5.5. Udayavarmacarita of Ravivarman

[Full title: Works written in Puranic (Legendary) style: Udayavarmacarita of Ravivarman]

A kavya entitled Udayavarmacarita^[1] describing the exploits of the ancient Kolathiri king Udayavarman. The earliest literary reference to the Kolattiri royal family is provided by the Musakavamsa of Atula^[2]. This royal family which claims its descent from the legendary king Ceraman Perumal is known in ancient times as the Musaka lilne. The capital of the kingdom, according to keralolpatti, was at a place called Karippattu, which is situated a few miles south of the temple of Taliparambu. From the Musakavamsa we know that it was later shifted to Elimala referred to as Musakaparvata in Sanskrit from which the name was adopted by the royal family. It was at a later time that the new capital at Kolam was established. It is on this account the royal family came to be known as Kolattiris.

Among the legendary ancient kings of this family the name of Udaya Varma has assumed great significance. Various accounts of his exploits are traditionally handed down. The Musakavamsa also mentions his name among a long line of kings but not as the founder of the family^[3]. It mentions the names of at least fifty two kings who are supposed to have preceded Udayavarman and gives the name of his father as Ranamani.

Supposedly Udayavarmacarita contains eleven chapters or cantos and is composed in the puranic style. Unfortunately nothing is known about the details of interesting work. The manuscript at present is given up for lost. But probably based on the original manuscript Ullur has given a brief account of its contents in his history of Kerala literature^[4].

At the outset it is stated in the work itself that the author is one Ravivarman^[5], a king of Kolattunadu. From the Kali chronogram^[6] given in the work it may be seen that the date of composition was M.E. 676. The auther is supposed to have reigned over the Kolattunadu between M.E. 667 -681^[7]. The poem is written according to the version of Vilvamangalam Svamiyar who had supposed by narrated to the story of Udayavarman to a Brahmin by name Shrinkhala-kroda belonging to the Sivapuram in the north at his request. The author states that he was only versified the story already narrated by the sage^[8].

Historical Aspects

According to the version of the sage, in olden times, three Ksatriya ladies belonging to the lunar race went to Gokarna to propitiate lord Siva by doing penance. Whilst they were at it, Ceraman Perumal the legendary king of Kerala, happened to noticed them and soon married all the three of them. In his second wife he got a daughter known as Ambalika who in due course, was given away to a king called Ravivarman. Ambalika succeeded Ceraman Perumal to the throne of Kerala. In 724AD a son known as Keralavarman was born to her and it was he who founded the dynasty of the Kolattiri rulers. In AD 746 his neice gave birth to a son called Udayavarman who succeeded Keralavarman as the ruler of Kolattunadu. While he was ruling country he happened to estrange the Nambutiri Brahmins of Perumcellur who heaped abuse on him. In a huff he went to Gokarna to persuade some Tulu Brahmins who were well versed in the vedic lore to settle down in Kolattunadu.

These Brahmins belonging to the village of Gunavanta, Dipapattana (Vilakkur) and Idukunja (Idukunci), unaware of the might of the king wanted him to renovate a holy tank situated in the neighbourhood of the Siva temple within three days if they are to go with him. The holy tank is supposed to have been dug by the gods. Undoubted by the challenge the king set out to fulfil their desire and he was well supported by his people. Within the stipulated time^[9] the renovation work was completed and the Brahmins by their power of penance filled the tank with water at the request of the King. King Udayavarman has caused some changes in the manners and customs of these Tulu Brahmins who accomponied him to Kolattunadu and they are supposed to be the ancestors of the present Nambuthiri Brahmins of Kerala.^[10].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A catalogue of manuscripts collected by T. Ganapatisastri, IV-26—Keraleya Samskrita Sahitya Caritram -Vol. I, P -443, Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur Vol II -PP -82 f, Kerala Sanskrit Literature -P -58

[2]:

Vide infra -P 119 ff

[3]:

Musakavamsa XI 87—
tasmādudayavarmeti vismāpitanjanau guṇaiḥ
ajāyata patirbhūmedvijāyutamahātithiḥ ||

[4]:

Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur -Vol. II -Pp -82 -83

[5]:

We know about the Krsnasudhi, scholar from kanchi, who was patronised by a king Ravivarman of Kolatunadu. He wrote a work on poetics called Kavyakalanidhi, were the illustration are all in praise of king Ravivarman. We do not know whether this king is identical with the author of Udayavarmacaritha.

[6]:

‘hi viṣṇo nihitaṃ kṛtsnam’ is taken from Tantrasangraha of Kelallur Neelakantha Somayaji. Hence Ravivarman’s date must be later than 1500 AD.

[7]:

Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur -Vol. II -P. -32

[8]:

Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur -P -82
prāgeva bhikṣuṇā proktaṃ caritaṃ kolabhūpateḥ
gakāra ślokarūpeṇa ravivarmamahīpatiḥ ||

[9]:

A Kali chronogram ‘Vrddhidaambaa’ suggests that the incident took place in 793 AD.

[10]:

For more details see—
A note on Udayavarmacaritha by Dr. N.P. Unni -Journal of Kerala Studies -Vol. I -PP -167 -71
Studies in Musakavamsa—Dr. N.P. Unni -Journal of Kerala Studies -Vol. I -Pp 151 -152
Udayavarmacaritha—a study (M phil Thesis) by Premakumari P.G. (Dept. of Sanskrit Uty. of Kerala, Tvm, 1979)