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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PM Modi to attend 1,000th anniversary of Gangetic conquest on July 27
CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the 1,000th anniversary of the Gangetic conquest by King Rajendra Chola I. The event is organised in the Brahadiswara temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district on July 27. The PM is likely to release a coin to commemorate the occasion. Official sources said that according to the tentative schedule, the PM is likely to visit the temple in the evening of July 27, and after darshan, he will be viewing a photo exhibition organised by the ASI. The topics to be covered in the photo exhibition include Rajendra Chola I's Gangetic expedition, and Kadaram expedition, miniature sculptures related to Shaivism and Chola-era sculptures. Later, Modi will be enjoying a 'Thiruvachagam' symphony by music maestro Ilayaraaja for about 20 minutes. In all, the PM is scheduled to be there for around three hours. HR and CE sources said the Tamil Nadu government is celebrating Adi Thiruvathirai, the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I, from July 23. Chief Minister MK Stalin and five of his Cabinet colleagues are likely to take part in the celebrations on July 23. The PM is taking part in the valedictory celebrations on July 27. However, the CM's participation in the PM's programme is yet to be confirmed. R Komagan, chairman, Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust, told TNIE that heads of 36 Adheenams in Tamil Nadu, including the one which donated the Sengol to Parliament, have been invited for the PM's event. The event starts with a 'Thiruvachagam' recital by 50 Oodhuvars.
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.
The Hindu
3 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
3 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.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
The copper chronicles that detail the reign and deeds of Rajendra Chola I
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.
