Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan was a commander of the
Chola Army
The Chola military () was the combined armed forces of the Chola Empire organized during two separate Tamil golden ages, the Sangam Period and the Medieval Era. The Chola military fought dozens of wars, it also underwent numerous changes in str ...
. He was one among the famous chieftains of the Chola emperors
Rajaraja I
Rajaraja I (947 CE – 1014 CE), born Arunmozhi Varman or Arulmozhi Varman and often described as Raja Raja the Great or Raja Raja Chozhan was a Chola emperor who reigned from 985 CE to 1014 CE. He was the most powerful Tamil king in South ...
and
Rajendra I
Rajendra Chola I (; Middle Tamil: Rājēntira Cōḻaṉ; Classical Sanskrit: Rājēndradēva Cōla; Old Malay: ''Raja Suran''; c. 971 CE – 1044 CE), often referred to as Rajendra the Great, and also known as Gangaikonda Chola (Middle Tamil ...
and chief of the Samanthas of
North Arcot
North Arcot was a former district in Madras Presidency, acquired by the annexation of the Arcot State in 1855 when its Nawab died without issue. It had Chittoor as its headquarters (currently in Andhra pradesh). On 1 April 1911, the Chittoor ...
and also the husband of Rajaraja's elder sister
Kunthavai Pirattiyar.
He was also the chieftain of the Sri Lanka Front Army of
Rajaraja l and
Rajendra I
Rajendra Chola I (; Middle Tamil: Rājēntira Cōḻaṉ; Classical Sanskrit: Rājēndradēva Cōla; Old Malay: ''Raja Suran''; c. 971 CE – 1044 CE), often referred to as Rajendra the Great, and also known as Gangaikonda Chola (Middle Tamil ...
. Territory under his authority was known as Vallavaraiyanadu. He ruled
Brahmadesam.
Vandiyathevan is idealized in
Kalki Krishnamurthy
, birth_name = Ramasamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu
, death_date =
, death_place = Chennai, India
, occupation = journalist, critic and writer
, nationality = Indian
, education = ...
's (Kalki) famous novel ''
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
'' and also in many other novels like Vandiyadevan Vaal,
Vandiyadevan Senai Thalaivan
Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan was a commander of the Chola Army. He was one among the famous chieftains of the Chola emperors Rajaraja I and Rajendra I and chief of the Samanthas of North Arcot and also the husband of Rajaraja's elder sister Kunt ...
.
Actor
Karthi
Karthik Sivakumar (born 25 May 1977), better known by his stage name Karthi, is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He has won three Filmfare Awards South, an Edison Award, a SIIMA Award and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award. ...
is depicted as Vandiyathevan in 2022 tamil film
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
, an adaptation of the
novel of the same name.
Origins
His origins and clan are subjects of great debate.
Kalki Krishnamurthy
, birth_name = Ramasamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu
, death_date =
, death_place = Chennai, India
, occupation = journalist, critic and writer
, nationality = Indian
, education = ...
strongly believed his clan is Vaanar Kulam (
Vana Kingdom /
Magadai Mandalam) and depicted the same in his famous novel
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
.
Evidences
He is referred to in the
Rajarajeshwaram Temple inscription in which he is referred to as the husband of
Kundavai Piratiyar.
[South Indian Inscriptions (Inscriptions of The Great Chola Temple at Tanjore) -Vol-II]
In popular culture
Vandhiyadevan is one of the key characters of the novel
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
. The author
Kalki Krishnamurthy
, birth_name = Ramasamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Puthamangalam, near Manalmedu
, death_date =
, death_place = Chennai, India
, occupation = journalist, critic and writer
, nationality = Indian
, education = ...
depicts him as a brave, adventurous and sarcastic warrior/prince, who later becomes the Commander for Southern Troops under the reign of
Uttama Chola
Uttama was a Chola Emperor who ruled from 973 CE to 985 CE in present-day Tamil Nadu, India. According to Tiruvalangadu plates of Rajendra Chola, Madurantaka Uttama Chola's reign is placed after Aditya II. The latter may have been a co-regent ...
. Although the second protagonist of the story other than
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
himself, Vandiyadevan's exploits make the readers to think him as the main hero at multiple points in the novel. He was a bodyguard and close friend of
Aditha Karikalan in Kanchi who sends him as a messenger to
Parantaka II
Parantaka Chola II (Tamil: இரண்டாம் பராந்தக சோழன்) (r. 958 – 973 CE) was a Chola emperor. He is also known as Sundara Chola as he was considered an epitome of male beauty.''Early Chola temples:Parantak ...
in
Thanjavur
Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...
to invite him to the newly built golden palace in Kanchi and also as a trustful guard for
Kundavai
Kundhavai was a historic and a popular name of a number of royal women in southern India between the ninth and eleventh century. Some of the women who went by the name Kundavai are as follows:
*Kundhavai, the daughter of Western Ganga king Prithv ...
in Pazhayarai. His unplanned and hasteful acts put himself and others in danger but comes out of them by trickery and luck. He is the lover of Princess Kundavai. He is loved one-sidedly by Manimekalai, the sister of Kandamaran. The author introduces most of the characters to the audience through him. Many of the readers of this book admired his character and attitude more than the main protagonist
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
.
A life sized statue depicting Vallavaraiyan controlling a horse was erected in Chennai during the first tenure of
Mr. Karunanidhi as Chief Minister, near Gemini Flyover in Mount Road as an honour to Vallavaraiyan. Interestingly, this also coincided with the banning of horse races by the government of Tamil Nadu.
See also
*
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, written in Tamil. It was first serialized in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrat ...
*
Ponniyin Selvan: I
Notes
Further reading
''Ponniyin Selvan''- Complete Novel in Tamil Wikisource (Unicode)
* ''Rajakesari'', a new novel written by Gokul Seshadri, happens during the later part of Rajaraja Chola's life. It is a historic thriller that can be read in full fro
Varalaarumonthly e-magazine's website
To read the novel, click here* ''Cherar Kottai'' (Part-II of Rajakesari), another novel also by Gokul Seshadri happens during the early part of Rajaraja Chola's life. It fully explains the circumstances under which Rajaraja makes his first and memorable victory over Kanthaloor Chalai - a chera martial arts academy. It is a historic fiction that can be read fro
Varalaarumonthly e-magazine's websit
To read the novel, Click here“Kalvettu Sonna Kadaigal Series”in
Varalaaru.com Magazine (in tamil)
* Sadasiva Pandarathar: ''Pirkala Chozar Varalaaru'', Annamalai University Publication.
External links
Gokul Seshadri's Ponniyinselvan Facts and Fiction* Sadasiva Pandarathar's Pirkala Chozar Varalaaru (Annamalai University Publication)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vallavaraiyan Vandiyathevan
Chola dynasty
Chola Empire
Chola kings