Rama Rajasekhara
| Rama Rajasekhara | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raja Rajadhiraja | |||||||||
Depiction of Cherman Perumal Nayanar, who is generally identified with Rajasekhara, in the Brihadisvara Temple | |||||||||
| Ruler of the Chera Kingdom | |||||||||
| Reign | 870/71–c. 883/84 AD ? | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara | ||||||||
| Successor | Vijayaraga | ||||||||
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| House | Chera (medieval Kerala) | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism (Shaiva) | ||||||||
Rama Rajasekhara (fl. c. 870/71 – c. 883/84 AD?) was a medieval Chera ruler of Kerala, south India. Historians generally identify Rajasekhara with Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, the venerated Shaiva (Nayanar) poet-musician of the Bhakti tradition.
Rajasekhara is believed to have succeeded Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara around 870/71 AD. "Tripuradahana" and "Saurikathodaya", Yamaka poems by Vasubhatta, were composed under the patronage of Rajasekhara. Two temple records, from Kurumattur, Areacode and Thiruvatruvay, Vazhappally, mention king Rajasekhara. The former contains the only available royal panegyric of a Chera Perumal ruler of medieval Kerala and notably links the dynasty to the mythical Solar Race.
Rajasehara probably abdicated the throne toward the end of his reign and became a Shaiva nayanar known as Cheraman Perumal Nayanar. He was likely succeeded by Vijayaraga (fl. c. 883/84-c.895 AD).