Sthanu Ravi Varman

Sthanu Ravi (Old Malayalam and Tamil: Ko Tanu Iravi), known as the Kulasekhara, was the Chera Perumal ruler of Kerala in southern India from 844/45 to c. 870/71 AD. He is the earliest medieval Chera ruler of Kerala known to scholars.

The famous Quilon Syrian Christian copper plates are dated to the fifth regnal year of king Sthanu Ravi. Two more inscriptions dated in the regnal years of Sthanu Ravi are found at the Irinjalakuda Kudalmanikyam Temple and at Thiruvatruvay, Thiruvalla. The Koyil Adhikarikal ("Royal Prince") during his time was his son-in-law (husband of his daughter), Vijayaraga. Sthanu Ravi had a son born around 870 AD. He was succeeded by Rama Rajasekhara (c. 870/71–c. 883/84). He is also identified with the playwright Chera king "Kulasekhara Varma". Background In the mid-9th century south India, the Chera rulers of Kerala possessed a lineage name tied to the high prestige of Tamil classical poetry (the Sangam Literature). Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara is regarded as the earliest known Chera ruler (the Perumal) of Kerala. According to the Keralolpathi tradition, central Kerala was probably under some form of viceregal rule before this period. thumb

Campaigns in the Kongu country Sthanu Ravi appears to have acted as a junior ally in a military campaign led by the Chola ruler bearing the title "Rajakesari Varma" in the Kongu country (central Tamil Nadu). Epigraphic evidence indicates that the two rulers jointly conferred military honours upon a Tanjore chief named Vikki Annan, who was married to a woman identified as "Kadamba Mahadevi". Vikki Annan was likely a Ganga prince, being the son of Prithvipati, and is mentioned in a Ganga inscription dated to the mid-9th century AD. However, records also indicate that "Vikki Annan" was a title adopted by the Chalukyas. The designation "Kadamba" in the princess's name suggests a probable affiliation with the Kadamba lineage. An alternative interpretation, accepted by M. G. S. Narayanan (1972/1996) following T. V. Mahalingam ("An Interregnum in Pallava History", JIH, XLI, I), identifies "Rajakesari Varma" with Srikantha Chola (817–845 AD), thereby placing the joint military action in Kongu around 844/45 AD. Evidence suggests that an "astronomical observatory" operated at Mahodayapuram under Sankaranarayana's supervision.

The vyakhya contains references to an instrument termed the "Rashichakra", marked by a "Yanthravalaya". This "device" is possibly identical to the Golayanthra or Chakrayanthra described by the renowned polymath Aryabhata. The Chakrayanthra was subsequently refined and came to be known as the Phalakayanthra by Bhaskara I. An inscription from Kanyakumari indicates that Vijayaraga was married to a daughter of Kulasekhara, titled Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli, and was likely the son of Kulasekhara's sister. + Year Inscription Nature (language) Royal Name