Latest news with #RajendraChola
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Actor Vijay brought in to divide votes'
Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami has alleged that DMK has launched Oraniyil Tamil Nadu campaign since it has lost its popularity. How is the campaign progressing? It is because TN came together as one many times in the past that many states are considering us as the frontrunner and following us now on issues like Hindi imposition, NEET and state autonomy. Moreover, if there are any external threats to India, we have rallied as Oraniyil India as well. During Operation Sindoor, all of us saw TN coming together under CM's leadership to express solidarity with the army. The necessity to come together now is the ideological war BJP has waged against our (Tamil) soil, language, and race. They are taking measures to impose Hindi, have not released funds meant for education, have not release funds under MGNREGS. We can go on to level many such charges against the BJP. People are ready to rally behind the CM against the harsh measures of the union government. That is why (as of July 16) about 1.35 crore people have joined the initiative. It will be a huge success. . If the PMK join hands with the AIADMK again for 2026, what kind of an impact will it have in the northern districts? If EPS is expressing hope about PMK joining the alliance, first he has to decide which leader of the PMK is with him since the party is now divided. Nobody is with him, except the TMC (M) and the BJP. In the last election, they announced 10.5% reservation (for Vanniyars) on the day election were to be announced in a bid to secure the votes of those innocent people. They, however, did not fall for this drama and DMK won big in the region. EPS also said the union government announced caste census after he demanded the same with (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah in Delhi. If that was the case, he should have said it before going to Delhi. Instead, he said he was going to inspect AIADMK's office. Now he is spinning more stories. One of them is that he demanded caste census. PM is visiting Ariyalur this month. It is said that the BJP is already growing in Ariyalur and Perambalur districts. They themselves claim that they are strong in the Kongu region, but they could not win in 2024. PM meditated in Kanniyakumari before polling. TN rejected them despite these gimmicks. It will be the same in Ariyalur and Perambalur. That region has strong influence of 'Periyar' (EV Ramasamy). PM seems to have discovered Rajendra Chola only now. But it was our CM who passed orders to celebrate Rajendra Chola's birthday on Thiruvathirai Thirunal as a government function. 2026 is likely to face a multi-cornered contest. It is said that the youth will support actor Vijay's TVK. What is DMK doing to attract the youth? For every election, a new party is brought into the field to create a narrative that the youth will go with them. Actor Vijay has been brought for the same purpose. They believe that since youth go to his films, they will vote for him. Election will prove otherwise. DMK was started by youngsters. When our president (Stalin) was the youth wing secretary, many youths joined us. Similarly, now Deputy CM (Udhayanidhi Stalin) as secretary is bringing more youngsters through initiatives like providing platforms through competitions and training them. Moreover, this government is doing a lot for education. Schemes like Pudhumai Penn, Tamil Pudhalvan and Naan Mudhalvan have had a huge impact and resonated well with the youth.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Collector reviews Aadi Thiruvathirai festival arrangements
Trichy: Ariyalur collector P Rathinasamy inspected arrangements at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple on Saturday ahead of the 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' festival, which is expected to draw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thousands of visitors this month. The Tamil Nadu government has been celebrating the birthday of King Rajendra Chola at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district since 2022, following public demand. This year, the festival will be held from July 23. Rathinasamy reviewed preparations related to basic amenities, transport, security, drinking water, sanitation, and electricity. Officials from various departments accompanied him during the inspection. The Thiruvathirai star in the Tamil month of Aadi is observed as the birthday of Rajendra Chola, who ruled from Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The state tourism, arts and culture department is organising the event, which will feature cultural programmes over a week.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chola Gangam lake, a 1000-year-old symbol of Rajendra Chola's victory, lies in ruins in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur
A few kilometres away from the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram lies a tank stretching over 17 km. Chola Gangam, locally known as Ponneri, was dug by Rajendra Chola to celebrate his northern campaign. Historian K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, author of The Cholas, citing the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates, notes that 'at the end of the expedition, Rajendra erected a 'liquid pillar of victory' (ganga-jalamayam jayastambham) in his capital with the waters of the Ganga in the form of the tank Cholaganga.' Depends on rainwater But the 1,000-year-old lake is in ruins. Once spread over 16 miles, the tank has shrunk to 17 km. It remains dry for most of the year as the canals that brought water from the Kollidam have long been abandoned. Yet, traces of these canals remain. Locals believe that the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27 and the government's plan to release a commemorative coin could shed much-needed light on the lake. 'The lake depends on surface water collected during the rains. It is a pity that the tank, which once supplied water to Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the 60-acre palace, is in such a pathetic state,' says R. Komagan, chairman of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Development Council Trust, who has been fighting for years to restore the lake. The Trichinopoly Gazetteer, authored by F.R. Hemingway, records that the tank once irrigated 1,564 acres of land, its primary purpose being to supply drinking water to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Sastri also reproduces a report on the tank that appeared in a local publication in 1855: 'There is an embankment 16 miles long, running north and south, provided with several substantial sluices and of great strength, which in former times must have formed one of the largest reservoirs in India.' According to the same report, when the palace was still in existence, Gangaikonda Cholapuram was a wealthy and flourishing capital, and the great tank spread fertility over miles and miles of what is now trackless forest. 'It has been projected to restore that magnificent work, but the scheme has remained in abeyance for want of engineer officers,' the report laments. Even 170 years after the report appeared, nothing has been done to restore this gigantic enterprise of ancient sovereigns. A bridge constructed by the British runs through the empty lake-bed, which could easily be restored to its former glory by linking it with the Kollidam, transforming it once again into a great reservoir. Mr. Komagan, an engineer by training, lays out the map of the northern Cauvery system to explain how water from the Kollidam once filled tank after tank before flowing into the Veeranarayanapuram tank, known as Veeranam Lake, which then released surplus water into the river. The tank remains a testimony to the Cholas' expertise in water management. Its bunds, strengthened with laterite stones, were built in an elliptical shape to withstand hydraulic pressure. Even after 1,000 years, these stones remain intact. 'The sluices are a great feat of engineering, constructed with the ability to trap sediment brought in by the inlet canal,' Mr. Komagan says. Today, just one defunct sluice remains, protected by a concrete boundary from total destruction, thanks to his efforts. Another such sluice exists in Sri Lanka. He has asked the Tamil Nadu government to declare it a protected monument. A tax for maintenance 'The square-shaped structure at the lower side of the tank contains a sediment trap linked with a silt ejector. The structure for releasing water ['thoompu'], when the tank reaches its minimum capacity, is designed to create a vortex flow. This sucks the silt and deposits it into paddy fields, enriching them with nutrient-rich sediment,' Mr. Komagan explains. The sediment covering the fields was traditionally removed through the annual maintenance of waterbodies ('kudimaramathu'). 'Eri-ayam', a levy for this purpose, was collected from local farmers. The tank had once served as a stop-over for overseas birds migrating to the Kodiakkarai Bird Sanctuary. Its destruction has broken the chain of migration. It has also resulted in groundwater depletion in Gangaikonda Cholapuram and its neighbourhood. The water level has now dropped to 650 feet. 'If restored, the tank will serve as a groundwater recharge zone. If the 12 lakes fed by the Kollidam are repaired, they can supply water to Chennai throughout the year,' Mr. Komagan says. In 1949, T.V. Sadasiva Pandarathar, in his work Pirkala Cholarkal, recorded that many areas in Tiruchi and South Arcot districts remained fertile because of the water from this lake, which also served as a drainage outlet for the Veeranam Lake. 'Thousands of acres can be irrigated with water from the lake at a time of famine,' he wrote.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chola Gangam tank, a 1000-year-old symbol of Rajendra Chola's victory, lies in ruins in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur
A few kilometres away from the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram lies a tank stretching over 17 km. Chola Gangam, locally known as Ponneri, was dug by Rajendra Chola to celebrate his northern campaign. Historian K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, author of The Cholas, citing the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates, notes that 'at the end of the expedition, Rajendra erected a 'liquid pillar of victory' (ganga-jalamayam jayastambham) in his capital with the waters of the Ganga in the form of the tank Cholaganga.' Depends on rainwater But the 1,000-year-old lake is in ruins. Once spread over 16 miles, the tank has shrunk to 17 km. It remains dry for most of the year as the canals that brought water from the Kollidam have long been abandoned. Yet, traces of these canals remain. Locals believe that the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27 and the government's plan to release a commemorative coin could shed much-needed light on the lake. 'The lake depends on surface water collected during the rains. It is a pity that the tank, which once supplied water to Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the 60-acre palace, is in such a pathetic state,' says R. Komagan, chairman of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Development Council Trust, who has been fighting for years to restore the lake. The Trichinopoly Gazetteer, authored by F.R. Hemingway, records that the tank once irrigated 1,564 acres of land, its primary purpose being to supply drinking water to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Sastri also reproduces a report on the tank that appeared in a local publication in 1855: 'There is an embankment 16 miles long, running north and south, provided with several substantial sluices and of great strength, which in former times must have formed one of the largest reservoirs in India.' According to the same report, when the palace was still in existence, Gangaikonda Cholapuram was a wealthy and flourishing capital, and the great tank spread fertility over miles and miles of what is now trackless forest. 'It has been projected to restore that magnificent work, but the scheme has remained in abeyance for want of engineer officers,' the report laments. Even 170 years after the report appeared, nothing has been done to restore this gigantic enterprise of ancient sovereigns. A bridge constructed by the British runs through the empty lake-bed, which could easily be restored to its former glory by linking it with the Kollidam, transforming it once again into a great reservoir. Mr. Komagan, an engineer by training, lays out the map of the northern Cauvery system to explain how water from the Kollidam once filled tank after tank before flowing into the Veeranarayanapuram tank, known as Veeranam Lake, which then released surplus water into the river. The tank remains a testimony to the Cholas' expertise in water management. Its bunds, strengthened with laterite stones, were built in an elliptical shape to withstand hydraulic pressure. Even after 1,000 years, these stones remain intact. 'The sluices are a great feat of engineering, constructed with the ability to trap sediment brought in by the inlet canal,' Mr. Komagan says. Today, just one defunct sluice remains, protected by a concrete boundary from total destruction, thanks to his efforts. Another such sluice exists in Sri Lanka. He has asked the Tamil Nadu government to declare it a protected monument. A tax for maintenance 'The square-shaped structure at the lower side of the tank contains a sediment trap linked with a silt ejector. The structure for releasing water ['thoompu'], when the tank reaches its minimum capacity, is designed to create a vortex flow. This sucks the silt and deposits it into paddy fields, enriching them with nutrient-rich sediment,' Mr. Komagan explains. The sediment covering the fields was traditionally removed through the annual maintenance of waterbodies ('kudimaramathu'). 'Eri-ayam', a levy for this purpose, was collected from local farmers. The tank had once served as a stop-over for overseas birds migrating to the Kodiakkarai Bird Sanctuary. Its destruction has broken the chain of migration. It has also resulted in groundwater depletion in Gangaikonda Cholapuram and its neighbourhood. The water level has now dropped to 650 feet. 'If restored, the tank will serve as a groundwater recharge zone. If the 12 lakes fed by the Kollidam are repaired, they can supply water to Chennai throughout the year,' Mr. Komagan says. In 1949, T.V. Sadasiva Pandarathar, in his work Pirkala Cholarkal, recorded that many areas in Tiruchi and South Arcot districts remained fertile because of the water from this lake, which also served as a drainage outlet for the Veeranam Lake. 'Thousands of acres can be irrigated with water from the lake at a time of famine,' he wrote.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
The 4 copper plate inscriptions that detail reign, deeds of King Rajendra Chola
Rajendra Chola I, the illustrious son of Raja Raja Chola I, expanded the frontiers of the Chola empire beyond the Indian subcontinent. Not only military conquests across South and Southeast Asia but also generous land grants and temple patronage marked his reign (1012-1044 CE). Among the most valuable records from Rajendra Chola's time are four sets of copper plate inscriptions discovered at different locations across Tamil Nadu. These inscriptions shed light on Chola lineage, temple endowments, and military expeditions. The books, Sozhar Ceppedugal by Ve. Mahadevan and Ka. Sankaranarayanan (Tamil University, Thanjavur) and Sozhar Kaala Ceppedugal by former IAS officer M. Rajendran (Akani Publishers), provide insights into copper plate inscriptions of various Chola kings, especially Rajendra Chola. Tiruvalangadu Plates The Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates were first mentioned in the Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for 1903-04. A detailed account appeared in the Madras Epigraphical Report of 1916. The plates were later published in Volume III of South Indian Inscriptions by epigraphist Rao Bahadur H. Krishna Sastri. This set comprised 31 copper plates, with the first 10 inscribed in Sanskrit and the remaining 21 in Tamil. The inscription was divided into three parts: the Sanskrit section, the first Tamil section, and the second Tamil section. According to epigraphist V. Venkayya, the Tamil parts were considered earlier, with the Sanskrit section possibly added later. The second Tamil section referred to the sixth regnal year of Rajendra Chola I, placing it around 1018 CE. The plates were linked together by a circular copper seal with royal emblems, including two fly-whisks on either side of a royal parasol, a tiger (the Chola emblem), two fishes (the Pandya emblem), a bow (the Chera emblem), a boar (the Chalukya emblem), a Swastik, and two lamps. Weighing 93.05 kilograms, these plates recorded the royal order of Rajendra Chola gifting Palaiyanur village to the Tiruvalangadu Shiva temple (in Tiruvallur district). The Sanskrit section, with 271 lines, traced the Chola genealogy in a mythological lineage starting from the Sun. The Tamil section contained 524 lines, of which 145 lines described the royal order, 281 lines described the boundaries of the land grants, and 98 lines outlined the tax exemptions and other privileges. Karanthai Plates The Karanthai Copper Plates were discovered in a field at Puthur village near Ammapettai in Papanasam taluk of Thanjavur district. Initially referred to as the Puthur Copper Plates, they were renamed after being preserved by the Karanthai Tamil Sangam at Karunthattankudi, near Thanjavur, in the late 1940s. They had reportedly been discovered six decades earlier on land belonging to Sevu Pandiyan. The Karanthai Tamil Sangam acquired the plates with assistance from a local development officer. The set comprised 57 copper plates, weighing 111.73 kilograms, linked by two large copper rings, one of which was broken. The remaining ring bore the royal seal featuring the emblems of the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Cheras, and the Chalukyas, along with lamps, the royal parasol, and fly-whisks. Scholars identified three distinct sections, likely composed at different stages. The first section, written in Sanskrit and numbered continuously, appeared to have been compiled later. The second section, consisting of 22 plates inscribed in Tamil with 1,042 lines, detailed a major land donation. The third section, also in Tamil, comprised 32 plates and 1,456 lines, recording information about temples and listing land grants to 1,080 Brahmins. Several of the 54 Tamil plates bore the word 'Thiribu', referencing the gifted village — Thiribhuvana Mahadevi Chaturvedimangalam — named in honour of Rajendra Chola's mother. The plates were issued in 1020 CE (his eighth regnal year). Tirukkalar Plates The Tirukkalar Copper Plates were discovered at the Parijathavaneswarar Temple at Tirukkalar, a village nearly 20 kilometres southeast of Mannargudi, in Tiruvarur district. The temple yielded a set of five copper plates inscribed in Tamil and 23 stone inscriptions, all from the Chola period. The five plates, weighing 6.59 kilograms, were linked by a copper ring. The earliest among them was dated to around 1030 CE (the 18th regnal year of Rajendra Chola). These plates detailed a land grant made to the Mahadevar Temple at Tirukkalar, which was part of the 'Purangkaranbai Nadu' in the 'Arulmozhi Deva Valanadu'. Of the 30 lines inscribed on the plate, 28 narrated the king's genealogy and achievements, while the final two lines detailed the land donation. Esalam Plates The Esalam Copper Plates were discovered at Esalam near Tindivanam on July 11, 1987, during the renovation of a Shiva temple. The finds included 15 copper plates, several bronze icons, and ritual objects. Esalam was the first site where all three types of historical artefacts were unearthed together. A similar triad was later found at Tiruindalur (in Mayiladuthurai district) in 2010. R. Nagasamy, then Director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, studied the plates and confirmed that they belonged to the reign of Rajendra Chola. They were dated to 1036 CE (his 24th regnal year). Among the bronze icons was a statue of Sarva Siva Pandithar, believed to be Rajendra Chola's guru. These plates, engraved on both sides, were bound by a copper ring with a seal bearing the emblems of the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Cheras, and the Chalukyas, along with lamps, the royal parasol, and fly-whisks. The plates contained 424 lines: 80 in Sanskrit and 344 in Tamil. The inscriptions opened with Rajendra Chola's genealogy in Sanskrit. The Tamil portion detailed his land grants to the temple built by Sarva Siva Pandithar and listed the regions conquered during his reign. His 'meikeerthi' (royal eulogy) said the famous Vidyadhara Torana was brought from Kadaram (Kedah in Malaysia) and was depicted on the seal of this set of copper plates.
