The Second Chera Empire

At the end of the eighth century, when the Kalabhras of South India who ruled for 300 years were deposed and rooted out by the Pallavas, Pandyas, Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas, Kerala emerged from the dark age and came under the Second Chera Empire (800 - 1102 A.D)founded by Kulasekhara Alvar. The first Chera Empire waned in the 3rd century and was revived in the 9th century. . It was only under the reign of the Kulasekhara kings that Kerala became an advanced civilization and a pre-eminent political power.

Kulasekhara Alvar, the king of Kulasekhara dynasty was one of the 12 Alvars or Tamil saints who were responsible for spreading the Bhakti cult movement in South India by singing hymns in praise of Lord Vishnu. Kulasekhara Alvar also patronized Arts and was a remarkable scholar. He wrote five dramas – the Perumal Tirumozhi in Tamil, and Mukundamala, Subhadradhamala, Vichchinnabhiseka and Tapatisamvarna –in Sanskrit which speaks of his genius. He also wrote poems that were known as the Perumal Thirumozhi. Rajasekhara Varman who is famous for issuing the Vazhappali Inscription, the first epigraphical record of the Chera Kingdom succeeded Kulasekhara Alvar.

The capital of this Chera Empire or Kulasekhara Dynasty, (known by the ancestral name of the kings) was Mahodyapuram- modern Kodangallur in Kerala.

During this Kulasekhara era, the Quilon Calendar (Malayalam Calendar system) or Kolla Varsha was innovated and was issued on the25th of July, 825 A.D. Bhaskara Ravi I, Bhaskara Ravi II and Sthanu Ravi Varma, the successor of Rajasekhara Varman ,were the prominent rulers of this period. Altogether we come to know about thirteen significant Kulasekhara monarchs from the historical inscriptions which were discovered recently.

There were some special characteristics of the Second Chera Age of the Kulasekharas and was called the "Golden Age" of Kerala .They are-

• The united empire consisted of small independent kingdoms.
• The Empire traded with the Arabs and the Chinese and as a result Malaylam was highly influenced by Chinese culture and language – for instance- China vala (a kind of fishing net), China otam { a kind of boat), and so on.
• The Malayalam language got divorced from Tamil and Sanskrit was added.
• This period also witnessed the establishment of Hinduism and the end of Buddhism and Jainism. Judaism, Christianity and Islam started flourishing.
• The Bhakti Cult movement was spread throughout South India with Bhajans becoming popular.
• A plethora of Vaishnavite and Saivite temples sprung up all over Kerala and new art forms like Kutiyattam and Kuthu also developed. Vedic schools called Sala I were joined with the temples in various parts of Kerala.

There were frequent clashes between the Cheras and the Cholas and gradually the kingdoms started breaking. This second Chera Dynasty reigned till 1102 and finally perished after their capital Mahodayapuram was burnt by Kulothunga Chola of the Chola Dynasty.