Tollystory at 16:10, 4 September 2025

2025-09-04T16:10:09Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Goda Ravi
| image =
| image_size = 150px
| caption =
| succession = Ruler of the Chera Kingdom
| reign = 905/06–c. 943/44 AD<ref>{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|pages=122|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State|isbn=9781108857871}}</ref>
| full name =
| predecessor = Goda Goda (or) Kerala Kesari<ref>{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|pages=122|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State|isbn=9781108857871}}</ref>
| successor = Indu/Indesvaran Goda<ref>{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|pages=122|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State|isbn=9781108857871}}</ref>
| spouse =
| issue =
| house = [[Chera Perumals of Makotai|Medieval Cheras of Kerala]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| regnal name = |
}}
'''Goda Ravi''' (''fl.'' 905/06–c. 943/44 AD<ref>{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|pages=122|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State|isbn=9781108857871}}</ref>) was a [[Chera Perumals of Makotai|Chera Perumal king]] of medieval [[Kerala]], southern India.<ref name=":3">{{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|location=Thrissur (Kerala)|pages=65–67|isbn=9788188765072|orig-date=1972}}</ref> The reign of Goda Ravi witnessed strengthened Chera ties with the [[Chola dynasty|Cholas]], as numerous Kerala military personnel served under the Chola prince [[Rajaditya Chola|Rajaditya]] in the Tamil country.<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/10.1177/0257643016677455?icid=int.sj-abstract.similar-articles.1 |journal=Studies in History |language= |volume=33 |pages=36–60 |doi=10.1177/0257643016677455 |s2cid=151486767 |url-access=subscription |via=}}</ref>

Temple inscriptions mentioning Goda Ravi have been discovered in central Kerala and north-central Kerala.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /> These records refer, among other things, to several Chera royals (princes titled Koyil or Ala-Koyil and [[Ko Kizhan Adikal|queens/princesses]] called Cheraman Maha Devi or Ravi Piratti), the chieftains of [[Vembanadu]] ([[Alappuzha]]) and Valluvanadu (the latter with the title "Rayira Ravar"), and the so-called "Agreement of Muzhikkulam".<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> It is also known that the deposed [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]] ruler, Rajasimha II, took refuge with the Cheras or Keralas around 920 AD.<ref name=":62">{{Cite book |last=Narayanan |first=M. G. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ |title=Perumals of Kerala |publisher=CosmoBooks |year=2013 |isbn=9788188765072 |location=Thrissur (Kerala) |pages=111-112 |chapter= |orig-year=1972}}</ref>

Goda Ravi was formerly identified with king [[Vijayaraga]] (c. 883/84 — c. 895 AD) of the medieval Chera dynasty of Kerala.<ref name=":3" /> He was also initially identified as the brother-in-law of [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]] ruler Jatavarman Kulasekhara Deva I.<ref name=":2" />

== Coronation year ==
An inscription mentioning Goda Ravi from Nedumpuram Thali, [[Wadakkanchery]] (concerning a land grant), is one of rare Chera Perumal inscriptions that record both the regnal year and another era (the [[Kali Era|Kali Year]]) simultaneously — the regnal year appears at the beginning (17th year, with Jupiter in Mithuna) and the Kali Year at the end.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> Recent interpretations suggest that the temple committee met and approved the land grant in the 17th regnal year of Goda Ravi, when Jupiter was in Mithuna, while the inscription currently available was commissioned later, corresponding to Kali Year 4030.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Devadevan |first=Manu V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India |title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2020 |isbn=9781108857871 |pages=129–30 |chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Nedumpuram Thali Inscription<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ&q=Perum%C4%81%E1%B8%B7s+of+Kerala|title=Perumāḷs of Kerala|publisher=CosmoBooks|year=2013|isbn=9788188765072|editor-last=Narayanan|editor-first=M. G. S.|location=Thrissur (Kerala)|pages=438–42|chapter=Index to Cera Inscriptions|orig-date=1972}}</ref>
!
!Kali Year
!Corresponding Year
!Position of [[Jupiter]]
!Interpretation
!Coronation Year
(17 years before)
|-
|A. G. Warrier<ref name=":2" />
|'nālāyirattumuppatu'
('4030')<ref name=":2" />
|929/30 AD
|Jupiter in Makaram
|{{cross}}
|912 AD
|-
|[[Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai|Elamkulam P. N. K. Pillai]]<ref name=":2" />
|'nālāyirattumuppat[tancu].'
('4035')<ref name=":2" />
|934 AD
|Jupiter in Mithuna
| rowspan="2" |{{cross}}
|917 AD
|-
|[[M. G. S. Narayanan]]<ref name=":2" />
|'nālāyirattumoppatu'
('done in 4000')<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
|900 AD<ref name=":2" />
|Jupiter in Mithuna
|883 AD<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |Present view<ref name=":0" />
| rowspan="2" |'nālāyirattumuppatu'
('4030') = 929/30 AD<ref name=":0" />
|922 AD (agreement year)<ref name=":0" />
|Jupiter in Mithuna
| rowspan="2" |{{tick}}
|905/06 AD<ref name=":0" />
|-
|929/30 AD (commission year)<ref name=":0" />
|Jupiter not in Mithuna
|
|}

== Epigraphic records ==
''Note: Material—granite; Script—Vattezhuthu with some Grantha characters; Language—old Malayalam (unless otherwise stated).''
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |No.
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Regnal Year
! rowspan="2" |Location
! colspan="4" |Contents
|-
!Nature
!Notes
|-
|1
| -
|Nil<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=July 14, 2025 |title=Chera Stone Inscription Found in Manjeri Temple |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/chera-stone-inscription-found-in-manjeri-temple/article69811493.ece |work=The Hindu |location=Malappuram}}</ref>
|Thrikkalangode inscription - Meledath Mahashiva Vettakkorumakan temple, Thrikkalangode, Manjeri - (a stone paved on the circumambulatory path in front of the circular sanctum sanctorum)<ref name=":6" />
|Temple inscription
|
* Mentions Moozhikkalam system.<ref name=":6" />
|-
|2
|918/19 AD<ref name=":1" />
|13<ref name=":1" />
|Airanikkulam ([[Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple|Iranikulam]]) inscription<ref name=":1" />
|Temple inscription
|
* Published in a 'form that is far from satisfactory'.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|isbn=9781108857871|pages=120 and 128-29|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State}}</ref>
*Donor to the temple is certain [[Ko Kizhan Adikal|Ravi Piratti (Chera princess)]].<ref name=":1" />
* The committee also included the "senapathi" (chief of the royal militia?)<ref name=":55">{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|isbn=9781108857871|pages=144|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State}}</ref>
|-
|3
|920/21 AD<ref name=":0" />
|15
|Chokkur inscription (Chokoor, Puthur village) - near [[Koduvally]] - single granite slab in courtyard of the ruined Chokkur Temple.
|Temple inscription
(by founder Karkodupurathu Kadamba Kumara)
|
* Donor is a person known as Karkodupurathu Kadamba Kumara.<ref name=":2" />
* Earliest record to refer the 'Agreement of Muzhikkulam'.<ref name=":2" />
*Third face of the stone contains a separate inscription (mentioning a "nangaiyar")<ref name=":2" />
|-
|4
|922 AD<ref name=":0" />
|17
|Nedumpuram Thali inscription, Thichoor [[Wadakkanchery]]
(Thali inscriptions of Cochin State) - two granite slabs fixed into the half wall in the entrance corridor on the left side of Nedumpuram Thali.
|Temple committee resolutions
|Dated in Kali Year 4030 (=929/30 AD).<ref name=":0" />

* Two halves of the record on two separate slabs (one with the regnal year and the other one with the date in Kali Era) were initially registered separately.<ref name=":2" />
* Council is attended by the chieftain of [[Vembanad|Vembanadu]] ([[Alappuzha]]) called Goda Ravi.<ref name=":2" />
|-
|5
| rowspan="3" |925/26 AD<ref>{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|pages=132–33|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State|isbn=9781108857871}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |20
|[[Avittathur]] inscription I - single granite slab paved in the courtyard of the Avittathur Temple near the sopana.
|Temple committee resolutions
|
* Mentions the Cheraman Maha Devi ([[Ko Kizhan Adikal|the Chera queen]]).<ref name=":2" />
*The council is attended the Rayira Ravar (the chieftain of Valluvanad<ref name=":2" /> or the Leader of the Thousand<ref name=":4" />).
|-
|6
|Avittathur inscription II - single granite slab paved in the courtyard of the Avittathur Temple to the right of the srikoyil (a few feet away from sopana).
|Temple committee resolutions
|The council is attended the Rayira Ravar (the chieftain of Valluvanadu<ref name=":2" /> or the Leader of the Thousand<ref name=":4" />).
|-
|7
|Avittathur inscription III - single granite slab paved in the courtyard of the Avittathur Temple (a few feet away from sopana).
|Temple committee resolutions
|The council is attended the Rayira Ravar (the chieftain of Valluvanadu<ref name=":2" /> or the Leader of the Thousand<ref name=":4" />).
|-
|8
| rowspan="3" |932/33 AD<ref>{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|pages=122–23|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State|isbn=9781108857871}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |27
|[[Triprangode]] inscription (originally in Sri Krishna shrine, Triprangode Shiva Temple) - now in Archeological Museum, [[Trichur]].
|Temple committee resolutions
|
* Mentions the Agreement of Tavanur.<ref name=":2" />
* Council is attended by the Ala-koyil (a Chera prince).<ref name=":2" />
|-
|9
|Porangattiri/Porangattur inscription ([[Chaliyar]]) - single granite slab in the courtyard of the Porangattiri Temple.
|Temple committee resolutions
|
* Cites the Agreement of Muzhikkulam.<ref name=":2" />
* Council is attended by the Koyil and the Ala-koyil (a Chera prince).<ref name=":2" />
|-
|10
|Indianur inscription (Kottakkal) - originally at Indianur Temple - now in Department of History, [[Calicut University]].
|Temple committee resolutions
|
* A slab with inscriptions of two separate Chera-Perumals on either side.<ref name=":2" />
* Council is attended by the Koyil (a Chera prince).<ref name=":2" />
|-
|11
|935/36 AD<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRnxDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%27Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|pages=144|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State|isbn=9781108857871}}</ref>
|30<ref name=":2" />
|[[Thrippunithura]] inscription (originally from Santhana Gopalakrishna Temple, Thrippunithura) - now in Archeological Museum, [[Trichur]].
|Temple committee resolutions
|
* Council is attended by Ravi Aditya, a minister ("amaichi") and a Chera prince.<ref name=":2" />
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|25em}}
[[Category:People from the Kodungallur Chera kingdom]]
[[Category:9th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:10th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Kodungallur Chera kings]]

Goda Ravi - Revision history

Tollystory at 16:10, 4 September 2025