The battle of Kandalur salai (c. 988 CE), also spelled Kanthaloor salai, was a naval engagement of the Cholas under Rajaraja I (985—1014 CE) against the "salai" at Kandalur in TrivandrumKerala.[1][3] The exact location of Kandalur—somewhere south Kerala—is a subject of scholarly debate.[1][3][4] The above (988 CE) event is sometimes assumed to be identical with the "conquest of Vizhinjam by a general of Rajaraja [I]", before the burning of Lanka, given in the Tiruvalangadu Grant/Plates.[1]
Battle of Kandalur salai Capture of Kandalur salai
Inscription of Chola emperor Rajaraja from Suchindram, Kanyakumari (15th regnal year)
The phrase "Kandalur salai kalamarutta" is again used as a title with distinction of three other Chola kings also (Rajendra, Rajadhiraja and Kulottunga).[5]
"Salais" were considered prized possessions as they are claimed to have been sacked by many kings of south India.[1] The character of the salais were re-examined in the 1970 paper 'Kantalur Salai-New Light on Brahmin Expansion in South India' by historian M. G. S. Narayanan.[6]
It is now clear that the salai (or ghatika or kalakam or kalam) was a peculiar institution... A multipurpose training centre for celibate arms-bearing Brahmins (Chathar/Chathirar) in material and spiritual fields (including military training to equip them to serve the chieftain or the king and vedic and sastraic studies)...
— M. G. S. Narayanan (1970)
Older assessments
Different views were expressed by early scholars regarding the character of "salai" (such as naval base - military training centre - cantonment - ammunition depot).[4]
Dr. Hultzsch - (1) "built a jewell-like hall at Kandalur" or (2) "cut the vessel [kalam] in the hall at Kandalur" (3) "destroyed ships [kalam] at Kandalur [harbour]"[5]
Gopinatha Rao - "destroyed/discontinued/transferred the Brahmin feeding [kalam] at Kandalur Feeding House or Hall [salai] "[5]
Desikavinayakam Pillai - "regulation of the Brahmin feeding at Kandalur Feeding House [salai]"[5]
Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan Pillai - "discontinued/destroyed the feeding [kalam] of the armed Brahmins [Chathar] at Kandalur".[5]
Location of Kandalur salai
The exact location of Kandalur is a subject of scholarly debate. It is possible the original Kandalur salai was located near the Ay headquarters Vizhinjam and the deity was later shifted to Trivandrum (after the Chola raids of the 10th-11th centuries).[1]
Original location:— a village around 20 km east of Vizhinjam with a Shiva temple called Kandalur Salai.[1]
Shifted location:— within the city of Trivandrum (Valiya Salai Temple)[1]
Raid by Rajaraja I (c. 988 CE)
As per historian K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, the capture was the first military achievement of king Rajaraja's reign. The success was summed up in the famous phrase "Kandalur salai kalamarutta", which precedes Rajaraja's name in several of his inscriptions from the 4th regnal year (988 CE) onwards.[1][7]
The Kandalur salai belonged to the Ay chief, a vassal of the Pandya king at Madurai, in the mid-860s (865 CE).[5]
It is possible that at the time of the raid, the salai may have been under control of the Chera Perumal king of Kerala, Bhaskara Ravi.[1] If that was the case, the campaign can be viewed as part of Rajaraja's early battles against the Cheras, Pandyas and the rulers of Sri Lanka.[3]
However, some historians argue that Kandalur salai, which only later Chola inscriptions (1048 CE) claim to have belonged to the Chera Perumals, may have been held by the Pandyas when it was attacked by Rajaraja I.[8][9]
A hero stone inscription was unearthed from a village near Tiruvannamalai in November, 2009. It supports the view that a military engagement indeed took place at Kandalur.[10] It has a eulogy that talks about Rajaraja "beheading the Malai Alargal of Kandalur Salai".[10]
"...confined the undaunted king of Venatu [back] to Che[ra]natu [from the Ay country].... and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi after capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan [the Chera king] hid himself in terror inside the jungle..."
1048 CE – Velur and Tiruppangili inscriptions – Kandalur salai is mentioned as 'Cheralan Velaikkelu Kantalur Chalai'.[9]
Kalingattupparani (III-21) mentions Kulottunga Chola's victory of over the Bow Emblem and the Chola capture of Kantalur Salai.
c. 1102 — c.1118 CE – Jatavarman Parakrama Pandya mentions the capture of Kantalur Salai (for his Chola overlord Vikrama Chola).
References
^ abcdefghijklNarayanan, M. G. S. Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013 [1972]. 115 - 117.
^A Global History of Pre-Modern Warfare: Before the Rise of the West, 10,000 BCE–1500 CE. Routledge. 14 September 2021. ISBN9781000432121.
^ abcNoburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 122-24.
^ abNarayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 135.
^ abcdefghNarayanan, M.G.S. 'Kantalur Salai-New Light on Aryan Expansion in South India.' Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 32, 1970, pp. 125–136.
^Narayanan, M. G. S., 'Kantalur Salai-New Light on Aryan Expansion in South India,' Proceedings of Indian History Congress, 1970. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141058
^K. A. N. Sastri, History of South India. Oxford, 1955. p. 164-9.
^K. A. N. Sastri, History of South India. Oxford, 1955.
^ abVenkayya, V., South Indian Inscriptions, (Madras), Vol II, Intn, p. 2.
^ abSubramanian, T. S. (27 November 2009). "Unearthed Stone Ends Debate". The Hindu. from the original on 24 June 2018.
January 06, 2023
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The battle of Kandalur salai c 988 CE also spelled Kanthaloor salai was a naval engagement of the Cholas under Rajaraja I 985 1014 CE against the salai at Kandalur in Trivandrum Kerala 1 3 The exact location of Kandalur somewhere south Kerala is a subject of scholarly debate 1 3 4 The above 988 CE event is sometimes assumed to be identical with the conquest of Vizhinjam by a general of Rajaraja I before the burning of Lanka given in the Tiruvalangadu Grant Plates 1 Battle of Kandalur salaiCapture of Kandalur salaiInscription of Chola emperor Rajaraja from Suchindram Kanyakumari 15th regnal year Datec 988 CE 1 LocationKandalur south Kerala ResultDecisive Chola victoryTerritorialchangesFall of Kandalur salai and annexed by CholasBelligerentsChola DynastySoldier Members of Kandalur salai Chera Perumals PandyasCommanders and leadersRajaraja Chola I Aprameyan pallavan commander Bhaskara Ravi Varman 2 Amarabuyanga pandiyanUnits involvedChola army Chola NavyChera army Chera NavyStrength1 Fleet1 FleetCasualties and lossesUnknownDestruction of Chera navy portsThe phrase Kandalur salai kalamarutta is again used as a title with distinction of three other Chola kings also Rajendra Rajadhiraja and Kulottunga 5 Contents 1 Assessment of the title 1 1 Older assessments 2 Location of Kandalur salai 3 Raid by Rajaraja I c 988 CE 4 References to Kandalur salai 5 ReferencesAssessment of the title Edit Salais were considered prized possessions as they are claimed to have been sacked by many kings of south India 1 The character of the salais were re examined in the 1970 paper Kantalur Salai New Light on Brahmin Expansion in South India by historian M G S Narayanan 6 It is now clear that the salai or ghatika or kalakam or kalam was a peculiar institution A multipurpose training centre for celibate arms bearing Brahmins Chathar Chathirar in material and spiritual fields including military training to equip them to serve the chieftain or the king and vedic and sastraic studies M G S Narayanan 1970 Older assessments Edit Different views were expressed by early scholars regarding the character of salai such as naval base military training centre cantonment ammunition depot 4 Dr Hultzsch 1 built a jewell like hall at Kandalur or 2 cut the vessel kalam in the hall at Kandalur 3 destroyed ships kalam at Kandalur harbour 5 Gopinatha Rao destroyed discontinued transferred the Brahmin feeding kalam at Kandalur Feeding House or Hall salai 5 Desikavinayakam Pillai regulation of the Brahmin feeding at Kandalur Feeding House salai 5 K A N Sastri destroyed ships at Kandalur harbour 5 Elamkulam P N Kunjan Pillai discontinued destroyed the feeding kalam of the armed Brahmins Chathar at Kandalur 5 Location of Kandalur salai EditThe exact location of Kandalur is a subject of scholarly debate It is possible the original Kandalur salai was located near the Ay headquarters Vizhinjam and the deity was later shifted to Trivandrum after the Chola raids of the 10th 11th centuries 1 Original location a village around 20 km east of Vizhinjam with a Shiva temple called Kandalur Salai 1 Shifted location within the city of Trivandrum Valiya Salai Temple 1 Raid by Rajaraja I c 988 CE EditAs per historian K A Nilakanta Sastri the capture was the first military achievement of king Rajaraja s reign The success was summed up in the famous phrase Kandalur salai kalamarutta which precedes Rajaraja s name in several of his inscriptions from the 4th regnal year 988 CE onwards 1 7 The Kandalur salai belonged to the Ay chief a vassal of the Pandya king at Madurai in the mid 860s 865 CE 5 It is possible that at the time of the raid the salai may have been under control of the Chera Perumal king of Kerala Bhaskara Ravi 1 If that was the case the campaign can be viewed as part of Rajaraja s early battles against the Cheras Pandyas and the rulers of Sri Lanka 3 However some historians argue that Kandalur salai which only later Chola inscriptions 1048 CE claim to have belonged to the Chera Perumals may have been held by the Pandyas when it was attacked by Rajaraja I 8 9 A hero stone inscription was unearthed from a village near Tiruvannamalai in November 2009 It supports the view that a military engagement indeed took place at Kandalur 10 It has a eulogy that talks about Rajaraja beheading the Malai Alargal of Kandalur Salai 10 References to Kandalur salai EditCorrections by M G S Narayanan on K A Nilakanta Sastri are employed 865 CE Huzur Office Parthivapuram Plates of Ay chieftain Karunantatakkan Srivallabha a vassal of the Pandya king Srimara Srivallabha 1 5 988 CE first Chola reference to the fall of Kandalur salai Kandalur salai kalamarutta 1 1018 19 CE Chola Rajadhiraja and Rajendra campaigns in Kerala confined the undaunted king of Venatu back to Che ra natu from the Ay country and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi after capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan the Chera king hid himself in terror inside the jungle 1048 CE Velur and Tiruppangili inscriptions Kandalur salai is mentioned as Cheralan Velaikkelu Kantalur Chalai 9 Kalingattupparani III 21 mentions Kulottunga Chola s victory of over the Bow Emblem and the Chola capture of Kantalur Salai c 1102 c 1118 CE Jatavarman Parakrama Pandya mentions the capture of Kantalur Salai for his Chola overlord Vikrama Chola References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Narayanan M G S Perumals of Kerala Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy Thrissur Kerala CosmoBooks 2013 1972 115 117 A Global History of Pre Modern Warfare Before the Rise of the West 10 000 BCE 1500 CE Routledge 14 September 2021 ISBN 9781000432121 a b c Noburu Karashmia ed A Concise History of South India Issues and Interpretations New Delhi Oxford University Press 2014 122 24 a b Narayanan M G S Perumaḷs of Kerala Thrissur Kerala CosmoBooks 2013 135 a b c d e f g h Narayanan M G S Kantalur Salai New Light on Aryan Expansion in South India Proceedings of the Indian History Congress vol 32 1970 pp 125 136 Narayanan M G S Kantalur Salai New Light on Aryan Expansion in South India Proceedings of Indian History Congress 1970 https www jstor org stable 44141058 K A N Sastri History of South India Oxford 1955 p 164 9 K A N Sastri History of South India Oxford 1955 a b Venkayya V South Indian Inscriptions Madras Vol II Intn p 2 a b Subramanian T S 27 November 2009 Unearthed Stone Ends Debate The Hindu Archived from the original on 24 June 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Kandalur Salai amp oldid 1123017174, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
