Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan

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 Chittoor and also the husband of Rajaraja's elder sister Kunthavai Pirattiyar.[1] He was also the chieftain of the Sri Lanka Front Army of Rajaraja l and Rajendra I. Territory under his authority was known as Vallavaraiyanadu. He ruled Brahmadesam.[2] Vandiyathevan is idealized in Kalki Krishnamurthy's (Kalki) famous novel Ponniyin Selvan and also in many other novels like Vandiyadevan Vaal, Vandiyadevan Senai Thalaivan.

Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan
Equestrian statue of Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan in Chennai.
Chola Chieftain of the Samanthas
EmperorRajaraja I
Rajendra I
Chola Chieftain of Brahmadesam
EmperorRajaraja I
Rajendra I
BornThiruvallam / Vallam, Chola Empire
(modern day Thiruvalam, Tamil Nadu, India)
DiedThanjavur, Chola Empire
(modern day Tamil Nadu, India)
SpouseKundavai Pirāttiyār
DynastyVana Kingdom
Military career
Service Chola army
RankSenathipathi
Commands held
ReligionHinduism

Actor Karthi portrays Vandiyathevan in the 2022 Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan I and subsequent sequel Ponniyin Selvan II , an adaptation of Kalki's novel of the same name.

Origins

His origins and clan are subjects of great debate. Kalki Krishnamurthy strongly believed his clan is Vaanar Kulam (Vana Kingdom / Magadai Mandalam) and depicted the same in his famous novel Ponniyin Selvan.

Evidences

He is referred to in the Rajarajeshwaram Temple inscription in which he is referred to as the husband of Kundavai Piratiyar.[3]

Vandhiyadevan is one of the key characters of the novel Ponniyin Selvan. The author Kalki Krishnamurthy depicts him as a brave, adventurous and sarcastic warrior/prince, who later becomes the Commander for Southern Troops under the reign of Uttama Chola. He was a bodyguard and close friend of Aditha Karikalan in Kanchi who sends him as a messenger to Parantaka II in Thanjavur to invite him to the newly built golden palace in Kanchi and also as a trustful guard for Kundavai 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.

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.

His role was played by Karthi in PS-I & PS-II

See also

Notes
  1. K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (2000) [1935]. The CōĻas. Madras: University of Madras. p. 186.
  2. K. A. Nilakanta Sastri (2000) [1935]. The CōĻas. Madras: University of Madras. p. 226.
  3. South Indian Inscriptions (Inscriptions of The Great Chola Temple at Tanjore) -Vol-II

Further reading
Tamil Wikisource has original text related to this article:
  • 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 from Varalaaru monthly 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 from Varalaaru monthly e-magazine's website.To read the novel, Click here
  • “Kalvettu Sonna Kadaigal Series” in Varalaaru.com Magazine (in tamil)
  • Sadasiva Pandarathar: Pirkala Chozar Varalaaru, Annamalai University Publication.
Tamil Wikisource has original text related to this article:
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