Perum Cheral Irumporai

Perum Cheral Irumporai, also known as Perum Kadungon, was a member of the Irumporai line of the Chera dynasty in early historic south India (c. 1st - 4th century CE).^[1][2] He is the hero of the Eighth Decade of the Pathitruppathu, composed by poet Arichil Kizhar.^[3] He is believed to have ruled for seventeen years and is also honored in the songs under the title "Kothai Marpa".^[4][5]

Perum Cheral Irumporai
Thagadur Erinta
Pugalur inscription
Issue	Ilam Cheral Irumporai
House	Chera
Father	Chelva Kadumgo Vazhi Athan

Chera Rock Shelter, Pugalur

Perum Cheral was likely a member of the Irumporai or Porai line, a collateral branch of the Chera family (dominating the Kongu country with Karuvur or Karur as their regional headquarters). His father, Chelva Kadungo Vazhi Athan, was notably praised for possessing the cities of Kodumanam (present-day Kodumanal) and Pandar (possibly Koyilandy, on the Malabar Coast).^[6]

Perum Cheral was renowned for his conquest of the fortified city of Thagadur, the stronghold of the Adiyaman ruler Ezhini (who was aided by the Chola and Pandya rulers).^[3][4] Adiyaman, also known as Neduman Anji, later made peace with the Chera and became his ally. He was eventually killed during a Chera raid on Pazhi, which belonged to Ezhimala Nannan.^[5] Perum Cheral also appeared to have defeated a minor Idayar chief called Kazhuval or Kazhuvul and emptied his city Kamur or Kazhur.^[5][4][6] He was praised as the overlord of Puhar, the Chola capital, the Kolli hills and the Puzhi people.^[4][6] He was also said to have offered a sacrifice to the goddess of victory on the Ayirai mountain.^[5]

Perum Cheral is sometimes identified with Perum Kadungon, the Irumporai Chera royal mentioned in the two nearly identical Pugalur inscriptions.^[1][7] The inscriptions record the construction of a rock shelter for Chenkayapan, a Jain monk, on the occasion of the inauguration of Kadungon Ilam Kadungo — son of Perum Kadungon, who was in turn the son of king Athan Chel Irumporai — as the heir apparent ("Ilamgo").^[2] These three Chera royals can be identified as Chelva Kadungo Vazhi Athan, Perum Cheral Irumporai, and Ilam Cheral Irumporai, who are mentioned in early Tamil literature (Decades 7-9, Pathitruppathu Collection).^[2]