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The founder of the Chola Empire was Vijayalaya, who was first feudatory of the Pallavas of Kanchi. He captured Tanjore in 850 A.D. He established a temple of goddess Nishumbhasudini (Durga) there.
Aditya I succeeded Vijayalaya. Aditya helped his overlord the Pallava king Aparajita against the Pandyas but soon defeated him and annexed the whole of the Pallava kingdom.
By the end of the ninth century, The Cholas had defeated the Pallavas completely and weakened the Pandyas capturing the Tamil country (Tondamandala) and including it under their domination He then became a sovereign ruler. The Rashtrakuta king, Krishna II gave his daughter in marriage to Aditya.
He erected many Shiva temples. He was succeeded in 907 A.D. by Parantaka I, the first important ruler of the Cholas. Parantaka I was an ambitious ruler and engaged himself in wars of conquest from the beginning of his reign. He conquered Madurai from the Pandya ruler Rajasimha II. He assumed the title of Maduraikonda (captor of Madurai).
He, however, lost to the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III at the battle of Tokkolam in 949 A. D. The Cholas had to cede Tondamandalam to the adversary. At that point of time the Chola kingdom almost ceased to exist. It was a serious setback to the rising Chola power. The revival of Chola power began from the accession of Parantaka II who recovered Tondamandalam to reestablish dominance of the dynasty.
The climax in Chola power was achieved under the successor of Parantaka II, Arumolivarman, who crowned himself as Rajaraja I in 985 A D the next thirty years of his rule formed the formative periodof Chola imperialism.
The Chola kingdom grew under him into an extensive and well-knit empire, efficiently organized and administered and possessing a powerful standing army and navy. Rajaraja began his conquests by attacking the confederation between the rulers of the Pandya and Kerala kingdoms and of Ceylon. Polonnaruva became the capital of Chola province in North Ceylon after the defeat of Mahinda V, the Ceylonese king.
He also annexed the Maldives. Elsewhere, several parts of modern Mysore were conquered and annexed which intensified their rivalry with the Chalukyas. Rajaraja built the magnificent Shiva temple of Brihadeshwara or Rajaraja temple at Thanjavur which was completed in 1010. It is considered a remarkable piece of architecture in South Indian style.
Rajaraja I also encouraged Sri Mara Vijayottungavarman, the Sailendra ruler of Sri Vijaya to build a Buddhist Vihara at Negapatam. This vihara was called ‘Chudamani Vihara’ after the father of Sri Mara. Rajaraja was succeeded by his son Rajendra I in 1014 A.D. He ruled jointly with his father for a few years. He also followed a policy of conquest and annexation adopted by his father and further raised the power and prestige of the Cholas. He followed the expansionist policy and made extensive conquests in Ceylon.
The Pandya and Kerala country after being conquered was constituted as a viceroyalty under the Chola king with the title of Chola-Pandya. Madurai was its headquarters. Proceeding through Kalinga, Rajendra I attacked Bengal and defeated the Pala ruler Mahipala in 1022 A.D. But he annexed no territory in north India.
To commemorate the occasion, Rajendra I assumed the title of Gangaikondachola (the Chola conqueror of Ganga). He built the new capital near the mouth of the Kaveri and called it Gangaikondacholapuram (the city of the Chola conqueror of the Ganga).
With his naval forces, he invaded Malaya Peninsula and Srivijaya Empire that extended over Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands and controlled the overseas trade route to China. He sent two diplomatic missions to China for political as well as commercial purposes.
Rajendra was succeeded by his son Rajadhiraja I in 1044 A.D. He was also an able ruler. He put down the hostile forces in Ceylon and suppressed the rebellious Pandyas and subjugated their territory. He celebrated his victory by performing Virabhisheka (coronation of the victor) at Kalyani after sacking Kalyani and assumed the title of Vijayarajendra. He lost his life in the battle with the Chalukyan king Someswara I at Koppam. His brother Rajendra II succeeded him. He continued his struggle against Someswara.
He defeated Someswara in the battle of Kudal Sangamam. Next came Virarajendra I, he too defeated the Chalukyas and erected a pillar of victory on the banks of Tungabhadra. Virarajendra died in 1070 A.D. He was succeeded by Kulottunga I (1070-1122 A.D.) the great-grandson of Rajaraja I. He was the son of Rajendra Narendra of Vengi and Chola princess Ammangadevi (daughter of Rajendra Chola I). Thus Kulottunga I united the two kingdoms of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and the Cholas of Thanjavur.
The most important reforms carried out by him in the internal administration was the re- surveyal of land for Taxation and revenue purposes. He was also titled Sungam tavirtta (he who abolished tolls). The Chola authority in Ceylon was overthrown by Vijayababu, the monarch of Ceylon during Kulottunga’s reign. He sent a large embassy of 72 merchants to China and also maintained cordial relations with Sri Vijaya.
He defeated the rulers of the Pandya kingdom and that of Kerala. Thfe Chola Empire continued for more than a century after him. Weak rulers succeeded him. The Cholas and the later Chalukyas clashed for the overlordship of Vengi, the Tungabhadra doab and the Ganga country.
The Chola Empire continued in a flourishing condition during the twelfth century but declined by the end of the thirteenth century. The Pandyan king Sundara rendered the final blow by seizing Kanchi in 1297 A.D. The place of the Cholas was taken over by the Pandyas and the Hoysalas. This marked the end of the Chola power.
Architecture and Art
One of the largest empires in Indian history, that stretched till South East Asia, the Cholas used their immense wealth, in building magnificent temples and structures. It would be an understatement to call the architecture of the Chola period as grand, it was more like grandiose and towering. The sheer size of their temples, the towering vimanas, the sculpted walls, just every aspect of their monuments displayed grandeur. And of course nothing to beat the Brihadeswara Temple at Thanjavur, that is a benchmark by itself in architectural excellence.
Even if the Cholas, had not built anything else, just the Brihadeeswara Temple would have been enough. I mean just consider the facts, built fully of granite, finished within 5 years, that was quite fast for that period. And then you have the vimana that towers to around 216 ft, and this is just awe inspiring, on top of the tower, you have a kalasam, made out of a single block of stone, that weighs around 20 tonnes, and was lifted to the top using an inclined plane that covered 6.44 km from the ground to the top. The Cholas built big, their structures were meant to tower, to inspire awe, to take away the breath. It was not just the grand buildings, it was also the sculpture and art that adorned them, which was equally breath taking.
The other magnificient structures built by the Cholas, were the temple at Gangaikondacholapuram, which is next only to the Brihadeesvara temple at Tanjore, in size, grandeur and architectural excellence.
And also the Airavateswara temple at Darasuram, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and so called, because it is believed that the Shiva Linga here was worshipped by Indra’s elephant Airavat.
The Chola period also witnessed a glorious phase in bronze casting, and making of idols. The bronze idols of the Chola period, were more expressive in nature, and devoid of too many intricate ornaments or designs. The bronze idol of Nataraja, the dancing form of Shiva, represents the artistic excellence during that era.
Administration:
It was not just the fact that they built magnificent temples or made exquisite idols, the Cholas also came up with an excellent system of governance and administration. While it was a Monarchy, like most other kingdoms of that era, there was a serious attempt to decentralize, and provide self government right at the local level. The empire was divided into provinces called Mandalams, and each of those Mandalams, further into Kottams, which again had districts, called Nadus, that had Tehsils usually a group of villages. While Tanjore and Gangaikonda Cholapuram were the main capitals, there also existed regional capitals at Kanchi and Madurai, where courts were occasionally held.
Their major achievement though was the local self government during their times, where villages had their own self governance. Depending on the area they covered, villages again could be Nadu, Kottram or Kurram, and a number of Kurrams made up a Valanadu. The village units had the power to administer Justice at the local level, and for most crimes, fines were imposed, which went to the state treasury. Death penalty was given only for crimes that amounted to treason.
economy
Chola period had a robust and thriving economy, that was built on 3 tiers. At the local level, it was agricultural settlements, that formed the foundation, on top of this you had the Nagarams or the commercial towns, that primarily acted as centers of distribution for items produced externally and by local artisans for international trade. The top most layer was made of “samayams” or merchant guilds, who organized and looked after the thriving international maritime trade. With agriculture being the occupation of a large number of people, land revenue was a major Source Of Income to the treasury. The Cholas also built a large number of tanks, wells, and a large number of channels to distribute water. They had also built stone masonry Dams over the Kaveri, and there was a thriving internal trade going on too.
Naval and Maritime Trade.
The Chola period would be noted for it’s emphasis on maritime trade and conquest, they excelled in ship building. While they had a strong internal maritime system, the Imperial Chola Navy came into existence during the reign of Raja Raja Chola I, who strengthened it. Raja Raja Chola’s use of the Navy to subdue the Sinhalese king Mahinda, would be one of the greatest naval victories ever. Another major achievement was the conquest of the Sri Vijaya kingdom under Sailendra, now in Indonesia, by Raja Raja Chola’s successor Rajendra Chola. Having possesion of the East and West coasts of India, the Cholas had a thriving international trade with the Tang dynasty in China, the Srivijaya empire in Malayan archipelago and the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. The Cholas also combated sea piracy succesfully in the Malayan archipelago, and had a close trade with the Song dynasty in China, that led to advances in ship building.
While the King was the supreme commander of the Navy, it had a highly organized structure, that was divided into Ganams a Fleet squadron, usually commanded by a Ganapathy. And there was a hierarchical ranking structure, below the King, that consisted of Jalathipathi(Admiral), Nayagan( Fleet Commander), Ganathipathy(rear admiral), Mandalathipathy(vice admiral) and Kalapathy( the ship captain). You also had separate departments for customs excise(Thirvai), inspection and audits( Aaivu) and an intelligence corps( Ootru). The Cholas also had their own coast guard equivalent in Karaipiravu. And this would be one of their finest achievements, building a world class naval structure.
Literature
Often called as the Golden Age of Tamil culture, it was one of the greatest literary eras in history equivalent to the Elizabethean reign in England or the Guptas in Northern India. Nambi Andar collected the various works on Saivism and arranged them into eleven books called Tirumurais, and another great work of literature was the adaptation of the Ramayana into Tamil by Kamban, called as the Ramavatharam. The period also saw excellent works on Tamil grammar like Yapperungalam by Jain ascetic and Virasoliyam that attempts to find a balance between Tamil and Sanskrit grammar by Buddhamitra.,
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty that ruled southern India from the 9th to the 13th centuries. They were one of the most powerful dynasties in Indian history, and their empire stretched from the Deccan Plateau to the Kaveri River delta. The Cholas were known for their military prowess, their patronage of the arts, and their construction of temples.
The Chola dynasty was founded by Vijayalaya Chola in 850 CE. Vijayalaya was a chieftain from the Chola clan, and he was able to unite the various Chola principalities and establish a powerful kingdom. His son, Aditya I, continued his father’s expansionist policies, and he conquered the Pallava kingdom in 896 CE. The Chola empire reached its peak under the reign of Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE). Rajaraja I was a great military leader, and he was able to conquer the Pandya kingdom and the Chera kingdom. He also extended the Chola empire into Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
The Chola dynasty was a golden age for Tamil culture. The Chola kings were patrons of the arts, and they commissioned many great works of literature, music, and dance. They also built many magnificent temples, including the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur and the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple.
The Chola dynasty declined in the 13th century, and it was finally overthrown by the Pandya kingdom in 1279 CE. However, the Cholas left a lasting legacy on Indian history, and they are still remembered as one of the greatest dynasties in Indian history.
History of the Chola dynasty
The Chola dynasty was founded by Vijayalaya Chola in 850 CE. Vijayalaya was a chieftain from the Chola clan, and he was able to unite the various Chola principalities and establish a powerful kingdom. His son, Aditya I, continued his father’s expansionist policies, and he conquered the Pallava kingdom in 896 CE. The Chola empire reached its peak under the reign of Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE). Rajaraja I was a great military leader, and he was able to conquer the Pandya kingdom and the Chera kingdom. He also extended the Chola empire into Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
The Chola dynasty declined in the 13th century, and it was finally overthrown by the Pandya kingdom in 1279 CE. However, the Cholas left a lasting legacy on Indian history, and they are still remembered as one of the greatest dynasties in Indian history.
Chola kings
The Chola dynasty was ruled by a number of great kings, including Vijayalaya Chola, Aditya I, Rajaraja I, Rajendra I, and Kulottunga I. These kings were all great military leaders, and they were able to expand the Chola empire to its greatest extent. They were also patrons of the arts, and they commissioned many great works of literature, music, and dance.
Chola administration
The Chola dynasty had a well-organized administration. The empire was divided into provinces, which were further divided into districts. Each province was headed by a governor, and each district was headed by a district officer. The Chola government also had a number of departments, such as the treasury, the army, and the judiciary.
Chola economy
The Chola economy was based on agriculture. The Cholas were able to develop a number of Irrigation systems, which allowed them to grow a variety of crops, including rice, sugarcane, and Cotton. The Cholas also engaged in trade with other parts of India and Southeast Asia.
Chola Society
Chola society was divided into four classes: the Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. The Brahmanas were the highest class, and they were the priests and scholars. The Kshatriyas were the warriors, and they were the rulers. The Vaishyas were the merchants and traders, and the Shudras were the farmers and laborers.
Chola culture
The Chola dynasty was a golden age for Tamil culture. The Chola kings were patrons of the arts, and they commissioned many great works of literature, music, and dance. They also built many magnificent temples, including the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur and the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple.
Chola art
Chola art was a blend of Hindu and Buddhist art. The Chola artists were skilled in sculpture, painting, and architecture. They produced many beautiful works of art, including the bronze statue of Nataraja and the Brihadeeswarar Temple.
Chola architecture
Chola architecture was characterized by its massive size and intricate detail. The Chola architects built many
What is the meaning of life?
The meaning of life is a question that has been asked by philosophers and theologians for centuries. There is no one answer that everyone agrees on, but some possible answers include: to find happiness, to make a difference in the world, to learn and grow, to connect with others, and to experience the beauty of the world.
What is the purpose of life?
The purpose of life is another question that has been debated for centuries. Some people believe that there is no purpose to life, while others believe that it is to find happiness, to make a difference in the world, to learn and grow, to connect with others, or to experience the beauty of the world.
What is the difference between life and death?
Life is the state of being alive, while death is the state of being dead. Life is characterized by the ability to breathe, move, think, and feel. Death is the cessation of all biological functions.
What happens after death?
There is no one answer to this question that everyone agrees on. Some people believe that there is an afterlife, while others believe that there is nothing after death. There is no scientific evidence to support or disprove any of these beliefs.
What is the best way to live life?
There is no one answer to this question that everyone agrees on. Some people believe that the best way to live life is to be happy, while others believe that it is to make a difference in the world. There is no right or wrong answer, and what is best for one person may not be best for another.
What is the most important thing in life?
The most important thing in life is different for everyone. Some people believe that the most important thing is to be happy, while others believe that it is to make a difference in the world. There is no right or wrong answer, and what is most important for one person may not be most important for another.
What is the meaning of love?
Love is a complex emotion that is difficult to define. It is often described as a feeling of intense affection and care for another person. Love can be romantic, platonic, or familial. It can be a source of great joy and happiness, but it can also be a source of pain and heartache.
What is the meaning of happiness?
Happiness is a state of mind that is characterized by feelings of joy, contentment, and satisfaction. It is often associated with positive emotions such as love, hope, and gratitude. Happiness can be fleeting or it can be a more lasting state of being.
What is the meaning of success?
Success is a word that is often used to describe the achievement of one’s goals. However, there is no one definition of success that everyone agrees on. For some people, success is measured by material possessions or financial wealth. For others, success is measured by personal achievements or accomplishments. There is no right or wrong answer to the question of what success means, and what is considered successful for one person may not be considered successful for another.
What is the meaning of freedom?
Freedom is the state of being free from restrictions or control. It is often associated with the ability to make one’s own choices and to live one’s life as one sees fit. Freedom can be a powerful force for good, but it can also be used for destructive purposes.
What is the meaning of peace?
Peace is a state of tranquility and quiet. It is often associated with the absence of war or conflict. Peace can be a state of mind or it can be a state of the world. It can be achieved through diplomacy, negotiation, or force.
What is the meaning of hope?
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It is often associated with positive emotions such as faith, optimism, and trust. Hope can be a powerful force for good, but it can also be used to justify destructive actions.
What is the meaning of faith?
Faith is a belief in something that cannot be proven or disproven. It is often associated with religion or spirituality. Faith can be a source of great strength and comfort, but it can also be used to justify harmful beliefs and actions.
What is the meaning of life?
The meaning of life is a question that has been asked by philosophers and theologians for centuries. There is no one answer that everyone agrees on, but some possible answers include: to find happiness, to make a difference in the world, to learn and grow, to connect with others, and to experience the beauty of the world.
Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Cholas:
-
Which of the following is not a dynasty that ruled over India?
(A) The Cholas
(B) The Mauryas
(C) The Guptas
(D) The Mughals -
Which of the following is not a major Religion in India?
(A) Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism
(B) Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism
(C) Islam
(D) Christianity -
Which of the following is not a major language spoken in India?
(A) Hindi
(B) Bengali
(C) Tamil
(D) Spanish -
Which of the following is not a major city in India?
(A) New Delhi
(B) Mumbai
(C) Chennai
(D) Madrid -
Which of the following is not a major river in India?
(A) The Ganges
(B) The Indus
(C) The Brahmaputra
(D) The Nile -
Which of the following is not a major mountain range in India?
(A) The Himalayas
(B) The Alps
(C) The Andes
(D) The Rockies -
Which of the following is not a major food in India?
(A) Rice
(B) Curry
(C) Pizza
(D) Chapati -
Which of the following is not a major dance in India?
(A) Bharatanatyam
(B) Kathak
(C) Salsa
(D) Kuchipudi -
Which of the following is not a major music genre in India?
(A) Carnatic Music
(B) Hindustani Music
(C) Jazz
(D) Rock -
Which of the following is not a major sport in India?
(A) Cricket
(B) Hockey
(C) Football
(D) Baseball
I hope these questions were challenging and interesting!