Goda Ravi

Goda Ravi (fl. 905/06–c. 943/44 AD^[4]) was a Chera Perumal king of medieval Kerala, south India.^[5] The Chola relations with the Chera Perumals were consolidated during the rule of Goda Ravi. Records mention a number of Kerala military personnel serving with Chola prince Rajaditya in the Tamil country.^[6] An inscription mentioning Goda Ravi from Nedumpuram Thali, Wadakkanchery is one of rare Chera Perumal inscriptions which give both the regnal year and another era (Kali Year) at the same time.^[5]

Goda Ravi
Ruler of Chera Perumal Kingdom
Reign	905/06–c. 943/44 AD[1]
Predecessor	Goda Goda (or) Kerala Kesari[2]
Successor	Indu/Indesvaran Goda[3]
House	Chera Perumals of Makotai
Religion	Hinduism

Temple inscriptions dated in the regnal years (13th to 30th) of Goda Ravi were discovered from Iranikulam, Chokkur (Puthur village, near Koduvally), Nedumpuram Thali (Wadakkanchery), Avittathur, Triprangode, Porangattiri, Indianur (Kottakkal) and Thrippunithura.^[5][7] The records mention, among other things, Koyil and Ala-Koyil, Chera queens (Ravi Piratti and Cheraman Maha Devi), "senapathi" (chief of the royal militia), the so-called Agreement of Muzhikkulam, and the chieftains of Vembanadu (Alappuzha) and Valluvanadu (the later with the title "Rayira Ravar").^[5][7]

Goda Ravi was formerly identified with king Vijayaraga of the Chera Perumal dynasty.^[5]

Coronation year

Recent scholarship suggests that the Nedumpuram Thali (Wadakkanchery) committee met and accepted the land grant on the 17th regnal year of king Goda Ravi (while Jupiter was in Mithuna) and the currently available inscription was only commissioned at a later date (corresponding to Kali Year 4030).^[8]

Nedumpuram Thali inscription (date at the beginning - regnal year 17 & Jupiter in Mithuna^[9])

	Kali Year reading (date at the end)	Corresponding dates	Coronation year (17 years before)	Jupiter	Presently accepted
A. G. Warrier[9]	'nālāyirattumuppatu' ('4030')[9] = 929 AD	929 AD	912 AD	Jupiter not in Mithuna	N
Elamkulam P. N. K. Pillai[9]	'nālāyirattumuppat[tancu].' ('4035')[9] = 934 AD	934 AD	917 AD	Jupiter in Mithuna	N
M. G. S. Narayanan[9]	'nālāyirattumoppatu' ('done in 4000')[8][9] = 900 AD[9]	900 AD[9]	883 AD[8]	Jupiter in Mithuna
Present view[8]	'nālāyirattumuppatu' ('4030') = 929/30 AD[8]	922 AD (agreement year)[8]	905/06 AD[8]	Jupiter in Mithuna	Y
		929/30 AD (inscription year)[8]		Jupiter not in Mithuna

Epigraphic records

Avittathur Temple

Avittathur Temple

Note: Material: granite, script: Vattezhuthu with Grantha characters, and language: old Malayalam (unless otherwise stated)

Year	Regnal Year	Location	Contents
			Nature	Notes
918/19 AD[7]	13[7]	Airanikkulam (Iranikulam) inscription[7]	Temple inscription	Published in a 'form that is far from satisfactory'.[7] Donor to the temple is certain Ravi Piratti (Chera princess).[7] The committee also included the "senapathi" (chief of the royal militia)[10]
920/21 AD[8]	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.[9] Earliest record to refer the 'Agreement of Muzhikkulam'.[9] Third face of the stone contains a separate inscription (mentioning a "nangaiyar")[9]
922 AD[8]	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).[8] 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.[9] Council is attended by the chieftain of Vembanadu (Alappuzha) called Goda Ravi.[9]
925/26 AD[11]	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 (the Chera queen).[9] The council is attended the Rayira Ravar (the chieftain of Valluvanad[9] or the Leader of the Thousand[12]).
		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[9] or the Leader of the Thousand[12]).
		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[9] or the Leader of the Thousand[12]).
932/33 AD[13]	27	Triprangode inscription (originally in Sri Krishna shrine, Triprangode Shiva Temple) - now in Archeological Museum, Trichur.	Temple committee resolutions	Mentions the Agreement of Tavanur.[9] Council is attended by the Ala-koyil (a Chera prince).[9]
		Porangattiri/Porangattur inscription (Chaliyar) - single granite slab in the courtyard of the Porangattiri Temple.	Temple committee resolutions	Cites the Agreement of Muzhikkulam.[9] Council is attended by the Koyil and the Ala-koyil (a Chera prince).[9]
		Indianur inscription (Kottakkal) - originally at Indianur Temple - now in Department of History, Calicut University.	Temple committee resolutions	A slab with inscriptions two separate Chera-Perumals on either side.[9] Council is attended by the Koyil (a Chera prince).[9]
935/36 AD[12]	30[9]	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.[9] Goda Ravi was initially identified as the brother-in-law of Jatavarman Kulasekhara Deva.[9]