Kuthu Vilakku symbol of Aanai Mangalam Seppeduhal, Anbil Seppeduhal, Thiru Aalangadu Seppeduhal all Chozhar Copperplates indicates Vezh Velir Vellalars Trade Guild

I want to insist and emphasize the fact that many Thisai Aayirathu Ainootruvarhal 1500 people of traders guild Nanadesihal also used Kuthu Vilakku symbol in many of their Veerakkals found at Erode Coimbatore Dharmapuri Kongu Vellalar regions and Karnataka.....also note the Boar....Kaatu Panri....Varaham.....Lachinai....Symbol....in all the above Anbil Seppeduhal. Aanai Mangalam Seppeduhal. Thiru Aalangadu Seppeduhal.

 Because only Tiger Symbol Chozhal alone did not rule or trade with the world. Particularly Asian countries trade through Sri Vijayam Kingdom. A big Perarasu needs more people. More cooperation union like NATO QUAD EU. This is what exactly shown in all the Chozhar Copperplates. Addition of Varaham indicates participation of Andhra Karnataka Orissa UP MP Bengal rulers the Ratti Reddyars Rettapaadi....Rashtrakutas.....indicates by Varaham.....it is very important to note that Varaham Avataram and Varaham symbol also found at Khajuraho temples of Chandelas....Varahi Amman also worshipped even now inside Tanjore Big Temple South West Corner idol in the Praharam. So purposely the Cooper plates places Varaham Boar Kaattu Panri at the bottom of the copper plate because they are also part of the Kingdom. But not the majority. 

The Chola insignia in Anaimangalam Cheppedugal.

It shows a Tiger of Cholas two fish of the Pandyas the bow of the Cheras ,two Chaamarams  the royal parasol lamps and Swastika.

As reported in The Hindu. Can we say the Kuthu Vilakku symbol in the same copper plate indicates Hoysalars. Banavasi. Lingayats. Veera Saivam people?

**The boar (Varaham) and lamps (Kuthu Vilakku) in these Chola copper plates have established historical interpretations, but your points on alliances, trade guilds, and multi-regional participation are worth noting in the broader context of Chola imperialism.** However, they do not fundamentally change the primary meaning of the symbols as Chola royal iconography.

### Boar (Varaham / Kaatu Panri) in Chola Plates

In plates like the **Thiruvalangadu (Tiru Aalangadu)** plates of Rajendra Chola I, the seal includes:

- Tiger (Cholas)

- Two fish (Pandyas)

- Bow (Cheras)

- **Boar (eastern Chalukyas / related Deccan powers)**

- Lamps, parasol, chaamarams, swastika, etc.

Historians interpret the boar as symbolizing Chola **victories or overlordship** over the Eastern Chalukyas (of Vengi in Andhra), who used the Varaha as their emblem. Similar inclusions appear in other Chola records (e.g., references in Anbil plates of Sundara Chola or related grants).

- **Your view**: The boar at the bottom indicates **participation/inclusion** of Andhra-Karnataka-Orissa-UP-MP-Bengal rulers (Rattis/Reddys, Rashtrakutas influences, Chandelas via Khajuraho Varaha). This reflects a "Perarasu" (great empire) needing alliances, like modern unions (NATO/EU/QUAD), especially for trade with Srivijaya and Asia.

- **Standard view**: It primarily signals **conquest/subjugation** or dynastic integration through marriage/alliance (Cholas had marital ties with Eastern Chalukyas). Cholas did build a vast empire through military campaigns (e.g., Rajendra's Gangaikonda and naval expeditions), diplomacy, and trade networks — not solo rule. The inclusion of multiple emblems underscores imperial claims over southern and eastern regions. Rashtrakuta influence was earlier; by imperial Chola times, it was more about Chalukya and other Deccan interactions.

**Varahi worship** in the Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple (southwest corner) is real and fits Chola Shaiva-Shakta patronage. Varahi (feminine form of Varaha) as a guardian/mother goddess aligns with royal protection themes, but this is broader Hindu iconography, not direct proof of political "partnership" symbols.

### Kuthu Vilakku and Trader Guilds (Thisai Aayirathu Ainootruvar / Ayyavole 500 / Nanadesi)

The **Ayyavole 500** (or Ainuruvar / Thisai Aayirathu Ainootruvar) were a powerful merchant guild from Aihole (Karnataka) with operations across South India, including Kongu regions (Erode, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri), and extending to Southeast Asia. They were involved in trade, protection, and sometimes military roles alongside Chola administration.

- **Lamps on veerakkals**: Standing lamps appear on some hero stones in these regions, often as auspicious/ritual elements (light for the hero's soul, worship). Guild inscriptions and veerakkals exist in Kongu and Karnataka areas, reflecting local agrarian-warrior-trader cultures (including Vellalars and others). However, the guild's primary symbol was often the **bull**, not the Kuthu Vilakku as a defining emblem.

- Lamps remain **general auspicious motifs** in South Indian art, rituals, and memorials — not an exclusive marker for Vellalars, guilds, Hoysalas, Lingayats, or Banavasi. Their presence in Chola seals is for divine legitimacy and prosperity.

### Overall Chola Context

Chola copper plates (Anaimangalam/Leiden, Anbil, Thiruvalangadu, etc.) emphasize:

- **Genealogy and victories** — Claiming overlordship via combined emblems.

- **Administration and grants** — To temples, viharas (e.g., Buddhist support showing religious tolerance), and officials.

- **Trade and networks** — Strong evidence of maritime trade with Srivijaya, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Guilds like the Ayyavole 500 were crucial partners, not the core rulers.

Cholas were a major power but relied on **alliances, marriages, local elites (including Vellalars and guilds), and administrators** — this is accurate. The symbols celebrate this expansive empire, but mainstream epigraphy sees them as assertions of Chola supremacy rather than equal "union" partnership.

Your emphasis on cooperative, multi-regional aspects (trade guilds, Deccan/Andhra symbols, Kongu hero stones) adds a valuable layer to understanding Chola soft power and economic integration. It doesn't override the dynastic emblem interpretations, but it enriches the picture of a sophisticated, interconnected medieval South Indian world. If you have specific inscriptions, photos of veerakkals, or plate references, more precise analysis is possible.

**You're welcome!** Glad the acknowledgement resonated.

The Chola empire was indeed a sophisticated network of military power, strategic marriages, local elites (including Vellalars and other agrarian groups in Kongu and elsewhere), powerful trade guilds like the **Ayyavole 500 / Thisai Aayirathu Ainootruvar**, and economic ties extending to Srivijaya and Southeast Asia. The copper plates reflect that complexity through their symbols and content.

If you'd like to explore any specific aspect further — such as:

- Details from the Thiruvalangadu, Anaimangalam, or Anbil plates,

- More on the merchant guilds and their veerakkals,

- Varaha symbolism across dynasties,

- Or hero stones in the Kongu region,

just let me know. I'm happy to discuss or clarify with more depth. 😊

Pasupathi Kumarappan.
https://notionpress.com/author/83387