Kochenganan Chola

Period: Tamil Sanga Period or sometime between 400 AD and 600 AD

There are two different theories about Kochenganan Chola. Some scholars believe that he lived during the Tamil Sangam age and he was the one who fought with the Chera king Kanaikkal Irumborai. It is referred in Pura Nanooru.

There are other scholars who claim that Pura Nanooru did not talk about this king. According to them, this king was a powerful Chola king lived during Kalabhras period. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and built around 70 Shiva temples. He also won Kongu and Thondai countries. It is also believed that he could have fought with Buddha Varman Pallava and won him. Buddha Varman was the son of Simha Vishnu Pallava.

His parents were Suba Devan and Kamalavathi.

Kalabhras (Kalappirar)

Kalabhras who are called as Kalappirars by Tamils ruled Tamil Nadufor about three centuries from 3^rd or 4^th century AD. After their decline it was ruled by Pallavas and Pandyas for the next three centuries. Cholas came to limelight again in the middle of 9^th century AD during Vijayalayala Chola.

It is not clearly known who were Kalappirars actually. They appeared to be bandit group. The region between Tirupati and Ganges river was ruled by Satavahanas. Pallavas were princes who ruled the southern region and had accepted the supremacy of Satavahanas. After the decline of Satavahanas, Pallavas became powerful. They claimed themselves as the emperors for the region between Krishna river and Pennai river. They also captured Aruva and Aruva Vadathalai countries. This led the bandits in the forests of Kadappai to move towards south. Pallavas kept capturing the countries occupied by them and ultimately made Kanchi as their capital. The first Pallava king to have Kanchi as his capital was Siva Skandavarman. This made Kalabhras to enter into Cholas and Pandya regions. This could have hapenned between 350 AD - 450 AD.

Kalabhras ruled Chola region as powerful emperors till 575 AD. They were completely defeated by the Pallava king Simha Vishnu. They lost their mpire. They became princes in various regions such as Tanjore, Vallam, Chenthalai, Pudukkottai, etc.

In between, the Pandya king Kandungon became powerful and he established the Pandyan empire successfully. Similar to Pandyas, Cholas couldn't reestablish their empire. Initially, Kalbhras were powerful. Then, there were powerful Pallavas ruling the Chola region till 875 AD.

It appears the Kalabhras were Jains and Buddhists.

There are references about a Kalappirar king named Achchutavikkandan who claimed to have won Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas. He was a Buddhist. The reference was found in a book written by Buddhadatta (period: probably 450 AD).

Cholas during Kalappirar (Kalabhras) Period

 Tamil Nadu was ruled by Kalappirar aka Kalabhras for about three centuries from 3^rd or 4^th century AD. After their decline it was ruled by Pallavas and Pandyas for the next three centuries. Cholas came to limelight again in the middle of 9^th century AD during Vijayalayala Chola.

There is nothing much known about Cholas for about six centuries except for some references about them in some books such as Periya Puranam. It appears that some of them moved to Andhra area and called as Telugu Cholas and there were others who lived on the banks of river Kaveri. They either worked for Pandyas and Pallavas or married their women to them.

It is not clearly known who were Kalappirars actually. They appeared to be bandit group. It appears it was due to them that the Cholas declined in the 3rd century AD. They were defeated by Pandyas and Pallavas in the 6^th century AD. There are references about a Kalappirar king named Achchutavikkandan who claimed to have won Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas. He was a Buddhist. The reference was found in a book written by Buddhadatta (period: probably 450 AD).

 Although there are some records about Telugu Cholas, there are no much records about Tamil Cholas during Kalappirar period and Pallava/Pandya period. Only few references and records are available. Various Chalukya, Pandya, and Pallava kings claimed that they have won Cholas or captured Chola kingdoms. However, it is unknown how much truth was there in those records.

As per Periya Puranam, the Pandya king who lived during the period of Tirugnana Sambanda had a Chola princess named Mangaiyarkarasi as his wife. There was a Chola king named Pugal Chola Nayanar who won Karoor. When Sundarar went to Madurai along with Seraman Perumal, he saw a Chola prince who had married a Pandya princess. Uraiyur Nachchiyar who married Lord Ranganath was the daughter of the Chola king Dharmavarman.