Rajendra Chola: The Powerhouse of Southern Asia

When I say the greatest emperor of the world, who comes to mind, Alexander the Great, Ashoka the great? But did you know that there was a Tamil king who ruled South India, Sri Lanka, Odisha, West Bengal, East Bengal, Maldives, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia? Next time someone asks you who the greatest emperor was your response should be……

The valiant Rajendra Chola; Source: Wikimedia

Rajendra Chola was the most powerful Tamil king ever. Originally called Maduranthakan, Rajendra was born to Rajaraja Chola and Tribhuvana Maadevi. He also had a sister by the name of Kundavai. In 1014 AD, four years after the construction of the Brihadeesvara temple Rajaraja Chola died. But two years before that Rajendra Chola was made a co-regent and he started ruling the Chola Empire along with his father. That was the beginning of the most powerful ruler in the entire history of the Chola dynasty. Within a few years of becoming the king, Rajendra Chola invaded Sri Lanka. During his father’s rule, only the northern part of Sri Lanka was captured. but Rajendra said this upon the whole island. With this massive army, he captured the Sinhala king Mahinda V, who was hiding in the jungles and conquered the whole island of Sri Lanka, and Mahinda was taken back to the Chola country as a prisoner. Rajendra Chola’s sister Kundavai had been married to Vimaladitya, the eastern Chalukya king of Vengi. After the death of VImaladitya, his son Rajaraja Narendra could not take the throne because of the interference of the western Chalukya king Jayasimha II. Rajendra defeated Jayasimha and installed his nephew Rajaraja Narendra as the new king of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty. Later it was Rajaraja Narendra established his new capital which is today’s Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.

In 1019 AD Rajendra Chola set out on an expedition to the north. Led by his commander in chief Araiyan Rajarajan, he was able to defeat the kings of Kalinga, Dandabhukti, and then the rulers of Bengal. Finally, after defeating the Pala ruler Mahipala I in a fierce battle he took water from the Ganges back to the Chola country. After conquering the north up to the banks of the Ganges he was hailed as the Gangaikonda Cholan, the Chola who conquered the Ganges. He also shifted the Chola capital from Thanjavur to a new city Gangaikondacholapuram. This city served as the Chola capital for about 250 years since then. In his new capital, he built the massive

Gangaikondacholeeswaram temple looks very similar to his father’s Brihadeesvara temple in Thanjavur. The most striking difference is that Rajendra’s temple tower has a concave slope, and it is a bit shorter in height. However, the creation of almost a replica of the Thanjavur temple is still a mystery. Also to commemorate his victory in the banks of the Ganges Rajendra Chola created one of the largest man-made lakes in India called the Cholagangam. He considered this link to be a ‘liquid pillar of victory’ that he erected after conquering the Ganges the conquered rulers were made to bring pots of water from the Ganges to his capital which was poured into the new link to sanctify it. Today this lake is called Ponneri. Though Rajendra Chola’s Gangaikondacholapuram is said to have been a great city in the past with two thick fortifications and exquisite palaces, unfortunately only the mounds remain today.

He had conquered the whole island of Sri Lanka and a huge portion of India…….now what? He turned his eyes towards the countries in South East Asia. Srivijaya was a powerful Kingdom in South East Asia that included today’s Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. During Rajaraja Chola’s kingdom, there were cordial relations between the Srivijaya Kingdom and the Chola Kingdom. However, things changed during Rajendra’s rule. The Khmer emperor Suryavarman I who ruled today’s Cambodia sought the help of Rajendra Chola to conquer the Tambralinga Kingdom which is today’s southern Thailand. Learning about this the Tambralinga linger Kingdom requested help from the Srivijaya king Sangram Vijayatungavarman. This alliance eventually led to the Chola and Srivijaya empires coming into conflict. In 1025, Rajendra let the Chola forces across the Indian Ocean and invaded Srivijaya. He attacked Kadaram, Pannai, and many other places in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Southern Thailand and defeated the Srivijayan king. After this victory, Rajendra Chola was hailed as Kadaram Kondaan. After capturing the strategic ports of trade in South East Asia, and thus monopolizing the trade between the western world and China, the Chola Empire became the power of maritime trade in the Indian Ocean.

In 1044 AD, he took his last breath. Yes, the most valiant king died but his fame and glory never died. He will be remembered for the several centuries to come. Rajendra Chola was the most powerful Indian emperor of all time will be remembered forever as the king of the seas, land, and his people.

Sculpted proof of his victories; Source: WorldHistory