The Chola Dynasty is one of the oldest in India and one among the three well-known kingdoms of the Tamil Country in South India: Chera, Chola and Pandya. The Chola rule spanned across many centuries with many ups-and-downs. The early Cholas ruled the Tamil country between first and second century AD; the later Cholas reigned most of South India and nearby islands between 800 AD and the first half of thirteenth century.
Early Cholas
The records of the Cholas of early Tamil kingdoms are found in Ptolemy's works and in Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The Sangam Tamil literature also vastly refers to the Chola kings. Uraiyur, in the present Thiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu, was the capital of the early Cholas. The river Ponni (Kaveri) has been the centre of Chola life; agriculture flourished in the fertile soil. Kaveripoompattinam, also called as Poompuhar, was the second capital and an important port. Greeks and Romans were known to have trade connections with the Cholas.
Karikalan (the man with burnt leg) is the famous king of the early Cholas. He is also the builder of the grand anaicut, Kallanai, one of the oldest living irrigation dams of the world. The centuries between 200 and 800 AD saw the downfall of the early Cholas. When the Pallava dynasty rose to power, Cholas took a back seat.
Later Cholas
The tenure of the later Cholas is often called as the Golden Age of Tamil Culture. The Cholas came to power again during the rule of King Vijayalaya, who rose from obscurity by capturing Thanjavur from the Pallavas. Pazaiyarai, Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Chozhapuram have been their capitals. The empire reached its epitome when the famous king, Raja Raja I, came to power. Legend has it that he has never encountered a single failure in the battles throughout his reign. During this period, the Cholas were in constant conflict with Pandyas in the South and Chalukyas in the North.
Rajendra I, the equally famous son of Raja Raja I, extended the empire up-to the Ganges in North India. The Chola reign also sprawled across the islands of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Java, Sumatra and Malaya of the South East Asia. Art, architecture and trade flourished during this time.
Cholas had marital relationships with the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi region leading to a new clan of Chalukya Cholas.
Administration
The Cholas followed a monarchial government where the king is the supreme commander and a benevolent dictator. Dharma, a sense of fairness, was the key character that shaped the fair regency of the kings. The villages were self-governing and together they formed a larger group of Kuram, Nadu and Kottram. These together constituted to Valanadu. The citizens were highly educated and often enjoyed festivals and fares with the kings.
The strong Chola presence in the South Asia was attributed to the excellent armed forces and the exceptional navy. The Chola cities and ports were abuzz with maritime activities and foreign trades. Epigraphs and numismatics reveal that they had trade contacts with China and Sri Vijaya, a Malay country.
Art, Literature and Religion
Many sculptures and bronze items from the Chola times decorate a number of museums across the world today. Ramavatharam, the Tamil version of the great Indian epic Ramayanam, was penned by Kamban. Other notable works during the golden reign are: Seevaga Sinthamani by Thirthakkadevar, Jeyamkondar's Kalingathuparani and Kulothnga Solan Ula by Ottakoothar.
The Cholas practiced Hinduism, especially Shaivism, but they were fairly tolerant towards other religions. There were frequent violations toward Vaishnavaites during the later years.
The Great Living Chola Temples
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre has classified three temples from the Chola times as the Great Living Chola Temples. The colossal Brahadisvara Temple, fondly called as the big temple of Thanjavur, was built and inaugurated by King Raja Raja I. The massive proportion of the temple is clearly ahead of its time. The Shiva temple at Gangaikonda Chozhapuram, built by Rajendra I, has influences from his father's big temple. The sculptures and statues in this temple are of exceptional quality. Airawatesvara temple in Darasuram, built by Raja Raja II, is yet another example of Chola architecture. The temple is comparatively smaller in size but the ornateness compensates for the size.
Fall of the Cholas
The Chalukya Chola clan had some prominent kings like Kulothunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola but the decline of the extensive empire commenced soon after. With the growth of Hoysalas in the North and the Southern Pandyas sprouting, the fall of the empire was imminent by the beginning of the thirteenth century. Rajendra III was the last, unfortunate ruler to witness the fall of his empire and the starting of the new Pandian era.
The glorious Chola empire was built not only by the legendary kings and acclaimed artists but also by the unsung heros like soldiers and chieftains. The Kallanai dam, the Tanjore big temple and the lulling Kaveri river happily sing their legacy today.
Sources:
Chola Dynasty. New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved Dec. 8, 2011.
Aarthi Ananthakumar - A budding freelance writer interested in topics like Green Living, Responsible Travel and South Indian History.
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