Vijayaraga (fl. c. 849—895 AD) was the Chera Perumal ruler of Kerala from c. 883/84—c. 895 AD.^[1] The reign of Vijayaraga probably witnessed the expansion of Chera Perumal influence into the neighboring Ay and Mushika countries (southern and northern Kerala).^[2]

Vijayaraga appears as the royal prince as early as the fifth regnal year of Chera Perumal king Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (c. 849 AD).^[3] He also married the daughter of Kulasekhara (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neel).^[3] A record of the princess can be found in the southern Ay country.^[4] It is possible that he was also the nephew (son of sister) of Kulasekhara.^[5] Two of his daughters were married to the Chola king Parantaka I.^[6]

Vijayaraga was formerly identified with king Goda Ravi (r. 905/06—c. 943/44) of the Chera Perumal dynasty.^[1][5]

Sources

Inscriptions

• Quilon Syrian copper plates (849 AD) — mentioned as the royal prince under king Sthanu Ravi (r. 844/45—c. 870/71 AD).^[3]
• Thirunandikkara inscription — inscription of a Chera Perumal princess (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli), wife of Vijayaraga and daughter of Kulasekhara.^[3]
• Thiruvotriyur inscription (936 AD, 29th regnal year) — inscription of a Chera Perumal princess (the Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neel), wife of Chola king Parantaka I and daughter of Vijayaraga.^[3]

Dynastic chronicle

Vijayaraga must be the same royal who is described as the Kerala king 'Jayaraga' in the Mushika Vamsa Kavya, a dynastic chronicle composed in the 11th century AD. According to the kavya, Jayaraga married the daughter of Kunchi Varma, the Mushika king at the time (North Kollam).^[2]

Vijayaraga also led a military expedition to the Mushika kingdom against his brother-in-law Ishana Mushika. It was Goda Varma Keralaketu, a son of Jayaraga, who eventually re-established a truce between the two kingdoms.^[2]

References