Killivalavan

More than one Killivalavan

There are a number of poems in Purananuru sung in praise of the Killivalavan who died at Kulamuttram (Kulamuttrathu Tunjiya Killivalavan) and a solitary poem of another Killivalavan who died at Kurappalli. As Kovur Kilar is the poet who has written about these two Killis, it is reasonable to suppose that these two kings are identical.

Reward of Vellaikkudi Nakanar

The following verses were composed by the poet Vellaikkudi Nakanar, who was immediately rewarded for his work by the remission of all outstanding dues on his lands — a gesture reflecting the king’s appreciation for poetic talent and the high esteem in which poets were held during that era.

"The pleasant Tamil lands possess For boundary the ocean wide. The heaven, where tempests loud sway not, Upon their brow rests as a crown. Fertile the soil they till, and wide. Three kings with mighty hosts this land Divide; but of the three; whose drums Sound for the battle’s angry strife, Thou art the chief, O mighty one! Though the resplendent sun in diverse quarters rise; And though the silvery planet to the south decline; Thy land shall flourish, where through channels deep, Kaveri flows with bright refreshing stream, Along whose banks the sweet cane’s white flowers wave Like pennon’d spears uprising from the plain. Let me speak out to this rich country’s king! Be easy of access at fitting time, as though The lord of justice sat to hear, and right decree. Such kings have rain on their dominions at their will! The clouds thick gather round the sun, and rest In vault of heaven:—So let thy canopy Of state challenge the sky, and spread around Not gloom, but peaceful shade. Let all thy victories Be the toiling ploughman’s gain. Kings get the blame, whether rains fail, or copious flow, And lack the praise: such is the usage of the world. If thou hast marked and known this well, Reject the wily counsels of malicious men.

Lighten the load of those who till the soil.

The dwellers in the land protect. If thou do this Thy stubborn foes shall lowly bend beneath thy feet."<sup about="#mwt16" class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-4" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw='{"name":"ref","attrs":{},"body":{"id":"mw-reference-text-cite_note-4"}}'><a href="./Killivalavan#cite_note-4" id="mwNg"><span class="mw-reflink-text" id="mwNw"><span class="cite-bracket" id="mwOA">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket" id="mwOQ">]</span></span></a></sup>

Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam

The Vimana of Srirangam temple originally came out of "parkadal" with the penance of Brahma Deva. This God was brought down by the ancestors of Rama called Ikshvaku. This god was worshiped by all kings in the family. The Incarnation of Lord Vishnu called Rama was the 80th king in this verse and also performed poojas to this Vimana. After killing Ravana and reaching ayodhya he gave this Vimana to Vibishana (brother of Ravana) as a symbol of love. While He took this Vimana and was traveling towards Sri Lanka, Lord Vishnu wanted to stay here which made the Vimanam to stick on the region now called Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, on the banks of River Cauvery. Then Chola kings namely Dharmavarcholan and KilliValavan developed the shrine into Big Temple seen now. They have laid the basic foundations and primary buildings of the great Temple. The temple also has mentions in Sangam literature that it has been worshiped by many of the Sangam era (500 BCE to the 300 CE), there are mentions in many books like Akanaṉūṟu, Purananuru, Paripāṭal and Silapadikaram.

Example:- Silapadikaram (book 11, lines 35–40):

On a magnificent cot having a thousand heads spread out, worshipped and praised by many, in an islet surrounded by Kaveri with billowing waves, is the lying posture of the one who has Lakshmi sitting in his chest.

Killivalavan's Reign

Killivalavan is celebrated in eighteen songs by ten different minstrels and himself figures as the author of a poem sung in praise of his friend Pannan who was the chieftain of Sirukudi (Purananuru – 173). Urayur was the capital of Killivalavan (Purananuru – 69).

Killivalavan was a capable king and was both brave and generous, but somewhat headstrong. A great deal of good advice was very tactfully offered to him by the poets.

Siege of Karur

The siege and capture of the Chera capital Karur was the standout military achievement of Killivalavan's reign and has been the subject of a number of poems. The poet Alattur Kilar made an effort to divert Killivalavan's attention from this enterprise in order to save Karur from destruction by gently chiding him for pitting himself against an enemy unworthy of his prowess (Purananuru – 36). However, this effort was futile and the city of Karur fell to the Chola.

Defeat against Pandya

Purananuru poems are silent on Killivalavan's campaigns in the south against the Pandyas, but the poet Nakkirar in a poem in Akananuru (poem 345) makes reference to the defeat suffered by the forces of Killivalavan in the hands of the Pandya commander Palayan Maran.

Malainadu Battle

Killivalavan also waged a battle against the Malainadu chief Malayaman Tirumudikkari, who was famous for his liberal patronage of poets. The Malayaman chief was killed in battle and his two children were about to be condemned to a cruel death by the victorious Chola. The poet Kovur Kilar again pleaded for the lives of these children (Purananuru – 46)