fbpx
Wikipedia

Rajaraja I

Rajaraja I (947 CE – 1014 CE), born Arunmozhi Varman or Arulmozhi Varman [1][2] and often described as Rajaraja the Great was a Chola emperor who reigned from 985 CE to 1014 CE. He was the most powerful Tamil king in South India during his reign and is remembered for reinstating the Chola influence and ensuring its supremacy across the Indian Ocean.[3][4]

Rajaraja I
Rājakēsari
Mummuṭi Cōḻan,[1] sivapathasekaran, thelungu kulakaalan, thaila kula kaalan, Pandiya kula sani, keralandhagan, singalandhagan
A Mural of Rajaraja I at Brihadisvara Temple.[citation needed]
Chola Emperor
Reignc. 985 – c. 1014
PredecessorUttama Chola
SuccessorRajendra I
king of Anuradhapura
King of Polonnaruwa
Reignc. 992 – c. 1014
PredecessorMahinda V
SuccessorRajendra I
BornArunmozhi Varman
c. 947
Thanjavur, Chola Empire (modern day Tamil Nadu, India)
Died1014(1014-00-00) (aged 66–67)
Thanjavur, Chola Empire (modern day Tamil Nadu, India)
QueensThiripuvana Madeviyar
Lokamahadevi
Cholamahadevi
Trailokyamahadevi, Panchavanmahadevi
Abhimanavalli
Latamahadevi
Prithivimahadevi
Issue
DynastyChola
FatherParantaka II
MotherVanavan Mahadevi
ReligionHinduism
See details
Signature

His extensive empire included vast regions of the Pandya country, the Chera country and northern Sri Lanka. He also acquired Lakshadweep and Thiladhunmadulu atoll, and part of the northern-most islands of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. Campaigns against the Western Gangas and the Chalukyas extended the Chola authority as far as the Tungabhadra River. On the eastern coast, he battled with the Chalukyas for the possession of Vengi.[5][6][7][8]

Rajaraja I, being an able administrator, also built the great Rajarajeshwaram Temple at the Chola capital Thanjavur.[9] The temple is regarded as the foremost of all temples constructed in the medieval south Indian architectural style. During his reign, the texts of the Tamil poets Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar were collected and edited into one compilation called Thirumurai.[6][10] 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.[11][12] Rajaraja died in 1014 CE and was succeeded by his son Rajendra Chola I.

Early life

Rajaraja was a son of the Chola king Parantaka II (alias Sundara) and queen Vanavan Mahadevi.[13] According to the Thiruvalangadu copper-plate inscription, his birth name was Arulmoḻi (also transliterated as Arulmozhi) Varman, literally "blessed tongued".[1][14] He was born around 947 CE in the Aipassi month, on the day of Sadhayam star.[15] He had an elder brother – Aditya II,[2] and an elder sister – Kundavai.[16]

Rajaraja's ascension ended a period of rival claims to the throne, following the death of his great-grandfather Parantaka I. After Parantaka I, his elder son Gandaraditya ascended the throne. At the time of Gandaraditya death, 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.[2]

Rajaraja's elder brother died before him, and after the death of Uttama, Rajaraja ascended the throne in June–July 985.[2] Known as Arumoḷi Varman until this point, he adopted the regnal name Rajaraja, which literally means "King among Kings".[17]

Military conquests

 
Chola empire during the reign of Rajaraja I

Rajaraja inherited a kingdom whose boundaries were limited to the traditional Chola territory centred around Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli region.[1] 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.[2]

A number of regiments are mentioned in the Thanjavur inscriptions.[18][19] 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.[18]

Against Kandalur Salai

Rajaraja's earliest inscriptions celebrate a major victory at Kandalur Salai (in present-day Kerala) in c. 988 CE, calling him "Kāndalūr śālai Kalam-arutta" ("the one who destroyed Kandalur Salai").[20] The Salai originally belonged to the Ay chief, a vassal of the Pandya king at Madurai. Involvement of either Chera or Pandya warriors in this battle remains uncertain. The Thiruvalangadu inscription mentions that Rajaraja's general captured Vizhinjam (Viḷinam): this conquest may have been a part of the Kandalur Salai campaign. The engagement seems to have been an effort of the Chola navy or a combined effort of the navy and the army.[21]

Conquest of Kerala and the Pandyas

Rajaraja's inscriptions start to appear in Kanyakumari district in the 990s and in Trivandrum district in early 1000s. The Chola subjugation of Kerala can be dated to the early years of the 11th century.[21] The Senur inscription (1005 CE) of Rajaraja states that he destroyed the Pandya capital Madurai; conquered the "haughty kings" of Kollam (Venad), Kolla-desham (Mushika), and Kodungallur (the Chera Perumal).[21][22] Some of these victories in Malainadu were perhaps won by prince Rajendra Chola for his father.[8]

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 royal Amarabhujanga.[24] Identification of this prince (either a Pandya prince or a general of the Pandya king or a Kongu Chera prince) remains unresolved.[8][24] 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 ancient Tamil countries of the Cholas, the Pandyas, and the Cheras.[1]

Conquest of Sri Lanka

In 993, Rajaraja invaded Sri Lanka, which is called Ila-mandalam in the Chola records.[22] 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.[25] 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.[25] 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.[25]

Comparing Rajaraja's campaign to the invasion of Lanka by the legendary hero Rama, the Thiruvalangadu Plates states:[1]

"Rama built with the aid of monkeys, a causeway across the sea, and then with great difficulties defeated the king of Lanka by means of sharp edged arrows. But Rama was excelled by this king whose powerful army crossed the ocean by ships and burnt up the king of Lanka."

— Thiruvalangadu Copper Plates[1]

In 1017, Rajaraja's son Rajendra I completed the Chola conquest of Sri Lanka.[26] The Cholas controlled Sri Lanka until 1070, when Vijayabahu I defeated and expelled them.[27]

Chalukyan conflict

In 998 CE, Rajaraja captured the regions of Gangapadi, Nolambapadi and Tadigaipadi (present day Karnataka).[28] Raja Chola extinguished the Nolambas, who were the feudatories of Ganga while conquering and annexing Nolambapadi.[29] The conquered provinces were originally feudatories of the Rashtrakutas.[30][31] In 973 CE, the Rashtrakutas were defeated by the Western Chalukyas leading to direct conflict with Cholas.[32] An inscription of Irivabedanga Satyashraya from Dharwar describes him as a vassal of the Western Chalukyas and acknowledges the Chola onslaught.[33] In the same inscription, he accuses Rajendra of having arrived with a force of 955,000 and of having gone on rampage in Donuwara thereby blurring the moralities of war as laid out in the Dharmasastras.[34] Historians like James Heitzman and 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 drawing a parallel between the enmity between the Chalukyas of Badami and the Pallavas of Kanchi.[35][36]

 
Coinage of Chola King Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE). Uncertain Tamilnadu mint. Legend "Chola, conqueror of the Gangas" in Tamil, seated tiger with two fish.

By 1004 CE, the Gangavadi province was conquered by Rajaraja.[37] The Changalvas who ruled over the western part of the Gangavadi province and the Kongalvas who ruled over Kodagu were turned into vassals.[38] The Chola general Panchavan Maraya who defeated the Changalvas in the battle of Ponnasoge and distinguished himself in this affair was rewarded with Arkalgud Yelusuvira-7000 territory and the title Kshatriyasikhamani.[39] The Kongalvas, for the heroism of Manya, were rewarded with the estate of Malambi (Coorg) and the title Kshatriyasikhamani.[38] Vengi kingdom was ruled by Jata Choda Bhima of the Eastern Chalukyas dynasty.[32] Jata Choda Bhima was defeated by Rajaraja and Saktivarman was placed on the throne of Vengi as a viceroy of the Chola Dynasty.[32][40] After the withdrawal of the Chola army, Bhima captured Kanchi in 1001 CE. Rajaraja expelled and killed the Andhra king called Bhima before re-establishing Saktivarman I on the throne of Vengi again.[41] Rajaraja gave his daughter Kundavai in marriage to his next viceroy of Vengi Vimaladitya which brought about the union of the Chola Dynasty and the Eastern Chalukya Kingdom and which also ensured that the descendants of Rajaraja would rule the Eastern Chalukya kingdom in the future.[40]

Hoysala conflicts

There were encounters between the Cholas and the Hoysalas, who were vassals of the Western Chalukyas. An inscription from the Gopalakrishna temple at Narasipur dated to 1006 records that Rajaraja's general Aprameya killed minister Naganna and other generals of the Hoysalas.[42] A similar inscription in Channapatna also describes Rajaraja defeating the Hoysalas.[43]

 
Statue of Rajaraja, Tamil Nadu, 20th century

Kalinga conquest

The invasion of the kingdom of Kalinga occurred after the conquest of Vengi.[44]

Conquest of Kuda-malai-nadu

There are multiple references to the conquest of "Kuda-malai-nadu" by king Rajaraja (from c. 1000 CE onwards).[8][45] The term Kudagu-malai-nadu is substituted in place of Kuda-malai-nadu in some of the inscriptions found in Karnataka and this region has been generally identified with Coorg (Kudagu).[8][46]

It is said that the king conquered Malainadu for the sake of messengers in one day after crossing 18 mountain passes (Vikrama Chola Ula).[8] Kulottunga Chola Ula makes reference to Rajaraja cutting off 18 heads and setting fire to Udagai.[21] Kalingathupparani mentions the institution of Chadaya Nalvizha in Udiyar Mandalam, the capture of Udagai, and the plunder of several elephants from there.[8] Tiruppalanam inscription (999 CE) mentions the gift of an idol by king from the booty obtained in Malainadu.[8][47][48][49]

Naval expedition

"A naval campaign led to the conquest of the Maldive Islands, the Malabar Coast, and northern Sri Lanka, all of which were essential to the Chola control over trade with Southeast Asia and with Arabia and eastern Africa. These were the transit areas, ports of call for the Arab traders and ships to Southeast Asia and China, which were the source of the valuable spices sold at a high profit to Europe."

— Romila Thapar, "Encyclopaedia Britannica".

One of the last conquests of Rajaraja was the naval conquest of the islands of Maldives ("the Ancient Islands of the Sea Numbering 1200").[50][8] The naval campaign was a demonstration of the Chola naval power in the Indian Ocean.[8]

The Cholas controlled the area around of Bay of Bengal with Nagapattinam as the main port. The Chola Navy also had played a major role in the invasion of Sri Lanka.[51] The success of Rajaraja allowed his son Rajendra Chola to lead the Chola invasion of Srivijaya, carrying out naval raids in South-East Asia and briefly occupying Kadaram.[5][52]

Personal life

Rajaraja married a number of women, some of whom were Vanavan Madevi aka Thiripuvāna Mādēviyār, Dantisakti Vitanki aka Lokamadevi, Panchavan Madeviyar, Chola Mahadevi, Trailokya Mahadevi, Lata Mahadevi, Prithvi Mahadevi, Meenavan Mahadevi, Viranarayani and Villavan Mahadevi.[53][54][55][56] He had at least three daughters. He had two sons, elder one is Rajendra with Thiripuvāna Mādēviyār[57][58][59] and younger one is Araiyan Rajarajan (Mother unknown).He had his first daughter Kundavai with Lokamadevi. Kundavai married Chalukya prince Vimaladithan. He had two other daughters named Mathevadigal[citation needed] and Ģangamādevi or Arumozhi Chandramalli.[56] Rajaraja died in 1014 CE in the Tamil month of Maka and was succeeded by Rajendra Chola I.[60]

Administration

 
Mural depicting Rajaraja and his guru Karuvuruvar found in the Brihadisvara temple, Tamil Nadu, 11th century.[61][62]

Before the reign of Rajaraja I, parts of the Chola territory were ruled by hereditary lords and princes who were in a loose alliance with the Chola rulers.[63] Rajaraja initiated a project of land survey and assessment in 1000 CE which led to the reorganization of the empire into units known as valanadus.[11][12] From the reign of Rajaraja I until the reign of Vikrama Chola in 1133 CE, the hereditary lords and local princes were either replaced or turned into dependent officials.[63] This led to the king exercising a closer control over the different parts of the empire.[63] Rajaraja strengthened the local self-government and installed a system of audit and control by which the village assemblies and other public bodies were held to account while retaining their autonomy.[64][65][66] To promote trade, he sent the first Chola mission to China.[67]

His elder sister Kundavai assisted him in administration and management of temples.[68]

Officials

Rajendra Chola I was made a co-regent during the last years of Rajaraja's rule. He was the supreme commander of the northern and north-western dominions. During the reign of Raja Chola, there was an expansion of the administrative structure leading to the increase in the number of offices and officials in the Chola records than during earlier periods.[11] Villavan Muvendavelan, one of the top officials of Rajaraja figures in many of his inscriptions.[69] The other names of officials found in the inscriptions are the Bana prince Narasimhavarman, a general Senapathi Krishnan Raman, the Samanta chief Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, the revenue official Irayiravan Pallavarayan and Kuruvan Ulagalandan, who organised the country-wide land surveys.[70]

Religious policy

Rajaraja was a follower of Shaivism sect of Hinduism but he also dedicated several temples to Vishnu.

In the 11th century CE, the Chudamani Vihara, a Buddhist monastery, was built by the Sailendra king of Srivijaya Sri Mara Vijayattungavarman with the patronage of Raja Raja Chola in Nagapattinam.[71][72] It was named Chudamani or Chulamani Vihara after king Sri Mara's father.[73] As per the small Leyden grant this Vihara was called Rajaraja-perumpalli during the time of Kulottunga I.[74] Rajaraja dedicated the proceeds of the revenue from the village of Anaimangalam towards the upkeep of this Vihara.[75]

Rajaraja called himself Shivapada Shekhara (IAST: Śivapada Śekhara), literally, "the one who places his crown at the feet of Shiva".[76]

Arts and architecture

Rajaraja embarked on a mission to recover the hymns after hearing short excerpts of Thevaram in his court.[77] He sought the help of Nambi Andar Nambi.[78] It is believed that by divine intervention Nambi found the presence of scripts, in the form of cadijam leaves half eaten by white ants in a chamber inside the second precinct in Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram.[79][78] The brahmanas (Dikshitars) in the temple opposed the mission, but Rajaraja intervened by consecrating the images of the saint-poets through the streets of Chidambaram.[79][80] Rajaraja thus became known as Tirumurai Kanda Cholan meaning one who saved the Tirumurai. In his work Nambiyandar Nambi Puranam alias Tirumurai Kanda Puranam, Nambi identifies his patron as Rasarasamannan-Abhayakula-sekharan, that is king Rajaraja, the best of the race of Abhaya.[81] Thus far Shiva temples only had images of god forms, but after the advent of Rajaraja, the images of the Nayanar saints were also placed inside the temple.[80] Nambi arranged the hymns of three saint poets Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar as the first seven books, Manickavasagar's Tirukovayar and Tiruvacakam as the 8th book, the 28 hymns of nine other saints as the 9th book, the Tirumandiram of Tirumular as the 10th book, 40 hymns by 12 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.[82] 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) is wholly known as Tirumurai, the holy book. Thus Saiva literature which covers about 600 years of religious, philosophical and literary development.[82]

No contemporary portrait or statue of Rajaraja survives; the bronze figure depicting Rajaraja at the Thanjavur temple is spurious and of late origin.[22]

Brihadisvara Temple

 
Brihadisvara Temple built by Rajaraja I, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1010 CE, Rajaraja built the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple and the capital acted as a center of both religious and economic activity.[83] It is also known as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram.[84][85] It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola period.[86] The temple turned 1000 years old in 2010.[87] The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", with the other two being the Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple.[88]

The vimanam (temple tower) is 216 ft (66 m) high and is the tallest in the world. The Kumbam (the apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 80 tons.[89] There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high at the entrance. The entire temple structure is made out of granite, the nearest sources of which are about 60 km to the west of temple. The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.[90]

Coins

Before the reign of Rajaraja the Chola coins had on the obverse the tiger emblem and the fish and bow emblems of the Pandya and Chera Dynasties and on the reverse the name of the King. But during the reign of Rajaraja appeared a new type of coins. The new coins had on the obverse the figure of the standing king and on the reverse the seated goddess.[91] The coins spread over a great part of South India and were also copied by the kings of Sri Lanka.[92]

Inscriptions

 
A typical lithic inscription of the Chola period

Due to Rajaraja's desire to record his military achievements, he recorded the important events of his life in stones. An inscription in Tamil from Mulbagal in Karnataka shows his accomplishments as early as the 19th year. An excerpt from such a Meikeerthi, an inscription recording great accomplishments, follows:[93]

Hail Prosperity! In the 21st year of (the reign of) the illustrious Ko Raja Rajakesari Varma, alias the illustrious Rajaraja Deva, who, while both the goddess of fortune and the great goddess of the earth, who had become his exclusive property, gave him pleasure, was pleased to destroy the kalam at Kandalur and conquered by his army, which was victorious in great battles, Vengai-nadu, Ganga-padi, Nulamba-padi, Tadigai-padi, Kudamalai-nadu, Kollam, Kalingam and Ira-mandalam, which is famed in the eight directions; who, while his beauty was increasing, and while he was resplendent (to such an extent) that he was always worthy to be worshipped, deprived the Seriyas of their splendour, and (in words) in the twenty-first year of Chola Arumoli, who possesses the river Ponni, whose waters are full of waves.[94][95]

 
ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ் திருமகள் போல பெருநில
 
பெருநிலச் செல்வியுந் தனக்கேயுரிமை
 
கேயுரிமை பூண்டமை மனக்கொளக்
 
காந்தளூர்ச் சாலைக் களமறூத்தருளி வேங்கை
 
உடையார் ஸ்ரீராஜராஜ
Excerpts of Rajaraja's inscription from Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur (first line in every image)

Rajaraja recorded all the grants made to the Thanjavur temple and his achievements. He also preserved the records of his predecessors. An inscription of his reign found at Tirumalavadi 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.[96]

Another inscription from Gramardhanathesvara temple in South Arcot district dated in the seventh year of the king refers to the fifteenth year of his predecessor that is Uttama Choladeva described therein as the son of Sembiyan-Madeviyar.[97]

In popular culture

  • Ponniyin Selvan: I, a 2022 film based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel Ponniyin Selvan, Raja Raja Cholan (Arunmozhi Varman) role is played by the Tamil cinema actor Jayam Ravi[98]
  • Rajaraja Cholan, a 1973 Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan[99]
  • Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki revolves around the life of Rajaraja, the mysteries surrounding the assassination of Aditya Karikalan and the subsequent accession of Uttama to the Chola throne[100]
  • Nandipurathu Nayagi by Vembu Vikiraman revolves around the ascension of Uttama Chola to the throne and Rajaraja's naval expedition
  • Rajaraja Cholan by Kathal Ramanathan
  • Kandalur Vasantha Kumaran Kathai by Sujatha which deal with the situations leading Rajaraja to invade Kandalur
  • Rajakesari and Cherar Kottai by Gokul Seshadri deal with the Kandalur invasion and its after-effects
  • Bharat Ek Khoj, a 1988 historical drama in its episodes 22 and 23 portrays Raj Raja Chola.[101]
  • Kaviri Mainthan, a 2007 novel by Anusha Venkatesh
  • Udayaar, a book by Tamil author Balakumaran which deals with RajaRaja's later years and Rajendra Chola I's ascension.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Vidya Dehejia 1990, p. 51.
  2. ^ a b c d e K. A. N. Sastri 1992, p. 1.
  3. ^ Charles Hubert Biddulph (1964). Coins of the Cholas. Numismatic Society of India. p. 34.
  4. ^ John Man (1999). Atlas of the year 1000. Harvard University Press. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-674-54187-0.
  5. ^ a b Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 46–49. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  6. ^ a b A Journey through India's Past by Chandra Mauli Mani p.51
  7. ^ Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture by John Bowman p.264
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j M. G. S. Narayanan 2013, p. 115-117.
  9. ^ The Hindus: An Alternative History by Wendy Doniger p.347
  10. ^ Indian Thought: A Critical Survey by K. Damodaran p.246
  11. ^ a b c A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th century by Upinder Singh p.590
  12. ^ a b Administrative System in India: Vedic Age to 1947 by U. B. Singh p.76
  13. ^ Vidya Dehejia 2009, p. 42.
  14. ^ A. K. Seshadri 1988, p. 31.
  15. ^ Tamil Civilization: Quarterly Research Journal of the Tamil University. Vol. 3. Tamil University. 1985. pp. 40–41.
  16. ^ A. K. Seshadri 1998, p. 32.
  17. ^ Vidya Dehejia 1990, p. 49.
  18. ^ a b Seshachandrika: a compendium of Dr. M. Seshadri's works p.265
  19. ^ Literary Genetics with Comparative Perspectives by Katir Makātēvan̲ p.25
  20. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1977, p. 3.
  21. ^ a b c d M. G. S. Narayanan 2013, p. 115-118.
  22. ^ a b c K. A. N. Sastri 1992, p. 2.
  23. ^ K. A. N. Sastri 1992, p. 238.
  24. ^ a b c V. Ramamurthy 1986, pp. 288–289.
  25. ^ a b c K. A. N. Sastri 1992, p. 3.
  26. ^ K. A. N. Sastri 1992, pp. 10–11.
  27. ^ K. A. N. Sastri 1992, p. 36.
  28. ^ Tamilian Antiquary (1907–1914) – 12 Vols. by Pandit. D. Savariroyan p.30
  29. ^ Seminar on Social and Cultural History of Dharmapuri district p.46
  30. ^ Mohan Lal Nigam (1975). Sculptural Heritage of Andhradesa. Sculptural Heritage of Andhradesa. p. 17.
  31. ^ M. S. Krishna Murthy (1980). The Noḷambas: a political and cultural study, c750 to 1050 A.D. University of Mysore. p. 98.
  32. ^ a b c Ancient Indian History and Civilization by Sailendra Nath Sen p.398
  33. ^ Epigraphia Indica, Volume 16, page 74
  34. ^ Studying early India: archaeology, texts and historical issues, page 198
  35. ^ The world in the year 1000, page 311
  36. ^ History of India: a new approach by Kittu Reddy p.146
  37. ^ Malini Adiga. The Making of Southern Karnataka: Society, Polity and Culture in the Early Medieval Period. Orient BlackSwan, 2006. p. 239.
  38. ^ a b Baij Nath Puri. History of Indian Administration: Medieval period. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1975. p. 51.
  39. ^ Ali, B. Sheik. History of the Western Gangas, Volume 1. Prasārānga, University of Mysore, 1976. p. 160.
  40. ^ a b Gazetteer of the Nellore District: Brought Up to 1938 by Government of Madras Staff, Government of Madras p.38
  41. ^ Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1951). The History and Culture of the Indian People: The age of imperial Kanauj. Ramesh Chandra Majumdar. p. 154.
  42. ^ Epigraphia Indica, Volume 30, page 248
  43. ^ Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 21, page 200
  44. ^ Smith, Vincent Arthur (1904). The Early History of India. The Clarendon press. pp. 336–358. ISBN 9788171566181.
  45. ^ Chandra Mauli Mani. A Journey through India's Past (Great Hindu Kings after Harshavardhana). Northern Book Centre, 2009 – India – 132 pages. p. 51.
  46. ^ Epigraphia Indica, Volume 22. Archaeological Survey of India. 1935. p. 225.
  47. ^ South Indian Inscriptions: Tamil inscriptions of Rajaraja, Rajendra-Chola, and others in the Rajarajesvara Temple at Tanjavur. Archæological Survey of India. 1983. p. 3.
  48. ^ Gandhi Jee Roy. Diplomacy in ancient India. Janaki Prakashan, 1981 – History – 234 pages. p. 129.
  49. ^ Gayatri Chakraborty. Espionage in Ancient India: From the Earliest Time to 12th Century A.D. Minerva Associates, 1990 – Political Science – 153 pages. p. 120.
  50. ^ John Keay 2000, p. 215:"Rajaraja is supposed to have conquered twelve thousand old islands... a phrase meant to indicate the Maldives"
  51. ^ Milo Kearney 2003, p. 70.
  52. ^ Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia by Hermann Kulke, K Kesavapany, Vijay Sakhuja p.230
  53. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1977, p. 6.
  54. ^ Documentation on Women, Children, and Human Rights. Sandarbhini, Library and Documentation Centre. 1994.
  55. ^ Studies in Indian place names. Place Names Society of India. 1954. p. 58.
  56. ^ a b Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy. Archaeological Survey of India. 1995. p. 7.
  57. ^ P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar (1982). South Indian Shrines: Illustrated. Asian Educational Services. p. 264. ISBN 9788120601512.
  58. ^ Early Chola art, page 183
  59. ^ A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States: Thanjavur District, page 180
  60. ^ Rāja Rāja, the great. Ananthacharya Indological Research Institute. 1987. p. 28.
  61. ^ Edith Tömöry (1982). A History of Fine Arts in India and the West. Orient Longman. p. 246. ISBN 978-0-86131-321-1.
  62. ^ Rakesh Kumar (2007). Encyclopaedia of Indian paintings. Anmol Publications. p. 4. ISBN 9788126131228.
  63. ^ a b c Precolonial India in Practice : Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra by Austin Cynthia Talbot Assistant Professor of History and Asian Studies University of Texas p.172
  64. ^ Life/Death Rhythms of Ancient Empires – Climatic Cycles Influence Rule of Dynasties by Will Slatyer p.236
  65. ^ The First Spring: The Golden Age of India by Abraham Eraly p.68
  66. ^ Geeta Vasudevan 2003, pp. 62–63.
  67. ^ Tamil Nadu, a real history by K. Rajayyan p.112
  68. ^ Ancient system of oriental medicine, page 96
  69. ^ South Indian inscriptions, India. Archaeological Survey, India. Dept. of Archaeology p.477
  70. ^ South India heritage: an introduction by Prema Kasturi, Chithra Madhavan p.96
  71. ^ Kulke, K. & Sakhuja 2009, p. 67.
  72. ^ deepak s. Indian civilization. deepak shinde, 2016. p. 169.
  73. ^ C. E. Ramachandran; K. V. Raman, Indian History and Culture Society. Aspects of Indian history and culture. Books & Books, 1984. p. 11.
  74. ^ S. R. Balasubrahmanyam. Middle Chola Temples: Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I, A.D. 985-1070. Thomson Press (India), 1975. pp. 115–116.
  75. ^ Tamilian Antiquary (1907–1914) – 12 Vols. by Pandit. D. Savariroyan p.33
  76. ^ R. S. Sharma 2003, p. 270.
  77. ^ S. V. S. (1985). Raja Raja Chola, the high point of history. Authors Guild of India Madras Chapter. p. 54.
  78. ^ a b John E. Cort 1998, p. 178.
  79. ^ a b Norman Cutler 1987, p. 50.
  80. ^ a b Geeta Vasudevan 2003, pp. 109–110.
  81. ^ B. Natarajan. Tillai and Nataraja. Mudgala Trust, 1994. p. 212.
  82. ^ a b Kamil Zvelebil 1974, p. 191.
  83. ^ Geeta Vasudevan 2003, p. 46.
  84. ^ "Tamil Nadu – Thanjavur Periya Kovil – 1000 Years, Six Earthquakes, Still Standing Strong". Tamilnadu.com. 27 January 2014.[dead link]
  85. ^ South Indian Inscriptions – Vol II, Part I & II
  86. ^ John Keay 2000, p. xix.
  87. ^ "Endowments to the Temple". Archaeological Survey of India.
  88. ^ "Tanjavur Periya Kovil Tamil Nadu". Tamilnadu.com. 5 December 2012.
  89. ^ "About Chola temples". The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Retrieved 6 December 2015.[dead link]
  90. ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 185.
  91. ^ Antiquities of India: An Account of the History and Culture of Ancient Hindustan by Lionel D. Barnett p.216
  92. ^ Coins of India by C. J. Brown p.63
  93. ^ "Rajaraja inscriptions". varalaaru.com.
  94. ^ B. Lewis Rice 1905, p. 107.
  95. ^ South Indian Inscriptions: Tamil and Sanskrit. Vol. 9–10. Archaeological Survey of India. 1890. pp. 94–95.
  96. ^ Eugen Hultzsch 1890, p. 8.
  97. ^ S. R. Balasubrahmanyam; B. Natarajan; Balasubrahmanyan Ramachandran (1979). Later Chola Temples: Kulottunga I to Rajendra III (A.D. 1070–1280), Parts 1070–1280. Mudgala Trust. p. 149.
  98. ^ "Ponniyin Selvan: All About Jayam Ravi's Character Arun Mozhi Varman". moviecrow.com. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  99. ^ . The Hindu. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  100. ^ . The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  101. ^ . The Hindu. 17 January 2003. Archived from the original on 27 June 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2013.

Bibliography

  • A. K. Seshadri (1998). Sri Brihadisvara: The Great Temple of Thānjavūr. Nile.
  • B. Lewis Rice (1905). Epigraphia Carnatica. Vol. 10, Part I. Mysore Archaeological Survey.
  • Eugen Hultzsch (1890). South Indian inscriptions (1983 reprint). Archaeological Survey of India.
  • Geeta Vasudevan (2003). Royal Temple of Rajaraja: An Instrument of Imperial Chola Power. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 0-00-638784-5.
  • John E. Cort (1998). Open boundaries: Jain communities and culture in Indian history. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-3786-5.
  • John Keay (2000). India, a History. London: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-00-638784-5.
  • K. A. N. Sastri (1984) [1935]. The Cholas. Madras: University of Madras.
  • K. A. N. Sastri (1992). "The Cōḷas". In R. S. Sharma; K. M. Shrimali (eds.). A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206. People's Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7007-121-1.
  • K. A. N. Sastri (2000) [1955]. A History of South India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-560686-8.
  • Kamil Zvelebil (1974). A History of Indian literature. Vol. 10 (Tamil Literature). Otto Harrasowitz. ISBN 3-447-01582-9.
  • Milo Kearney (2003). The Indian Ocean in World History. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-31277-9.
  • M. G. S. Narayanan (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy. Kerala: CosmoBooks. ISBN 978-81-88765-07-2.
  • Norman Cutler (1987). Songs of experience: the poetics of Tamil devotion. USA: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication-Data. ISBN 0-253-35334-3.
  • R. Rajalakshmi (1983). Tamil Polity, c. A.D. 600-c. A.D. 1300. Ennes.
  • R. Nagaswamy (2010). Brhadisvara Temple: Form and Meaning. Aryan Books International. ASIN 817305388X.
  • R. S. Sharma (2003). Early Medieval Indian Society. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-2523-8.
  • S.R. Balasubrahmanyam (1977). Middle Chola Temples: Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I. Oriental. ISBN 9789060236079.
  • T. S. Subramanian (27 November 2009). "Unearthed stone ends debate". The Hindu.
  • V. Ramamurthy (1986). N. Mahalingam (ed.). History of Kongu. ISIAC.
  • Vidya Dehejia (2009). The Body Adorned: Sacred and Profane in Indian Art. Columbia University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-231-51266-4.
  • Vidya Dehejia (1990). Art of the Imperial Cholas. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-51524-5.

External links

  •   Media related to Rajaraja I at Wikimedia Commons
Preceded by Rajaraja I
985–1014
Succeeded by

rajaraja, 1014, born, arunmozhi, varman, arulmozhi, varman, often, described, rajaraja, great, chola, emperor, reigned, from, 1014, most, powerful, tamil, king, south, india, during, reign, remembered, reinstating, chola, influence, ensuring, supremacy, across. Rajaraja I 947 CE 1014 CE born Arunmozhi Varman or Arulmozhi Varman 1 2 and often described as Rajaraja the Great was a Chola emperor who reigned from 985 CE to 1014 CE He was the most powerful Tamil king in South India during his reign and is remembered for reinstating the Chola influence and ensuring its supremacy across the Indian Ocean 3 4 Rajaraja IRajakesari Mummuṭi Cōḻan 1 sivapathasekaran thelungu kulakaalan thaila kula kaalan Pandiya kula sani keralandhagan singalandhaganA Mural of Rajaraja I at Brihadisvara Temple citation needed Chola EmperorReignc 985 c 1014PredecessorUttama CholaSuccessorRajendra Iking of Anuradhapura King of PolonnaruwaReignc 992 c 1014PredecessorMahinda VSuccessorRajendra IBornArunmozhi Varmanc 947 Thanjavur Chola Empire modern day Tamil Nadu India Died1014 1014 00 00 aged 66 67 Thanjavur Chola Empire modern day Tamil Nadu India QueensThiripuvana Madeviyar Lokamahadevi Cholamahadevi Trailokyamahadevi Panchavanmahadevi Abhimanavalli Latamahadevi PrithivimahadeviIssueRajendra Chola IAraiyan RajarajanArulmozhi chandramalli alias GangamadeviMathevadigal citation needed Kundavai Daughter DynastyCholaFatherParantaka IIMotherVanavan MahadeviReligionHinduismSee detailsSignatureHis extensive empire included vast regions of the Pandya country the Chera country and northern Sri Lanka He also acquired Lakshadweep and Thiladhunmadulu atoll and part of the northern most islands of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean Campaigns against the Western Gangas and the Chalukyas extended the Chola authority as far as the Tungabhadra River On the eastern coast he battled with the Chalukyas for the possession of Vengi 5 6 7 8 Rajaraja I being an able administrator also built the great Rajarajeshwaram Temple at the Chola capital Thanjavur 9 The temple is regarded as the foremost of all temples constructed in the medieval south Indian architectural style During his reign the texts of the Tamil poets Appar Sambandar and Sundarar were collected and edited into one compilation called Thirumurai 6 10 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 11 12 Rajaraja died in 1014 CE and was succeeded by his son Rajendra Chola I Contents 1 Early life 2 Military conquests 2 1 Against Kandalur Salai 2 2 Conquest of Kerala and the Pandyas 2 3 Conquest of Sri Lanka 2 4 Chalukyan conflict 2 5 Hoysala conflicts 2 6 Kalinga conquest 2 7 Conquest of Kuda malai nadu 2 8 Naval expedition 3 Personal life 4 Administration 5 Officials 6 Religious policy 7 Arts and architecture 7 1 Brihadisvara Temple 8 Coins 9 Inscriptions 10 In popular culture 11 See also 12 References 13 Bibliography 14 External linksEarly lifeRajaraja was a son of the Chola king Parantaka II alias Sundara and queen Vanavan Mahadevi 13 According to the Thiruvalangadu copper plate inscription his birth name was Arulmoḻi also transliterated as Arulmozhi Varman literally blessed tongued 1 14 He was born around 947 CE in the Aipassi month on the day of Sadhayam star 15 He had an elder brother Aditya II 2 and an elder sister Kundavai 16 Rajaraja s ascension ended a period of rival claims to the throne following the death of his great grandfather Parantaka I After Parantaka I his elder son Gandaraditya ascended the throne At the time of Gandaraditya death 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 2 Rajaraja s elder brother died before him and after the death of Uttama Rajaraja ascended the throne in June July 985 2 Known as Arumoḷi Varman until this point he adopted the regnal name Rajaraja which literally means King among Kings 17 Military conquests Chola empire during the reign of Rajaraja I Rajaraja inherited a kingdom whose boundaries were limited to the traditional Chola territory centred around Thanjavur Tiruchirappalli region 1 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 2 A number of regiments are mentioned in the Thanjavur inscriptions 18 19 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 18 Against Kandalur Salai Main article Battle of Kandalur Salai Rajaraja s earliest inscriptions celebrate a major victory at Kandalur Salai in present day Kerala in c 988 CE calling him Kandalur salai Kalam arutta the one who destroyed Kandalur Salai 20 The Salai originally belonged to the Ay chief a vassal of the Pandya king at Madurai Involvement of either Chera or Pandya warriors in this battle remains uncertain The Thiruvalangadu inscription mentions that Rajaraja s general captured Vizhinjam Viḷinam this conquest may have been a part of the Kandalur Salai campaign The engagement seems to have been an effort of the Chola navy or a combined effort of the navy and the army 21 Conquest of Kerala and the Pandyas Rajaraja s inscriptions start to appear in Kanyakumari district in the 990s and in Trivandrum district in early 1000s The Chola subjugation of Kerala can be dated to the early years of the 11th century 21 The Senur inscription 1005 CE of Rajaraja states that he destroyed the Pandya capital Madurai conquered the haughty kings of Kollam Venad Kolla desham Mushika and Kodungallur the Chera Perumal 21 22 Some of these victories in Malainadu were perhaps won by prince Rajendra Chola for his father 8 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 royal Amarabhujanga 24 Identification of this prince either a Pandya prince or a general of the Pandya king or a Kongu Chera prince remains unresolved 8 24 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 ancient Tamil countries of the Cholas the Pandyas and the Cheras 1 Conquest of Sri Lanka Main article Chola conquest of Anuradhapura In 993 Rajaraja invaded Sri Lanka which is called Ila mandalam in the Chola records 22 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 25 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 25 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 25 Comparing Rajaraja s campaign to the invasion of Lanka by the legendary hero Rama the Thiruvalangadu Plates states 1 Rama built with the aid of monkeys a causeway across the sea and then with great difficulties defeated the king of Lanka by means of sharp edged arrows But Rama was excelled by this king whose powerful army crossed the ocean by ships and burnt up the king of Lanka Thiruvalangadu Copper Plates 1 In 1017 Rajaraja s son Rajendra I completed the Chola conquest of Sri Lanka 26 The Cholas controlled Sri Lanka until 1070 when Vijayabahu I defeated and expelled them 27 Chalukyan conflict In 998 CE Rajaraja captured the regions of Gangapadi Nolambapadi and Tadigaipadi present day Karnataka 28 Raja Chola extinguished the Nolambas who were the feudatories of Ganga while conquering and annexing Nolambapadi 29 The conquered provinces were originally feudatories of the Rashtrakutas 30 31 In 973 CE the Rashtrakutas were defeated by the Western Chalukyas leading to direct conflict with Cholas 32 An inscription of Irivabedanga Satyashraya from Dharwar describes him as a vassal of the Western Chalukyas and acknowledges the Chola onslaught 33 In the same inscription he accuses Rajendra of having arrived with a force of 955 000 and of having gone on rampage in Donuwara thereby blurring the moralities of war as laid out in the Dharmasastras 34 Historians like James Heitzman and 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 drawing a parallel between the enmity between the Chalukyas of Badami and the Pallavas of Kanchi 35 36 Coinage of Chola King Rajaraja I 985 1014 CE Uncertain Tamilnadu mint Legend Chola conqueror of the Gangas in Tamil seated tiger with two fish By 1004 CE the Gangavadi province was conquered by Rajaraja 37 The Changalvas who ruled over the western part of the Gangavadi province and the Kongalvas who ruled over Kodagu were turned into vassals 38 The Chola general Panchavan Maraya who defeated the Changalvas in the battle of Ponnasoge and distinguished himself in this affair was rewarded with Arkalgud Yelusuvira 7000 territory and the title Kshatriyasikhamani 39 The Kongalvas for the heroism of Manya were rewarded with the estate of Malambi Coorg and the title Kshatriyasikhamani 38 Vengi kingdom was ruled by Jata Choda Bhima of the Eastern Chalukyas dynasty 32 Jata Choda Bhima was defeated by Rajaraja and Saktivarman was placed on the throne of Vengi as a viceroy of the Chola Dynasty 32 40 After the withdrawal of the Chola army Bhima captured Kanchi in 1001 CE Rajaraja expelled and killed the Andhra king called Bhima before re establishing Saktivarman I on the throne of Vengi again 41 Rajaraja gave his daughter Kundavai in marriage to his next viceroy of Vengi Vimaladitya which brought about the union of the Chola Dynasty and the Eastern Chalukya Kingdom and which also ensured that the descendants of Rajaraja would rule the Eastern Chalukya kingdom in the future 40 Hoysala conflicts There were encounters between the Cholas and the Hoysalas who were vassals of the Western Chalukyas An inscription from the Gopalakrishna temple at Narasipur dated to 1006 records that Rajaraja s general Aprameya killed minister Naganna and other generals of the Hoysalas 42 A similar inscription in Channapatna also describes Rajaraja defeating the Hoysalas 43 Statue of Rajaraja Tamil Nadu 20th century Kalinga conquest This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it December 2015 The invasion of the kingdom of Kalinga occurred after the conquest of Vengi 44 Conquest of Kuda malai nadu There are multiple references to the conquest of Kuda malai nadu by king Rajaraja from c 1000 CE onwards 8 45 The term Kudagu malai nadu is substituted in place of Kuda malai nadu in some of the inscriptions found in Karnataka and this region has been generally identified with Coorg Kudagu 8 46 It is said that the king conquered Malainadu for the sake of messengers in one day after crossing 18 mountain passes Vikrama Chola Ula 8 Kulottunga Chola Ula makes reference to Rajaraja cutting off 18 heads and setting fire to Udagai 21 Kalingathupparani mentions the institution of Chadaya Nalvizha in Udiyar Mandalam the capture of Udagai and the plunder of several elephants from there 8 Tiruppalanam inscription 999 CE mentions the gift of an idol by king from the booty obtained in Malainadu 8 47 48 49 Naval expedition A naval campaign led to the conquest of the Maldive Islands the Malabar Coast and northern Sri Lanka all of which were essential to the Chola control over trade with Southeast Asia and with Arabia and eastern Africa These were the transit areas ports of call for the Arab traders and ships to Southeast Asia and China which were the source of the valuable spices sold at a high profit to Europe Romila Thapar Encyclopaedia Britannica One of the last conquests of Rajaraja was the naval conquest of the islands of Maldives the Ancient Islands of the Sea Numbering 1200 50 8 The naval campaign was a demonstration of the Chola naval power in the Indian Ocean 8 The Cholas controlled the area around of Bay of Bengal with Nagapattinam as the main port The Chola Navy also had played a major role in the invasion of Sri Lanka 51 The success of Rajaraja allowed his son Rajendra Chola to lead the Chola invasion of Srivijaya carrying out naval raids in South East Asia and briefly occupying Kadaram 5 52 Personal lifeRajaraja married a number of women some of whom were Vanavan Madevi aka Thiripuvana Madeviyar Dantisakti Vitanki aka Lokamadevi Panchavan Madeviyar Chola Mahadevi Trailokya Mahadevi Lata Mahadevi Prithvi Mahadevi Meenavan Mahadevi Viranarayani and Villavan Mahadevi 53 54 55 56 He had at least three daughters He had two sons elder one is Rajendra with Thiripuvana Madeviyar 57 58 59 and younger one is Araiyan Rajarajan Mother unknown He had his first daughter Kundavai with Lokamadevi Kundavai married Chalukya prince Vimaladithan He had two other daughters named Mathevadigal citation needed and Gangamadevi or Arumozhi Chandramalli 56 Rajaraja died in 1014 CE in the Tamil month of Maka and was succeeded by Rajendra Chola I 60 Administration Mural depicting Rajaraja and his guru Karuvuruvar found in the Brihadisvara temple Tamil Nadu 11th century 61 62 Before the reign of Rajaraja I parts of the Chola territory were ruled by hereditary lords and princes who were in a loose alliance with the Chola rulers 63 Rajaraja initiated a project of land survey and assessment in 1000 CE which led to the reorganization of the empire into units known as valanadus 11 12 From the reign of Rajaraja I until the reign of Vikrama Chola in 1133 CE the hereditary lords and local princes were either replaced or turned into dependent officials 63 This led to the king exercising a closer control over the different parts of the empire 63 Rajaraja strengthened the local self government and installed a system of audit and control by which the village assemblies and other public bodies were held to account while retaining their autonomy 64 65 66 To promote trade he sent the first Chola mission to China 67 His elder sister Kundavai assisted him in administration and management of temples 68 OfficialsRajendra Chola I was made a co regent during the last years of Rajaraja s rule He was the supreme commander of the northern and north western dominions During the reign of Raja Chola there was an expansion of the administrative structure leading to the increase in the number of offices and officials in the Chola records than during earlier periods 11 Villavan Muvendavelan one of the top officials of Rajaraja figures in many of his inscriptions 69 The other names of officials found in the inscriptions are the Bana prince Narasimhavarman a general Senapathi Krishnan Raman the Samanta chief Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan the revenue official Irayiravan Pallavarayan and Kuruvan Ulagalandan who organised the country wide land surveys 70 Religious policyRajaraja was a follower of Shaivism sect of Hinduism but he also dedicated several temples to Vishnu In the 11th century CE the Chudamani Vihara a Buddhist monastery was built by the Sailendra king of Srivijaya Sri Mara Vijayattungavarman with the patronage of Raja Raja Chola in Nagapattinam 71 72 It was named Chudamani or Chulamani Vihara after king Sri Mara s father 73 As per the small Leyden grant this Vihara was called Rajaraja perumpalli during the time of Kulottunga I 74 Rajaraja dedicated the proceeds of the revenue from the village of Anaimangalam towards the upkeep of this Vihara 75 Rajaraja called himself Shivapada Shekhara IAST Sivapada Sekhara literally the one who places his crown at the feet of Shiva 76 Arts and architectureRajaraja embarked on a mission to recover the hymns after hearing short excerpts of Thevaram in his court 77 He sought the help of Nambi Andar Nambi 78 It is believed that by divine intervention Nambi found the presence of scripts in the form of cadijam leaves half eaten by white ants in a chamber inside the second precinct in Thillai Nataraja Temple Chidambaram 79 78 The brahmanas Dikshitars in the temple opposed the mission but Rajaraja intervened by consecrating the images of the saint poets through the streets of Chidambaram 79 80 Rajaraja thus became known as Tirumurai Kanda Cholan meaning one who saved the Tirumurai In his work Nambiyandar Nambi Puranam alias Tirumurai Kanda Puranam Nambi identifies his patron as Rasarasamannan Abhayakula sekharan that is king Rajaraja the best of the race of Abhaya 81 Thus far Shiva temples only had images of god forms but after the advent of Rajaraja the images of the Nayanar saints were also placed inside the temple 80 Nambi arranged the hymns of three saint poets Sambandar Appar and Sundarar as the first seven books Manickavasagar s Tirukovayar and Tiruvacakam as the 8th book the 28 hymns of nine other saints as the 9th book the Tirumandiram of Tirumular as the 10th book 40 hymns by 12 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 82 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 is wholly known as Tirumurai the holy book Thus Saiva literature which covers about 600 years of religious philosophical and literary development 82 No contemporary portrait or statue of Rajaraja survives the bronze figure depicting Rajaraja at the Thanjavur temple is spurious and of late origin 22 Brihadisvara Temple Brihadisvara Temple built by Rajaraja I a UNESCO World Heritage Site Main article Brihadisvara Temple Thanjavur In 1010 CE Rajaraja built the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur dedicated to Lord Shiva The temple and the capital acted as a center of both religious and economic activity 83 It is also known as Periya Kovil RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram 84 85 It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola period 86 The temple turned 1000 years old in 2010 87 The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Great Living Chola Temples with the other two being the Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple 88 The vimanam temple tower is 216 ft 66 m high and is the tallest in the world The Kumbam the apex or the bulbous structure on the top of the temple is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 80 tons 89 There is a big statue of Nandi sacred bull carved out of a single rock measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high at the entrance The entire temple structure is made out of granite the nearest sources of which are about 60 km to the west of temple The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu 90 CoinsBefore the reign of Rajaraja the Chola coins had on the obverse the tiger emblem and the fish and bow emblems of the Pandya and Chera Dynasties and on the reverse the name of the King But during the reign of Rajaraja appeared a new type of coins The new coins had on the obverse the figure of the standing king and on the reverse the seated goddess 91 The coins spread over a great part of South India and were also copied by the kings of Sri Lanka 92 Inscriptions A typical lithic inscription of the Chola period Due to Rajaraja s desire to record his military achievements he recorded the important events of his life in stones An inscription in Tamil from Mulbagal in Karnataka shows his accomplishments as early as the 19th year An excerpt from such a Meikeerthi an inscription recording great accomplishments follows 93 Hail Prosperity In the 21st year of the reign of the illustrious Ko Raja Rajakesari Varma alias the illustrious Rajaraja Deva who while both the goddess of fortune and the great goddess of the earth who had become his exclusive property gave him pleasure was pleased to destroy the kalam at Kandalur and conquered by his army which was victorious in great battles Vengai nadu Ganga padi Nulamba padi Tadigai padi Kudamalai nadu Kollam Kalingam and Ira mandalam which is famed in the eight directions who while his beauty was increasing and while he was resplendent to such an extent that he was always worthy to be worshipped deprived the Seriyas of their splendour and in words in the twenty first year of Chola Arumoli who possesses the river Ponni whose waters are full of waves 94 95 ஸ வஸ த ஸ ர த ர மகள ப ல ப ர ந ல ப ர ந லச ச ல வ ய ந தனக க ய ர ம க ய ர ம ப ண டம மனக க ளக க ந தள ர ச ச ல க களமற த தர ள வ ங க உட ய ர ஸ ர ர ஜர ஜExcerpts of Rajaraja s inscription from Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur first line in every image Rajaraja recorded all the grants made to the Thanjavur temple and his achievements He also preserved the records of his predecessors An inscription of his reign found at Tirumalavadi 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 96 Another inscription from Gramardhanathesvara temple in South Arcot district dated in the seventh year of the king refers to the fifteenth year of his predecessor that is Uttama Choladeva described therein as the son of Sembiyan Madeviyar 97 In popular culturePonniyin Selvan I a 2022 film based on Kalki Krishnamurthy s 1955 novelPonniyin Selvan Raja Raja Cholan Arunmozhi Varman role is played by the Tamil cinema actor Jayam Ravi 98 Rajaraja Cholan a 1973 Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan 99 Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki revolves around the life of Rajaraja the mysteries surrounding the assassination of Aditya Karikalan and the subsequent accession of Uttama to the Chola throne 100 Nandipurathu Nayagi by Vembu Vikiraman revolves around the ascension of Uttama Chola to the throne and Rajaraja s naval expedition Rajaraja Cholan by Kathal Ramanathan Kandalur Vasantha Kumaran Kathai by Sujatha which deal with the situations leading Rajaraja to invade Kandalur Rajakesari and Cherar Kottai by Gokul Seshadri deal with the Kandalur invasion and its after effects Bharat Ek Khoj a 1988 historical drama in its episodes 22 and 23 portrays Raj Raja Chola 101 Kaviri Mainthan a 2007 novel by Anusha Venkatesh Udayaar a book by Tamil author Balakumaran which deals with RajaRaja s later years and Rajendra Chola I s ascension See alsoList of Tamil monarchsReferences a b c d e f g Vidya Dehejia 1990 p 51 a b c d e K A N Sastri 1992 p 1 Charles Hubert Biddulph 1964 Coins of the Cholas Numismatic Society of India p 34 John Man 1999 Atlas of the year 1000 Harvard University Press p 104 ISBN 978 0 674 54187 0 a b Sen Sailendra 2013 A Textbook of Medieval Indian History Primus Books pp 46 49 ISBN 978 9 38060 734 4 a b A Journey through India s Past by Chandra Mauli Mani p 51 Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture by John Bowman p 264 a b c d e f g h i j M G S Narayanan 2013 p 115 117 The Hindus An Alternative History by Wendy Doniger p 347 Indian Thought A Critical Survey by K Damodaran p 246 a b c A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th century by Upinder Singh p 590 a b Administrative System in India Vedic Age to 1947 by U B Singh p 76 Vidya Dehejia 2009 p 42 A K Seshadri 1988 p 31 sfn error no target CITEREFA K Seshadri1988 help Tamil Civilization Quarterly Research Journal of the Tamil University Vol 3 Tamil University 1985 pp 40 41 A K Seshadri 1998 p 32 Vidya Dehejia 1990 p 49 a b Seshachandrika a compendium of Dr M Seshadri s works p 265 Literary Genetics with Comparative Perspectives by Katir Makatevan p 25 S R Balasubrahmanyam 1977 p 3 a b c d M G S Narayanan 2013 p 115 118 a b c K A N Sastri 1992 p 2 K A N Sastri 1992 p 238 a b c V Ramamurthy 1986 pp 288 289 a b c K A N Sastri 1992 p 3 K A N Sastri 1992 pp 10 11 K A N Sastri 1992 p 36 Tamilian Antiquary 1907 1914 12 Vols by Pandit D Savariroyan p 30 Seminar on Social and Cultural History of Dharmapuri district p 46 Mohan Lal Nigam 1975 Sculptural Heritage of Andhradesa Sculptural Heritage of Andhradesa p 17 M S Krishna Murthy 1980 The Noḷambas a political and cultural study c750 to 1050 A D University of Mysore p 98 a b c Ancient Indian History and Civilization by Sailendra Nath Sen p 398 Epigraphia Indica Volume 16 page 74 Studying early India archaeology texts and historical issues page 198 The world in the year 1000 page 311 History of India a new approach by Kittu Reddy p 146 Malini Adiga The Making of Southern Karnataka Society Polity and Culture in the Early Medieval Period Orient BlackSwan 2006 p 239 a b Baij Nath Puri History of Indian Administration Medieval period Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 1975 p 51 Ali B Sheik History of the Western Gangas Volume 1 Prasaranga University of Mysore 1976 p 160 a b Gazetteer of the Nellore District Brought Up to 1938 by Government of Madras Staff Government of Madras p 38 Ramesh Chandra Majumdar 1951 The History and Culture of the Indian People The age of imperial Kanauj Ramesh Chandra Majumdar p 154 Epigraphia Indica Volume 30 page 248 Proceedings of the Indian History Congress Volume 21 page 200 Smith Vincent Arthur 1904 The Early History of India The Clarendon press pp 336 358 ISBN 9788171566181 Chandra Mauli Mani A Journey through India s Past Great Hindu Kings after Harshavardhana Northern Book Centre 2009 India 132 pages p 51 Epigraphia Indica Volume 22 Archaeological Survey of India 1935 p 225 South Indian Inscriptions Tamil inscriptions of Rajaraja Rajendra Chola and others in the Rajarajesvara Temple at Tanjavur Archaeological Survey of India 1983 p 3 Gandhi Jee Roy Diplomacy in ancient India Janaki Prakashan 1981 History 234 pages p 129 Gayatri Chakraborty Espionage in Ancient India From the Earliest Time to 12th Century A D Minerva Associates 1990 Political Science 153 pages p 120 John Keay 2000 p 215 Rajaraja is supposed to have conquered twelve thousand old islands a phrase meant to indicate the Maldives Milo Kearney 2003 p 70 Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia by Hermann Kulke K Kesavapany Vijay Sakhuja p 230 S R Balasubrahmanyam 1977 p 6 Documentation on Women Children and Human Rights Sandarbhini Library and Documentation Centre 1994 Studies in Indian place names Place Names Society of India 1954 p 58 a b Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy Archaeological Survey of India 1995 p 7 P V Jagadisa Ayyar 1982 South Indian Shrines Illustrated Asian Educational Services p 264 ISBN 9788120601512 Early Chola art page 183 A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States Thanjavur District page 180 Raja Raja the great Ananthacharya Indological Research Institute 1987 p 28 Edith Tomory 1982 A History of Fine Arts in India and the West Orient Longman p 246 ISBN 978 0 86131 321 1 Rakesh Kumar 2007 Encyclopaedia of Indian paintings Anmol Publications p 4 ISBN 9788126131228 a b c Precolonial India in Practice Society Region and Identity in Medieval Andhra by Austin Cynthia Talbot Assistant Professor of History and Asian Studies University of Texas p 172 Life Death Rhythms of Ancient Empires Climatic Cycles Influence Rule of Dynasties by Will Slatyer p 236 The First Spring The Golden Age of India by Abraham Eraly p 68 Geeta Vasudevan 2003 pp 62 63 Tamil Nadu a real history by K Rajayyan p 112 Ancient system of oriental medicine page 96 South Indian inscriptions India Archaeological Survey India Dept of Archaeology p 477 South India heritage an introduction by Prema Kasturi Chithra Madhavan p 96 Kulke K amp Sakhuja 2009 p 67 sfn error no target CITEREFKulkeK Sakhuja2009 help deepak s Indian civilization deepak shinde 2016 p 169 C E Ramachandran K V Raman Indian History and Culture Society Aspects of Indian history and culture Books amp Books 1984 p 11 S R Balasubrahmanyam Middle Chola Temples Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I A D 985 1070 Thomson Press India 1975 pp 115 116 Tamilian Antiquary 1907 1914 12 Vols by Pandit D Savariroyan p 33 R S Sharma 2003 p 270 S V S 1985 Raja Raja Chola the high point of history Authors Guild of India Madras Chapter p 54 a b John E Cort 1998 p 178 a b Norman Cutler 1987 p 50 a b Geeta Vasudevan 2003 pp 109 110 B Natarajan Tillai and Nataraja Mudgala Trust 1994 p 212 a b Kamil Zvelebil 1974 p 191 Geeta Vasudevan 2003 p 46 Tamil Nadu Thanjavur Periya Kovil 1000 Years Six Earthquakes Still Standing Strong Tamilnadu com 27 January 2014 dead link South Indian Inscriptions Vol II Part I amp II John Keay 2000 p xix Endowments to the Temple Archaeological Survey of India Tanjavur Periya Kovil Tamil Nadu Tamilnadu com 5 December 2012 About Chola temples The Archaeological Survey of India ASI Retrieved 6 December 2015 dead link Gopal Madan 1990 K S Gautam ed India through the ages Publication Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India p 185 Antiquities of India An Account of the History and Culture of Ancient Hindustan by Lionel D Barnett p 216 Coins of India by C J Brown p 63 Rajaraja inscriptions varalaaru com B Lewis Rice 1905 p 107 South Indian Inscriptions Tamil and Sanskrit Vol 9 10 Archaeological Survey of India 1890 pp 94 95 Eugen Hultzsch 1890 p 8 S R Balasubrahmanyam B Natarajan Balasubrahmanyan Ramachandran 1979 Later Chola Temples Kulottunga I to Rajendra III A D 1070 1280 Parts 1070 1280 Mudgala Trust p 149 Ponniyin Selvan All About Jayam Ravi s Character Arun Mozhi Varman moviecrow com Retrieved 9 October 2022 Cine Quiz The Hindu 26 September 2008 Archived from the original on 27 September 2008 Retrieved 9 July 2011 Mani is likely to drop Ponniyin Selvan The Times of India Archived from the original on 16 June 2013 Retrieved 11 February 2013 What makes Shyam special The Hindu 17 January 2003 Archived from the original on 27 June 2003 Retrieved 6 June 2013 BibliographyA K Seshadri 1998 Sri Brihadisvara The Great Temple of Thanjavur Nile B Lewis Rice 1905 Epigraphia Carnatica Vol 10 Part I Mysore Archaeological Survey Eugen Hultzsch 1890 South Indian inscriptions 1983 reprint Archaeological Survey of India Geeta Vasudevan 2003 Royal Temple of Rajaraja An Instrument of Imperial Chola Power Abhinav Publications ISBN 0 00 638784 5 John E Cort 1998 Open boundaries Jain communities and culture in Indian history Albany State University of New York Press ISBN 978 0 7914 3786 5 John Keay 2000 India a History London Harper Collins Publishers ISBN 0 00 638784 5 K A N Sastri 1984 1935 The Cholas Madras University of Madras K A N Sastri 1992 The Cōḷas In R S Sharma K M Shrimali eds A Comprehensive history of India A D 985 1206 People s Publishing House ISBN 978 81 7007 121 1 K A N Sastri 2000 1955 A History of South India New Delhi Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 560686 8 Kamil Zvelebil 1974 A History of Indian literature Vol 10 Tamil Literature Otto Harrasowitz ISBN 3 447 01582 9 Milo Kearney 2003 The Indian Ocean in World History Routledge ISBN 0 415 31277 9 M G S Narayanan 2013 1972 Perumals of Kerala Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy Kerala CosmoBooks ISBN 978 81 88765 07 2 Norman Cutler 1987 Songs of experience the poetics of Tamil devotion USA Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data ISBN 0 253 35334 3 R Rajalakshmi 1983 Tamil Polity c A D 600 c A D 1300 Ennes R Nagaswamy 2010 Brhadisvara Temple Form and Meaning Aryan Books International ASIN 817305388X R S Sharma 2003 Early Medieval Indian Society Orient Blackswan ISBN 978 81 250 2523 8 S R Balasubrahmanyam 1977 Middle Chola Temples Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I Oriental ISBN 9789060236079 T S Subramanian 27 November 2009 Unearthed stone ends debate The Hindu V Ramamurthy 1986 N Mahalingam ed History of Kongu ISIAC Vidya Dehejia 2009 The Body Adorned Sacred and Profane in Indian Art Columbia University Press p 42 ISBN 978 0 231 51266 4 Vidya Dehejia 1990 Art of the Imperial Cholas Columbia University Press ISBN 978 0 231 51524 5 External links Media related to Rajaraja I at Wikimedia CommonsPreceded byUttama Chola Rajaraja I985 1014 Succeeded byRajendra Chola I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rajaraja I amp oldid 1130818496, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.