Vijayalaya Chola

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Vijayalaya Chola
விஜயாலய சோழன்

Vijayalaya's Territories c. 850 C.E.
Reign 848 C.E. - 871 C.E.
Title Parakesari
Capital Thanjavur
Queen Unknown
Children Aditya
Predecessor Unknown
Successor Aditya I
Father Unknown
Born Unknown
Died 871 C.E.
List of Chola kings
Early Cholas
Ilamcetcenni  ·   Karikala Chola
Nedunkilli  ·   Nalankilli
Killivalavan  ·   Kopperuncholan
Kocengannan  ·   Perunarkilli
Interregnum (c.200–848)
Medieval Cholas
Vijayalaya Chola 848–871(?)
Aditya I 871–907
Parantaka Chola I 907–950
Gandaraditya 950–957
Arinjaya Chola 956–957
Sundara Chola 957–970
Uttama Chola 970–985
Rajaraja Chola I 985–1014
Rajendra Chola I 1012–1044
Rajadhiraja Chola 1018–1054
Rajendra Chola II 1051–1063
Virarajendra Chola 1063–1070
Athirajendra Chola 1067–1070
Later Cholas
Kulothunga Chola I 1070–1120
Vikrama Chola 1118–1135
Kulothunga Chola II 1133–1150
Rajaraja Chola II 1146–1163
Rajadhiraja Chola II 1163–1178
Kulothunga Chola III 1178–1218
Rajaraja Chola III 1216–1256
Rajendra Chola III 1246–1279
Chola society
Chola government
Chola military
Chola art  ·   Chola literature
Solesvara Temples
Poompuhar  ·   Urayur
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Thanjavur  ·   Telugu Cholas
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Vijayalaya was the Chola king of South India who captured Thanjavur during c. 848 C.E. and re-established the Chola dynastic rule.

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[edit] Dark age of Cholas

The ancient Chola kingdom once famous in Tamil literature and in the writings of Greek merchants and geographers faded in to darkness after c 300 C.E. The Tamil country was invaded by a non-Tamil people from the north and north-west. These people – known as Kalabhras – are a mystery to historians. Their origin is unknown. It has been speculated that they were adherers to Jainism and later to Buddhism. Kalabhras subjugated the Tamil country after defeating the ancient Chola, Chera and Pandya kings. There is scant evidence either from literature or from archaeology regarding these people.

Cholas during this period almost completely disappeared from their native land. They seem to have held on to their old capital city of Urayur. This 'dark' age of Tamil history came to an end with the ascendency of the Pandyas and the Pallavas. The Cholas had to wait for another three centuries until the accession of Vijayala in the second quarter of the ninth century to re-establish their dynasty.

[edit] Cholas under Pandyas and Pallavas

We know very little of the fate of the Cholas in this long interval. What is certain however is that when the power of Cholas fell to the lowest ebb and that of the Pandyas and Pallavas rose the north and South of them, this ancient dynasty was compelled to seek refuge and patronage under their more successful rivals. The Chola princes probably sought employment as vassals under these more powerful kingdoms.

[edit] Rise of Vijayalaya

Making use of the opportunity during a war between Pandyas and Pallavas, Vijayalaya rose out of obscurity and captured Thanjavur in 848 C.E.

It is not stated in any of the records, who Vijayalaya defeated to capture Thanjavur. During the 8th century Tanjore was ruled by a family of chiefs known as the Muttaraiyans. Historians have suggested that they may have belongs to the Pandya clan. At this time there was a great struggle going on between the Pallavas and the Pandyas for the political supremacy of South India. In this disturbed state of affairs, Vijayalaya seems to have found a good opportunity to defeat the Muttaraiyan chiefs, and make himself the ruler of Thanjavur and the surrounding Chola country.

[edit] Pandyan invasion

After Vijayalaya’s capture of Thanjavur, the Pandya king Varagunavarman II (c. 862 C.E. – 885 C.E.) became a subordinate ally of the Pallava Nandivarman III (c. 846 C.E. – 869 C.E.). Nandhivarman wished to curtail the growing influence of Chola power under Vijayalaya and called upon the Varagunavarman to help suppress Vijayalaya. Varaguna led an expedition into the Chola country. The Pandyan army reached the north bank of the Kaveri near Thanjavur and for a while the Chola revival looked short lived. Vijayalaya, by this time a veteran of many battles, was aging and was an invalid. The crown prince Aditya I took control of the army in the defence of the Chola kingdom. Vijayalaya was succeeded after his death c 871 C.E. by his son Aditya I.

[edit] Inscriptions of Vijayalaya

The Tiruvalangadu plates state that Vijayalaya captured the city of Tanjavur and made it his capital and that he also built in it a temple to the goddess Nisumbhasudani (Durga). The Kanyakumari inscription states that he renovated the city of Tanjore.

Vijayalaya took the title of Parakesarivarman. Chola kings succeeding him took the titles of Parakesari and Rajakesai in turns. This is probably to acknowledge their supposed ancestors Parakesari and Rjakesari.

Narttamalai, Pudukkottai has a solesvara temple attributed to Vijayalaya.

[edit] References

  • Tamil And Sanskrit Inscriptions Chiefly Collected In 1886 - 87, E. Hultzsch, Ph.D., Published by Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi
  • Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1935). The CōĻas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).
  • Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).

[edit] External Links