Ay dynasty

The medieval Ay lineage claimed its origins from the hill-chiefs the same name (the Ays) from early historic (pre-Pallava) south India. The medieval Ay claimed that they belonged to the Yadava/Nanda or Vrishni lineage (Parthivapuram Grant and Paliyam Copper Plates). This claim was advanced by the later rulers of Venad and Travancore. They seem to have appeared in the 12th and 13th centuries as the Chirayavay branch, claiming descent from the "Yadu Kula", and ruled near Thiruvalla with Athanthuruthi as their headquarters. In the second half of the 13th century, the Chirayavay branch merged with the Kizhperur branch of the Venad family. A branch of the Ay family, which had established itself at Thrippappur, also appears to have later merged with the Kizhperur house. == History ==

was the tutelary deity of the medieval Ay family|335x335px (the Aykudi)|335x335px The Ay clan was one of the major hill-chiefs (or the Vels) of early historic south India. Members of the Ay family – of the Podiyil Hills or the Aykudi – were related to the early historic Cheras of central Kerala/western Tamil Nadu. Ay Andiran is praised by early Tamil poets such as Uraiyur Enicheri Muda Mochiyar, Turaiyur Odaikizhar, and Kuttuvan Kiranar in the Purananuru. Veliyan Venmal Nallini, or "Venmal Nallini, the daughter of the Veliyan", was the wife of the renowned Chera ruler Utiyan Cheralatan, dated to around c. 130 CE. As medieval political chiefs The Ay rulers of early medieval south India were among several local "political chiefs" who acknowledged the authority of major dynasties such as the Cheras or the Pandyas. Along with the Mushikas or the Ezhimala rulers of northern Kerala, the Ays notably traced their lineage back to the early historic period. This ancient ancestry distinguished them from other chiefly families in Kerala, who were typically of more recent origin or had been "nominated" by the medieval Cheras. This event is perhaps also remembered in the Velvikkudi plates (3rd regnal year, Nedum Chadayan) as "the suppression of the rebellious Ay-Vel" (or at the battle of "nattukkurumbu"). Venad (or the Country of the Vel People), with its headquarters at Kollam, came under influence of the medieval Chera rulers of Kerala Karunanthadakkkan "Srivallabha" (r. c. 856/57–884), who served as the Ay vassal under Srimara Srivallabha, is particularly noted for founding the Parthivapuram Salai. The considerable influence of the Chera rulers in the Ay country following this battle is evident in two records discovered from the region. The second is the Paliyam copper plates, which record large land grants made in c. 898 CE by the Ay ruler Vikramaditya "Varaguna" to a Buddhist vihara in the Chera Perumal kingdom.'' Inscriptions of Parantaka I (907 — 955 AD) have been found at Kuttalam (24th and 36th regnal year) and at Suchindram (40th regnal year) within the Ay country. == Legacy ==

In general, the influence of the Kerala rulers — such as the chieftains of Venad, who owed allegiance to the medieval Chera rulers — seems to have extended into the southern Ay territory in the 10th century CE. There is a possibility that the Venad chieftains, following the Chola raids, attempted to recapture the old Ay region. Emperor Rajadhiraja claims to have "confined the undaunted king of Venadu [back] to the Che[ra]natu [from the Ay country]... and liberated the [Ay?] king of Kupaka... and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi flowers after the capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan [the Chera king] hid himself in terror inside the jungle" (an event dated to c. 1018/19 CE == Major medieval Ay grants ==