Ay kingdom
| Ay kingdom | ||||||||||||
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| Capital | Vizhinjam, Mavelikkara, Periyaoor, Keezhperoor, Aykudi (Near Tenkasi), Ayiraperi Village (Near Tenkasi), Alwarkurichi | |||||||||||
| Languages | Tamil | |||||||||||
| Religion | Vaishnavism, Shaivism | |||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | |||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||
| • | Established | Early Sangam age | ||||||||||
| • | Disestablished | c. 12th century | ||||||||||
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The Ay dynasty (I / Ai dynasty) (later known as the Venad and subsequently the Thiruvithamkur Dynasty) ruled parts of southern India from the early Sangam age, which spanned from c. 3rd century BC to c. 4th century AD, till the Independence of India. At their zenith, the dynasty ruled an area extending from Tiruvalla and Adoor in the north to Nagercoil in the south including the naturally rich Western Ghats in the east. One part of the Ayi Kingdom was headquartered in Mavelikkara while another was headquartered at Periyaoor, later called Keezhperoor, Aykudi, Alwarkurichi,Tenkasi (Ayiraperi village), .
Ays were a prominent political power in the region, from the time the Cheras established themselves as a major power. Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century AD) described the Ay kingdom as extending from the River Baris (Pamba) to Kanyakumari. The former south Travancore (Nanjanad) was also included in the Ay kingdom. According to the epic Purananuru, the capital was at Aykudi, Podiyil Malai (near Shenkottai) and later an administrative capital was established at Vizhinjam. The elephant was the royal emblem of the Ay rulers. After the 10th century, the state of Venad overpowered the Ays in southern Kerala and south-western Tamil Nadu.
The name Ay is derived from the ancient Tamil word Ay (mean ruler or leader).According to Tamil Sangam literature, Ay trace their origins to the people who lived in Mullai, one of the five geographical tracts of ancient Tamil land. The Paliyam Copper Plates of Vikramaditya Varaguna points the origin of Ay from Yadavas. (Ayars are also called Konars or Idaiyars). It is generally an Debate For the Ays were a Dravidian or Aryan clan of India.
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