The Cholas were the feudatory of the Pallavas, began to assert their power and were able to replace the Pallavas. Chola Kingdom was founded by Vijayalaya the feudatory of Pallavas who captured Tanjore in 850 AD. They dominated over the Indian Peninsula, parts of Sri Lanka and Maldives. They ruled the very fertile delta of Cauvery basin which lies in the modern Trichy and Tanjore districts of Tamil Nadu. Though their rule lasted for about 200 years, the rule of Raja Raja, the great and that of his son Rajendra Chola are marked for their administration and conquest. Raja Raja ruled between 985 A.D. and 1012 A.D. He built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Tanjore. His was a rule of democracy. He introduced the ‘Kudavolai' system of elections. He was a staunch Hindu. But he practised religious tolerance not known in those days. Raja Raja was succeeded by his son Rajendra who ruled between 1012 A.D. and 1044 A.D. During his time foreign trade flourished. The emergence of the imperial Cholas during the 9th century marked a climax in the south Indian history. A large part of the peninsula was brought under its control and art and culture reached new heights of glory. Its influence was felt even in the countries of south-east Asia.
Parantaka I captured Madurai, but he was routed by the Rashtrakuta, Krishna III at the Battle of Takkalam. His son Rajaditya lost his life in the battle.
Sundarachola also known as Parantaka II, wrested Tondaimandalam from the Rashtrakutas and fought a battle with Pandiyas.
Rajaraja I (985-1014 A.D.): Son of Parantaka II, was a great general. He defeated the Chera navy and conquered Vengi, Kottam, Kalinga, Deccan, Ceylon and the Maldive islands. He was an administrator of great ability and encouraged the establishment of local self government in his kingdom and surveyed the land. He built the great temple of Rajarajeshwar (Brihadeeswar) at Thanjavur, a magnificent piece of architecture in Dravidian style. He granted a village for the maintenance of Buddhist Vihara built by a Sailendra king, at Nagapattinam.
Rajendra I (1014-1044 A.D.): Son and successor of Rajaraja I, continued the expansionist policy of his father. He annexed Pandya and Chera countries. The conquest of Srilanka was completed. He crossed the Ganga and marched across Kalinga to Bengal where he defeated Mahipala to commemorate this occasion. He assumed the title of ‘Gangaikondachola’. He built the new capital near the mouth of Cauvery and called it 'Gangaikondacholapuram’. With his naval forces he invaded Malaya peninsula and overran Kadaram, Srivijaya, Nicobar island and many other places.
Rajadhiraja (1044-1054 A.D.): Son and successor of Rajendra I. He put down the hostile forces in Ceylon but lost his life in a battle with the Chalukya Someshwara I at Kappam.The Cholas and the later Chalukya clashed for overlordship of Vengi, the Tungbhadra Doab and the Ganga country. Continuous fighting exhausted both the empires. In 13th century Cholas country was finally annexed by the Pandiyas.
Administration
The whole empire was divided into ‘Mandalam’ (province) and these in turn into 'Valanadu’ or Kotlam and Nadu. Village was the basic unit of administration The Cholas are best known for their local self-government at village level. Each village had an assembly to look after the affairs of the village. The general assemblies were of three types:
1. Ur - a general assembly of the village consisting of tax-paying residents
2. Sabha or Mahasabha, consists of a gathering of the adult men in the Brahmana villages called ‘Brahmadeya’ village and those granted to the Brahmanas and of the agrahara village was restricted to the Brahmans of the villages.
3. Nagaram was found in trading centres alone.
The‘ Uttaramerur' inscription (10lh century) describes how the local sabha functioned.
- There was a close contact between the central authority and the village assemblies
- The Chola officials had only a supervisory role over these assemblies.
- The Mahasabha possessed the proprietary rights over community lands and controlled the private lands within its jurisdiction.
- The judicial committee of the Mahasabha, called the ’nattar’ settled both civil and criminal cases of dispute.
Art and Literature
The Chola age was a golden age for Tamil art and literature.
- Jeevakacindamani, the masterpiece of Tamil literature was produced, Kamban's Ramayanam was another achievement.
- Temple architecture in the south attained its climax under the Cholas. The Rajarajeshwar Temple (Saiva temple) is the best example.
- The sculptural art of the Cholas was unparallel and is best represented by the bronze dancing images of Shiva (Nataraja) which has got applause the world over by art connoisseurs.
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