History of The Great Chola Empire: In Context Of The Movie PS-1

Chola dynasty, South Indian Tamil rulers of unknown antiquity, antedating the early Sangam poems (c. 200 CE). The dynasty originated in the rich Kaveri (Cauvery) River valley. Uraiyur (now Tiruchchirappalli) was its oldest capital. The legendary King Karikan was the common ancestor through whom small Deccan and Andhra families called Chola or Coda claimed a connection with the Uraiyur family.

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About The Great Cholas:

The Chola country (Coromandel) stretched from the Vaigai River in the south to Tondaimandalam, the capital of which was Kanci (now Kanchipuram), in the north. Much of Tamil classical literature and the greater Tamil architectural monuments belong to the Sangam period, which also saw a revival of Shaivism (worship of the god Shiva) and the development of southern Vaishnavism (worship of the god Vishnu). Revenue administration, village self-government, and irrigation were highly organized under the Cholas.

Earlier Chola Kings:

Chola kings and emperors bore the titles Parakesharivarman and Rajakesharivarman, alternately. Their chronology is difficult. Vijayalaya (reigned c. 850–870) began the occupation of the territory of the Pallavas, which was extended under Aditya I (reigned c. 870–907). Parantaka I (reigned 907– c. 953), known as the destroyer of Madurai (the capital city of the Pandyas), defeated Sinhalese invaders and united the lands of the Cholas and the Pandyas between 926 and 942. Coming to terms with the Rastrakutas, he took Nellore from them about 940, but their king, Krsna III, seized Tondaimandalam.

Rise Of Cholas: Rajaraja I:

Rajaraja I (reigned 985–1014), an able administrator, protected Vengi (the Godavari districts) and occupied the Gangavadi territory (in present-day Karnataka state), annihilating the western Gangas. By 996 he had conquered Kerala (the Chera country) and acquired northern Sri Lanka. With the booty thus acquired, he built the great Brihadishvara temple at Tanjore (now Thanjavur). By 1014 Rajaraja had acquired the Lakshadweep and Maldive islands.

Expansion Of Cholas: Rajendra Chola:

His son Rajendracola Deva I (reigned 1014–44) outdid Rajaraja’s achievements. He placed a son on the throne at Madurai, completed the conquest of Sri Lanka, overran the Deccan (c. 1021), and in 1023 sent an expedition to the north that penetrated to the Ganges (Ganga) River and brought Ganges water to the new capital, Gangaikondacolapuram. He conquered portions of the Malay Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago. The Chola Empire under Rajendra even exacted tribute from Siam (Thailand) and Cambodia. Cultural and artistic influences flowed in both directions between Indochina and the Indian mainland.

Later Cholas & Their Collapse:

Rajadhiraja (reigned 1044–54) fought the Pandyas and Cheras and defeated the Western Chalukya ruler Someshvara I in 1046, but he was killed at the Battle of Koppam, against the Chalukyas, in 1054. The Chola ruler Virarajendra (reigned 1063–69) attempted to render the Chalukya empire in the Deccan harmless, but his death enabled Vikramaditya Chalukya to dabble in Chola family quarrels.

Kulottunga I (reigned 1070–1122), who succeeded to both the Chola and Eastern Chalukya crowns by right of inheritance, wisely abandoned the Deccan and concentrated on uniting the eastern coast. Intrigues concerning the right to the Pandya throne embroiled Cholas, Pandyas, and Sri Lanka (which by then had recovered its independence) from about 1166. From 1216 the Hoysala kings obtained lands in the Chola country, former Chola feudatories threw off their allegiance, northern powers intervened, and the upheaval facilitated the Pandya conquest of the Chola country in 1257. The Chola dynasty ended in 1279.

Features of Art and Architecture of Cholas:

• The period of the imperial Cholas (c. 850 CE – 1250 CE) in South India was one of continuous improvement and refinement of Chola art and architecture.
• They used the wealth gained from their extensive conquests to construct long-lasting stone temples and exquisite bronze sculptures in an almost entirely Hindu cultural setting.
• The Cholas built their temples in the style of the Pallava dynasty, which was influenced by the Amaravati school of architecture.
• Chola artists and artisans drew further inspiration from other contemporary art and architectural schools, elevating the Chola temple design to new heights.
• The Chola kings constructed numerous temples throughout their kingdom, which typically included the plains, Central and Northern Tamil Nadu, and at times the entire state of Tamil Nadu, as well as adjoining parts of modern Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• We can roughly see three major phases in the evolution of Chola temple architecture, beginning with the early phase of Vijayalaya Chola and continuing until Sundara Chola, the middle phase of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola when achievements scaled heights never reached before or since, and the final phase during the Chalukya Chola period of Kulottunga I until the Chola empire’s demise.
• In addition to temples, the Cholas constructed hospitals, public utility buildings, and palaces. Many such structures are mentioned in inscriptions and in contemporary accounts.
• The golden palace allegedly built by Aditya Karikala for his father Sundara Chola is an example of such a structure.
• However, such structures were made of perishable materials, such as wood and fired bricks, and have not withstood the test of time.

Legacy Of The Cholas: A great maritime power:

The Chola Empire left a rich legacy in the Tamil country. It saw majestic architectural accomplishments such as the Thanjavur Temple, amazing artwork including particularly graceful bronze sculpture, and a golden age of Tamil literature and poetry. All of these cultural properties also found their way into the Southeast Asian artistic lexicon, influencing religious art and literature from Cambodia to Java.

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