Aditya Chola I

Aditya Chola I was the son of Vijayalaya Chola. It appears that his reign was between 870 AD and 907 AD. He had "Rajakesari" title. He was also called as Kodnda Raman.

The famous Thirupurambiyam battle hapenned during the period of this great Chola king. Thirupurambiyam is a small town near Tanjore in Tamil Nadu state of India. The battle was mainly between the Pallava king Aparajit and Pandia king Varaguna Pandian aka Varagunavarman II. After the Pallava king Nandivarman III died in 869 AD, the differences arose between his eldest son Nripatunga and another son Aparajit. Nripatunga was supported by Pandians whereas Aparajit was supported by Pallavas. Aparajit also got the support of Ganga king Prithvipathi I and Aditya Chola I. This battle should have hapenned in 879 AD. The Pandians were defeated in this battle. Although Pallavas won the battle, the Ganga king Prithvipathi was killed in the battle. Hence, the maximum benefit of victory went to the Chola king. Pallavas gave many regions around Tanjore from Mutharaiyars to Chola king as the token of appreciation.

After Thirupurambiyam battle, the Pandyas wanted to reduce the importance of Cholas. They even invaded Cholas and camped at a place called Idavai in the northern part of Chola kingdom. However, nothing much is known about this incident.

Later, the chola king Aditya Chola I became very powerful. In a battle, he defeated Aparajit and captured Pallava kingdom. It is believed that he himself killed Aparajit who was riding an elephant in the battle. This battle would have hapenned in 890 AD. However, it appears that for the next few years there was no peace in the newly acquired kingdom. Aditya and his son Parantaga Chola had to keep controlling the revolt and fight tiny battles. Although there is no proper records, it appears that Gangas would have helped Cholas to win Pallavas. It is evident from the fact that they accepted Pallavas as their masters.

Aditya married Ilango Pitchi, the daughter of Rashtrakoota king Krishna II. She was his first wife. He also married a Pallava princess.

It was during his period the Chola kingdom spread like anything. He captured Tondai Mandalam (region) from Pallavas. Gangas were under his control. He also captured Kongu country. He maintained good relationship with Tanu Ravi, the Chera king. Parantaga Chola and Kannara Deva are his sons.

He was a great devotee. He built a lot of Shiva temples across Tamil Nadu. It is said that he built totally 64 Shiva temples across the banks of river Cauvery right from its origin till the site where it merges with the ocean.

He died in a place called Maanadu near Kalahasti. His son Parantaga built a temple called as Kodanda Rameswaran aka Aditeeswaram on his tomb.

It was during his period the Cholas started claiming themselves as the descendants of Sun. The inscriptions were made with the list of 15 kings before Vijayalaya Chola in Anbil. Tiruvalankadu inscription gives the list of 44 Chola kings. Kanyakumari inscription gives the list of 52 kings whereas Leidan inscription gives the list of 12 kings. The ancient Tamil literature books such as Kalingathu Barani and Ottakkootharin Ulakkal give different list of Chola kings. Not any two lists give similar names.

Vijayalaya Chola

Reign: 846 AD - 881 AD (or 850 AD - 890 AD)
Father: Kumaraan Kusan (according to some scholars)
Wife: Not known
Children: Aditya Chola
Capital city: Uraiyur or Palaiyaru

'Parakesari' Vijayalaya Chola was the first Chola of medieval period. The early Cholas were very powerful. However, they lost thier power and became princes. Even, Vijayalaya Chola was just a prince under the control of Pallava empire. He came to power in 850 AD or 846 AD. Uraiyur or Palaiyaru was his capital city.

During his period, the Pallavas had to keep fighting with Pandyas and Chalukyas. The Pallava king Nandivarman III won Pandian Varagunan and Chola in the battle of Tellaru. Either Vijayalaya Chola or his predecessor would have helped Pandya king in this war.

Later, in 854 AD, there was a battle between Pandian king and Pallava in Kudamooku (current day's Kumbakonam). In this battle, the son of Varaguna Pandian I, Srimaran Srivallaba won the Pallava. Then, there was a battle between Nandivarman's son Nirupadunga Pallava and Srimaran in the banks of river Arichilaru. The Pallava won this battle.

 In 862 AD, Srimaran's son Varaguna Pandian II waged war against the Pallavas. The Pallava king Aparajithavarman got help from his grand father Ganga king Prithvipati. The Chola king Vijayalaya helped the Pallava king. The war hapenned in a small place called Tirupurambiyam near Kumbakonam. There was a royal clan named Mutharaiyar who either used to support Pallavas or Pandyas depending upon the situation. During Vijayalaya's reign, Mutharaiyars were supporting Pandyas and were ruling from Niyamam aka Chenthalai. Tanjore city was also under their control. The Pallava won the battle; Vijayalaya captured Tanjore from Mutharaiyars. Prithvipathi was killed in the battle. It should be noted that it was not him but was his son Aditya Chola was participated in the Tirupurambiyam battle. He would have been very old during this period.

According to few scholars, he had already won Tanjore from Mutharaiyar in 846 AD.

It appears that he had built a temple for Durga (Nisumbasudhani) in Tanjore.

It is not known what was his father's name. However, few scholars assume it would be Kumaraan Kusan.

It is said that he had fought 32 battles and have 96 brave marks in his body.

It is not known about his wife. He had a sone named Aditya Chola.

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.

Kanaikkal Irumborai Chera

Kanaikkal Irumborai was an early Chera king lived during the Tamil Sangam age.

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 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.

Nambi Nedunchezhiyan

Nambi Nedunchezhiyan was a Chola prince who lived during the Tamil Sangam age. Nothing much is known about him.

Nalluruddhiran Chola

Nalluruddhiran Chola was an early Chola prince lived during the Tamil Sangam period. There is no much information available about him in the history. This king was also a poet. His poems are found in 'Kaliththogai'.