General Studies - THE (LATER) CHOLAS

Overview

• The Cholas, along with the Cheras and Pandyas, are considered to be among the oldest and longest dynasties in Indian history. They ruled southern India in the later parts of the first millennium BC (Sangam period), and supposedly in even earlier pre-historical epochs as mentioned in ancient Tamil literature
• However, this article deals only with the later Cholas, about whom concrete literary, epigraphical and archaeological evidence has been established. In this article Cholas refers to later Cholas
• The Cholas ruled large parts of Southern India including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka from the 9^th to 13^th centuries CE
• The lasting legacies of the Cholas include some of the most important works of Tamil literature and magnificent temples and monuments
  
• The Cholas are also known for their powerful navy with blue-water capabilities, that allowed them to project power as far away as Indonesia
• The capital of the Cholas were Tanjore and Gangaikonda Cholapuram
  

The Chola Empire at its peak under Rajendra Chola (c. 1030 CE)

• The heartland of the Chola territory was the fertile Kaveri valley centred around Tanjore
  
• The Cholas came into prominence in the 9^th century under Vijayalaya Chola (c. 850 CE)
• Important Chola kings include Parantaka Chola (c. 925 CE), Sundara Chola (c. 950 CE), Rajaraja Chola (c. 985-1014 CE), Rajendra Chola (c. 1012-1044 CE) and Kulothunga Chola (1070-1120 CE)
• The Chola empire stretched from Sri Lanka in the south to the Godavari-Krishna basin in the north.
• Additionally, large parts of north eastern India and South East Asia were conquered by Rajendra Chola, and were under Chola suzerainty. These included the Ganga-Hoogly-Damodar basin, Indo-China (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia.
  
• Rajendra Chola, the most successful Chola emperor, took on titles such as Gangaikonda Cholan and Mudikonda Cholan
• To commemorate his successful campaigns to the Ganges, Rajendra Chola founded the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which served as the capital for over 200 years until the dissolution of the Chola empire in the 13^th century
  
• Following generations of inter-marriage between the Cholas and the Eastern Chalukyas (of Vengi), the Chalukya prince Rajendra Chalukya ascended the Chola throne under the name Kulothunga Chola (1070 CE). The line of Chola rulers following Kulothunga Chola are also known as Chalukya-Cholas
  

The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Tanjore, built by Rajaraja Chola, is the largest and tallest temple in India. The main Vimana towers over 16 storeys high, and is topped by a single granite stone weighing over 81 tonnes

• The Chola Empire was the first to bring all of south India under a common government
• The capital of the Cholas was Tanjore, and later Gangaikonda Cholapuram
• The Cholas pioneered a system of highly organised governance where a careful balance was achieved between central control and local independence in administrative matters
• Every village in the empire was a self-governing unit
  
• Several villages made up a Korram, several Korrams made up a Valanadu, and several Valanadus made up a Mandalam (i.e. province)
• The Cholas also pioneered the concept of immediately recording oral orders given by king in written form. A special official, Tirumandira Olai Nayagan, was tasked specifically with recording these oral orders in palm leaf manuscripts
  
• The Chola empire had extensive trade relations with Sri Vijaya (Indonesia), China (Tang Dynasty) and the Abassid Caliphate (Baghdad)
  
• The Cholas maintained a powerful and well-organised Navy, that it used for power projection, piracy control and trade convoy escorting
  

Art and Architecture under the Cholas

• The period of the Cholas was an age of continuous improvement and refinement of Dravidian art and architecture
• The most famous aspects of Chola art and architecture includes their exquisite bronze sculptures and massive stone temples
• The Brihadeeswarar Temple at Tanjore, built by Rajaraja Chola (c. 1002 CE), is considered to be the pinnacle of Chola architecture. The temple, the largest and tallest in India, is also the first complete granite structure in the world
• The UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Living Chola Temples consists of three temples constructed by the Cholas:
  • Brihadeeswarar Temple (Tanjore)
  • Airavateswarar Temple (Darasuram)
    
  • Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple (Gangaikonda Cholapuram)
    
• The Chola period is also remarkable for its sculptures and bronzes, many of which are housed in museums around the world. Among the most famous Chola bronzes is that of Nataraja, depicting Siva in the cosmic dance of creation and destruction

The Great Living Chola Temples

The Great Living Chola Temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Temple	Location	Date/Built by	Notes
Brihadeeswarar Temple	Tanjore (Tamil Nadu)	c. 1006 CE/Rajaraja Chola	Largest and tallest temple in India Served as the royal temple of the Cholas being the site of important royal ceremonies Also known as Peruvudaiyar Temple
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple	Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Tamil Nadu)	c. 1025 CE/Rajendra Chola
Airavateswarar Temple	Darasuram (Tamil Nadu)	12th century CE/Rajaraja Chola II

Literature under the Cholas

• The Chola period is noted for the flourishing Tamil literature during this period
  

  The Airavateswar Temple at Darasuram was built by Rajaraja Chola II. The temple, whose sanctum is in the form of a chariot, is known for the exquisite details of sculptures

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