.pdf |volume=3 |issue=3 |date=January 2019 |issn=2454-3993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023004903/https://www.shanlaxjournals.in/pdf/TS/V3N3/ts_v3_n3_i2_023.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2019 |pages=116–120}}<br />
{{Last seven great patrons}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
[[Category:Kadai ezhu vallal]]<br />
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil monarchs]]</div>Saurabh jain