Raja Raja Chola I
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Raja Raja Chozhan I (
Tamil:
ராஜ ராஜ சோழன்), born
Arunmozhi Thevar[1][2] (also called as
Raja Kesari Varman Raja Raja Devar[3] and respectfully as
Peruvudaiyar), popularly known as
Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the
Tamil Chola Empire of
India who ruled between 985 and 1014
CE. By conquering several small kingdoms in South India, he expanded the Chola Empire as far as
Sri Lanka in the south, and
Kalinga (
Odisha) in the northeast. He fought many battles with the
Chalukyas to the north and the
Pandyas to the south. By conquering
Vengi, Rajaraja laid the foundation for the
Later Chola dynasty. He invaded Sri Lanka and started a century-long Chola occupation of the island.
Dates
The key dates of Raja Raja's rule are difficult to come by. Scholar
N.Sethuraman concludes that he was born in circa 947 CE, was crowned on
18 July 985 and died in 1014 in the Tamil month of Maka.
[4]
Popular Prince
Raja Raja Chola was born in Thirukoilur ( head quarters of Nadu Naadu) as Arulmozhivarman, the third child of
Parantaka Sundara Chola (Aditya Karikala was the elder son and Kundhavai the elder sister) and Vanavan Maha Devi of the
Velir Malayaman
dynasty. Aditya karikala was not declared as the crown prince. During
the lifetime of his father Sundara Chola, Arulmozhivarman had carved a
name for himself through his exploits in the battles against the Sinhala
and
Pandyan armies. Sundara Chola’s eldest son and heir apparent
Aditya II was assassinated under unclear circumstances.
[5] Madhuranthaga, as the only child of
Gandaraditya (the brother of Arinjaya Chola), wanted the Chola throne as he felt it was his birthright. After the death of
Aditya II, Madhuranthaga was declared by Sundara Chola as the heir apparent ahead of Arulmozhivarman.
[5] Arulmozhivarman ascended the throne after the death of Madhuranthaga (Uttama Chola).
[5] The Thiruvalangadu
copper-plate inscriptions say:
- "…Though his subjects…entreated Arulmozhi Varman, he…did not desire the kingdom for himself even inwardly ".
This was to say that Raja Raja was legally elected through the kind
of democratic process followed by Cholas as seen in their Uttiramerur
inscription. This is widely accepted as the correct interpretation.
Another example of such a process is the selection of Sri Nandi Varman
II to the Pallava throne . It could very much be possible that the king
rejected the offer in order to continue to devote time and energy to
build the resources to realize the Chola military objectives.
Madhuranthaga made a compromise with Sundara Chola that Madhuranthaga
will be succeeded by Arulmozhi and not his own son. The Thiruvalangadu
inscription again states:
- "Having noticed by the marks (on his body) that Arulmozhi was the very Vishnu,
the protector of the three worlds, descended on earth, [Madhuranthaga]
installed him in the position of Yuvaraja (heir apparent) and himself
bore the burden of ruling the earth…"
Military conquests
Southern wars
The southern kingdoms of Pandyas,
Cheras and the
Sinhalas were often allied against the Cholas.
[6]
It was the case when Rajaraja came to the throne. Rajaraja's initial
campaigns were against the combined Pandya and Chera armies. There is no
evidence of any military campaign undertaken by Rajaraja until the
eighth year of his reign. During this period he was engaged in
organising and augmenting his army and in preparing for military
expeditions.
[7]
Kandalur Salai
The first military achievement of Rajaraja’s reign was the campaign in
Kerala c. 994 CE. Rajaraja’s early inscriptions use the descriptive ‘Kandalur salai kalamarutta’ (காந்தளுர் சாலைக் களமறுத்த).
In this campaign
Rajaraja is said to have destroyed a fleet in the port of Kandalur,
which appears to have been situated in the dominions of the Chera King
Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi (c. 978–1036 CE).
[7][8]
Inscriptions found around Thanjavur show that frequent references are
made to the conquest of the Chera king and the Pandyas in Malai-nadu
(the west coast of
South India).
Kandalur-Salai, which later inscriptions claim to have belonged to the
Chera king, was probably held by the Pandyas when it was conquered by
Rajaraja. Some years' fighting apparently was necessary before the
conquest could be completed and the conquered country could be
sufficiently settled for its administration could be properly organised.
[9]
In the war against the Pandyas, Rajaraja seized the Pandya king
Amarabhujanga and the Chola general captured the port of Virinam. To
commemorate these conquests Rajaraja assumed the title
Mummudi-Chola,
(the Chola king who wears three crowns – the Chera, Chola and Pandya)
and according to tradition the title Raja Raja was conferred on him by
serving members of Chidambaram temple of ancient who had also the duty
of conducting the swearing in ceremony of chola and pallava princes.
Malai Nadu
In a battle against the Cheras sometime before 1008 CE, Rajaraja captured
Udagai in the western hill country.
Kalingattuparani, a war poem written during the reign of
Kulothunga Chola I
hints at a slight on the Chola ambassador to the Chera court as the
reason for this sacking of Udagai. Rajaraja's son Rajendra was the Chola
general leading the army in this battle.
[7]
A place named Udagai is mentioned in connection with the conquest of
the Pandyas. The Kalingattu-Parani refers to the “storming of Udagai” in
the verse, which alludes to the reign of Rajaraja. The
Kulottunga-Cholan-ula also mentions the burning of Udagai. This was
probably an important stronghold in the Pandya country, which the Chola
king captured. The Tamil poem
Vikkirama Cholan ula mentions the conquest of Malai Nadu and the killing of 18 princes in retaliation of the insult offered to an envoy.
[10]
Invasion of Lanka
To eliminate the remaining actor in the triumvirate, Rajaraja invaded
Sri Lanka in 993 CE. The copper-plate inscription mention that
Rajaraja’s powerful army crossed the ocean by ships and burnt up the
kingdom of Lanka.
Mahinda V
was the king of Sinhalas. In 991 CE, Mahinda’s army mutinied with help
from mercenaries from Kerala. Mahinda had to seek refuge in the southern
region of Rohana. Rajaraja utilised this opportunity and invaded the
island. Chola armies occupied the northern half of Lanka and named the
dominion ‘Mummudi Chola Mandalam’.
Anuradhapura,
the 1400-year-old capital of Sinhala kings was destroyed. The
destruction was so extensive the city was abandoned. Cholas made the
city of
Polonnaruwa as their capital and renamed it
Jananathamangalam. The choice of this city demonstrates the desire of Rajaraja to conquer the entire island. Rajaraja also built a Temple for
Siva in Pollonaruwa.
[10]
RajaRajan's desire to bring the whole Lankan island under Cholan empire
was never fulfilled and the southern part of the island (
Ruhuna) remained independent. Later, king
Vijayabahu I successfully drove the Chola out of Sri Lanka in 1070, reuniting the country for the first time in over a century.
[11][12]
Northern Wars
Rajaraja also expanded his conquests in the north and northwest. The
regions of Gangapadi (Gangawadi), Nolambapadi (Nolambawadi), Tadigaipadi
came into Chola possession during Rajaraja.
Mural found in the Brihadeesvara temple, Tamil Nadu, 11th century. The
belief that this represents Rajaraja Chola (in the background) and his
guru Karuvurar is contested.
[13]
Ganga Wars
Before his 14th year c. 998–999 CE, Rajaraja conquered Gangapadi
(Gangawadi) and Nurambapadi (Nolambawadi), which formed part of the
present
Karnataka
State. This conquest was facilitated by the fact the Cholas never lost
their hold of the Ganga country from the efforts of Sundara Chola.
Nolambas
who were the feudatories of Ganga could have turned against their
overlords and aided the Cholas to conquer the Gangas, who were the chief
bulwark against the Chola armies in the northwest.
The invasion of the Ganga country was a success and the entire Ganga
country was under the Chola rule for the next century. The easy success
against the Gangas was also due to the disappearance of
Rashtrakutas c. 973 CE as they were conquered by the western
Chalukyas. From this time, the Chalukyas became the main antagonists of Cholas in the northwest.
Western Chalukya Wars
During the reign of Rajaraja Chola, there were continuous wars with the
Western Chalukyas
to assert supremacy and there are multiple epigraphic evidences that
show that the Cholas were constantly fighting with the Chalukyas or
against the vassals of the latter. It is unclear as to why Rajaraja
mounted an invasion against Satyasraya. According to historian Eugen
Hultzsch the circumstances that led to the war are not mentioned in any
of Rajaraja's inscriptions. But we do know that the rulers of these two
conquered provinces were originally feudatories of the Rashtrakutas.
[14]
An inscription of Irivabedanga Satyasraya from Dharwar describes him as
a vassal of the Western Chalukya Ahvamalla for he describes himself as a
bee at the lotus feet of Ahavamalldeva in 1002 A.D. An inscription of
Rajaraja asserts that he captured Rattapadi by force. Rajendra led the
Chola armies against the Western Chalukyas and would turn
Manyakheta,
the Chalukyan capital into his own playground. Raja Raja I claims
damages worth "seven and a half lakshas from Irattapadi which was
evidently the site of war with Satyashraya resulting in victory for Raja
Raja I and payment of damages by the Chalukya king. Chalukya kingdom
Satyashraya would renege on his promise of agreeing to Chola suzerainty,
but would be defeated by Rajendra Chola I when he became king.
Irivabedanga Satyasraya
partially acknowledges this Chola onslaught in his Hottur (Dharwad)
inscription as he screams in pain. In his own words he calls himself the
ornament of Chalukya race and the slayer of the Tamil. He identifies
his opponent as Rajaraja Nittavinodha Rajendra Vidyadhara, the ornament
of the Chola kula Nūrmadi Chola(one hundred times more powerful).
[15]
In the same inscription, he accuses Rajendra of having arrived with a
force of 900,000 and of having gone on rampage in Donuwara thereby
blurring the moralities of war as laid out in the Dharmasastras.
[16]
He says that his opponent destroyed the caste (jāti nāsa) of his
people. Historians like James Heitzman, Wolfgang Schenkluhn conclude
that this confrontation displayed the degree of animosity on a personal
level between the rulers of the Chola and the Chalukya kingdoms, the
feeling of
otherness and their inability to identify with the
other side that degenerated to a level of violence that overthrew the
established social order(
destruction of caste). They also draw a
parallel between this relationship and the enmity between the Chalukyas
of Badami and the Pallavas of Kanchi.
[17] There is also epigrahic evidence of earlier encounters between the Cholas and the
Hoysalas
who were vassals of the Western Chalukyas during the reign of Rajaraja
Chola. An inscription from the roof of the Gopalakrishna temple at
Kaleyur in the
Tirumukudalu Narasipur
taluk dated in Saka 929 being current, Parabhava, corresponding to 1006
A.D, records that Rajaraja's viceroy Aprameya displayed his valor by
slaying the
Hoysala minister Naganna and multiple other generals of the
Hoysalas like Manjaga, Kalega(or Kali Ganga), Nagavarman, etc.
[18] There is also a similar inscription in the
Channapatna taluk that shows Rajaraja crushing the
Hoysalas.
[19]
Rajaraja evidently attached much importance to his victory over
Satyasraya, as he is said to have presented gold flowers to the
Rajarajesvara temple on his return from the expedition. At the end of
this war, the southern banks of the Tungabadhra river became the
frontier between these two empires.
War against Vengi
The cholas in pursuit of their objective of annihilating to ground
evil kingdoms" and hence destroy the excessive wickedness of age of Kali
had clashed with many kingdoms and one of which was Vengi. Parantaka
Chola I who had made extensive conquests had in fact subdued the Deccan
kingdom that flourished in this region in 913.C.E. Even in Inscriptions
of Sundarachola we find a Chola regiment in Eastern Deccan preparing to
invade
Odisha. Thus there is no truth in the proposition of "Chola Throne" ties with "Vengi".
Some of Chola Inscriptions of Raja Raja note how during a war against
Vengi, the king himself took initiative and killed a certain ruler
called Bheema ruling that area because " he felled one of his
commanders". Thus even if Cholas had reigned supreme in Eastern Deccan
it was certainly a military vision and the small province of Vengi most
probably served as a military base for Cholas who frequently sent in
expeditions to Odisha and Western Deccan. We know about such base
building activities down south in Pandyan country and also near
Suchindram and Colombo in Lanka where the Cholas are known to have built
naval bases and also " some temples for Lord Vishnu ".
Kalinga conquest
The invasion of the kingdom of Kalinga must have occurred subsequent to the conquest of Vengi.
[20] Rajendra Chola, as the commander of the Chola forces invaded and defeated the
Andhra king Bhima.
Naval Conquests
Detail of the main gopura (tower) of the Thanjavur Temple
One of the last conquests of Rajaraja was the naval conquest of the ‘old islands of the sea numbering 12,000’, the
Maldives.
[21]
We have no further details regarding this expedition, however this is
a sufficient indication of the abilities of the Chola Navy, which was
utilised effectively under Rajendra I. Chola Navy also had played a
major role in the invasion of
Lanka.
[22]
The increasing realization of the importance of a good Navy and the
desire to neutralize the emerging Chera Naval power were probably the
reasons for the Kandalur campaign in the early days of Rajaraja’s reign.
[23]
Nagapattinam
on the Bay of Bengal was the main port of the Cholas and could have
been the navy headquarters.Bay of Bengal called as Chola lake Hope the
Tamil King - Rajaraja Chola was the First Indian Ruler to establish the
First Indian Naval Fleet some 1200 years back. He had established his
rule extending from India up to South East Asia with his Naval Fleet.
His rule extended beyond the Bay of Bengal Sea. He even ruled the Java,
Sumatra lands in S.E.Asia, parts of Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei islands
and even some territory Islands that belongs to Australia & even
Tasmania, New Zealand.
The Tamil king Rajendra Chola, son of Raja Raja Chola also has the
Honour of establishing the first Indian merchant naval fleet. He
transformed the Naval Fleet of his Father into Merchant Naval Fleet and
thereby established Trade from India to the S.E.Asia and even the China.
There are also evidence that they had Trade through Sea with the
Romans.....
Thanjavur Temple
Rajaraja’s reign is commemorated by the Siva temple in Thanjavur,
called Raajarajeswaram. The Peruvudaiyar Koyil (Tamil: பெருவுடையார்
கோயில், peruvuḍaiyār kōyil ?), also known as Brihadeeswarar Temple,
Rajarajeswaram and ‘Big Temple', turned 1000 years old in 2010.The
temple is now recognised as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, forming part of the
Great Living Chola Temples site.
The construction of the temple is said to have been completed on the 275th day of the 25th year of his reign.
[24]
After its commemoration the temple and the capital had close business
relations with the rest of the country and acted as a centre of both
religious and economic activity. Year after year villages from all over
the country had to supply men and material for the temple maintenance.
[25]
The tower or the
sikhara
is very high and decorated with sculptures. The entrance to the temple
is a high gateway which is also beautifully decorated with sculptures
called the
gopuram. Nandi, Shiva's bull, guards the temple. Stories of Shiva and Parvati and moreover, eighty one poses of
Bharatnatyam are carved on the walls of the temple.
Administration
Rajaraja chola territories
From the 23rd to the 29th year of Rajaraja’s rule his dominions
enjoyed peace and the king apparently devoted his energies to the task
of internal administration. The building of the Rajarajesvara temple in
Thanjavur and the various endowments and gifts to it must have occupied a
prominent place in the king’s mind during these years.
Rajaraja carried out a revenue and settlement during the final years
of his reign. Inscriptions found in the Thanjavur temple bear testimony
to the accuracy of this operation. Land as small in extent as
1/52,428,800,000 of a ‘veli’ (a land measure) was measured and assessed
to revenue. The revenue survey enabled for the confiscation of lands of
the defaulting landlords.
[26]
Rajaraja also perfected the administrative organisation by creating a
strong and centralised machinery and by appointing local government
authorities. He installed a system of audit and control by which the
village assemblies and other public bodies were held to account while
not curtailing their autonomy.
He promoted International trade by patronising "Thisai ayirathi ettu
Ainootruvar", which is an ancient Tamil trade organisation which carried
on trade from the length and breadth of the Indian Ocean From the
Arabia to the Malaya.
Military Organisation
Rajaraja created a powerful standing army and a considerable navy
which achieved even greater success under his son Rajendra. The
prominence given to the army from the conquest of the Pandyas down to
the last year of the king’s reign is significant, shows the spirit with
which he treated his soldiers. A number of regiments are mentioned in
the Tanjore inscriptions and it is evident that Rajaraja gave his army
its due share in the glory derived from his extensive conquests.
In most of the foregoing names the first portion appears to be the
surnames or titles of the king himself or of his son. That these
regiments should have been called after the king or his son is
indicative of the attachment the Chola king bore towards his army.
It is possible that these royal names were pre-fixed to the
designations of these regiments after they had distinguished themselves
in some engagement or other. It is worthy of note that there are
elephant troops, cavalry and foot soldiers among these regiments. To
some of these regiments, the management of certain minor shrines of the
temple was entrusted and they were expected to provide for the
requirements of the shrine. Others among them took money from the temple
on interest, which they agreed to pay in cash. We are not, however,
told to what productive purpose they applied this money. At any rate all
these transactions show that the king created in them an interest in
the temple he built.
Officials and Feudatories
Rajendra Chola was made co-regent during the last years of Rajaraja’s
rule. He was also the Mahadandanayaka Panchavan Maharaya – supreme
commander- of the northern and northwestern dominions. Uttarangudaiyan
Kon Vidividangan alias Villavan Muvendavelan was one of the top officers
(
Perundaram) of Rajaraja. He figures in many of his inscriptions
most notably when he and other top officers take a vow to light lamps
and make other donations if they escaped from being disgraced during the
military operations towards the
end of Rajaraja's reign.
Paluvettaraiyars
from the region of Thiruchirapalli were closely associated with the
Cholas from the time of Parantaka I when he married a Paluvettaraiyar
princess, were occupying a high position in the Chola administration.
They were apparently enjoying full responsibility and administration of
the region of Paluvur. One of the names of these feudal chieftains found
in inscriptions were Adigal Paluvettaraiyar Kandan.He built a massive
temple in Gangai konda cholapuram a mile stone of chola architecture.
Madurantakan Gandaradityan who served in Rajaraja’s court as an
important official in the department of temple affairs. He conducted
enquiries into temple affairs in various parts of the country, punishing
defaulters.
The other names of officials found in the inscriptions are the
Bana prince Narasimhavarman, a general Senapathi Sri
Krishnan Raman, the Samantha chief
Vallavarayan Vandiyadevan, the revenue official Irayiravan Pallavarayan and Kuruvan Ulagalandan who organised the country-wide land surveys.
Standardised Inscriptions
Example of a typical lithic inscription of the Chola period
Due to Rajaraja's desire to record his military achievements in every
one of his inscriptions he handed down to posterity some of the
important events of his life. As far as we know at present, Rajaraja was
the first king of South India to introduce this innovation into his
inscriptions. Before his time powerful kings of the Pallava, Pandya and
Chola dynasties had reigned in the South, and some of them had made
extensive conquests. But none of them seems to have considered leaving a
record on stone of his military achievements.
The idea of Rajaraja to add a short account of his military
achievements at the beginning of every one of his inscriptions was
entirely his own. His action in this respect is all the more laudable
because his successors evidently followed his example and have left us
more or less complete records of their conquests. But for the historical
introductions, which are often found at the beginning of the Tamil
inscriptions of Chola, kings the lithic records of the Tamil country
would be of very little value, and consequently even the little advance
that has been made in elucidating the history of Southern India would be
difficult.
An inscription by Rajaraja in
Tamil, found in the
Mulbagal district of Karnataka, shows his accomplishments as early as the 19th year. An excerpt from such a
Meikeerthi, an inscription recording great accomplishments, follows:
[27]
ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ் திருமகள் போல பெருநிலச் செல்வியுந் தனக்கேயுரிமை பூண்டமை
மனக்கொளக் காந்தளூர்ச் சாலைக் களமறூத்தருளி வேங்கை நாடும் கங்கைபாடியும்
நுளம்பபாடியும் தடிகை பாடியும் குடமலை நாடும் கொல்லமும் கலிங்கமும் எண்டிசை
புகழ்தர ஈழ மண்டலமும் இரட்டபாடி ஏழரை இலக்கமும் திண்டிறல் வென்றி தண்டால்
கொண்டதன் பொழில் வளர் ஊழியுள் எல்லா யாண்டிலும் தொழுதகை விளங்கும் யாண்டே
செழிஞரை தேசுகொள் ஸ்ரீ்கோவிராஜராஜகேசரி பந்மரான ஸ்ரீராஜராஜ தேவர்
| “ |
In the 19th year of the reign of
sri-Kōv-IRājarāja-IRājakēsaripanmar who,- while his heart rejoiced that
like the goddess of fortune, the goddess of great earth had also become
his great wife- during his long life of growing gracefulness, was
pleased to destroy the ships at Kāndalūr Sālai; conquered with his
heroic and victorious army Vēngai-nādu, Gangapadi, Nulambapadi,
Tadigai-vali, Kollam, Kalingam, Kudumalai-nādu and after having crossed
the deep sea, the impregnamble N..njiram, and deprived the Sēlinār(the
Pandyas) of their splendour at the very time when their greatness, which
was adored everywhere on earth, became conspicuous;-.[28]
|
” |
The historical side of Rajaraja’s intellectual nature is further
manifested in the order he issued to have all the grants made to the
Thanjavur temple engraved on stone. Rajaraja not only was particular
about recording his achievements, but also was equally diligent in
preserving the records of his predecessors. For instance, an inscription
of his reign found at Tirumalavadi near Thruchi records an order of the
king to the effect that the central shrine of the Vaidyanatha temple at
the place should be rebuilt and that, before pulling down the walls,
the inscriptions engraved on them should be copied in a book. The
records were subsequently re-engraved on the walls from the book after
the rebuilding was finished.
Religious Policy
An ardent follower of Saivism (one of the 4 major streams of
Hinduism), Rajaraja was nevertheless tolerant towards other faiths and
creeds. He also had several temples for Vishnu constructed. He also
encouraged the construction of the Buddhist
Chudamani Vihara at the request of the
Srivijaya
king Sri Maravijayatungavarman. Rajaraja dedicated the proceeds of the
revenue from the village of Anaimangalam towards the upkeep of this
Vihara.
Tirumurai Compilation
Raja Raja Chola embarked on a mission to recover the hymns after hearing short excerpts of
Tevaram in his court.
[29] He sought the help of Nambi Andar Nambi, who was a priest in a temple.
[30]
It is believed that by divine intervention Nambi found the presence of
scripts, in the form of cadijam leaves half eaten by white ants in a
chamber inside the second precinct in
Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram.
[29][30] The
brahmanas (
Dikshitars)
in the temple opposed the mission, but Rajaraja intervened by
consecrating the images of the saint-poets through the streets of
Chidambaram.
[29][31] Rajaraja thus became to be known as
Tirumurai Kanda Cholan meaning one who saved the
Tirumurai.
[31]
Thus far Shiva temples only had images of god forms, but after the
advent of Rajaraja, the images of the Nayanar saints were also placed
inside the temple.
[31] Nambi arranged the hymns of three saint poets
Sambandar,
Appar and
Sundarar as the first seven books,
Manickavasagar's
Tirukovayar and
Tiruvacakam as the 8th book, the 28 hymns of nine other saints as the 9th book, the
Tirumandiram of
Tirumular as the 10th book, 40 hymns by 12 other poets as the 10th book,
Tirutotanar Tiruvanthathi - the sacred
anthathi of the labours of the 63 nayanar saints and added his own hymns as the 11th book.
[32] The first seven books were later called as
Tevaram, and the whole Saiva canon, to which was added, as the 12th book,
Sekkizhar's
Periya Puranam (1135 CE) is wholly known as
Tirumurai, the holy book. Thus Saiva literature which covers about 600 years of religious, philosophical and literary development.
[32]
Personal Life and Family
Rajaraja was born Arulmozhivarman and was the third child of Parantaka Sundara Chola.
Rajaraja Chola's mother, Vaanavan Maadevi, was the daughter of Thirukkovilur king, Malayamaan Thirumudi Kaari.
His elder brother Aditya II was assassinated c. 969 CE. He had great respect for his elder sister
Ālvār Sri Parāntakan Sri Kundavai Pirāttiyār or more popularly referred to as
Kundavai Pirāttiyār. We also know of at least one daughter of Rajaraja called
Rajaraja Kundavai Alvar who he named after his sister.
[33][34] Rajaraja had a number of wives. According to inscriptions, at least 15 names are mentioned as his wives -
Ulagamaga Deviyari,
Thidaipiran magal Chola Madeviyar,
Abhimanavaliyar,
Thirailokiya Madeviyar,
Panchavan Madeviyar,
Piruthivi Madeviyar,
Elada Madeviyar,
Meenavan Madeviyar,
Nakkan Thillai Alzagiyar,
Kaadan Thongiyar,
Koothan Veeraniyar,
Elangon Pichiyar.
[35] Also
Elangon Pichiyar was the daughter of
Vallavaraiyan Vandhiyathevan and
Kundavai Nachiyar. The mother of Rajendra I, the only known son of Rajaraja, was Vaanathi (otherwise called as
Thiripuvana Madeviyar),
Princess of Kodumbaalur. Rajaraja must have had at least three
daughters. One of the daughter was named after Rajaraja Cholan's sister -
Kundavai who was married to the Chalukya Prince
Vimaladithan. Another daughter was called as
Mathevalzagal and was mentioned as the
Naduvit Penn (meaning middle daughter) in one of the Thiruvilachuzhi inscriptions.
[35] The name of the third daughter is not known.
Rajaraja was succeeded by Rajendra Chola I. His natal star was
Sadhayam. It was celebrated as Sadhaya-nal vizha, a 7 day festival
culminating on his star birthday during the king and his son's reign.
[36] Rajaraja also bore the title
Telungana Kula Kala.
[37][38][39] He was also known as
Rajaraja Sivapada Sekhara (he who had the feet of
Lord Shiva as his crown).
[40]
Historic novels featuring Rajaraja Chola-I
- Ponniyin Selvan,written by amarar kalki revolves around the life of raja raja chola and his ambition for annexing lanka.
- Arulmozhi Varman, is the hero of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s historical novel. Its plot revolves around the mysteries surrounding the assassination of Aditya Karikalan and the subsequent accession of Uttama
to the Chola throne. Kalki imagines Arulmozhi sacrificing his rightful
claim to the throne by crowning Uttama during his own coronation.
- Arulmozhi Varman, is the hero of Vembu Vikiraman’s
historical novel Nandipurathu Nayagi. The plot of the story revolves
around the ascension of Uttama Chola to the throne and Raja Raja's tour
to the distant sea countries.
- Rajaraja Cholan – Drama, written by Aru. Ramanathan, called
as Kathal Ramanathan. (TKS Group made numerous Stage Shows on this Drama
and later it was taken as Movie acted by Shivaji Ganesan). This drama as a book Published by Prema Pirasuram, Chennai. is made as a Study Material in South Indian Universities.
- Balakumaran has also written the story Udaiyar
based on the life of Rajaraja Chola. While Kalki's novel describes his
life at his youth at the time of the death of Aditya Karikala, Bala
Kumaran deals with Rajaraja Chola's life after he becomes the emperor.
- In January 2007, Kaviri Mainthan – a novel set in the Chola period
and a sequel to Ponniyin Selvan was written by Anusha Venkatesh,
published by The Avenue Press.
- Sujatha
wrote a novel "Kandalur Vasantha Kumaran Kathai", which deal with the
situations leading Raja raja to invade Kandhalur, a sea port.
- Gokul Seshadri has written a novel "Rajakesari", which deals with
the after effects of Kandhalur invasion, in Rajaraja Chola's life. Also
there is another novel "Cherar Kottai" by the same author, which deals
with the Kandhalur invasion by Rajaraja Chola.
