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Virarajendra

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A brief study on the Kalabhra (Kalappirar) period of rule of Tamil Nadu

In the mid fourth century in North India the Sathavaahana Empire reached its maximum territorial expansion with Thondalmandalam and it's capital Kanchipuram being the southern limits of his empire. The Sathavahana king appointed the Andhra-Pallava kings Sivaskandavarman and his brother Vishnu Gopa his allys ruling from the Bellary region of Andhra Pradesh consecutively as his viceroys of the southern region of his empire.

With the weakening of the Sathavaahana Empire and the rise of Gupta kings in North India, the king Samudra Gupta invaded and captured many regions of the Sathavaahana's including the Thondaimandalam and its capital the Kanchipuram down south in the year A.D.355. He appears to have handed over the region to its traditional kings the Tamil Thiraiyar dynasty probably under a treaty.

Taking the opportunity with no North Indian empires holding sway in the South, the Kalabhra dynasty known as 'Vadukak Karunaader' (Vaduka=Andhra) tracing their origin from Andhra and ruling from Kolar region of Karnataka - around Nandhi hills also known as the Kalabhra hills, showed interest in the conquer of the Tamil countries down south leaving the Thondaimandalam and it's capital Kanchipuram being the territories of their ally the Tamil Thiraiyar dynasty of this region.

During the the Paandiya country of Tamil Nadu was ruled by king Palyaaka Muthukudumi Peruvaluthi while the Chola country and Chera country were ruled by kings whose name have still not ben established.

In the year around A.D.355 the king Achchutha Vikkiraanthakan of the Kalabhra dynasty (Kalappirar) invaded Tamil Nadu with a sea of warriors on elephants, horses and foot soldiers with spears - spread all over defeated the Chola king and captured the Chola country with their capitals the Uraiyur and Kaviripoompattinam. They then proceeded towards the south to Pandiya (Paandiya) Nadu defeated the king Palyaaka Muthukudumi Peruvaluthi and captured his capital city the Mathuraapuri (Mathurai). Subsequently he also defeated the Chera king (at Vanchi Nagar) and spread his authority over most parts of then Tamil Nadu (MuthThamil Nadu). It appears the Kalabhra king Atchchutha Vikranthahan kept the three kings the Chera Chola and Pandiya in captivity at Thillai (present Chithambaram).

With his capture of Mathurai the Karnataka king gradually favoured the spread of the Jain religion (Samana Samayam) in this region and prevented the Saivite religious practices in Mathurai. They established a Sangam under the Jain monk Vajjira Nanthi at Mathurai probably to promote Jainism through Tamil Lauguage.

Evidence

"......Padai Naanku udantru Panchavan thuranthu Mathurai vaviya Karunada venthan, Arukar saarnthu nintru (Aran) arutpani addaippa......."

Kallaadam by Kallaadanaar, Vidvan Naarayana Velupillai edition.

".......Palyagasaalai Muthukudumi Peruvaluthi ennum Paandiyathi rasan......Velvikkudi enra pathiyai seerodu thiruvalara seithaar venthan appoluthe neeroda atti koduththamai yaan need pukthi thuiththa pin alavariya Aathiraasarai ahala neekki ahal idaththaik Kalappararennum kali arasan kaikondu athanai irakkiyapin......"

Velvikkudi Cheppedukal of Nedunchadaiyan Paranthaka Paandiyan -

.......kaanak kadisool Vaduhak Karunaadar Kaava(la)n maanap padai mannan valinthu nilam kolvaanaay yaanai kuthirai karuvippadai veerar thinder senai kadalung kodu then thisai noakki vanthaan.

Vanthuttra perumpadai manputhaip parappi santha Pothiyil Thamil naadudai mannan veeram sintha seru ventru than Aanai seluththu maa aartral kantha polil sool Mathurapuri kaaval kondan.

......thaalum kaiyar thavaththai meiyentru saarnthu veelum kodi yon athuvantriyum veyya munnai soolum vinai yaal aravanj sudar thingalodum vaalum sadaiyaan adiyaaraiyum vanmai seivaan......"

Periya Puraanam by poet Seikeelaar, Moorthi Naayanaar padalam. Thirup Pananthaal Sri Kaasi Madam publication

It appears Buddhism too flourished during the period of Kalabhras in certain regions of Tamil Nadu unhindered. It was during the period of the Kalabhra king Achchutha Vikkranthahan the Buddhist Monk Buddhadatta a native of Uragapuram (Uraiyur) while at the monastry at Kaviripoompattinam composed the Buddhist text Abhidhammavatara and when residing at the monastry at Bhutamangalam he composed the Buddhist texts Vinaya-Vinicchaya, the Uttara-Vinicchaya, and the Rūpārūpa-Vibhāga all in Pali language. Another Buddhist Monk by the name Buddhagosa who lived both in the Chola country Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka around the period (A.D.370-450) was a contemporary of Buddhadatta, which gives us an indication of the actual period of Buddhadatta and the Kalabhra king Achchutha Vikkranthakan.

Evidence

(1) “In the lovely Kaveripattana, crowded with hordes of man and women, not belonging to impure castes, endowed richly with all the requisites of a town ……. beautified with many gardens, and in a beautiful and pleasant monastery adorned with a mansion as high as the peak of Kailasa, built by Kanhadasa ………..while I was living in an old house there, by me who shining with qualities, such as writing beautifully on good topics ………this was composed and propounded extensively.” Colophon: This work named Abhidhammavatara was composed by Buddhadatta Achariya, inhabitant of Urugapuram (‘Uragapuranivasikena Acariyena bhadanta Bhuddhadattena kato Abhidhammavataro namayam’).

".......Kaveri-pattane ramme, nanaramo pasobhite
Karite Kanhadasena dassaniye manorame......."

Abhidhammavatara - Slokas 1409-13, Buddhadatta’s Manuals, Parts. I and II, Pali Text Society Publication.

Note

The Urugapuram and Kaveripattana in the above were known then and now as Uraiyur close to present Thirutchiraappalli and Kaviripoompattinam close to present Seerkaali of Tamil Nadu.

(2) “In the undisturbed town of Bhutamangala, containing all kinds of people which was the navel of the great Chola kingdom and ……… in the beautiful and pleasant monastery surrounded by well built outer walls and moat belonging to Venhudasa, brilliant with vanira trees lining the banks of the river …. by me who lived in a mansion which clarifies the mind was composed in honour of Buddhasimha this compilation on the principles of Vinaya taught by Buddhasimha for the sake of my pupils and for the good of the Bhikkus who wanted to learn the Vinaya in a short time without difficulty. Colophon: It was begun and finished during the reign of the blemishless Acchuta Vikkanta of the Kalabbha kula. ('Accuta Vikkanta Kalabbha kulanandane mahim samanusasante araddho ca samapito')

".... Colaratthe Bhutamaiigala-game
Venhudasassa arame vasantena
Accutavikkama-namassa colaraiino kale kato...."

Vinaya Vinicchaya - Slokas 3168-3179, Buddhadatta’s Manuals, Parts. I and II, Pali Text Society Publication.

Note

Bhutamangalam of referred in the above, is presently located halfway in-between the Thanjavur and Nagapattinam highway of Tamil Nadu known as the Budamangalam.

However the Pallava king Simhavishnu re-established himself at Kanchi and also captured the Chola country from the Kalabhras in the year...... At Mathurai in Paandiya country the Paandiya king Kadungkon drove the Kalabhras and re-established their control over their region in the year.......

Note: The foregoing will be reviewed frequently corrected where necessary, and added with additional informations with eviidence as and when they surface.