Raja Raja Chola I PDF
Raja Raja Chola I PDF
Raja Raja Chola I PDF
Reign 9851014 CE
Title Rajakesari
Capital Thanjavur
Iladamadeviyar Prithivimahadevi
Born Unknown
Died 1015 CE
List of Chola kings Early Cholas Elara Chola 235 BC 161 BC Ilamcetcenni Karikala Chola Nedunkilli Killivalavan Kopperuncholan Kocengannan Perunarkilli Interregnum (c.200848) Medieval Cholas Vijayalaya Chola Aditya I Parantaka Chola I Gandaraditya Arinjaya Chola Sundara Chola Uttama Chola 848 871(?) 871907 907950 950957 956957 957970 970985
Rajaraja Chola I
9851014 1012 Rajendra Chola I 1044 1018 Rajadhiraja Chola 1054 1051 Rajendra Chola II 1063 1063 Virarajendra Chola 1070 1067 Athirajendra Chola 1070 Later Cholas Kulothunga Chola 1070 I 1120 1118 Vikrama Chola 1135 Kulothunga Chola 1133 II 1150 1146 Rajaraja Chola II 1173 Rajadhiraja Chola 1166 II 1178 Kulothunga Chola 1178 III 1218 1216 Rajaraja Chola III 1256 1246 Rajendra Chola III 1279 Chola society Chola government Chola military Chola Navy Chola art Chola literature Solesvara Temples Poompuhar Uraiyur Melakadambur Gangaikonda Cholapuram Thanjavur Telugu Cholas
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Raja Raja Chozhan I (Tamil: ) born Arunmozhi Varmar(also called [1] as Raja Kesari Varman and respectfully as Peruudaiyar), popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE. By conquering numerous kingdoms in South India, he expanded the Chola Empire as far as Sri Lanka in the south, and Kalinga (Orissa) in the northeast. He fought many battles with the Chalukyas to the north and the Pandyas to the south. By conquering Vengi, Rajaraja laid the foundation for the Later Chola dynasty. He invaded Sri Lanka and started a century-long Chola occupation of the island. He streamlined the administrative system by dividing the country into various districts and by standardising revenue collection through systematic land surveys. Being an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he built the magnificent Peruvudaiyar Temple (also known as the Brihadeeswarar Temple) in Thanjavur and through it enabled the distribution of wealth amongst his subjects. His successes enabled his son Rajendra Chola I to extend the empire even further.
Contents
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1 Dates 2 Popular Prince 3 Military conquests o 3.1 Southern wars 3.1.1 Kandalur Salai 3.1.2 Malai Nadu 3.1.3 Invasion of Lanka o 3.2 Northern Wars 3.2.1 Ganga Wars 3.2.2 Western Chalukya Wars 3.2.3 War against Vengi 3.2.4 Kalinga conquest o 3.3 Naval Conquests 4 Thanjavur Temple 5 Administration 6 Military Organisation 7 Officials and Feudatories 8 Standardised Inscriptions 9 Religious Policy 10 Tirumurai Compilation 11 Personal Life and Family 12 Historic novels featuring Rajaraja Chola-I 13 Graveyard 14 Documetary Film 15 Notes 16 References
[edit] Dates
The key dates of Raja Raja's rule are difficult to come by. Scholar N.Sethuraman concludes that he was born in circa 947 ACE, was crowned on 18 July 985 and died in 1014 in the Tamil month of Maka.[2]
[edit] Kandalur Salai The first military achievement of Rajarajas reign was the campaign in Kerala c. 994 CE. Rajarajas early inscriptions use the descriptive Kandalur salai kalamarutta ( ). In this campaign Rajaraja is said to have destroyed a fleet in the port of Kandalur, which appears to have been situated in the dominions of the Chera King Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi (c. 9781036 CE).[5][6] Inscriptions found around Thanjavur show that frequent references are made to the conquest of the Chera king and the Pandyas in Malai-nadu (the west coast of South India). Kandalur-Salai, which later inscriptions claim to have belonged to the Chera king, was probably held by the Pandyas when it was conquered by Rajaraja. Some years' fighting apparently was necessary before the conquest could be completed and the conquered country could be sufficiently settled for its administration could be properly organised.[7] In the war against the Pandyas, Rajaraja seized the Pandya king Amarabhujanga and the Chola general captured the port of Virinam. To commemorate these conquests Rajaraja assumed the title Mummudi-Chola, (the Chola king who wears three crowns the Chera, Chola and Pandya) and according to tradition the title Raja Raja was conferred on him by serving members of Chidambaram temple of ancient who had also the duty of conducting the swearing in ceremony of chola and pallava princes. [edit] Malai Nadu In a battle against the Cheras sometime before 1008 CE, Rajaraja captured Udagai in the western hill country. Kalingattuparani, a war poem written during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I hints at a slight on the Chola ambassador to the Chera court as the reason for this sacking of Udagai. Rajaraja's son Rajendra was the Chola general leading the army in this battle.[5] A place named Udagai is mentioned in connection with the conquest of the Pandyas. The Kalingattu-Parani refers to the storming of Udagai in the verse, which alludes to the reign of Rajaraja. The Kulottunga-Cholan-ula also mentions the burning of Udagai. This was probably an important stronghold in the Pandya country, which the Chola king captured. The Tamil poem Vikkirama Cholan ula mentions the conquest of Malai Nadu and the killing of 18 princes in retaliation of the insult offered to an envoy.[8] [edit] Invasion of Lanka See also: Chola occupation of Sri Lanka (993-1077) To eliminate the remaining actor in the triumvirate, Rajaraja invaded Sri Lanka in 993 CE. The copper-plate inscription mention that Rajarajas powerful army crossed the ocean by ships and burnt up the kingdom of Lanka. Mahinda V was the king of Sinhalas. In 991 CE, Mahindas army mutinied with help from mercenaries from Kerala. Mahinda had to seek refuge in the southern region of Rohana. Rajaraja utilised this opportunity and invaded the island. Chola armies occupied the northern half of Lanka and named the dominion Mummudi Chola Mandalam. Anuradhapura, the 1400-year-old capital of Sinhala kings was destroyed. The destruction was so extensive the city was abandoned. Cholas made the city of Polonnaruwa as their capital and renamed it Jananathamangalam. The choice of this city demonstrates the desire
of Rajaraja to conquer the entire island. Rajaraja also built a Temple for Siva in Pollonaruwa.[8] RajaRajan's desire to bring the whole Lankan island under Cholan empire was never fulfilled and the southern part of the island (Ruhuna) remained independent. Later, king Vijayabahu I successfully drove the Chola out of Sri Lanka in 1070, reuniting the country for the first time in over a century.[9][10]
Mural found in the Brihadeesvara temple, Tamil Nadu, 11th century. The belief that this represents Rajaraja Chola (in the background) and his guru Karuvurar is contested.[11] [edit] Ganga Wars Before his 14th year c. 998999 CE, Rajaraja conquered Gangapadi (Gangawadi) and Nurambapadi (Nolambawadi), which formed part of the present Karnataka State. This conquest was facilitated by the fact the Cholas never lost their hold of the Ganga country from the efforts
of Sundara Chola. Nolambas who were the feudatories of Ganga could have turned against their overlords and aided the Cholas to conquer the Gangas, who were the chief bulwark against the Chola armies in the northwest. The invasion of the Ganga country was a success and the entire Ganga country was under the Chola rule for the next century. The easy success against the Gangas was also due to the disappearance of Rashtrakutas c. 973 CE as they were conquered by the western Chalukyas. From this time, the Chalukyas became the main antagonists of Cholas in the northwest. [edit] Western Chalukya Wars During the reign of Rajaraja Chola, there were continuous wars with the Western Chalukyas to assert supremacy and there are multiple epigraphic evidences that show that the Cholas were constantly fighting with the Chalukyas or against the vassals of the latter. It is unclear as to why Rajaraja mounted an invasion against Satyasraya. According to historian Eugen Hultzsch the circumstances that led to the war are not mentioned in any of Rajaraja's inscriptions. But we do know that the rulers of these two conquered provinces were originally feudatories of the Rashtrakutas.[12] An inscription of Irivabedanga Satyasraya from Dharwar describes him as a vassal of the Western Chalukya Ahvamalla for he describes himself as a bee at the lotus feet of Ahavamalldeva in 1002 A.D. An inscription of Rajaraja asserts that he captured Rattapadi by force. Rajendra led the Chola armies against the Western Chalukyas and would turn Manyakheta, the Chalukyan capital into his own playground. Raja Raja I claims damages worth "seven and a half lakshas from Irattapadi which was evidently the site of war with Satyashraya resulting in victory for Raja Raja I and payment of damages by the Chalukya king. Chalukya kingdom Satyashraya would renege on his promise of agreeing to Chola suzerainty, but would be defeated by Rajendra Chola I when he became king. Irivabedanga Satyasraya partially acknowledges this Chola onslaught in his Hottur (Dharwad) inscription as he screams in pain. In his own words he calls himself the ornament of Chalukya race and the slayer of the Tamil. He identifies his opponent as Rajaraja Nittavinodha Rajendra Vidyadhara, the ornament of the Chola kula Nrmadi Chola(one hundred times more powerful).[13] In the same inscription, he accuses Rajendra of having arrived with a force of 900,000 and of having gone on rampage in Donuwara thereby blurring the moralities of war as laid out in the Dharmasastras.[14] He says that his opponent destroyed the caste (jti nsa) of his people. Historians like James Heitzman, Wolfgang Schenkluhn conclude that this confrontation displayed the degree of animosity on a personal level between the rulers of the Chola and the Chalukya kingdoms, the feeling of otherness and their inability to identify with the other side that degenerated to a level of violence that overthrew the established social order(destruction of caste). They also draw a parallel between this relationship and the enmity between the Chalukyas of Badami and the Pallavas of Kanchi.[15] There is also epigrahic evidence of earlier encounters between the Cholas and the Hoysalas who were vassals of the Western Chalukyas during the reign of Rajaraja Chola. An inscription from the roof of the Gopalakrishna temple at Kaleyur in the Tirumukudalu Narasipur taluk dated in Saka 929 being current, Parabhava, corresponding to 1006 A.D, records that Rajaraja's viceroy Aprameya displayed his valor by slaying the Hoysala minister Naganna and multiple other generals of the Hoysalas like Manjaga, Kalega(or Kali Ganga), Nagavarman, etc.[16] There is also a similar inscription in the Channapatna taluk that shows Rajaraja crushing the Hoysalas.[17] Rajaraja evidently attached much importance to his victory over Satyasraya, as he is said to have
presented gold flowers to the Rajarajesvara temple on his return from the expedition. At the end of this war, the southern banks of the Tungabadhra river became the frontier between these two empires. [edit] War against Vengi The cholas in pursuit of their objective of annihilating to ground evil kingdoms" and hence destroy the excessive wickedness of age of Kali had clashed with many kingdoms and one of which was Vengi. Parantaka Chola I who had made extensive conquests had in fact subdued the Deccan kingdom that flourished in this region in 913.C.E. Even in Inscriptions of Sundarachola we find a Chola regiment in Eastern Deccan preparing to invade Orissa. Thus there is no truth in the proposition of "Chola Throne" ties with "Vengi". Some of Chola Inscriptions of Raja Raja note how during a war against Vengi, the king himself took initiative and killed a certain ruler called Bheema ruling that area because " he felled one of his commanders". Thus even if Cholas had reigned supreme in Eastern Deccan it was certainly a military vision and the small province of Vengi most probably served as a military base for Cholas who frequently sent in expeditions to Orissa and Western Deccan. We know about such base building activities down south in Pandyan country and also near Suchindram and Colombo in Lanka where the Cholas are known to have built naval bases and also " some temples for Lord Vishnu ". [edit] Kalinga conquest The invasion of the kingdom of Kalinga must 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.
Detail of the main gopura (tower) of the Thanjavur Temple One of the last conquests of Rajaraja was the naval conquest of the old islands of the sea numbering 12,000, the Maldives.[19] We have no further details regarding this expedition, however this is a sufficient indication of the abilities of the Chola Navy, which was utilised effectively under Rajendra I. Chola Navy also had played a major role in the invasion of Lanka.[20] The increasing realization of the importance of a good Navy and the desire to neutralize the emerging Chera Naval power were probably the reasons for the Kandalur campaign in the early days of Rajarajas reign.[21] Nagapattinam on the Bay of Bengal was the main port of the Cholas and could have been the navy headquarters.Bay of Bengal called as Chola lake Hope the Tamil King - RAJA RAJA CHOLAN was the First Indian Ruler to establish the First Indian Naval Fleet some 1200 years back. He had established his rule extending from India up to South East Asia with his Naval Fleet. His rule extended beyond the Bay of Bengal Sea. He even ruled the Java, Sumatra Islands in S.E.Asia, parts of Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei islands and even some territory Islands that belongs to Australia & even Tasmania, New Zealand. The TAMIL KING - RAJENDRA CHOLA - son of Raja Raja Chola also has the Honour of establishing the FIRST INDIAN MERCHANT NAVAL FLEET. He transformed the Naval Fleet of his Father in to Merchant Naval Fleet and thereby established Trade from India to the S.E.Asia and even the China. There are also evidence that they had Trade through Sea with the Romans.....
[edit] Administration
Rajaraja Chola's statue at Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur. From the 23rd to the 29th year of Rajarajas rule his dominions enjoyed peace and the king apparently devoted his energies to the task of internal administration. The building of the Rajarajesvara temple in Thanjavur and the various endowments and gifts to it must have occupied a prominent place in the kings mind during these years. Rajaraja carried out a revenue and settlement during the final years of his reign. Inscriptions found in the Thanjavur temple bear testimony to the accuracy of this operation. Land as small in extent as 1/52,428,800,000 of a veli (a land measure) was measured and assessed to revenue. The revenue survey enabled for the confiscation of lands of the defaulting landlords.[24]
Rajaraja also perfected the administrative organisation by creating a strong and centralised machinery and by appointing local government authorities. He installed a system of audit and control by which the village assemblies and other public bodies were held to account while not curtailing their autonomy.
The other names of officials found in the inscriptions are the Bana prince Narasimhavarman, a general Senapathi Sri Krishnan Raman, the Samantha chief Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan, the revenue official Irayiravan Pallavarayan and Kuruvan Ulagalandan who organised the countrywide land surveys.
Example of a typical lithic inscription of the Chola period Due to Rajaraja's desire to record his military achievements in every one of his inscriptions he handed down to posterity some of the important events of his life. As far as we know at present, Rajaraja was the first king of South India to introduce this innovation into his inscriptions. Before his time powerful kings of the Pallava, Pandya and Chola dynasties had reigned in the South, and some of them had made extensive conquests. But none of them seems to have considered leaving a record on stone of his military achievements. The idea of Rajaraja to add a short account of his military achievements at the beginning of every one of his inscriptions was entirely his own. His action in this respect is all the more laudable because his successors evidently followed his example and have left us more or less complete records of their conquests. But for the historical introductions, which are often found at the beginning of the Tamil inscriptions of Chola, kings the lithic records of the Tamil country would be of very little value, and consequently even the little advance that has been made in elucidating the history of Southern India would be difficult. An inscription by Rajaraja in Tamil, found in the Mulbagal district of Karnataka, shows his accomplishments as early as the 19th year. An excerpt from such a Meikeerthi, an inscription recording great accomplishments, follows:[25]
In the 19th year of the reign of sri-Kv-IRjarja-IRjaksaripanmar who,- while his heart rejoiced that like the goddess of fortune, the goddess of great earth had also become his great wife- during his long life of growing gracefulness, was pleased to destroy the ships at Kndalr Slai; conquered with his heroic and victorious army Vngai-ndu, Gangapadi, Nulambapadi, Tadigai-vali, Kollam, Kalingam, Kudumalai-ndu and after having crossed the deep sea, the impregnamble N..njiram, and deprived the Slinr(the Pandyas) of their splendour at the very time when their greatness, which was adored everywhere on earth, became conspicuous;-.[26]
The historical side of Rajarajas intellectual nature is further manifested in the order he issued to have all the grants made to the Thanjavur temple engraved on stone. Rajaraja not only was particular about recording his achievements, but also was equally diligent in preserving the records of his predecessors. For instance, an inscription of his reign found at Tirumalavadi near Thruchi records an order of the king to the effect that the central shrine of the Vaidyanatha temple at the place should be rebuilt and that, before pulling down the walls, the inscriptions engraved on them should be copied in a book. The records were subsequently re-engraved on the walls from the book after the rebuilding was finished.
other poets as the 10th book, Tirutotanar Tiruvanthathi - the sacred anthathi of the labours of the 63 nayanar saints and added his own hymns as the 11th book.[30] The first seven books were later called as Tevaram, and the whole Saiva canon, to which was added, as the 12th book, Sekkizhar's Periya Puranam (1135 CE) is wholly known as Tirumurai, the holy book. Thus Saiva literature which covers about 600 years of religious, philosophical and literary development.[30]