Cholas (Rajaraja Chola)

Rajaraja, the Great

Portrait of Rajaraja I.

Source: Wikipedia

Rajaraja I also known as Rajaraja the Great, was a Chola emperor who reigned from 985 to 1014. He was known for his conquests of southern India and of Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka), as well as increasing Chola influence across the ocean.

His early titles were Rajakesari, Arumoli and Mummadi Chola. The inscriptions of Rajaraja range from his second to the thirty-first regnal years.

The Tanjore inscription of Rajaraja mentions his war-like achievements. To quote, "He was pleased to destroy the ships at Kandallupur Salai, and conquered by his army, which was victorious in great battles, Vengainadu, Gangapadi, Tadigaipadi, Nolambapadi, Kudamalainadu, Kollam, Kalingam, llamandalam which was country of Singalas who possessed rough strength, the seven and a half lakh has of Irattapadi and 'twelve thousand ancient islands of the sea', deprived the Selliyas of their splendour at the very moment when they were resplendent to such a degree that they were worthy to be worshipped everywhere.

Rajaraja I also left a major mark through his architectural and cultural achievements. He commissioned the construction of the Rajarajeshwaram Temple in the Chola capital of Thanjavur, revered as one of the most prominent examples of the medieval South Indian architectural style. Additionally, during his reign, important Tamil literary works by poets such as Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar were gathered and compiled into a single collection known as the Thirumurai. This earned him the title of 'Thirumurai Kanda Cholar,' meaning The One Who Found Thirumurai. Rajaraja died in 1014, and was succeeded by his son Rajendra Chola I.

Early Life of Rajaraja Chola

Rajaraja Chola with his teacher

Source:- History Archieves

Rajaraja was the son of the Chola king Parantaka II, As described in the Thiruvalangadu copper-plate inscription, he was born around 947 during the Tamil month of Aipassi. The Government of Tamil Nadu recognises his birthdate as 3 November 947. Rajaraja had an elder brother, Aditya II,and an elder sister, Kundavai.

Rajaraja's accession marked the end of a period of throne claims to the Chola empire, following his great-grandfather Parantaka I's reign. Thiruvalangadu inscription of Rajaraja's son, Rajendra I, the succession plan may have been made by Rajaraja himself.

Military Campaigns of Rajaraja

When Rajaraja came into power, he inherited a  kingdom centered around the Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli region, which were the main centres of traditional Chola territory. He transformed this kingdom from one that was recovering from attacks by the Rashtrakuta Empire into one that was a well-organised empire with a powerful army and navy. Under his rule, the northern kingdom of Vengi became closely allied with the Cholas, and their influence expanded along the eastern coast all the way up to Kalinga in the north.

Conquest of Kerala and the Pandyas

Rajaraja's inscriptions can be seen in  Kanyakumari district of 990s and in Thiruvananthapuram district in the early 1000s. The Chola annaxtion of Kerala can be dated to the early years of the 11th century. The Senur inscription dated to 1005, attributed to Rajaraja, records his military achievements. It mentions the destruction of the Pandya capital, Madurai, as well as the conquest of several regions. These include defeating the formidable rulers of Kollam (Venad), Kolla-desham (Mushika), and Kodungallur (the Chera Perumals of Makotai).

Following his victory over the Pandyas, Rajaraja assumed the title of Pandya Kulashani, which translates to 'Thunderbolt to the Race of the Pandyas.' As a result of his conquest, the territory of the Pandyas became recognised as "Rajaraja Mandalam" or "Rajaraja Pandinadu.". When we study about the Rajaraja's military expedition in Trisanku Kastha (the southern region), the Thiruvalangadu Grant of Rajendra I mentions the capture of a certain royal figure named Amarabhujanga, in specific prince of the Pandya dynasty, a general serving the Pandya king, or a prince of the Kongu Chera dynasty. 

Once Rajaraja had consolidated his authority in the southern regions, he took on the title of Mummudi Chola. This title, which means "three Crowned," symbolised his power over three important Tamil kingdoms: the Cholas, the Pandyas, and the Cheras.

Conquest of Northern Sri Lanka(Ceylon)

In 993, Rajaraja achieved the conquest of Anuradhapura, known as Pihiti rata in local context, situated in Sri Lanka. This territory was subsequently designated as Ila-mandalam in Chola historical records. The military campaign led to the sacking of Anuradhapura by the Chola army, resulting in the capturation of the northern portion of Sri Lanka by the Chola empire. As part of their administrative efforts, the Cholas established a provincial capital at the strategic military outpost of Polonnaruwa, renaming it Jananathamangalam in honour of Rajaraja's title.

Under Chola administration, the official Tali Kumaran oversaw the construction of a significant Shiva temple known as Rajarajeshwara, meaning "Lord of Rajaraja," within the town of Mahatirtha, now recognised as modern-day Mantota. Consequently, Mahatirtha was renamed Rajarajapura in commemoration of the Chola monarch's conquest and establishment of authority in the region.

Chalukya invasions

In 998, Rajaraja annexed Gangapadi, Nolambapadi, and Tadigaipadi (present-day Karnataka). During this campaign, the Cholas found themselves in direct conflict with the Chalukyas.

An inscription attributed to Irivabedanga Satyashraya from Dharwar acknowledges his allegiance to the Western Chalukyas and highlights the Chola incursion. He describes Rajendra Chola of leading a massive force of 955,000 soldiers. 

By 1004, Rajaraja had conquered the Gangavadi province. He established control over the western part of Gangavadi, ruled by the Changalvas, and over Kodagu, governed by the Kongalvas, who were then made vassals of the Chola Empire.

Meanwhile, the Vengi kingdom was under the rule of Jata Choda Bhima, a member of the Eastern Chalukyas Dynasty. However, Rajaraja emerged victorious in battle against Bhima, and Saktivarman was appointed as a viceroy under the Chola Dynasty. Despite a brief period of Bhima's recapture of Kanchi in 1001, Rajaraja swiftly restored Saktivarman to power. Notably, Rajaraja cemented an alliance between the Chola Dynasty and the Eastern Chalukya kingdom by arranging the marriage of his daughter, Kundavai, to the next viceroy of Vengi, Vimaladitya. This strategic union ensured the future succession of Rajaraja's descendants to the throne of the eastern Chalukya kingdom.

Narasipur, dated to 1006, records that Rajaraja's general Aprameya killed Hoysala generals and a minister identified as Naganna. Additionally, a similar inscription in Channapatna describes Rajaraja defeating the Hoysalas.

Administration of Cholas

Before the reign of Rajaraja I, lands of the Chola territory were ruled by Big landlords and princes who were in a loose alliance with the Chola rulers. Rajaraja initiated a project of land survey and assessment in 1000 which led to the reorganisation of the empire into units known as valanadus. From the reign of Rajaraja I until the reign of Vikrama Chola in 1133, the hereditary lords and local princes were either replaced or turned into dependent officials. This led to the king exercising closer control over the different parts of the empire. 

Rajaraja strengthened the local self-governments 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. To promote trade, he sent the first Chola mission to China. Furthermore, his elder sister Kundavai assisted him in the administration and management of temples.

Art and Architecture of Cholas

Rajaraja embarked on a mission to recover the hymns after hearing short excerpts of Tevaram in his court. He sought the help of Nambiyandar Nambi. 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. 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. Rajaraja thus became 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. At that time, 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. Nambi organised the hymns of three saint poets—Sambandar, Appar, and Sundarar—as the first seven books. He included Manickavasagar's "Tirukovayar" and "Tiruvacakam" as the 8th book, and the hymns of nine other saints as the 9th book. The "Tirumandiram" of Tirumular was designated as the 10th book, while 40 hymns by 12 other poets constituted the 11th book. The initial seven books were later recognised as Tevaram.[ With the addition of Sekkizhar's Periya Puranam (1135) as the twelfth book, the entire Saiva canon became known as Tirumurai, the holy scripture. Consequently, Saiva literature now encompasses approximately 600 years of religious, philosophical, and literary development.

There are no existing contemporary portraits or statues of Rajaraja. The bronze figure purportedly depicting him at the Thanjavur temple is spurious and of recent origin.

Brihadisvara Temple

Source:- Pinterest

During 1010, Rajaraja built the Peruvudaiyar Temple in Thanjavur and dedicated it to Shiva. The temple, also known as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram, and the capital were centres of both religious and economic activity. The temple is consideted as one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture of the Chola period. Along with Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple, Peruvudaiyar temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples".