Reign 844 - 885 Parents Rajashekhara Varman Successor Rama Varma Kulashekhara | Religion Hinduism (Saivate) House Chera dynasty Predecessor Rajashekhara Varman | |
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Sthanu Ravi Varman (Tamil:தாணு ரவி வர்மா Malayalam: സ്ഥാണു രവി വർമ) was the ruler of the Later Chera Kingdom from 844 to 885 (from 844 to 883 according to MGS). His reign was noted for developments in science, economic prosperity and political stability. He was succeeded by Rama Varma Kulasekhara.
The Chera-Chola relations were friendly during his rule. No Chola invasion of any part of the Chera Kingdom is known to have taken place during this period. He was the contemporary of the famous Chola emperor, Aditya Chola. It is known that the two rulers jointly conferred a title on a chief of Tanjore called Vikki Annan. He also helped the Chola king with his army to fight against the Pallavas.
The famous astronomer Sankara Narayana (the author of Sankara Narayaniyam, a commentary of Bhaskara's Laghu Bhaskariya) was member of the royal palace of Sthanu Ravi at Mahodayapuram. It was on the basis of Sankara Narayaniyam, the date accession of Sthanu Ravi was fixed at 844 AD. Ayyan Atikal Tiruvatikal, the Governor of Venadu (Quilon) under Sthanu Ravi, issued the famous the Terisappalli Copper Plate (849 AD). The inscription describes the gift of land to the Teresa Church near Quilon along with several rights and privileges to Christians led by Mar Sapir Iso.