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UNIT – I
I. CHOLA PERIOD – SOURCES – RULERS
Learning Objectives:
1To enable pupil to know the sources for the study of theCholas.2.To enable pupil to know the life and achievements of theChola rulers.The Cholas and their contributions find significant place in thehistory of South India. The early Cholas ruled during the Sangam period.Karikala was the greatest king among the early Chola kings. After along period, when the Pallava dynasty declined, the Chola kingdombegan to shine once again. The greatness of the later Chola rule wasrevived by the Chola king Vijayalaya. The later Chola kings ruled from850 A.D to 1279 A.D for nearly 430 years.
AD – Anno DominiBC – Before ChristSources:
History of any society or kingdom can be written only withthe help of available relevant source materials. Lot of inscriptions,archaeological and literary sources are available for the study of thehistory of the Cholas. Great literature like Mahavamsam talk about theearly Cholas. Foreign visitors like Megasthenes, give useful informationsabout the early Cholas. The inscriptions of Ashoka and manycontemporary sources talk about the early Chola kings and also aboutthe early Chola rule.
Inscriptions:
Inscriptions are the main sources of information for thehistory of the Chola period. Inscriptions talk about the life of the rulers,
 
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Trichy, Tanjore, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam and Nagapattinam.The stone inscriptions give us useful informations about theadministration of the Chola rulers. Thiruvandhipuram inscriptions speak about the reign of Rajendra III. The Uttaramerur inscriptions giveinformations about the kudavolai system, village administration, taxationand land revenue. Meikirthis are also found in inscriptions. Anbil plates,the Kanyakumari stone inscription, Karanthai plates and Thiruvalangaducopper plates give useful informations about the Cholas. The TanjorePeruvudaiyar temple inscriptions talk about the existence of saivism.The inscriptions of contemporary rulers like Cheras, Pandyas,Rashtrakutas and Gangas speak about the Cholas.
Monuments:
Monuments are important sources for the history of theCholas. Monuments are part of the temples. The Brahadeeswarartemple of Tanjore, the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple,Airavateesvarar temple of Dharasuram and the Kambagareswarartemple in Thirupuvanam are some of the important monuments of theCholas.Figure of tiger was engraved as the Chola emblem on everyChola coin issued during that period. Names of the Chola Kings werealso engraved on chola coins. King Rajaraja issued a new Ceylon typeof coins Chola coins are useful to fix the chronology of the Chola rulers.Coins are also useful to study the social and economic condition of theChola period.
Numismatics means a study of coins.Literature:
Literary sources are very useful for the study of both Sangam Cholas and later Cholas. Sekkilar’s Periyapuranam dealswith the life of Saiva devotees. Sekkilar was a contemporary of Kulothunga – II. Kalingathuparani of Jayamkondan, three Ulas and theKulothungan pillai tamil of Ottakoothar give useful informationsabout the Cholas. Other literary works like Veerasoliyam,Sthalapuranam, Navachola charitham and Cholavamsa charitham speak about the early Cholas.administration, political, economic,religious, social and cultural conditionsduring the Chola period. Inscriptionswere placed on the walls of thetemples and pillars. This is amplyillustrated in the Brahadeeswarartemple at Tanjore known as “Bigtemple”. Many important inscriptionsare found in Cuddalore, Villupuram,
Numismatic Sources:
The Chola kings issued gold, silver and copper coins. Specimenof gold coins are extremely rare. Silver and copper coins are found inplenty.
Karandhai Plate
 
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Foreign sources:
Mahavamsam the Ceylon literature talksabout the relationship between the early Chola country and Ceylonkingdom. It also speaks about the Chola rule in Ceylon. Europeantravellor Marcopolo and foreign writer Megasthanese give interestinginformations about the Cholas. Al-beruni a muslim historian writes aboutthe Cholas.
Later Chola Dynasty:
King Vijayalaya was the founder of the laterChola dynasty. He captured Tanjore from the Muttaraiyas and made ithis capital in 850 A.D. He defeated the Pallava King Aparajitha andconquered his Kingdom. He also annexed the Kongu country. He wasa worshipper of Siva. He built Siva temples in many places.
Parantaka–I:- 907AD–953 AD:
Uttaramerur inscriptions speak about Parantaka – I. He was son of Aditya. He conquered many partsof Southern India and extended his boundary. He captured Madurai.He took up the title Maduraikondan to commemorate his victory overthe Pandya king. After defeating the combined armies of the Pandyasand Ceylon kings, he assumed the title “Maduraiyum Ezhamum Kondan”.He extended his empire upto Nellore in north.Parantaka improved village administration. He was a devoteeof Lord Siva. He provided golden roof to the Nataraja temple atChidambaram and came to be called as “Pon Veintha Cholan”. Parantakawas succeeded by Kandaraditya, Arinjaya, SundaraChola aliasParantaka II and UttamaChola.
Meikirthis are life history or Biographies of Kingswith details of their achievements
Rajaraja defeated Mahinda V the king of Ceylon and occupiedAnuradhapuram and the northern part of Ceylon. He made Polonnaruvacity a new capital. Rajaraja got the title “Mummudi Cholan” after theconquest of three southern kingdoms of Cheras, Pandyas and Ceylon.He captured Gangapadi, Tadigaipadi and Nolambapadi in the Mysoreregion. He successfully completed digvijayam with the conquest of vilignam. He conqured Kalinga and Maldives island. He also had titles‘Arunmozhi’, ‘Rajakesari’. Rajaraja was ably assisted by his efficientson Rajendra.
Rajaraja the Great:985AD–1014 AD:
Rajaraja – Iwas son of Parantaka – II andVanavan Mahadevi. Thiruvalangaduplates speak about Rajaraja-I. Hewas the most powerful king of theChola dynasty. The greatness of Rajaraja brought glory not only tothe Chola kingdom, but also to theTamil country. He issued severalinscriptions. Rajaraja had a strongarmy. He defeated the Chera armyat Thiruvanathapuram. He alsodefeated Baskara Ravi the Raja of Kollam. He assumed a title“Kandalur salai Kalamarutharuliya”.He defeated the Pandya kingAmarabhujangan.
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