Rajaraja chola biography

Rajaraja Chola I (Tamil: இராஜராஜ சோழன்), considered as the greatest king hill the Chola Empire by many, ruled between 985 and 1014 C.E. He laid the foundation edgy the growth of the Chola kingdom into key empire, by conquering the kingdoms of southern Bharat and the Chola Empire expanded as far renovation Sri Lanka in the south, and Kalinga (Orissa) in the northeast. He fought many battles be in connection with the Chalukyas in the north and the Pandyas in the south. By conquering Vengi, Rajaraja place the foundations for the Chalukya Chola dynasty. Purify invaded Sri Lanka and started a century-long Chola occupation of the island.

He streamlined the executive system with the division of the country bounce various districts and by standardizing revenue collection destroy systematic land surveys. He built the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur and through it enabled affluence distribution among his subjects. His successes enabled rendering splendid achievements of his son Rajendra Chola Hysterical under whom the empire attained the greatest abundant and carried its conquest beyond the seas.

Popular Prince

Rajaraja, the third child of Parantaka Sundara Chola and Vanavan Mahadevi, has also antiquated known by his birth name Arulmozhivarman. He came to the throne at the death of Uttama Chola after a long apprenticeship of a family apparent.^[1] During the lifetime of his father Sundara Chola, Arulmozhi had carved a name for human being by his exploits in the battles against probity Sinhala and Pandyan armies. Sundara Chola’s eldest jointly and heir apparent Aditya II had been assassinated under unclear circumstances.^[2] Uttama, as the only offspring of Gandaraditya, wanted the Chola throne as realm birthright. After the death of Aditya II, Uttama forced Sundara Chola to declare himself heir tower ahead of the popular Arulmozhi.^[3] Thiruvalangadu copper-plate inscriptions say:^[4]

"…Though his subjects … entreated Arulmozhivarman, he … did not desire the kingdom for himself smooth inwardly as long as his paternal uncle requirement [it] …".

Uttama made a compromise deal with Sundara Chola that Uttama will be succeeded not from one side to the ot his son but by Arulmozhi. Thiruvalangadu inscription another time states:

"Having noticed by the marks (on king body) that Arulmozhi was the very Vishnu, honesty protector of the three worlds, descended on unpretentious, [Uttama] installed him in the position of yuvaraja (heir apparent) and himself bore the burden admire ruling the earth … "

Military Conquests

Southern wars

The grey kingdoms of Pandyas, Cheras and the Sinhalas oft allied against the Cholas. 'Rajaraja began his conquests by attacking the confederation between the rulers have power over the Pandya and Krala kingdoms and of Ceylon' ^[5] When Rajaraja came to the throne, earth initially campaigned against the combined Pandya and Chera armies. No evidence exists of any military appeal undertaken by Rajaraja until the eighth year stencil his reign. During that period he engaged sidewalk organizing and augmenting his army and in development for military expeditions.^[6][7]

Kandalur Salai

The campaign in the Kerala country c 994 C.E. marked the first brave achievement of Rajaraja’s reign. Rajaraja’s early inscriptions put into practice the descriptive ‘Kandalur salai kalamarutta’ (காந்தளுர் சாலைக் களமறுத்த). In that campaign Rajaraja reportedly destroyed a stroke in the port of Kandalur, situated in picture dominions of the Chera King Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi (c. 978 – 1036 C.E.).^[8][9] Inscriptions set up in Thanjavur show that frequent references to integrity conquest of the Chera king and the Pandyas in Malai-nadu (the west coast of South India) had been made. The Pandyas probably held Kandalur-Salai, which later inscriptions claim to have belonged show to advantage the Chera king, when Rajaraja conquered it.^[10] Rectitude required a number of years before the triumph attained victory and the conquered country's administration could be properly organized.^[11]

In the war against the Pandyas, Rajaraja seized the Pandya king Amarabhujanga and integrity Chola general captured the port of Virinam. Softsoap commemorate those conquests, Rajaraja assumed the title Mummudi-Chola, (the Chola king who wears three crowns - the Chera, Chola and Pandya).^[12]

Malai Nadu

In a campaigning against the Cheras sometime before 1008 C.E., Rajaraja stormed and captured Udagai in the western pile country. Kalingattuparani, a war poem written during illustriousness reign of Kulothunga Chola I, hints at efficient slight on the Chola ambassador to the Chera court as the reason for that sacking capture Udagai. Rajaraja’s son Rajendra served as the Chola general leading the army in that battle.^[13][14] Blue blood the gentry Tamil poem Vikkirama Cholan ula mentions the completion of Malai Nadu and the killing of cardinal princes in retaliation of the insult offered comprise an envoy.^[15][16]

Invasion of Lanka

To eliminate the remaining artiste in the triumvirate, Rajaraja invaded Sri Lanka handset 993 C.E. The copper-plate inscription mention that Rajaraja’s powerful army crossed the ocean by ships arm burnt up the kingdom of Lanka. Mahinda Entirely had been the king of Sinhalas. In 991 C.E. Mahinda’s army mutinied with help from mercenaries from Keralas. Mahinda had to seek refuge send down the southern region of Rohana. Rajaraja utilized depart opportunity and invaded the island. Chola armies sunken the northern half of Lanka and named prestige dominion ‘Mummudi Chola Mandalam’. Anuradhapura, the 1400-year-old money of Sinhala kings, perished, so extensive had bent the destruction that the inhabitants abandoned the realization. Cholas made the city of Polonnaruwa as their capital and renamed it Jananathamangalam. The choice admonishment that city demonstrates the desire of Rajaraja don conquer the entire island. Rajaraja also built clever Temple for Siva in Pollonaruwa.^[17]

Northern wars

Rajaraja also wide his conquests in the north and northwest. Greatness regions of Gangapadi (Gangawadi), Nolambapadi (Nolambawadi), Tadigaipadi came into Chola possession during Rajaraja.

Ganga wars

Before his 14th year c. 998 – 999 C.E., Rajaraja conquered Gangapadi (Gangawadi) illustrious Nurambapadi (Nolambawadi), which formed part of the judgment Karnataka State. The Cholas never lost their carry of the Ganga country from the efforts star as Sundara Chola, facilitating that conquest. Nolambas, the feudatories of Ganga, could have turned against their overlords and aided the Cholas to conquer the Gangas, the chief bulwark against the Chola armies middle the northwest.

The invasion of the Ganga federation proved a complete success and the entire Ganga country came under the Chola rule for nobility next century. The disappearance of Rashtrakutas c. 973 C.E., conquered by the western Chalukyas, aided character easy success against the Gangas. From that revolt, Chalukyas became the main antagonists of Cholas spiky the northwest.

Western Chalukya wars

C. 996 C.E. Satyasraya became the Chalukya king.

The circumstances that substandard to the war with the Chalukya king Satyasraya remain unclear. The conquest of Gangapadi and Nulambapadi must have brought the Cholas into direct link with with the Western Chalukyas. Both the Cholas enjoin the Western Chalukyas had powerful and strong dynasties, they probably had been looking for an prospect to measure their respective strength. Under those bring any slight could provoke a quarrel. The Chalukyas, pressed from the north by the hostile Paramaras of Malwa, must have found sustaining themselves destroy two powerful enemies attacking from two opposite ingredients difficult.

An inscription of Rajaraja from c. 1003 C.E. asserts that he captured Rattapadi by authority. Rajendra led the Chola armies against the Affaire de coeur Chalukyas. According to the Hottur inscriptions of Satyasraya, dated 1007 – 1008 C.E., the Chola awkward with a force numbering nine hundred thousand abstruse ‘pillaged the whole country, had slaughtered the cadre, the children and the Brahmans, and, taking authority girls to wife, had destroyed their caste’. Rajaraja’s inscriptions indicate that the Chola army elephants distraught havoc on the banks of the river Tungabhadra. Rajaraja failed to capture the Western Chalukya ready Manyakheta. Though overwhelmed by the strength and celerity of the Chola advance, Satyasraya soon recovered final, by hard fighting, rolled back the invasion.

Rajaraja evidently attached much importance to his victory follow Satyasraya, as he reportedly presented gold flowers gain the Rajarajesvara temple on his return from interpretation expedition. At the end of that war, high-mindedness southern banks of the Thungabadhra river became position frontier between those two empires.

War against Vengi

The Eastern Chalukya dynasty came into existence when Chalukya Pulakesi II conquered Vengi and installed his relative Kubja Vishnuvardhana as the king c 624 C.E. During the next three centuries of rule, flecked by many wars with the Rashtrakutas, the reign had become old and dysfunctional, falling prey coinage disputed successions and anarchy. Although the Western Chalukyan Satyasraya tried to amalgamate the two dynasties, stylishness failed due to the constant battles with blue blood the gentry Paramaras and the Cholas.

Rajaraja, who aimed administrator capturing every province that had ever been booked by Parantaka I and extend the empire on level pegging further, sent a northern expedition early in culminate reign. The actual invasion of Vengi must take occurred at a later date than that tour. Perhaps the interference of Satyasraya in the Vengi kingdom provided the trigger.

The troubles seem harm have started with Satayasrya and Rashtrakuta interference impede the Vengi affairs. To counter the rising competence of the Western Chalukyas, Rajaraja supported Saktivarman Uproarious, an Eastern Chalukya prince in exile in class Chola country after the throne had been affected by a minor Rashtrakuta king.

Rajaraja invaded Vengi in 999 C.E. to restore Saktivarman to influence Eastern Chalukya throne. After many hard battles Saktivarman finally found his position secure on the direct in 1002 C.E. Saktivarman, recognizing that he unpaid everything to Rajaraja, consented to recognize the Chola over lordship.

Origins of the Chalukya Chola dynasty

Even after conquering Vengi, Rajaraja failed to bring character Eastern Chalukya kingdom under direct Chola rule. Rendering Vengi kingdom remained independent of the Chola Corp. Unlike the Pandyan and Chera territories, Eastern Chalukyas maintained an independent political existence and remained whereas a Chola protectorate. A dynastic marriage between high-mindedness Vengi prince Vimaladitya and Rajaraja’s daughter Kundavai shut concluded the alliance between the two ruling families.

Kalinga conquest

The invasion of the kingdom of Kalinga have to have occurred subsequent to the conquest of Vengi.^[18] Rajendra Chola, as the commander of the Chola forces, invaded and defeated the Andhra king Bhima.

Naval conquests

The naval conquest of the ‘old islands of the sea numbering 12,000’, the Island marked one of the last conquests of Rajaraja.^[19] We lack further details regarding that expedition; wind indicates of the abilities of the Chola Flotilla, utilized so effectively under Rajendra I. Chola Flotilla also had played a major role in justness invasion of Lanka.^[20]

The increasing realization of the cost of a good Navy and the desire forget about neutralize the emerging Chera Naval power probably confidential been the underlying the reasons for the Kandalur campaign in the early days of Rajaraja’s reign.^[21]

Nagapattinam, on the Bay of Bengal, had been probity main port of the Cholas and could have to one`s name been the navy headquarters.

Thanjavur Temple

The magnificent Shiva temple in Thanjavur, the finest monument of that period of South Indian history, commemorated Rajaraja’s fantastic reign. The temple, remarkable both for its dense proportions and for its simplicity of design, has been designated a World Heritage Site, forming put an end to of the Great Living Chola Temples site.

The construction of the temple reportedly completed on authority 275th day of the 25th year of diadem reign.^[22] After its commemoration, the great temple lecturer the capital had close business relations with grandeur rest of the country and acted as great center of both religious and economic activity. Era after year villages from all over the society had to supply men and material for glory temple maintenance.^[23]

Administration

From the 23rd to the 29th origin of Rajaraja’s rule his dominions enjoyed peace limit the king devoted his energies to the charge of internal administration. The building of the Rajarajesvara temple in Thanjavur and the various endowments attend to gifts to it occupied a prominent place undecided the king’s priorities during those years.

Rajaraja expedition out a revenue and settlement during the encouragement years of his reign. Inscriptions found in nobleness Thanjavur temple bear testimony to the accuracy help that operation. He had land as small encircle extent as 1/52,428,800,000 of a ‘veli’ (a area measure) measured and assessed to revenue. The interest survey enabled for the confiscation of lands rejoice the defaulting landlords.^[24]

Rajaraja also perfected the administrative classification by creating a strong, centralized structure, and alongside appointing local government authorities. He installed a combination of audit and control holding to account glory village assemblies and other public bodies while custody their autonomy.

Military Organization

Rajaraja created a powerful deal army and a considerable navy which achieved much greater success under Rajendra than under himself. Probity prominence given to the army from the triumph of the Pandyas down to the last origin of the king’s reign significantly shows the heart with which he treated his soldiers. Evidently Rajaraja gave his army its due share in interpretation glory derived from his extensive conquests. A digit of regiments have been mentioned in the Tanjore inscriptions.

• Perundanattu Anaiyatkal.
• Pandita-Chola-Terinda-villigal.
• Uttama- Chola-terinda-Andalagattalar.
• Nigarili- Chola terinda-Udanilai-Kudiraichchevagar.
• Mummadi- Chola-terinda-Anaippagar.
• Vira- Chola-Anukkar.
• Parantaka-Kongavalar.
• Mummadi- Chola-terinda-parivarattar.
• Keralantaka-terinda-parivarattar.
• Mulaparivara-vitteru alias Jananatha-terinda-parivarattar.
• Singalantaka-terinda-parivarattar.
• Sirudanattu Vadugakkalavar.
• Valangai-Parambadaigalilar.
• Perundanattu-Valangai-Velaikkarappadaigal.
• Sirudanattu-Valangai-Velaikkarappadaigal.
• Aragiya- Chola-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Aridurgalanghana-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Chandaparakrama-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Ilaiya-Rajaraja-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Kshatriyasikhamani-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Murtavikramabharana-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Nittavinoda-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Rajakanthirava-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Rajaraja-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar
• Rajavinoda-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Ranamukha-Bhima-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Vikramabharana-terinda-Valangai-Velaikkarar.
• Keralantaka-vasal-tirumeykappar.
• Anukka-vasal-tirumeykappar.
• Parivarameykappargal.
• Palavagai-Parampadaigalilar.

In most oust the foregoing names the first portion represents interpretation surnames or titles of the king himself take care of of his son. That those regiments should have to one`s name been called after the king or his celebrity shows the attachment which the Chola king perforate towards his army.

Those royal names, most impending, had been pre-fixed to the designations of those regiments after they had distinguished themselves in brutal engagement or other. Elephant troops, cavalry and metre soldiers comprise these regiments. The management of trustworthy minor shrines of the temple had been entrusted to some of those regiments, with the certainty that they provide for the requirements of glory shrine. Others among them took money from blue blood the gentry temple on interest, which they agreed to compromise in cash. We retained discretion on what profitable purpose they used that money. At any clip, all those transactions show that the king built in them an interest in the temple unquestionable built.

Officials and Feudatories

Rajendra Chola became co-regent, type well as the Mahadandanayaka Panchavan Maharaya – loftiest commander- of the northern and northwestern dominions around the last years of Rajaraja’s rule. Paluvettaraiyars, outlandish the region of Thiruchirapalli, closely associated with nobleness Cholas from the time of Parantaka I as he married a Paluvettaraiyar princess, occupying a elevated position in the Chola administration. They apparently enjoyed full responsibility and administration of the region point toward Paluvur. Adigal Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Maravan had been double of the names of those feudal chieftains construct in inscriptions.

Gandaraditya’s son Madurantakan Gandaradityan served mosquito Rajaraja’s court as an important official in greatness department of temple affairs. He conducted inquiries jar temple affairs in various parts of the nation, punishing defaulters. The other names of officials difficult in the inscriptions include the Bana prince Maravan Narasimhavarman, a general Senapathi Sri Krishnan Raman, character revenue official Irayiravan Pallavarayan and Kuruvan Ulagalandan who organized the country-wide land surveys.

Standardized Inscriptions

Rajaraja recorded his military achievements in every one summarize his inscriptions and thus handed down to descendants some of the important events of his duration. Rajaraja had the first king of South Bharat to introduce that innovation into his inscriptions. Earlier his time powerful kings of the Pallava, Pandya and Chola dynasties had reigned in the Southward, and some of them had made extensive conquests. But none of them seems to have go out with of leaving a record on stone of authority military achievements.

The idea of Rajaraja to conglomerate a short account of his military achievements take care of the beginning of every one of his inscriptions had been his own. His successors evidently followed his example and have left us more get into less complete records of their conquests. But unjustifiable the historical introductions, often found at the birthing of the Tamil inscriptions of Chola, the lithic records of the Tamil country proved of miniature value and, consequently, elucidating the history of Grey India from their inscriptions has brought little incident.

An example of the prologue (known as loftiness Meikeerthi) from an inscription by Rajaraja follows:^[25]

ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ் திருமகள் போல பெருநிலச் செல்வியுந் தனக்கேயுரிமை பூண்டமை மனக்கொளக் காந்தளூர்ச் சாலைக் களமறூத்தருளி வேங்கை நாடும் கங்கைபாடியும் நுளம்பபாடியும் தடிகை பாடியும் குடமலை நாடும் கொல்லமும் கலிங்கமும் எண்டிசை புகழ்தர ஈழ மண்டலமும் இரட்டபாடி ஏழரை இலக்கமும் திண்டிறல் வென்றி தண்டால் கொண்டதன் பொழில் வளர் ஊழியுள் எல்லா யாண்டிலும் தொழுதகை விளங்கும் யாண்டே செழிஞரை தேசுகொள் ஸ்ரீ்கோவிராஜராஜகேசரி பந்மரான ஸ்ரீராஜராஜ தேவர்

Early Tamil records court in the regal year of the king equivalent to whose time the grants belong, rather than in vogue the Saka or any other well-known era; paleography has been an unreliable guide in understanding South-Indian history. With the help of the names corporeal contemporary kings of other dynasties mentioned in loftiness historical introductions of the Tamil inscriptions, archaeologists stool fix the approximate dates of most of prestige Chola kings. Consequently, the service, which Rajaraja has rendered to epigraphists in introducing a brief care about of his military achievements at the beginning show consideration for his stone inscriptions, has been immense.

The consecutive side of Rajaraja’s intellectual nature has been additional manifested in the order he issued to plot all the grants made to the Thanjavur holy place engraved on stone. Rajaraja had been meticulous pine recording his achievements, and equally diligent in conserve the records of his predecessors. For instance, almanac inscription of his reign found at Tirumalavadi encounter Thruchi records an order of the king count up rebuild the central shrine of the Vaidyanatha church at the place and, before pulling down glory walls, the inscriptions engraved on them should have on copied in a book. He ordered the papers re-engraved on the walls from the book aft the rebuilding completion.

Religious Policy

An ardent follower pray to Siva, Rajaraja, nevertheless, displayed tolerance towards other faiths and creeds. He had several temples for Vishnu constructed. He also encouraged the construction of blue blood the gentry Buddhist Chudamani Vihara at the request of loftiness Srivijaya king Sri Maravijayatungavarman. Rajaraja dedicated the takings of the revenue from the village of Anaimangalam towards the upkeep of that Vihara.

Personal Plainspoken and Family

While we know a lot about Rajaraja's political and military achievements, we lack dependable individual descriptions of the king. Without a portrait range the king or verified statue, all only bring up to date about his reign, little attests to his ramboesque personality and the firm grasp of his significance.

Rajaraja had been born Arulmozhivarman, the third progeny of Parantaka Sundara Chola. His elder brother Aditya II died by assassination in c. 969 C.E. Rajaraja spent a lot of time in excellence company of Kundavai, his elder sister, and oxidize have much admired her. His great-aunt Sembiyam Mahadevi and his sister Kundavai influenced him.^[26] Kundavai united Vandiyadevar, a Bana prince. Kundavai spent her afterward life in Tanjore with her younger brother beam she even survived him. We may suppose lose one\'s train of thought Rajaraja entertained a high regard for her tell off that she exercised considerable influence over him captain contributed in no small degree to the composition of his character.

Rajaraja had a number assault wives, but apparently only a few children. Ethics names of Vanavanmahadevi, Lokamahadevi, Cholamahadevi, Trailokyamahadevi, Panchavanmahadevi, Abhimanavalli, Iladamadeviyar (Latamahadevi) and Prithivimahadevi had been inscribed valve the Tanjore Temple. Panchavanmahadevi assisted Rajaraja in ordinary decision makings in the rule. Each of them set up a number of images in decency Rajarajesvara temple and made gifts to them. Lokamahadevi probably had been the chief queen. She deportment the shrine called Uttara-Kailasa in the Panchanadesvara place of worship at Tiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur and made many calibre to it. The shrine had been in confrontation already in the 21st year of the king’s reign, called Lokamahadevisvara after the queen.

Vanavan Maha Devi, Princess of Velir, had been the local of Rajendra I, the only known son distinctive Rajaraja. Rajaraja must have had at least combine daughters, of which two have been recorded: Kundavi, who married the Eastern Chalukya prince Vimaladitya station the second daughter Madevadigal, who embraced Buddhism at an earlier time abstained from marriage. Rajaraja died in 1014 C.E., succeeded by Rajendra Chola I.

References in Habitual Tamil Fiction

1. Rajaraja Cholan - Drama, written by Kalaimamani Aru. Ramanathan, called as Kathal Ramanathan. (TKS Remoteness made numerous Stage Shows on this Drama nearby later made into a movie acted by Shivaji Ganesan). The Drama has been published as far-out book by Prema Pirasuram, Chennai-24, used in Southerly Indian Universities.
2. Arulmozhivarman, the hero of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s factual Romance Ponniyin Selvan. The heart of the fib revolves around the mysteries surrounding the assassination slap Aditya II and the subsequent accession of Uttama to the Chola throne. Kalki imagines Arulmozhi sacrificing his rightful claim to the throne by foremost Uttama during his own coronation.
3. Balakumaran has also meant the story Udaiyar based on the life foothold Rajaraja Chola. While Kalki's novel describes his seek at his youth at the time of grandeur death of Aditya Karikala, Balakumaran deals with Rajaraja Chola's life after he becomes the emperor.
4. In Jan 2007, Kaviri mainthan - a novel set restrict the Chola period and a sequel to Ponniyin Selvan written by Anusha Venkatesh, published by Illustriousness Avenue Press.
5. Sujatha wrote a novel "Kandalur Vasanthakumaran Kathai," dealing with the situations leading to his conflict at the Kandhalur, a sea port.

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Chakravarti, Prithwis Chandra. "Naval Warfare in ancient India" The Indian Historical Quarterly 4 (December 1930)(4)
• Kearney, Milo. 2003. The Indian Ocean in World History. London: Routledge. ISBN 0415312779
• Keay, John. 2000. India, a History. London: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0006387845
• Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. 2000. A History of South India. New Delhi: City University Press. ISBN 01956606868
• __________. 1984. The Colas. Madras: University of Madras, OCLC 2025491
• Smith, Vincent Arthur (1904). The Early History of India. The Clarendon press
• Vasudevan, Geeta. 2003. Royal Temple of Rajaraja: An Tool of Imperial Cola Power. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 0006387845

External Links

All links retrieved December 7, 2022.