page_title: Mushika dynasty
hierarchical_section_title: Mushika dynasty
caption_attribution_description: English: An approximate representation of early historic south India Source: Antecedents of the State Formation in Early South India by Rajan Gurukkal in State and society in pre-modern South India
context_page_description: Mushika dynasty, also spelled Mushaka, Tamil/Malayalam: Eli or Ezhi, was a minor dynastic power that held sway over the region in and around Mount Ezhi in present-day Kerala, south India. The country of the Mushikas, ruled by an ancient lineage of velir-level chieftains of the same name, appears in early historic south India. Early Tami poems contain several references to the exploits of Nannan of Ezhimalai. Nannan was known as a great enemy of the pre-Pallava Chera chieftains. The clan also had matrimonial alliances with the Chera, Pandya and Chola chieftains.
  The Ezhimalai chiefdom gradually developed into a monarchical polity in the early medieval period. The medieval Mushikas were considered as Kshatriyas of Soma Vamsa. The hereditary title of the Mushika kings in the medieval period was Ramaghata Musaka. The Mushaka Vamsa Kavya, a dynastic chronicle composed in the 11th century by poet Athula, describes the history of the Mushika lineage.
  Mushika kingdom came under the influence of Chera/Perumal kingdom kingdom in the 11th century AD. Mushika royals seem to have assisted the Chera/Perumal kings in their struggle against the Chola Empire.
context_section_description: Mushika dynasty, also spelled Mushaka, Tamil/Malayalam: Eli or Ezhi, was a minor dynastic power that held sway over the region in and around Mount Ezhi (Ezhimala) in present-day Kerala, south India. The country of the Mushikas, ruled by an ancient lineage of velir-level chieftains of the same name, appears in early historic (pre-Pallava) south India. Early Tami poems contain several references to the exploits of Nannan of Ezhimalai. Nannan was known as a great enemy of the pre-Pallava Chera chieftains. The clan also had matrimonial alliances with the Chera, Pandya and Chola chieftains.
  The Ezhimalai chiefdom gradually developed into a monarchical polity (known as Kolla-desam) in the early medieval period. The medieval Mushikas were considered as Kshatriyas of Soma Vamsa. The hereditary title of the Mushika kings in the medieval period was Ramaghata Musaka (Tamil/Malayalam: Iramakuta Muvar). The Mushaka Vamsa Kavya, a dynastic chronicle composed in the 11th century by poet Athula, describes the history of the Mushika lineage.  
  Mushika kingdom came under the influence of Chera/Perumal kingdom kingdom in the 11th century AD. Mushika royals seem to have assisted the Chera/Perumal kings in their struggle against the Chola Empire. Two subsequent Chola inscriptions (c. 1005 AD, Rajaraja I and c. 1018-19, Rajadhiraja) mention the defeat of the Kolla-desam and the fall of the Iramakuta Muvar. The presence of the Cholas in north Kerala (1020 AD) is confirmed by the Eramam inscription. The kingdom survived the Chera/Perumal state, and came to be known as Kolathunad (Kannur-Kasaragod area) in the post-Chera/Perumal period.
  The Mushika kings appear to have encouraged a variety of merchant guilds in their kingdom. Famous Indian guilds such as the anjuvannam, the manigramam, the valanchiyar and the nanadeshikal shows their presence in the country. The kings are also described as great champions of Hindu religion and temples. Some Mushika rulers are known for their patronage to a famous Buddhist vihara in central Kerala. Presence of Jewish merchants is also speculated in the ports of Mushika kingdom. A location in Madayi is still known as "the Jew's Place" (the Jutakkulam).
caption: Mushika country (Ezhimala) in early historic south India
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