Chola Dynasty — TNPSC Group 4 History Notes

Overview

The Chola dynasty is one of the longest-ruling dynasties in world history — spanning from at least 300 BC (Sangam Age) to 1279 AD, a recorded span of over 1,500 years. Their history divides clearly into two phases:

1. Sangam Age / Early Cholas (~300 BC – 300 AD): celebrated in Tamil Sangam literature; capital at Uraiyur and Kaveripattinam 2. Interregnum (300–848 AD): the Cholas were overshadowed by Pallavas and Pandyas 3. Medieval Cholas (848–1279 AD): the most powerful period; great temples, naval empire, advanced local governance

Part I — Sangam Age Cholas (c. 300 BC – 300 AD)

The early Cholas ruled from Uraiyur (present-day Tiruchirappalli) and Kaveripattinam (also called Puhar), their great port city at the mouth of the Kaveri. They are extensively mentioned in Sangam literature — especially in Purananuru, Akananuru, and the epic Silappathikaram.

Capital and Symbol

Karikala Chola — The Greatest Sangam Chola

Karikala Chola (c. 1st–2nd century AD) is the most celebrated ruler of the Sangam Cholas. His name means "one with a charred leg" — he survived being burned as a child and later became king.

Battle of Venni:

• Karikala fought and won the Battle of Venni (location identified near present-day Kumbakonam)
• He defeated the combined army of the Cheras, Pandyas, and eleven Velir chiefs — a remarkable military achievement
• This victory is celebrated extensively in Sangam poetry, especially by the poet Kovur Kizhaar

Kaveri embankments:

• Karikala is credited with building embankments along the Kaveri River to control floods and expand cultivation
• He used the labour of 12,000 Chera and Pandya captives to build these works
• This feat of irrigation engineering expanded agriculture in the Kaveri delta — the granary of Tamil Nadu to this day

Kaveripattinam (Puhar):

• Under Karikala, Kaveripattinam became one of the great port cities of the ancient world
• Described in magnificent detail in the opening chapters of Silappathikaram — the city had a lighthouse, a harbour, merchants from Rome and Arabia, and multi-storey buildings
• Roman gold coins and amphora shards found at Kaveripattinam confirm active trade

Other Sangam Chola Kings

Sangam Literature on Cholas

The Cholas are richly documented in Sangam texts:

• Pattinappalai — describes Kaveripattinam in detail; attributed to the time of Karikala
• Purananuru poems 65–70 — on various Chola kings
• Sirupanattrupadai — describes Chola port trade
• Silappathikaram — epic set in Puhar (Kaveripattinam), describing life in a Chola port city

Part II — Medieval Cholas (848–1279 AD)

After centuries of eclipse under the Pallavas, a new Chola line emerged in the 9th century and built the greatest Tamil empire.

Key Rulers

Rajaraja I — The Great Conqueror

Rajaraja I transformed the Chola kingdom into a maritime empire:

• Conquered Sri Lanka — made it a Chola province
• Defeated the Western Chalukyas and the Pandyas
• Conquered the Maldives
• Captured the Kerala coast ports

His greatest legacy is the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur (1010 AD):

• 216 feet (66 m) tall — tallest temple of its era
• Built entirely of granite; the 80-tonne capstone was hauled up a 6-km ramp
• UNESCO World Heritage Site ("Great Living Chola Temples")
• Still an active place of worship after 1,000 years

Rajendra I — Gangaikonda Cholan

Rajendra I surpassed his father:

• Marched to Bengal, defeated the Pala king, and brought Ganga water to his new capital
• Named himself Gangaikonda Cholan ("the Chola who conquered the Ganga")
• Built Gangaikonda Cholapuram as a new capital with another great Shiva temple
• Sent a naval expedition to Kadaram (Malaysia / Sumatra, ~1025 AD) — largest overseas Indian military expedition in ancient history

Local Self-Government — The Chola Village System

The Chola administration is famous for its advanced village-level democracy, documented in inscriptions:

The Uttaramerur inscription (from Parantaka I's time) describes detailed election procedures:

• Village divided into 30 wards; one representative per ward
• Candidates had to own land, be literate, and be between 35–70 years old
• Anyone who had served before or had relatives in committee was disqualified
• Names written on palm leaf lots drawn from a pot — a form of lottery election

Chola Art and Architecture

The Chola period produced the greatest South Indian temple art:

• Nataraja bronze (Shiva as cosmic dancer) — cast by the lost-wax process; Chola bronzes in every major world museum
• Dravidian temple style perfected — massive gopurams (gateway towers), mandapas, temple tanks
• Three UNESCO Heritage temples: Brihadeeswara (Thanjavur), Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Airavatesvara (Darasuram)

Important for Exam - Karikala Chola = Battle of Venni; Kaveri embankments; capital Kaveripattinam - Early Chola capitals: Uraiyur (main), Kaveripattinam / Puhar (port) - Chola symbol: Tiger; Early capital: Uraiyur - Vijayalaya = founder of medieval Chola dynasty (848 AD) - Rajaraja I built Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur (1010 AD, UNESCO) - Rajendra I = Gangaikonda Cholan; naval expedition to Kadaram (~1025 AD) - Local self-government: Ur (general), Sabha (Brahmin), Nagaram (merchant) - Uttaramerur inscription = evidence of Chola local democracy