Monday, June 13, 2011

Kochchenganan Chola

Kochchenganan Chola was an early Chola king who probably lived during the Tamil Sangam age. Similar to Karikala Chola, this king also has a lot of mythological stories more than historical records.

There are references to Kochchenganan in old Tamil works such as Kalingaththu Barani, Vikrama Chola Ula, Pura Nanooru and Periya Puranam. Unfortunately, most of them could be categorized only as myth and not as history. As per the mythology, this king was a spider in his previous birth.

Kochchenganan defeated the Chera king Kanaikkal Irumborai in a place called Kazhumalam near Karur. Kanaikkal was arrested and put behind the bars. Kanaikkal was a poet too. As per his poems found in the old Tamil work 'Pura Nanoonuru', he had to beg the soldiers for water. The poet Poigaiyaar intervened and got his released from the prison.

Kochchenganan built many Shiva temples. The prominent Shiva temple that was built by him is Tiruvanaikal temple.

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