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The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
King Rajendra Chola's military expedition to the Gangetic plains that inspired the building of Gangaikonda Cholapuram
The stone edifice of Gangaikonda Cholisvaram, the Shiva temple more famously known as the Brihadisvara Temple, dominates the skyline of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram, a nondescript village in Udayarpalayam taluk of Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu. It is hard to believe that the place was a throbbing capital of the Imperial Cholas for about 250 years. The city, its temple, and its massive lake called Chola Gangam remain the embodiment of the signal achievements of Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1012-1044 CE). Rajendra Chola I is famed for his exploits, but his military expedition to the Gangetic plains about a thousand years ago remains one of the most celebrated in the history of the Chola dynasty. The Tiruvalangadu, Esalam, and Karanthai Copper Plates, several inscriptions, and literary works celebrate his victory and the construction of the Brihadisvara Temple, listed as one of the three great living Chola temples by UNESCO. Rajendra himself celebrated the victory by assuming the title 'Gangaikonda Cholan'. He also built Gangaikonda Cholapuram, along with the Gangaikonda Cholisvaram — the jewel in his crown that rivals the Rajarajeswaram (also known as Brihadisvara Temple) built by his father in Thanjavur — and the Chola Gangam, excavated as a jalasthambam, a liquid pillar of victory. Water from the Ganga During the expedition to the Gangetic plains, Rajendra Chola I defeated several kings and chieftains, including the Kalinga ruler and the Pala ruler Mahipala of Bengal. According to the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates, the vanquished kings were made to carry the Ganga water on their heads to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The water was poured into the Chola Gangam, now known as Ponneri. Rajendra Chola I also brought several beautiful Chalukya and Kalinga sculptures as war trophies. But why did Rajendra Chola I shift his capital from Thanjavur? Many historians believe that one of the reasons could be that he wanted a bigger well-planned city to accommodate his huge army and serve his mercantile interests better. R. Nagasamy, the first Director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, however, holds an interesting view. Rajendra Chola I, he says, probably had a 'sentimental attachment' to the place which inspired him to attain phenomenal success, though it was unheard of even as a village when he came to the throne. 'Tanjavur had been the Chola capital ever since it had been captured from the Muttaraiya chieftains by Vijayalaya... Tanjavur served the interests of the Cholas well... Yet, within a few years of the erection of the great temple [Rajarajeswaram] and within a few years of his [Raja Raja I] passing, his son, Rajendra, shifted his capital to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Was this because Gangaikonda Cholapuram served strategic purpose better than Tanjavur (but Tanjavur had better claims with its fortifications and natural river barriers)! No answer is possible except for a suggestion that it was probably here that Rajendra resolved to despatch a military expedition to the Gangetic plain,' says Nagasamy in his book, Gangaikondacholapuram, published by the department in 1970. Gangaikonda Cholapuram remained the capital from 1025 CE till the fall of the Chola dynasty till 1279 CE. 'As the capital of the Cholas from about 1025 AD for the about 250 years, the city controlled the affairs of entire south India, from the Tungabhadra in the north to Ceylon in the south,' says Nagasamy. It was the second largest and important city in the 11th-12th Centuries and the centre of political, commercial and cultural activities, like Madurai in Pandyanadu and Karur in Cheranadu, says Natana Kasinathan, another former Director of the Department of Archaeology. Yet, there is no inscription of Rajendra Chola I in the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a spectacular gallery of Chola art and architecture. It is from an inscription of his son Vira Rajendra that it is known that his father had built the temple. Details about the palace and other parts of the city are found in the epigraphs of Rajendra's successors, says Kasinathan in his book, The Metropolis of Medieval Cholas. The inscription of Vira Rajendra, the third son of Rajendra, refers to the palace at Gangaikonda Cholapuram as Chola-Keralan Thirumaaligai, evidently named after one of the titles of Rajendra I. Bustling city once Gangaikonda Cholapuram had been a bustling city with a fort, palaces, and well-planned streets. 'In an inscription dated in the 49th year of Kulottunga (1119 AD,) a reference is made to Gangaikondachola maaligai at this place. It is likely that there were more than one royal building, each having its own name. Besides, the names of the palace and fort walls, the names of a few roads and streets are preserved in the epigraphs,' says Kasinathan. The city is celebrated in Tamil literature too. An elaborate description of the citadel comes from Muvar Ula of Ottakuttar. Rajaraja Cholan Ula gives an account of almost all the important places of the city. The city is referred to as Gangapuri in Kalingattuparani, composed by Jayankondar. Though there have been attempts to excavate and showcase the past glory of the city in the recent times, the fortunes of Gangaikonda Cholapuram seems to have come a full circle. 'This capital of the most powerful empire in Asia at one time is now desolate, only the temple survives. To those who know of the brilliant history of the Chola empire, it is a tragedy,' writes Nagasamy. As he explains, the Pandyas, who put an end to the Chola empire in the 13th Century, avenging their defeats, 'should have razed the city to the ground'. One thousand years have passed since the sacred Ganga water was brought to this city, and the millennium deserves to be commemorated as a fitting tribute to the emperor who founded the city, says R. Komagan, chairman, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Development Council Trust.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
A military expedition to the Gangetic plains that inspired a Chola capital
The stone edifice of Gangaikonda Cholisvaram, the Shiva temple more famously known as the Brihadisvara Temple, dominates the skyline of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram, a nondescript village in Udayarpalayam taluk of Ariyalur district. It is hard to believe that the place was a throbbing capital of the Imperial Cholas for about 250 years. The city, its temple, and its massive lake called Chola Gangam remain the embodiment of the signal achievements of Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1012-1044 CE). Rajendra Chola I is famed for his exploits, but his military expedition to the Gangetic plains about a thousand years ago remains one of the most celebrated in the history of the Chola dynasty. The Tiruvalangadu, Esalam, and Karanthai Copper Plates, several inscriptions, and literary works celebrate his victory and the construction of the Brihadisvara Temple, listed as one of the three great living Chola temples by UNESCO. Rajendra himself celebrated the victory by assuming the title 'Gangaikonda Cholan'. He also built Gangaikonda Cholapuram, along with the Gangaikonda Cholisvaram — the jewel in his crown that rivals the Rajarajeswaram (also known as Brihadisvara Temple) built by his father in Thanjavur — and the Chola Gangam, excavated as a jalasthambam, a liquid pillar of victory. Water from the Ganga During the expedition to the Gangetic plains, Rajendra Chola I defeated several kings and chieftains, including the Kalinga ruler and the Pala ruler Mahipala of Bengal. According to the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates, the vanquished kings were made to carry the Ganga water on their heads to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The water was poured into the Chola Gangam, now known as Ponneri. Rajendra Chola I also brought several beautiful Chalukya and Kalinga sculptures as war trophies. But why did Rajendra Chola I shift his capital from Thanjavur? Many historians believe that one of the reasons could be that he wanted a bigger well-planned city to accommodate his huge army and serve his mercantile interests better. R. Nagasamy, the first Director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, however, holds an interesting view. Rajendra Chola I, he says, probably had a 'sentimental attachment' to the place which inspired him to attain phenomenal success, though it was unheard of even as a village when he came to the throne. 'Tanjavur had been the Chola capital ever since it had been captured from the Muttaraiya chieftains by Vijayalaya... Tanjavur served the interests of the Cholas well... Yet, within a few years of the erection of the great temple [Rajarajeswaram] and within a few years of his [Raja Raja I] passing, his son, Rajendra, shifted his capital to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Was this because Gangaikonda Cholapuram served strategic purpose better than Tanjavur (but Tanjavur had better claims with its fortifications and natural river barriers)! No answer is possible except for a suggestion that it was probably here that Rajendra resolved to despatch a military expedition to the Gangetic plain,' says Nagasamy in his book, Gangaikondacholapuram, published by the department in 1970. Gangaikonda Cholapuram remained the capital from 1025 CE till the fall of the Chola dynasty till 1279 CE. 'As the capital of the Cholas from about 1025 AD for the about 250 years, the city controlled the affairs of entire south India, from the Tungabhadra in the north to Ceylon in the south,' says Nagasamy. It was the second largest and important city in the 11th-12th Centuries and the centre of political, commercial and cultural activities, like Madurai in Pandyanadu and Karur in Cheranadu, says Natana Kasinathan, another former Director of the Department of Archaeology. Yet, there is no inscription of Rajendra Chola I in the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a spectacular gallery of Chola art and architecture. It is from an inscription of his son Vira Rajendra that it is known that his father had built the temple. Details about the palace and other parts of the city are found in the epigraphs of Rajendra's successors, says Kasinathan in his book, The Metropolis of Medieval Cholas. The inscription of Vira Rajendra, the third son of Rajendra, refers to the palace at Gangaikonda Cholapuram as Chola-Keralan Thirumaaligai, evidently named after one of the titles of Rajendra I. Bustling city once Gangaikonda Cholapuram had been a bustling city with a fort, palaces, and well-planned streets. 'In an inscription dated in the 49th year of Kulottunga (1119 AD,) a reference is made to Gangaikondachola maaligai at this place. It is likely that there were more than one royal building, each having its own name. Besides, the names of the palace and fort walls, the names of a few roads and streets are preserved in the epigraphs,' says Kasinathan. The city is celebrated in Tamil literature too. An elaborate description of the citadel comes from Muvar Ula of Ottakuttar. Rajaraja Cholan Ula gives an account of almost all the important places of the city. The city is referred to as Gangapuri in Kalingattuparani, composed by Jayankondar. Though there have been attempts to excavate and showcase the past glory of the city in the recent times, the fortunes of Gangaikonda Cholapuram seems to have come a full circle. 'This capital of the most powerful empire in Asia at one time is now desolate, only the temple survives. To those who know of the brilliant history of the Chola empire, it is a tragedy,' writes Nagasamy. As he explains, the Pandyas, who put an end to the Chola empire in the 13th Century, avenging their defeats, 'should have razed the city to the ground'. One thousand years have passed since the sacred Ganga water was brought to this city, and the millennium deserves to be commemorated as a fitting tribute to the emperor who founded the city, says R. Komagan, chairman, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Development Council Trust.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Producers asked why I was making Shah Rukh Khan's Asoka where no one wins, recalls Santosh Sivan: ‘Kareena Kapoor wasn't available during war scenes'
Although the movie did not achieve massive critical or commercial success upon release, despite the presence of Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles, director Santosh Sivan's Asoka (2001) has garnered something of a cult following over the years. However, the cinematographer-turned-filmmaker recently revealed that making Asoka was not an entirely pleasant experience for him. 'When I was gearing up to make Asoka, I was asked by the people producing it, 'Why do you want to make a film where no one wins the war? If I am watching a war film between the Germans and the English, I would want the English to win. Someone has to be winning.' You can't make a film where no one wins, it's a draw, or there's no outcome.' So, a lot of people did not want me to get into it (the film) because it wasn't very commercial. But I thought that the story was very interesting. I also wanted to take Asoka and split him into someone who's very romantic, especially when there's a monsoon and it's misty,' he said during a chat with a YouTube channel. Speaking about filming the scenes depicting the Kalinga war, Santosh noted that it was particularly challenging, especially with big stars involved. 'Kareena was not available when we were shooting the war. So, I had to shoot most of it in Film City. All those things happened. You have to adjust and, of course, try to work it out,' he added. While Shah Rukh Khan depicted Asoka, the Emperor of Magadha and the third ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, who played a pivotal role in the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia, Kareena Kapoor portrayed Karuvaki, the 'second Queen Consort' of Asoka. The film also starred Danny Denzongpa, Rahul Dev, Hrishitaa Bhatt, Gerson Da Cunha, Subhashini Ali and Umesh Mehra in key roles, with a special appearance by Tamil star Ajith Kumar. Asoka featured cinematography by Santosh Sivan himself, editing by A Sreekar Prasad, music by Anu Malik and a background score by Sandeep Chowta.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Srimandir's Ratna Bhandar repair to be over by Niladri Bije: Gajapati
BHUBANESWAR: Repair and renovation of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath temple, which began in December last year, will be completed by Niladri Bije on July 8, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb said. He reviewed the final phase of renovation works of Ratna Bhandar on Thursday along with Srimandir technical committee members and officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He said this repair work was necessary and the structural condition of both Bahara Bhandar and Bhitara Ratna Bhandar was extremely poor. 'Ratna Bhandar now appears safe and has been beautifully done. The renovation has been done in alignment with the shrine's Kalinga architectural style,' he said. Gajapati added that this is a historic work as the inner Ratna Bhandar remained sealed for four decades. 'Soon after the work is completed by Niladri Bije and after the Trinity return to the Ratna Simhasana, the inventorisation of Ratna Bhandar will begin as per the SOP,' he added. ASI Puri circle head DB Garnayak said, 'At least 550 damaged stone blocks and a corbel arch have been changed in both the Bhitara and Bahara Ratna Bhandar. These are the major stone blocks from exterior and interior side walls of both chambers of Ratna Bhandar, which had deteriorated over the years.' Apart from this, 15 damaged beams in the structure have been replaced with stainless steel beams, both big and small. In the Bhitara Ratna Bhandar, black granite flooring has been done and the granite was sourced from Nilagiri. 'All the stone work has been done in Khondalite stone sourced from within the state as Khondalite was originally used in Ratna Bhandar,' he said. Besides, the renovation works have been done entirely in traditional dry masonry method. Currently, monitoring work is underway. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief Arabinda Padhee said that the steel door of outer Ratna Bhandar has been replaced with a new stainless steel door and outside it, a Burma teak wood gate has been installed.
United News of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- United News of India
Mamata flags off inaugural Rath Yatra from new Jagannath temple in Digha
Kolkata, June 27 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday inaugurated the first Rath Yatra from the newly built Jagannath temple in Digha, marking a significant cultural milestone for the coastal town in East Midnapore district on Friday evening. The event saw thousands of enthusiastic devotees—including many from abroad—chanting 'Joy Jagannath' as the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra, rolled through a 750-metre route. The Chief Minister, accompanied by her cabinet colleagues, ceremonially pulled the ropes of the chariots and swept the path with a golden broom before offering 'arati' to the deities around 2 pm. To maintain order during the grand procession, the state government erected barricades along the entire nearly one-kilometre stretch. Banerjee had earlier clarified that while devotees would not be allowed to flood the streets, they would still be able to touch the chariot ropes from behind the barricades via ropes placed adjacent to the guardrails. Despite this provision, the decision to restrict movement drew mixed reactions from the large gathering of pilgrims, some of whom expressed disappointment at not being allowed to fully participate in the traditional chariot-pulling experience. The festivities included vibrant cultural performances. A group of ISKCON devotees from abroad, along with their children, performed devotional dances to the tune of 'Hare Ram, Hare Krishna' and music by Madhab's rock band, adding a global touch to the spiritual celebration. The newly inaugurated Jagannath temple—constructed at a cost of Rs 250 crore by the West Bengal government—is envisioned as both a spiritual and cultural hub. Designed in the traditional Kalinga style, the temple is a close replica of the iconic Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, located approximately 345 km away. Made with pink sandstone sourced from Rajasthan, the temple boasts intricate craftsmanship from over 800 artisans. Key architectural features include the Bhoga Mandap, Nata Mandap, Jagamohan, and Garbhagriha, echoing the 12th-century temple in Puri. However, unlike the original, the Digha temple is open to people of all faiths, including non-Hindus and foreigners. Spread across 20 acres, the complex includes grand gates such as the Singhadwar, Byaghradwar, Hastidwar, and Ashwadwar. It also houses a shrine dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and a separate Bhogshala for preparing offerings for Lord Jagannath. Since its formal inauguration on April 30, the temple has been a subject of political debate, especially following criticism from servitors of the Puri temple. Nonetheless, it is expected to emerge as a major pilgrimage and tourism destination on Bengal's coast. UNI XC GNK
