Chola Dynasty of India

The Chola dynasty was an empire in the South India of Tamil rulers. It originated in the Kaveri river valley. Uraiyur was its oldest capital.

The connection of the Cholas with the Uraiyur family was through legendary King Karikan. This dynasty was one of the best in the during the Sangam period.

It stretched from the Vaigai river in the south to Tondaimandalam in the north. 

 

 

Most of the Tamil literature and monuments belong to this time. The history of the Cholas can be reconstructed in detail owing to the vast inscriptions issued not just by the royal family but also temple authorities, village councils and trade guilds.

During this age, there was a revival of Shivaism, which is the worship of the god Shiva. It also saw the development of the southern Vaishnavism, which is the worship of the god Vishnu.

Revenue administration, village self-government and irrigation were also highly organized then.

 

 

The chronology of kings is quite difficult since the kings and emperors bore the titles of Parakesharivarman and Rajakesharivarman alternatively.

It was Vijayalaya who reigned between c. 850-870 and began occupying the territory of the Pallavas, which was completed by Aditya I who reigned between c. 870-907. The ruler Parantaka I who ruled from c. 907-953 was also known as the destroyer of Madurai, which was the capital city of the Pandyas.

He defeated the Sinhalese invaders and was responsible for bringing together the territories of the Cholas and the Pandyas during 926-942. 

 

 

Further on, Rajaraja I during his reign between 985-1014 proved to be an able administrator. He protected the Godavari districts, occupied the Gangavadi territory (present-day Karnataka), annihilated the western Ganga, conquered Kerala (then the Chera country) and also acquired northern Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep and Maldive islands.

He built the splendid Brihadishvara temple at Tanjore from his flourishing economy.

 

 

The next few rulers focused mainly on acquiring the Chalukya Empire gradually. However, with the death of Virarajendra in 1069, it allowed Vikramaditya Chalukya to interfere.

The last Chola ruler Kulottunga did not have much of significance. He gave up the Deccan areas to concentrate on the eastern coast and a lot of places had either regained their independence or were restored to Pandya thrones. 

 

The emergence of the Hoysala kings. They obtained lands, destroyed the allegiance and helped for the Pandya conquest of the Chola country in 1257. The Chola dynasty ultimately met with its demise in 1279.