The hereditary chiefs,MALAYAMAN belonged to Malayaman-nadu (Sangam literature). They had their capital at Tirucoilur, on the river of Ponnaiyar. Tirucoilur was situated on the early trade route from north to the south and enjoyed trade with Satavahanas. Principle port of them was at Arikamedu on the east. Sangam literature mentions of Tirumudikari, a Malayaman chief who fought alongside Perunarkilli Chola to defeat Cheral Irumporai (Irumporai Cheras). Vastly, Cholas, Cheras and even Satavahanas controlled the destiny in times.

COINAGE

The Malayamans issued copper coins of quadrilateral shape which carried their royal emblem "Horse" sometime facing left or sometime to right. In some of the older coins (early coins) a legend "Malayaman" above the horse motif decorated the coin obverse. Most of their coins, on the reverse carried the symbolical map of their territory "A wide curved river with fishes flowing in it, and a hillock on side of the river". This basically depicts the kind of territory they ruled. The Malayaman coins generally weighed between 2 to 4 gms and are of thin fabric unlike the contemporary Cheras.