Mushika dynasty


Mushika dynasty, also spelled Mushaka, Tamil/Malayalam: Eli or Ezhi, was a minor dynastic power that held sway over the region in and around Mount Ezhi in present-day Kerala, south India. The country of the Mushikas, ruled by an ancient lineage of velir-level chieftains of the same name, appears in early historic south India. Early Tami poems contain several references to the exploits of Nannan of Ezhimalai. Nannan was known as a great enemy of the pre-Pallava Chera chieftains. The clan also had matrimonial alliances with the Chera, Pandya and Chola chieftains.
The Ezhimalai chiefdom gradually developed into a monarchical polity in the early medieval period. The medieval Mushikas were considered as Kshatriyas of Soma Vamsa. The hereditary title of the Mushika kings in the medieval period was Ramaghata Musaka. The Mushaka Vamsa Kavya, a dynastic chronicle composed in the 11th century by poet Athula, describes the history of the Mushika lineage.
Mushika kingdom came under the influence of Chera/Perumal kingdom kingdom in the 11th century AD. Mushika royals seem to have assisted the Chera/Perumal kings in their struggle against the Chola Empire. Two subsequent Chola inscriptions mention the defeat of the Kolla-desam and the fall of the Iramakuta Muvar. The presence of the Cholas in north Kerala is confirmed by the Eramam inscription. The kingdom survived the Chera/Perumal state, and came to be known as Kolathunad in the post-Chera/Perumal period.
The Mushika kings appear to have encouraged a variety of merchant guilds in their kingdom. Famous Indian guilds such as the anjuvannam, the manigramam, the valanchiyar and the nanadeshikal shows their presence in the country. The kings are also described as great champions of Hindu religion and temples. Some Mushika rulers are known for their patronage to a famous Buddhist vihara in central Kerala. Presence of Jewish merchants is also speculated in the ports of Mushika kingdom. A location in Madayi is still known as "the Jew's Place".

Etymology

The term "Mushika" or "Mushaka" is the fanciful Sanskrit translation of the ancient Tamil name "Ezhimalai". The name was incorrectly pronounced as "Elimala" also.
The Ezhimala hill is described in Mushaka Vamsa Kavya as the "Mushaka Parvata".

Origins

The ancient ruling family of the Ezhimala seems to have existed in northern Kerala at least from early historic period.
Ancient Tamil poems also describe the velir-level chiefdom of Ezhimalai on the northern edges of the Tamilakam. The rulers of Ezhilmalai were the most prominent hill chieftains of ancient Kerala. The port known as Naravu was located in Ezhimalai chiefdom. The "Muvan" chieftain of the early Tamil poems, described as an adversery of the early Chera chieftains, is also identical with the Muvan of Ezhimalai.
The early historic Ezhilama clan had matrimonial alliances with the Chera, Pandya and Chola chieftains.
Mahabharata, the Sanskrit epic poem of ancient India, also mention the Mushika as one of the kingdoms of south India, and is grouped with the Cheras, Pandyas and Cholas.

Ezhimala Nannan

Nannan was a velir-level chieftain of Ezhimalai. Nannan is known as a great enemy of the early Chera chieftains. He appeas in Akananuru and Purananuru poems, and also in Natrinai, in Pathitruppathu and in Kurunthokai. He is described as the hunter chieftain of the vetar descent group.
Early Tami poems contain several references to the exploits of Ezhimalai Nannan.
The Kolla-desam came under the influence of the Chera/Perumals kingdom during eleventh century AD. The Chola references to several kings in medieval Kerala confirms that the power of the Chera/Perumal was restricted to the country around capital Kodungallur. The Perumal kingship remained nominal compared with the power that local rulers exercised politically and militarily.
Medieval Kolla-desam stretched on the banks of Kavvai, Koppam and Valappattanam rivers.

Mushika rulers from medieval inscriptions (10th - 12th centuries AD).

InscriptionLocationNotes
Ramanthali/Ezhimala-Narayankannur inscription
  • Ramanthali, near Ezhimala.
  • A single granite slab in the courtyard of the Narayankannur Temple.
  • Mentions Mushika Validhara Vikrama Rama.
  • The so-called Agreement of Muzhikkulam is quoted in the record.
  • Merchant guild manigramam is appointed as the guardian of the Narayankannur Temple.
    • Eramam inscription
  • Eramam, near Payyanur.
  • A single slab in the site of the ruined Chalappuram Temple.
  • Mentions Chera/Perumal king Bhaskara Ravi Manukuladitya and Iramakuta Muvar Kantan Karivarman .
  • Mentions the merchants guilds of Valanchiyar and Nanadeyar.
  • Mentions Rajendra Chola Samaya Senapati from Katappa Palli.
    • Tiruvadur inscription
  • Partly in the courtyard of the temple on either side of the sopana.
  • Partly in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
  • Creation and endowment of a grama with members chosen from some old grama settlements from central Kerala.
  • The engraver is mentioned as Rama Jayamani, the "royal goldsmith of the Mushika king ".
    • Tiruvalla Copper Plates
    • Tiruvalla
  • Presence of a Ramakuta Muvar.
    • Kannapuram inscription
    • Single stone slab fixed on a platform outside the prakara of the Kannapuram temple.
  • Ramakuta Muvar Udaya Varma is mentioned.

    • Chola attacks on Mushika kingdom (Kolla-desam)

    Corrections by M. G. S. Narayanan on K. A. Nilakanta Sastri and Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan Pillai are employed.

    Records mentioning Chera/Perumals

    Miscellaneous records

    Udayavarman Kolattiri

    An inscription discovered from Kannappuram Temple, found fixed on a platform outside the prakara of the temple, in old Malayalam mentions king "Utaiya Varma Ramakuta Muvar". The record give details of land set apart for the expenses of the Kannapuram Temple. The inscription can be attributed to the early years of the 12th century on the basis of script and language.
    InscriptionLocationNotes
    Kannapuram inscription

    • Single stone slab fixed on a platform outside the prakara of the Kannapuram temple.
  • Ramakuta Muvar Udaya Varma is mentioned.
    • King Udayavarman of Karippattu palace in Kolattunadu is described as a favourite of the Chera/Perumal king in traditional Kerala chronicles. He is described as the overlord of the Fort Valapattanam, the Chera/Perumal king's Palace, the Taliparamba Temple, and the Perinchellur Brahmin village.