The Chola Dynasty

The Chola Dynasty
Cholas along with the Cheras and Pandyas were the oldest and three most prominent kingdoms who
ruled the ancient Tamil Nadu during the Sangam period. The Chola dynasty whose heartland was the
fertile valley of Cauvery with Thanjavur as its capital was one of the longest-ruling dynasties of South
India – over 1500 years. The Chola dynasty spread to even parts of South East Asia – Maldives,
Srilanka Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I were the greatest
rulers of the Chola dynasty. The Chola kings were avid builders and continued the temple building
traditions (Dravidian style) of the Pallavas. The Chola temple architecture is notable as much for its
magnificence and grandeur as it is for its workmanship.
The best expression of this Dravidian architecture can be seen in the 1000 - year- old Brihadeeswarar
temple (the great lord ) of Thanjavur built during the times of Rajaraja Chola I is dedicated to Lord
Shiva, which was the largest and tallest of all Indian temples (temple tower is 198 ft or 60 m high).
The Chola art and sculpture styles are similar to that of the Pallavas, the structures in most of the
temples were carved from stone and metal. They depict the socio religious ideas of the Chola period,
the Nataraj sculpture is world famous not only for its beauty but also for its spiritual meaning. There
is a certain kind of spiritual calmness in the sculptural representations of the Vishnu idols in the
Vaishanava temples or that of the Alwars. The temples of the Imperial Cholas are covered with
exquisite well composed sculptures and frescoes. The artists used the lost wax technique and
followed the complete Indian Shilpa Shastra. The sculptures during this period are described as the
cultural epitome of Chola period and are the best specimen of Chola art.
FEATURES OF CHOLA ARCHITECTURE-
 Chola temples can be categorised in two groups – Early Temples and Later
Temples; early temples are influenced with Pallava architecture while later have
Chalukya influence.
 Temples were surrounded by high boundary wall unlike Nagara.
 The earlier example were modest in size and while later ones were huge and large
with Vimanas or
Gopuras dominating the landscape.
 Initially, the gopuram features were more prominent but in the later stages,
the vimanas took the forefront.
 The spire in in the form of stepped pyramid, popularly known as Vimana.

Pallava influence may be seen in spire/vimana similar to Rathas, an octagon
shaped crowning element known as Shikhara.
 The sanctums of the Chola temples were both circular and square in size and the
walls of the inner sanctum sanatorium were beautified. On the upper side of the
sanctum special vimanas are built with dome shaped sikhara and kalasa which were
also there on the top of gopurams.
 Panchayatan style, but no vimana on subsidiary shrines.
 Absence of lion motifs in pillar’s base as seen in the Pallava architecture,
but presence of Kudus
decoration, however, it is little bit different with that of Pallavas.
 The temple mostly consists grabhgriha, antarala, sabhamandapa. Many temples are
having pillared mandapams namely arthamandapa, mahamandapa and nandi
mandpa.
 Presence of water tank inside the boundary of the temple.
 The raw material used are blocks of gneiss and granite.
 The important example of early group is Vijayalaya temple while later group
represents Brihadishwar temple of Tanjaur and Brihadishwar temple of
Gangaikondcholpuram.
 A special feature of the Chola architecture is the purity of the artistic tradition.
Sculptures and inscriptions are also fixed on the walls of these temples.
THE CHOLA RULERS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
1. Vijayalaya Chola- (847-871) The first Chola ruler Vijayalaya Chola built temple at
Narttamalai. This is a stone temple. It is one of the finest examples of the early Chola
temple architecture. He also constructed the Vijayalaya Temple. Located in Nartmalai
in Pudukkotti district. A cluster of small hills Narthamalai lies 25 km fromTrichy on
Trichy- Pudukkoti route. The west facing temple is situated within a square
courtyard and dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has four tiers in which first three are
square while the fourth is circular. It is in pyramidal shape. At the top, there is oval
shaped shikhara on which kalash like part is placed as finial. A mandapa is
situated before the square sanctum. It has decorated entrance with five feet high
carved dwarpalaka on both sides. Around the main temple seven other small
temples are also seen which all facing the the main temple. On the kornis
portion kudu decoration can be seen.
2. Aditya-I-((871-907 CE) Balasubramaniya temple of Kannanur in Pudukottai region and
Thirukkatalai temple were built during the period of Aditya-I.
3. Parantaka I (907-950 CE)- The Varadharaja Perumal Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god
Maha Vishnu. It is located in Thirubuvanai, a village, located 23 km (14 mi), in the outskirts of
Puducherry. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is a storehouse of
Chola architecture. The temple has inscriptions from the time of Parantaka I, Rajaraja Chola
(985–1014 CE), Rajadhiraja I (c. 1048 CE) and is indicated as an educational institution
operating in the temple teaching the Vedas and Shastras. There is also mention of the
remuneration to the teachers and students in the form of paddy. The temple is maintained
and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument.
4. Gandaraditya King (955–956 CE)- Kopeshwar Temple, Kolhapur, MH, India built by
Gandaratya King (955–956 CE).
5. RAJARAJA CHOLA (985-1014 CE)- He built the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, one of
the largest Hindu temples. During his reign, the texts of the Tamil poets Appar, Sambandar
and Sundarar were collected and edited into one compilation called Thirumurai.
6. Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 AD)

1. He built a new capital city called Gangaikonda Cholapuram to commemorate his victory
after defeating Mahipala, the Pala king of Bengal and Bihar.
2. He built sixteen miles long and three miles wide artificial lake which was one of the largest
man-made lakes in India.
7.

The Chola Dynasty

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Chola Dynasty

Uploaded by

Document Information

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

The Chola Dynasty

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Chola Dynasty

FEATURES OF CHOLA ARCHITECTURE-

 The spire in in the form of stepped pyramid, popularly known as Vimana.

THE CHOLA RULERS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS

6. Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 AD)

You might also like