Chola Dynasty

>>>>>>

• Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty of southern India.
• They are one of the longest-ruling dynasty in history.
• The earliest references of the Chola dynasty can be traced from Sangam Age.
• Heartland of the Chola kingdom was the valley of Kaveri River.

>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>

Chola Dynasty Kings

Vijayalaya Chola (848–871)

• Vijayalaya was the founder of Chola Dynasty.
• He captured Tanjore from Muttarayar, an ally of the Pandyas, around 850 AD.
• He founded the temple of Nishumbhasudini (Durga) in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
• They were feudatories of the Pallavas.

Aditya Chola (891–907)

• Aditya Chola defeated and murdered his Pallava overlord Aparajita and occupied the entire Tondaimandalam.
• He conquered the Kongu country as well.
• He is said to have built Siva temples on both banks of the Kaveri river.

Parantaka I (907–950)

• At the start of his reign, Parantaka I invaded the Pandya territory.
• Parantaka I assumed title of ‘Maduraikonda’ (Conqueror of Madurai).
• Uttaramerur inscription tells about his region.
• Krishna Ill, one of the greatest Rashtrakuta rulers, defeated Parantaka in the famous battle of Takkolam (near Arkonam) in 949 AD.

Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014)

• The real greatness of the Chola kingdom began with Rajaraja Chola I.
• He is also known as Arumolivarman.
• Rajaraja Chola I defeated a confederation of the three kingdoms of Pandya, Kerala and Ceylon.
• He destructed the Anuradhapura after defeating north Ceylon.
• Rajaraja Chola I also annexed the Maldives probably for securing the trade routes of the Indian Ocean.
• He built Famous Rajeshwara / Brihadeshwara temple at Thanjavur (Dravida Style) in 1010 AD.
• Rajaraja Chola I encouraged Sailendra ruler of Srivijaya (South-EastAsia), to build a Buddhist vihara at Nagapattinam.
• The vihara was called ‘Chudamani Vihara‘.

Rajendra Chola I (1012–1044)

• Rajendra Chola defeated southern Srilanka & annexed whole Srilanka.
• He moved to north & Captured till Bengal defeating Mahipala I.
• Rajendra Chola assumed title of Gangaikonda Chola.
• He conquered Malay Peninsula & converted Bay of Bengal to Chola lake for trading purposes with China.
• He founded new capital of Chola dynasty Gangaikondacholapuram at Kaveri valley.
• Rajendra Chola also built famous Gangaikondachola Temple (Dravida style) in the new capital of Chola dynasty.
• In 1025, Rajendra Chola sent expedition to Sumatra and Malaya and defeated ruler of Srivijaya empire.
• In 1015 and 1033 Rajendra Chola I had sent diplomatic missions to China.

Rajadhiraja (1044–1054)

• Rajadhiraja suppressed rebellions in Pandya, Kerala and Ceylon kingdoms.
• He performed the virabhisheka.
• It was coronation of the victory there and assumed the title of ‘Vijayarajendra’.

Sponsored

Kulottunga I (1070–1120)

• Kulottunga I is the son of Rajaraja Narendra of Vengi and Chola princess Ammangadevi.
• He united the Vengi kingdom with the Chola kingdom.
• Kulottunga I sent a large embassy of 72 merchants to China.
• Suryavarman Il, the builder of Angkor Wat, sent a precious jewel to Kulottunga who then donated it to the temple of Chidambaram in 1114 AD.
• Last Chola dynasty king was Rajendra Chola III (1246–1279).

>>>>>>

>>>>>>

Chola Administration

• Chola Kingdom was divided into Mandalams or provinces.
• Mandalams were further divided into Town and Villages.
• Autonomous administration for towns and townships, known as Tankurrams.
• Town autonomy was quite similar to village autonomy and both were administered by assemblies.
• In the sabha, membership was restricted to the Brahmins of the village, or was found exclusively in a village gifted to Brahmins.
• The nagaram was found more commonly in trade centres such as cities and towns.

Public Works in Chola Kingdom

• Extensive irrigation works, roads and cities were made in the time of Chola dynasty.
• They made artificial lake (16 miles in length) near Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and constructed dams across the Kaveri river for irrigation purposes.

Trade & Diplomacy of Chola Dynasty

• Merchants, who operating locally was called swadesi and called nanadesi, who operated internationally.
• The merchants had their own settlements (nagara) with autonomous institutions of local government.
• The great ports (pattinam) also had their guilds and autonomous institutions.
• They financed local development projects, construction of temples, lent money to the Chola kings.
• Among the most powerful guilds were the Ayyavole and the Manigramam.
• Ayyavole extended to West Asia, while the Manigramam concentrated on trade with South-East Asia.

>>>>>>