[6] Chenkuttavan is eulogized by poet Paranar in the fifth decade of Pathitrupathu Collection of the Ettuthokai anthology of the early Tamil texts.

[9] The flow of Yavana or Graeco-Roman gold, via Indian Ocean spice trade, to South India under Chenkuttavan is vividly described in ancient Tamil poems.

[1] Under his reign, the Chera territory included the Malabar Coast (present-day Kerala) and interior Kongu country.

[2] A method, known as Gajabahu Synchronism/Triple Synchronism, based on text proper, canto 30:160 of the poem, is used by scholars to date Chenkuttavan Chera to c. 2nd century CE.

[9] Chenkuttavan was the son of the Chera ruler Imayavaramban (Nedum Cheralathan) and a princess from family of the Cholas of Uraiyur.

[5] Poet Paranar also praised Chenkuttuvan's military prowess - "Kuttuvan of the Gold Garland, whose army destroyed the beauty of many lands, till the noise rose loud of the drums used in numerous battles with the monarchs of the country between Comorin (Cape Comorin) on the south and Himalayas, the mountain that rises high as the northern boundary.

[16] The third part of Chilappathikaram (the Vanchi Kantham) deals with Chenkuttuvan's expedition to bring the virakkallu (sacred stone) from the Himalayas for an idol of goddess Kannaki or Pattini.

[17] The Chera army thus marched to the Ganges, crossed it with the boats supplied by the Nutruvar Kannar, and camped in the uttara country.

Soon the northern Arya rulers led by Kanaka, Vijaya, sons of Balakumara, and allied princes Uttara, Vichitra, Rudra, Bhairava, Chitra, Singha, Dhanurdhara and Sveta encountered the forces of Chenkuttuvan with a huge army.

Two-and-half months after his departure Chenkuttuvan victoriously returned to Vanchi, where the temple for Kannaki Pattini was consecrated with the virakkallu from the Himalayas.