Rajaraja

Rajaraja I, born Arulmoḷi Varman[3][4] (also transliterated as Arulmozhi Varman[5]), was a Chola
emperor from present day south India who ruled over the Chola kingdom of medieval Tamil Nadu
(parts of southern India), parts of northern India, two thirds of Sri Lankan territory, Maldives and
parts of East Asia, between 985 and 1014 CE. During his reign, the Cholas expanded beyond
the Kaveri delta[6][7] with their domains stretching from Sri Lanka in the south to Kalinga (modern-
day Odisha) in the north. Rajaraja also launched several naval campaigns on the ports
of Malabar Coast (Kerala), Maldives and Sri Lanka.[8][9]
Rajaraja built the Brihadisvara Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil in Thanjavur, one of the
largest Hindu temples.[10] During his reign, the texts of the Tamil
poets Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar were collected and edited into one compilation
called Thirumurai.[7][11] He initiated a massive project of land survey and assessment in 1000 CE
which led to the reorganisation of the country into individual units known
as valanadus.[12][13] Rajaraja died in 1014 CE and was succeeded by his son Rajendra Chola I.
Contents
 1Early life
 2Military conquests
o 2.1Against Cheras and Pandyas
o 2.2Conquest of Sri Lanka
o 2.3Chalukyan conflict
o 2.4Kalinga conquest
o 2.5Conquest of Kudamalainadu/Malainadu
o 2.6Naval expedition
 3Personal life
 4Administration
 5Officials
 6Religious policy
 7Society
 8Arts and architecture
o 8.1Brihadisvara Temple
 9Coins
 10Inscriptions
 11In popular culture
 12See also
 13References
 14Bibliography
 15External links
Early life[edit]
Brihadisvara Temple inscription reading "Rajaraja"
According to the Thiruvalangadu copper-plate inscription, Rajaraja's original name was Arulmoḷi
(also transliterated as Arulmozhi) Varman, literally "blessed tongued".[3][14] He was born around
947 CE in the Aipassi month, on the day of Sadhayam star.[15] He was a son of the Chola
king Parantaka II (alias Sundara) and queen Vanavan Mahadevi.[16] He had an elder brother
- Aditya II,[4] and an elder sister - Kundavai.[17]
Rajaraja's ascension ended a period of rival claims to the throne, following the death of his
grandfather Parantaka I. After Parantaka I, his son Gandaraditya ascended the throne. When
Gandaraditya died, his son Uttama was a minor, so the throne passed on to Parantaka I's
younger son Arinjaya. Arinjaya died soon, and was succeeded by his son Parantaka II. It was
decided that the throne would pass on to Uttama after Parantaka II: this decision was most
probably that of Parantaka II, although the Thiruvalangadu inscription of Rajaraja's son Rajendra
I claims that it was made by Rajaraja.[4]
Rajaraja's elder brother died before him, and after the death of Uttama, Rajaraja ascended the
throne in June–July 985.[4] Known as Arumoḷi Varman until this point, he adopted the name
Rajaraja, which literally means "King among Kings".[18] He also called himself Shivapada
Shekhara (IAST: Śivapada Śekhara), literally, "the one who places his crown at the feet
of Shiva".[19]
Chola empire during the reign of Rajaraja I
Military conquests[edit]
Rajaraja inherited a kingdom whose boundaries were limited to the traditional Chola territory
centred around Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli region.[3] At the time of his ascension, the Chola
kingdom was relatively small, and was still recovering from the Rashtrakuta invasions in the
preceding years. Rajaraja turned it into an efficiently-administered empire which possessed a
powerful army and a strong navy. During his reign, the northern kingdom of Vengi became a
Chola protectorate, and the Chola influence on the eastern coast extended as far as Kalinga in
the north.[4]
A number of regiments are mentioned in the Thanjavur inscriptions.[20][21] These regiments were
divided into elephant troops, cavalry and infantry and each of these regiments had its own
autonomy and was free to endow benefactions or build temples.[20]
Against Cheras and Pandyas[edit]

It is known that Rajaraja celebrated a major victory at Kandalur Salai (south Kerala) in c. 988 CE.
This battle is remembered with the famous phrase "Kandalur Salai Kalamarutta". The
engagement seemed to be an effort of the Chola navy or a combined effort of the navy and the
army.[22] The salai originally belonged to the Ay chief, a vassal of the Pandya king at Madurai, in
the mid-860s. Involvement of either Chera or Pandya warriors in this battle remain
uncertain.[22] The conquest of Vizhinjam by the general of Rajaraja (mentioned in the
Thiruvalangadu Plates) is sometimes equated with this battle.[9] Rajaraja's inscriptions start to
appear in Kanyakumari district in the 990s and in Trivandrum district in early 1000s.[9]
According to Thiruvalangadu Plates, just after killing the "Andhra Bhima", Rajaraja conquered
"the Parasurama kingdom" (c. 1002-03 CE), probably identical with Kerala.[22] The multiple
references to the conquest of "Kudamalainadu" or "Malainadu" may also be a reference to the
conquest of Kerala (see below, Kudamalainadu is generally identified
with Coorg).[9] Tiruppalanam and Tiruvenkatu (999 and 1000 CE) inscriptions mention the gift of
an idol by king from the booty obtained in Malainadu and the treasures taken from the Chera
king.[9]
The Senur inscription (1005 CE) of Rajaraja states that he destroyed the Pandya capital
Madurai; conquered the "haughty kings" of Kollam (Venatu), Kolla-desham (Musika),
and Kodungallur (Chera); and that the "kings of the sea" waited on him.[22] The 1014 CE
Thanjavur inscriptions credit him with victories over the Chera and the Pandya in
"Malainadu".[23] Some of these victories in Malainadu were perhaps won by prince Rajendra
Chola for his father.[9]
After defeating the Pandyas, Rajaraja adopted the title Pandya Kulashani ("Thunderbolt to the
Race of the Pandyas"), and the Pandya country came to be known as "Rajaraja Mandalam" or
"Rajaraja Pandinadu".[23] While describing the Rajaraja's campaign in trisanku kastha (the south),
the Thiruvalangadu Grant of Rajendra I states that he seized certain
Amarabhujanga.[24] Identification of this prince (Pandya prince?, a general of the Pandya king?[24],
Kongu Chera prince[9]?) remains unresolved.[9] Kongu Desa Rajakkal, a chronicle of the Kongu
Nadu region, suggests that this general later shifted his allegiance to Rajaraja, and performed
the Chola king's kanakabhisheka ceremony.[24]
After consolidating his rule in the south, Rajaraja assumed the title Mummudi Chola ("the Chola
who Wears Three Crowns"), a reference to his control over the three Tamil kingdoms of the
Cholas, the Pandyas, and the Cheras.[3]
Conquest of Sri Lanka[edit]

In 993, Rajaraja invaded Sri Lanka, which is called Ila-mandalam in the Chola records.[25] This
invasion most probably happened during the reign of Mahinda V of Anuradhapura, who
according to the Chulavamsa chronicle, had fled to Rohana (Ruhuna) in south-eastern Sri Lanka
because of a military uprising.[26] The Chola army sacked Anuradhapura, and captured the
northern half of Sri Lanka. The Cholas established a provincial capital at the military outpost
of Polonnaruwa, naming it Jananatha Mangalam after a title of Rajaraja.[26] The Chola official Tali
Kumaran erected a Shiva temple called Rajarajeshvara ("Lord of Rajaraja") in the town of
Mahatittha (modern Mantota), which was renamed Rajaraja-pura.[26]
Comparing Rajaraja's campaign to the invasion of Lanka by the legendary hero Rama, the
Thiruvalangadu inscription states:[3]

Rajaraja

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rajaraja

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rajaraja

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rajaraja I, born Arulmoḷi Varman[3][4] (also transliterated as Arulmozhi Varman[5]), was a Chola

Brihadisvara Temple inscription reading "Rajaraja"

Chola empire during the reign of Rajaraja I

Against Cheras and Pandyas[edit]

Conquest of Sri Lanka[edit]

You might also like