Sthanu Ravi Varma, probably known as the Kulasekhara, was the Chera Perumal ruler of Kerala in southern India from 844 to c. 870/71 AD. Sthanu Ravi is often identified with playwright king Kulasekhara Varma, and with Bhakti saint Kulasekhara Alvar. The Chera Perumal relations with the Chola dynasty were inaugurated during the reign of Sthanu Ravi. The famous Quilon Syrian Christian copper plates are dated in the 5thregnal year of king Sthanu Ravi. Two more inscriptions dated in the regnal years of Sthanu Ravi can be found at IrinjalakudaKudalmanikyam Temple, and at Thiruvatruvay, Thiruvalla. Koyil Adhikarikal during the time of Sthanu Ravi was his son-in-law Vijayaraga. Sthanu Ravi had a son born to him in or about 870 AD. Sthanu Ravi probably abdicated the throne toward the end of his reign and became a Vaishnavitealvar known as Kulasekhara Alvar.
Career
Sanskrit poet Vasubhatta refers to his second patron king as "Kulasekhara" in his Yudhisthira Vijaya. An anonymous work called Padmapada Acharya Charita says that the protagonist who was the disciple of philosopher-theologian Sankara flourished in time of king "Kulasekhara". Ayyan Adikal, the chieftain of Quilon under Sthanu Ravi, issued the famous Quilon Syrian Christian copper plates in c. 849 AD. The inscription records that Ayyan Adikal granted land and serfs to a Christian church at Quilon, built by Mar Sapir Iso, and entrusted its maintenance to trade guilds anjuvannam and manigramam. The grant was made in the presence of Chera Perumal prince Vijayaraga. Daughter of Kulasekhara, with the title Kizhan Adikal Ravi Neeli, was married to Vijayaraga.
Sthanu Ravi was a partner in the Chola king Rajakesari Varma's campaign in Kongu country. It is known that the two rulers jointly conferred military honours on a chief of Tanjore called Vikki Annan, probably a Ganga prince. Vikki Annan, son of Prithvipati, is mentioned in a Ganga inscription of the mid-9th century AD. The title "Kadamba" suggests a relationship with the Kadamba lineage. King Rajakesari Varma can be identified either with Aditya Chola or with Srikantha Chola.
Identification of Rajakesari Varma with Aditya Chola – this puts Sthanu Ravi's final regnal year in 885 AD – this view was found acceptable by Daud Ali – Elamkulam assumes that Sthanu Ravi ruled up to 885 AD to be able to become the junior partner in Aditya Chola's wars in Kongu Nadu.
Identification of Rajakesari Varma with Srikantha Chola – this puts the joint action in 844-45 AD and Sthanu Ravi's final regnal year in 883 AD – this view was found acceptable by M. G. S. Narayanan.
Inscriptions
As Sthanu Ravi
As Kulasekhara
''Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha''
Astronomer Sankara Narayana was a member of the royal court of Kulasekhara at Kodungallur. He is best known as the author of Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha, a detailed commentary of on the works of mathematician Bhaskara I. An observatory functioned at Kodungallur under the charge of Sankara Narayana. There are references to an instrument called "Rashi Chakra" marked by a "Yanthra Valaya" in Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha. This instrument might be the same as the Gola Yanthra/Chakra Yanthra mentioned by famous polymath Aryabhata. The Chakra Yanthra was developed further and called Phalaka Yanthra by Bhaskara I.
Identification of Sthanu with Ravi Kulasekhara
The opening verse of Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha gives an indirect invocation to the lord called "Sthanu".
