Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan was a general of the
Chola Army. He was one among the famous chieftains of the Chola emperors
Rajaraja I
Rajaraja I ( Middle Tamil: ''Rājarāja Cōḻaṉ''; Classical Sanskrit: ''Rājarāja Śōḷa''; 3 November 947 – January/February 1014), also known as Rajaraja the Great, was a Chola emperor who reigned from 985 to 1014. He was known fo ...
and
Rajendra I
Rajendra I (26 July 971 – 1044), often referred to as Rajendra the Great, was a Chola Emperor who reigned from 1014 to 1044. He was born in Thanjavur to Rajaraja I. His queen was Vanavan Mahadevi and he assumed royal power as co-regent with ...
and chief of the Samanthas of 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 I (26 July 971 – 1044), often referred to as Rajendra the Great, was a Chola Emperor who reigned from 1014 to 1044. He was born in Thanjavur to Rajaraja I. His queen was Vanavan Mahadevi and he assumed royal power as co-regent with ...
. Territory under his authority was known as Vallavaraiyanadu. He ruled
Brahmadesam.
Vandiyathevan is idealized in
Kalki Krishnamurthy
Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5 December 1954), better known by his pen name Kalki, was an Indian writer, journalist, poet, critic and Indian independence activist who wrote in Tamil. He chose the pen-name "Kalki", the future i ...
's (Kalki) famous novel ''
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a Tamil language historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy. It was first serialised in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrated ...
'' and also in many other novels like Vandiyadevan Vaal,
Vandiyadevan Senai Thalaivan.
Origins
His origins and clan are subjects of great debate.
Kalki Krishnamurthy
Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5 December 1954), better known by his pen name Kalki, was an Indian writer, journalist, poet, critic and Indian independence activist who wrote in Tamil. He chose the pen-name "Kalki", the future i ...
strongly believed his clan is Vaanar Kulam (
Bana kingdom
The Bana or Vana was a dynasty based in South India, who claimed descent from king Mahabali. The dynasty takes its name from Bana, the son of Mahabali. The Banas faced opposition from several neighbouring dynasties and served some major dynasti ...
/
Magadai Mandalam) and depicted the same in his famous novel
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a Tamil language historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy. It was first serialised in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrated ...
.
Evidences
He is referred to in the
Rajarajeshwaram Temple inscription in which he is referred to as the husband of
Kundavai Pirāttiyār.
[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 Tamil language historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy. It was first serialised in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrated ...
. The author
Kalki Krishnamurthy
Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5 December 1954), better known by his pen name Kalki, was an Indian writer, journalist, poet, critic and Indian independence activist who wrote in Tamil. He chose the pen-name "Kalki", the future i ...
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
Aditya II (942 CE – 971 CE), also known as Aditha Karikalan, was a Chola prince who lived in the 10th century in India. He was born in Tirukoilur and was the eldest son of Parantaka Chola II. He was the elder brother of Rajaraja Chola I and ...
in Kanchi who sends him as a messenger to
Parantaka II
Parantaka II (r. 958 – 973 CE) was a Chola Empire, Chola emperor. He is also known as Sundara Chola as he was considered an epitome of male beauty.''Early Chola temples:Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985'Journal of Indian museums, Vol ...
in
Thanjavur
Thanjavur (), also known as Thanjai, previously known as Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of southern Indian religion, art ...
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.
Karthi
Karthik Sivakumar (born 25 May 1977), credited as Karthi, is an Indian actor who works in Tamil Cinema. He is son of veteran actor Sivakumar who began his career as an assistant director in his elder brother Suriya's
film '' Aayutha Ezhuthu ...
portrayed a fictionalised version of Vandiyathevan in the 2022 Tamil film
Ponniyin Selvan I and subsequent sequel
Ponniyin Selvan II, a 2-part adaptation of Kalki's
novel of the same name.
See also
*
Ponniyin Selvan
''Ponniyin Selvan'' () is a Tamil language historical fiction novel by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy. It was first serialised in the weekly editions of ''Kalki'', a Tamil magazine, from 29 October 1950 to 16 May 1954 and later integrated ...
*
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 generals
Chola Empire
Chola monarchs