Cheraman Perumal Nayanar was a bhakti poet-musician and religious teacher of Tamil Shaiva tradition in medieval south India. The Cheraman Perumal's friendship with Sundarar, one of the 'Three Nayanars', is celebrated in the bhakti tradition. The legend of the Cheraman Perumal is narrated in the hagiographic Periyapuranam, composed by Chekkizhar, a courtier of Chola Kulottunga II, in mid-12th century AD. The collection is based on an earlier work by Nambiyandar Nambi. Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple in Kodungallur is associated with the Perumal and Chundaramurtti Nayanar.

Cheraman Perumal dynasty, also known as the Perumal dynasty of Kerala, or Chera Perumals of Makotai, were a ruling dynasty in present-day Kerala, South India. Mahodayapuram, or Makotai, the seat of the Cheraman Perumals, is identified with present-day Kodungallur in central Kerala. Initially, their influence appeared limited to the area between present-day Quilon and Quilandy, but later extended to up to Chandragiri river in north Kerala and to Nagercoil in the south.