Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan - Second Recognised Ruler Of Chera Dynasty

Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan is also known as Nedunjeral Athan, was the second known ruler of the great Chera dynasty of the sangam era of South India, contemporary to the Chola ruler Perunarkilli. The ancient Tamil work of sangam age, Patittupattu forms one of the main source of information recorded of the Chera dynasty and its rulers. According to Patittupattu, Nedum Cheralathan was the second king of the Chera dynasty. He succeeded his father Uthiyan Cheralathan and ruled the kingdom for 58 years as a crown prince first and as a king later. The name of his queen is Nalchonai ( daughter of Chola king Manikilli ). Imayavaramban means "beloved of gods or one who had Hilayas as his boundary".

He ruled from the capital called Marandai which was different from his father's. The capital during his father's reign was Kuzhumur. He is described in the second decad of the Patittupattu, as having nvaded countries up to Himalayas. This might be a poetic exaggeration. He was a great warrior and a powerful ruler with several victories over neighboring kings during his tenure to his credit.

He is said to have vanquished seven crowned kings achieving the status of an Aadhiraja. He also brought Kudanad under his reign. He also won a victory over Yavanas. The name Yavana was used in Kerala for the Greeks, the Romans, the Persians and the Arabs. Even the foreign traders who settled in Kerala were also called as Yavanas. The most important battle he fought was with the Kadambas of the Gokarnam ( Vanavasi region ). In the naval battle, Nedum Cheralathan defeated the Kadambas and out down their guardian tree, Kadambu. Kuttuvan, the first son and successor of  Nedum Cheralathan, is said to have conquered Kongu and extended the power of Cheras up to eastern and western oceans. Another son of Nedum Cheralathan is said to have achieved military success against Anji, a chieftain of Tagadur and lead an expedition against a ruler named Nannan, who ruled the area to the north of Malabar. Thus the successors of Nedum Cheralathan were also mighty just like all the powerful kings of Chera dynasty. During his rule, there was a high development in arts and literature. Famous poet Kannanar was Nedum Cheralathan's court poet.

His last war was with the contemporary Chola king Velpattadakkai Peruviralkillli. In this battle both kings died as both threw spears at each other. Thus Nedum Cheralathan died in this battle and was succeeded by his elder son  Vel Kelu Kuttuvan.