MarvinGrenier8 at 04:46, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T04:46:32Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{short description|Hindu poet and religious teacher}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Cheraman Perumal Nayanar
| image = Cheraman Perumal Nayanar (cropped).jpg
| caption = Depiction of Cherman Perumal Nayanar in the [[Brihadisvara Temple]], [[Thanjavur]]
| residence =
| religion = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Shaivism]] ([[Bhakti]])
| works = *''Ponvannattandadi''
*''Thiruvarur Mummanikkovai''
*''Adiyula'' or ''Thirukkailayajnana Ula''
| temple = [[Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple|Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple]]
| background = orange
}}

'''Cheraman Perumal Nayanar''' ([[Tamil script|Tamil]]: {{lang|ta|சேரமான் பெருமாள் நாயனார்}};[[Malayalam script|Malayalam]]: <small>{{lang|ml|ചേരമാൻ പെരുമാൾ നായനാർ}}</small>; literally meaning "Chera king the [[Nayanars|Nayanar]]") was a [[bhakti]] poet-musician and religious teacher of the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Shaivism|Shaiva]] tradition in medieval south India, and is counted among the sixty-three revered [[nayanars]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-concise-history-of-south-india-9780198099772?cc=us&lang=en&|title=A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|editor-last=Karashima|editor-first=Noboru|pages=146–47|chapter=States in Deccan and Kerala|isbn=978-0-19-809977-2 }}</ref>

The Cheraman Perumal's companionship with [[Sundarar]], also known as Sundarar Moorthy Nayanar, one of the "Three Nayanars", is celebrated in the bhakti tradition.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Veluthat |first=Kesavan |url=https://publications.efeo.fr/en/livres/628_south-indian-horizons-felicitation-volume-for-francois-gros-on-the-occasion-of-his-70th-birthday |title=South Indian Horizon: Felicitation Volume for François Gros |publisher=École Française D'Extrême-Orient |year=2004 |pages=471–85 |chapter=Mahodayapuram-Kotunnallur: a Capital City as a Sacred Centre}}</ref> The legend of the Cheraman Perumal is recounted in the hagiographic work "[[Periya Puranam|Periyapuranam]]", composed in the mid-12th century AD by [[Sekkizhar|Chekkizhar]], a courtier of Chola ruler [[Kulothunga Chola II|Kulottunga II]]. This collection draws upon an earlier compilation by [[Nambiyandar Nambi]] (10th-11th centuries AD).<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Periyapuraṇam|publisher=Kovai Tamil Cankam|year=1954|editor-last=Muthaliyar|editor-first=C. K. Chuppiramaniya|location=Coimbatore}}</ref><ref name=":33">{{Cite book|last=Narayanan|first=M. G. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&q=perumals+of+kerala|title=Perumāḷs of Kerala|publisher=CosmoBooks|year=2013|isbn=9788188765072|location=Thrissur (Kerala)|pages=46–47|orig-date=1972}}</ref> The [[Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple|Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple]] in [[Kodungallur]], on the Malabar Coast, is closely associated with both the Perumal and Sundarar Moorthy Nayanar.<ref name=":34">{{Cite book|last=Narayanan|first=M. G. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&q=perumals+of+kerala|title=Perumāḷs of Kerala|publisher=CosmoBooks|year=2013|isbn=9788188765072|location=Thrissur (Kerala)|pages=152–153|orig-date=1972}}</ref>

The Cheraman Perumal is credited with composing several devotional works, including the "Ponvannattandadi", a collection of hymns in praise of the Lord of [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Chidambaram]]; the "Thiruvarur Mummanikkovai", dedicated to the deity of [[Thiruvarur]]; and the "Adiyula"—also known as the "Thirukkailayajnana Ula"—the first of the ulas, in honor of [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]].<ref name=":36">{{Cite book|last=Narayanan|first=M. G. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&q=perumals+of+kerala|title=Perumāḷs of Kerala|publisher=CosmoBooks|year=2013|isbn=9788188765072|location=Thrissur (Kerala)|pages=382–383|orig-date=1972}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite book|last=Narayanan|first=M. G. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&q=perumals+of+kerala|title=Perumāḷs of Kerala|publisher=CosmoBooks|year=2013|isbn=9788188765072|location=Thrissur (Kerala)|pages=48–50|orig-date=1972}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Veluthat |first=Kesavan |url=https://publications.efeo.fr/en/livres/628_south-indian-horizons-felicitation-volume-for-francois-gros-on-the-occasion-of-his-70th-birthday |title=South Indian Horizon: Felicitation Volume for François Gros |publisher=École Française D'Extrême-Orient |year=2004 |pages=471–85 |chapter=Mahodayapuram-Kotunnallur: a Capital City as a Sacred Centre}}</ref> Historians tentatively identify the saint with [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)|Rama Rajasekhara]], the 9th century ruler of the [[Chera Perumals of Makotai|medieval Chera state]] of [[Kerala]].'''<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Veluthat|first=Kesavan|date=2017|title=The Temple and the State in Medieval South India|journal=Studies in People's History|language=|volume=4|issue=1|pages=15–23|doi=10.1177/2348448917693729|s2cid=158422635 |issn=|doi-access=free}}</ref>'''

== The legend of Cheraman Perumal ==
The legend of Cheraman Perumal Nayanar and Sundarar appears to have originated in pre-Chola times.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Ali |first=Daud |date=2017 |title=Companionship, Loyalty and Affiliation in Chola South India |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0257643016677455?journalCode=siha |journal=Studies in History |language= |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=36–60 |doi=10.1177/0257643016677455 |issn=0257-6430|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Their extant forms took shape only later, at the courts of the Chola kings, around the late 10th to 12th century AD.<ref name=":5" /> [[File:Cheraman_Perumal_Nayanar.jpg|thumb|379x379px|Depiction of "Cherman Perumal Nayanar" in [[Brihadisvara Temple]], [[Thanjavur]] (11th century fresco)]]The Cheraman Perumal (a title, meaning "the Chera ruler"), according to tradition, was born into the royal family of "Malai-nadu", whose capital was "[[Kodungallur|Kodunkolur or Makotai]] by the Ocean". When the reigning king, "Chenkor Poraiyan", abdicated the throne, his ministers persuaded the young Cheraman — also known as "Perumakkotaiyar" or "Kalarirrarivar" ("the One who knows [all] Languages"<ref name=":5" />) — to assume the responsibilities of the kingdom. At the time, the prince was meditating at [[Thiruvanchikulam Temple|Tiruvanchaikkalam]] and had to be convinced with great difficulty to accept the crown.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=A. S. Ramanatha |title=Travancore Archaeological Series |publisher=Government of Travancore |year=1925 |volume=V |location=Trivandrum |pages=96–98 |chapter=Cheraman-Perumal}}</ref>

In due course, Cheraman Perumal learned of the lyricist [[Sundarar]] through a vision of the [[Nataraja]] of [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Chidambaram]]. Sundarar, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, was singing at the Chidambaram Temple, and the king wished to meet him and pay homage.<ref name=":3" /> Accordingly, he left his capital and, after travelling through the Kongu country, eventually arrived at [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Chidambaram]]. He then continued to Tiruvarur, where he met Sundarar in person.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" />

Over time, the two became close companions and embarked on a long pilgrimage across south India. Their journey included visits to Kirvelur, Nagaikkaronam, Tirumaraikkadu, Palanam, Agastyanpalli, Kulagar-Kodikkoyil, Tirupattur, Madurai, Tiruppuvanam, Tiruvappanur, Tiruvedagam, Tirupparangunram, Kurralam, Kurumbala, Tirunelveli, Ramesvaram, Tiruchchuliyal, Kanapper, Tiruppunavayil, Patalesvaram, Tirukkandiyur, and Tiruvaiyyaru.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" />

Years later, Sundarar visited his fellow devotee, Cheraman Perumal, in Kodunkolur and remained in the city as a royal guest for some time.<ref name=":4" /> One day, messengers from Lord Shiva arrived at [[Thiruvanchikulam Temple|Tiruvanchaikkalam]] to inform Sundarar that it was time for him to return to [[Mount Kailasa]]. Sundarar ascended to Kailasa on a white elephant, with Cheraman Perumal following him on horseback.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Nayanars|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Nayanars]]
[[Category:Indian Shaivite religious leaders]]
[[Category:People from the Kodungallur Chera kingdom]]
[[Category:Kodungallur Chera kings]]
[[Category:Chera poets]]

Cheraman Perumal Nayanar - Revision history

MarvinGrenier8 at 04:46, 27 March 2026