{{use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{citations|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = [[Chola dynasty|Chola King]]
| reign = 301 BCE – 270 BCE
| predecessor = Unknown
| successor = [[Karikala Chola|Karikala]]
| birth_place = [[Uraiyur]], [[Chola Kingdom]] (Modern day [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])
| death_date = 270 BCE
| queen = Alundur
| dynasty = [[Chola dynasty|Chola]]
| death_place = [[Puhar, Nagapattinam|Puhar]], [[Chola Kingdom]] (Modern day [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])
| issue = [[Karikala Chola|Karikala]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
{{Chola history}}
'''Ilamchetchenni''' (''Iḷamcēṭceṉṉi''; {{IPA-all|iɭəmt͡ɕeːt͡ɕːsen̪ːi}}) was an early [[Tamil people|Tamil]] king of the [[Chola dynasty]] during the [[Sangam period]]. He was a great warrior and ruled the [[Chola kingdom]] with [[Uraiyur]] as the capital. He married a [[Velir]] princess from Alundur and their child was [[Karikala Chola]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Heritage of the Tamils|author=Ca. Vē Cuppiramaṇiyan̲, Ka. Ta Tirunāvukkaracu|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies, 1983 - Tamil (Indic people) - 672 pages|page=254}}</ref> Ilamchetchenni Chola was succeeded by his son, Karikala Chola, who is considered one of the greatest among the [[Early Cholas]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.4293 |title=Colas |date=1955}}</ref>

== Mauryan Invasion ==
The [[Mauryan]] invasion was mentioned in Sangam poems [[Purananuru]] verse 175 and [[Akananuru]] verses 69 , 251 and 281 where the Mauryan army advance as Northern Borders of [[Tamilakam]] with assistant of [[Vaduga|Vadukars]] and [[Kosar people|Kosars]]:
{{quote|"The [[Mauryas]] have carved into the sky-touching mountains and created paths for their chariots with iron wheels to roll smoothly. He has left, forgetting sleep on your breasts
as fragrant as the fresh flowers in the forest belonging to King [[Ay dynasty|Ay]] who wears sparkling gems
and heavy jewels, whose warriors with strong, loud bows decorated with delicate peacock feathers and darting arrows destroy a few forts
and bring their loots of precious jewels.|Akananuru - 69<ref>{{cite web |last=Herbert |first=Vaidehi |title=Akanānūru 69 |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-akananuru-1-100/ |website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi |access-date=8 August 2026}}</ref>}}
{{quote|"You are like the huge, round sun when it settled behind the mountain cleft cut as a path to the world by the [[Mauryas]] with sky-high umbrellas, chariots with tall flags and wheels with sturdy spokes."|Purananuru - 175<ref>{{cite web |title=Ettuthokai – Purananuru 1–200 |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-purananuru-1-200/ |website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi |access-date=7 August 2026}} Puranānūru 175.</ref>
}}
{{quote|"He has gone on the path where a noble elephant with white tusks, that resides in a grove dense with teak trees near endless, wide, empty spaces, with no protection from its herd, arrogant, gored a bright colored tiger
that escaped from it and caused a large
depression in the land, where the [[Mauryan]] newcomers came with their army with horses
and fine chariots, cut into the mountains with splendid, white waterfalls and created paths for their chariot wheels to roll smoothly,
to attack the king of Mokur who refused to submit to them, when the [[Kosar people|Kosars]] with victory
flags on their well-made chariots that ride as fast as the wind, celebrated with sweet drums under their ancient, old banyan tree in the precious, huge common ground."|Akananuru - 251<ref>{{cite web |title=Ettuthokai – Akanānūru 121–300 |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-akananuru-121-300/ |website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi |access-date=7 August 2026}} Akanānūru 251.</ref>
}}
{{quote|"he went on the path, where the Vadukars who have great enmity tie the shed feathers of delicate peacocks with swaying walks, to their strong bows using long straps on the edges, shoot rapidly fitting the beauty of the tied fibers, creating sounds, and lead the [[Mauryas]] who desire to conquer the South, cutting into the rocks to let their chariot wheels with bright spokes roll."|Akananuru - 281<ref>{{cite web |title=Ettuthokai – Akanānūru 121–300 |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-akananuru-121-300/ |website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi |access-date=7 August 2026}} Akanānūru 281.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Dikshitar |first=V. R. Ramachandra |title=The Mauryan Polity |publisher=University of Madras |year=1932 |page=58}}</ref>
}}
[[Kuruntokai]] - 73 Reffers [[Kosar people|Kosars]] captured the King [[Mushika dynasty|Nannan's]] Country (Tulu nad) :
{{quote|"We need to devise a cruel plan
for a little while,
like the [[Kosar people|Kosars]] who vowed
and entered [[Mushika dynasty|Nannan’s]] country,
and chopped his fragrant mango tree."|Kurunthokai - 73<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-kurunthokai-1-200/
|title=Ettuthokai – Kurunthokai 1–200
|website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi
|access-date=9 August 2026
}}</ref>}}
===illamchetchenni Success===
[[Purananuru]] 378 and Akananuru 336 , 375 Poems mentioned , Chola king Illamchetchenni Success against his Enemies :
{{quote|"If I don’t do that, may the large bangles on my perfect forearms break like the [[Aryan]] forces that were destroyed by the brave Chozha warriors with victorious spears and
shields as dark as the rain clouds, who darted arrows from their fort in Vallam town, situated behind a protective forest."|Akananuru - 336<ref>{{cite web |title=Ettuthokai – Akanānūru 301–400 |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-akananuru-301-400/ |website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi |access-date=7 August 2026}} Akanānūru 336.</ref>
}}
{{quote|"He ruined the strength of the southern fishermen, and drove away the [[Vaduga|Vadukars]] with swords, [[Chola|Cholan]] who wears a lovely garland, carries a perfect spear, dons an elegantly braided strand, rich in liqour and spurs his swift horse."|Purananuru - 378<ref>{{cite book
|last=Herbert
|first=Vaidehi
|title=Purananuru: Translation in English with Meanings
|publisher=Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
|year=2015
|isbn=9781619670327
|page=605
}}</ref>}}
{{quote|"My eyes will not cry, my friend, if I
know that he’ll be back without any
harm from the fierce wasteland,
where uneducated wasteland warriors shoot at travelers on forked paths, just to practice arrow skills, even if they don’t have any jewels, feed their bodies to birds, and packs of foxes gather to eat flesh, male vultures with their flocks get blood on their huge, joined claws and rest on the thick, white branches of ya trees with trunks that appear like the tusks of elephants that crushed the heads and killed [[Vaduga|Vadukars]] in their Pazhi
fort with walls like copper that was ruined as a duty to his citizens and to finish his war work by king Ilamperunchenni, efficient, victorious Chozha heir with strong shoulders,who established great fame."|Akananuru- 375<ref>{{cite web |title=Ettuthokai – Akanānūru 301–400 |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-akananuru-301-400/ |website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi |access-date=7 August 2026}} Akanānūru 375.</ref>}}
[[Narrinai|Nattrinai]] and [[Akananuru]] poems also mentioned Tamil [[Velir]] kings Malaiyaman kari and Thithiyan victory against the [[Aryan]] forces and [[Kosar people|Kosars]] :
{{quote|"If she succeeds, what is the use of many of us being together? We’ll be like the [[Aryan]] invaders who ran away in fear from the very famous Mullur town, when attacked by [[Malaiyaman dynasty|Malaiyaman Kari]] with a bright sword and an army with spears of no match "|Natrinai - 170<ref>{{cite web
|last=Herbert
|first=Vaidehi
|title=Ettuthokai – Natrinai 1–200 |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-natrinai-1-200/
|website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi
|access-date=7 August 2026
|quote=ஆரியர் துவன்றிய பேர் இசை முள்ளூர்ப், பலர் உடன் கழித்த ஒள் வாள் மலையனது ஒரு வேற்கு ஓடியாங்கு
}}</ref>}}
{{quote|"her anger gone when victorious
Thithiyan owning fine horses
and forts ruined the town’s
ancient Kosars at her request"|Akananuru - 262<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-akananuru-121-300/
|title=Ettuthokai – Akananuru 121–300
|website=Sangam Translations by Vaidehi
|access-date=9 August 2026
}}</ref>}}
{{quote|"Do not come near me! I will not touch your chest that has been embraced by your pretty
woman, who is like Anni Mignili with curved earrings, who caused terror and killed the [[Kosar people|Kosars]] who swore oaths, with the help of king Thithiyan owning fast
chariots in Azhunthai, since they ruined her father’s eyes."|Akananuru - 196<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-akananuru-121-300/
|title=Ettuthokai – Akanānūru 121–300
|website=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi
|access-date=9 August 2026
}}</ref>}}
According to Nilakanda Sastri, [[Mamulanar]] mentioned The [[Mauryan]] Invasion of South india that he speaks Mauryas cut a new path for their Chariot across rocky Mountain.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carnac |first=Richard |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.530440 |title=Indian Antiquary A Journal Of Oriental Research Vol.53 |date=1924 |language=Unknown}}</ref> He also Mentioned [[Vaduga|Vadugars]] who are vanguard of Invading [[Mauryan]] Army and [[Kosar people|Kosars]] also assisted in their Invasion against Tamil states. The Kosars who occupied Tulu country agrees to Serve under Mauryan army in that south Invasion. Because they can't Subjucating the chieftain of Mokur so they assisted with task by advent of Mauryan troops with a Vaduga Vanquard. The Mauryan invasion of Deccan and south india under [[Bindusara]] was recorded by Tibetan historian Taranath.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |title=Cholas I |publisher=University of Madras |page=27 |url=https://archive.org/details/CholasI/page/n42/mode/1up |access-date=10 August 2026}}</ref>

Nilakanda sastri agrees that moriyars mentioned in Sangam Litterature was that the Mauryas of Magatha and this Reference confirm that [[Mauryan]] Invasion happened in [[Bindusara]] period. The First and last attempt of [[Mauryan]] invasion of [[Tamilakam]] was Failed . The Mauryas Invaded Northern Borders of [[Tamilakam]] with the help of Vadugars . The Mokur king didn't submit to the kosars , so that tulu country [[Kosar people|Kosars]] assisted [[Mauryas]] and [[Vaduga|Vadugars]] to conquer the Mokur king .<ref>{{cite book |last=Subramaniam |first=N. |title=History of Tamilnad |publisher=Kodal Publishers |year=1962 |page=49 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462306/page/n64/mode/1up |access-date=8 August 2026}}</ref> The Mauryan army with assistant of Vadugars and kosars laid Camp at Pali fort in [[Tulu]] nad. They were referred by Purananuru - 378 as Vada Vadugar ( The Northern Northerns) and Akananuru - 375 as Vamba Vadugars ( New Northerns) . The [[Chola]] king Illamchetchenni gathered all forces and successfully Dislodged the enemies from the Pazhi fort in Tulu Nadu.”Illamchetchenni captured the pazhi fort and gained the title "Cerup - paali-Yerinta - ilancedcenni" ( Destroyer of Serupali)<ref>{{cite book |last=Sivraja |first=K. N. |title=The Chronology of the Early Tamils |publisher=University of Madras |year=1932 |page=120 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.188384/page/120/mode/1up |access-date=8 August 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Aiyangar |first=S. Krishnaswami |title=The Beginnings of South Indian History |publisher=The Modern Printing Works |location=Madras |year=1918 |page=95 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.283007/page/n107/mode/1up |access-date=8 August 2026}}</ref> Same Northerns mentioned in Nattrinai - 170 where [[Malaiyaman]] king of mullur defeated the Aryans single handedly and siege the fort. That series [[Aryan]] invasion under [[Mauryans]] and their allies was repelled by Tamil kings and chiefs and Emperor [[Ashoka]] mentioned terms and equality as they refer in his edicts. Tamil States in 300 BC fight amoung themselves but they are organized if anyother threat from outside and Ashoka edicts mentioned Tamil States as Cooperation for peaceful coexistence .<ref>{{cite book
|title=The Age of the Sātavāhanas
|year=1999
|publisher=Aryan Books International
|location=New Delhi
|page=146 |url=https://archive.org/details/ageofsatavahanas0001unse/page/146/mode/1up
|access-date=10 August 2026
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Aiyangar |first=S. Krishnaswami |title=The Beginnings of South Indian History |publisher=The Modern Printing Works |location=Madras |year=1918 |page=96 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.283007/page/n108/mode/1up |access-date=8 August 2026}}</ref>

The Tamil Confederacy existed since 113 year that politically powerful league in [[Tamilakam|Tamil country]] which was endangered to [[kalinga]] so [[Kharavela]] break the Confederacy with full weight .<ref>{{cite book |last=Das |first=Manmatha Nath |title=Glimpses of Kalinga History |publisher=N. Mukherjee |location=Kolkata |year=1949 |page=59 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32999/page/59/mode/1up |access-date=8 August 2026}}</ref>Hathikumba inscriptions of Emperor Kharavela praises his achievements in 13th year kharavela break the Tamil Confederacy which formed 113 years before. Kharavela reign was 2nd BC which Hathikumba Inscriptions mentioned that information in 175 BC that mentioned About Tamil confederacy was endangered to Kalinga which formed 113 year that should be 288 BC in formed during the [[Bindusara]] reign. In that period [[Bindusara]] under [[Mauryan]] invasion beginning that Followed Satavahana - Tamil conflict last quarter 3rd or 2nd Century BC again followed Kalinga - Tamil Conflict ended destruction of that Tamil Confederacy.<ref>{{cite book |last=Subramaniam |first=N. |title=History of Tamilnad |publisher=Kodal Publishers |year=1962 |page=53 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462306/page/n68/mode/1up |access-date=8 August 2026}}</ref>
== Claims ==
N.K. Sastri claims that this is the period where [[Maurya Empire|Maurya dynasty]] had established its empire from [[Persia]] to southern India. [[Bindusara]], son of [[Chandragupta Maurya]], conquered almost the whole of India except Kalinga and Cholas. But fragmentary poems of Sangam in the ''[[Purananuru]]''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sastri|first=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eg9uAAAAMAAJ|title=The Cōlas|date=1955|publisher=University of Madras|language=en}}</ref> states that, Ilamchetcenni Cholan successfully resisted<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sastri|first=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eg9uAAAAMAAJ|title=The Cōlas|date=1955|publisher=University of Madras|language=en}}</ref> the exploration of [[Mauryas]] down the southern region of the Indian subcontinent. Also Sastri claims that his period of reign is 301 BCE  – 270 BCE and Cholas overpowered [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]] and [[Pandya dynasty|Pandyas]] at time of his regin.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sastri|first=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eg9uAAAAMAAJ|title=The Cōlas|date=1955|publisher=University of Madras|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Early Cholas]]
* [[Chola dynasty]]
* [[History of India]]
* [[History of South India]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* Mudaliar, A.S, Abithana Chintamani (1931), Reprinted 1984 Asian Educational Services, 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).

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ilamcetcenni}}
[[Category:Chola kings]]
[[Category:4th-century BC Indian monarchs]]

Karikala

2026-09-10T03:23:26Z

Gunerstorm.bot: Added sources and refrence

{{Short description|Historical Chola king who ruled southern India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Karikala Cholan
| native_name =
| title = Peruvalatthaan Thirumavalavan Kaviri Kandan Makkotai Konda Cholan Parakesari ([[Sanskrit]]) <ref name="Rama Shankar Tripathi 478">{{cite book|title=History of Ancient India|author=Rama Shankar Tripathi|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass, 1967 - India - 605 pages|page=478}}</ref><ref name="Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri 68">{{cite book|title=Studies in Cōḷa history and administration|author=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri|publisher=University of Madras, 1932 - History - 210 pages|page=68}}</ref>
| image = Karikalacholan kallanai trichy.jpg
| alt = Karikala the Great
| reign =
| caption = Bronze statue of Karikāla Chōḻaṉ
| predecessor = [[Ilamcetcenni]]
| successor = [[Nedunkilli]] and [[Nalankilli]]
| spouse = [[Velir]] princess from Nangur<ref>{{cite book|title=Art and culture of Tamil Nadu|author=Irāmaccantiran̲ Nākacāmi|publisher=Sundeep Prakashan, 1980 - Art, Indic - 184 pages|page=140}}</ref>
| spouse-type = Queen
| issue = [[Nalankilli]] [[Nedunkilli]] Māvalattān
| father = [[Ilamcetcenni]]
}}
{{Chola history}}
'''Karikala''' ({{lang-ta| கரிகால சோழன்}}) often referred to as '''Karikala the Great'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2022/may/21/the-great-cholas-through-the-ages-2456011.html | title=The great Cholas through the ages }}</ref> was a [[Tamils|Tamil]] [[Emperor]] of the early Chola kingdom who ruled ancient [[Tamilakam]] from [[Uraiyur]]. He is credited with the construction of the flood banks of the [[Kaveri|river Kaveri]]. He is recognised as the greatest of the Early Cholas. In Thiruvalangadu plates of [[Rajendra Chola I]], [[Medieval Cholas|Medieval Tamil Cholas]] listed Karikala Chola as one of their ancestors. In Malepadu plates (7th century CE) of Renati Chola king Punyakumara, [[Telugu Cholas]] claimed that they belong to the family of Karikala Chola and praises him for stopping the overflow over the banks of river Kaveri.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hultzsch |first=Eugene |date=1911–1912 |title=Epigraphia Indica |journal=Epigraphia Indica |volume=11 |pages=339 |via=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India}}</ref>

== Sources ==
The story of Karikala is mixed with legend and anecdotal information gleaned from [[Sangam literature]]. The only sources available are the numerous mentions in Sangam poetry. The period covered by the extant literature of the Sangam is not easy to determine with any measure of certainty.

''[[Paṭṭiṉappālai]]'', ''[[Poruṇarāṟṟuppaṭai]]'' and a number of individual poems in the ''[[Akanaṉūṟu]]'' and ''[[Purananuru]]'' have been the main source for the information that is attributed to Karikala.

No authentic records of Karikala's reign have been found so far. However many rulers and petty chiefs who came after him claimed him as their ancestor and decorated themselves as belonging to the ''[[Chola dynasty|Chola race]] of Karikala and of the [[Kashyapa]] [[gotra]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Antiquary, Volume 38|author=Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland|pages=7–8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Andhra Pradesh district gazetteers, Volume 16|author=Andhra Pradesh (India), Bh Sivasankaranarayana|publisher=Printed by the Director of Print. and Stationery at the Govt. Secretariat Press; [copies can be had from: Govt. Publication Bureau, Andhra Pradesh], 1977 - Andhra Pradesh (India)|page=19}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Karikala was the son of [[Ilamcetcenni]].<ref>''Purananuru'' – 266</ref> The name Karikalan has been held to mean "the man with the charred leg" and perpetuates the memory of a fire accident in the early years of his life. Some scholars also hold the view ''kari'' and ''kalan'' are Tamil words meaning "slayer of elephants". ''Poruṇarāṟṟuppaṭai'' describes the back-formed origin legend of this incident as follows:{{quote|The king of [[Uraiyur]] ([[Tiruchirappalli]]) Ilamcetcenni married a [[Velir]] princess from Azhundur and she became pregnant and gave birth to Karikala. Ilamcetcenni died soon after. Due to his young age, Karikala's right to the throne was overlooked and there was political turmoil in the country. Karikala was exiled. When normality returned, the Chola ministers sent a state elephant to look for the prince. The elephant finds the prince hiding in [[Karuvur]] (modern day [[Karur]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]). His political opponents arrested and imprisoned him. The prison was set on fire that night. Karikala escaped the fire and, with the help of his uncle Irum-pitar-thalaiyan, defeated his enemies. Karikala’s leg was scorched in the fire and from thence Karikala became his name.}}Old Sangam Age inscriptions and the sthala puranam of the great ancient Saiva shrine at Parasalur, near [[Mayiladuthurai|Mayavaram]], state that in order to escape a murder plot hatched by conspirators, Karikal Valavan stayed there in disguise as a Vedic and Agama Sastra lecturer for eight years. The [[Paṭṭiṉappālai]], written in praise of Karikala, also describes this incident but without mentioning the fable of the burnt limb:
{{quote|Like a tiger cub with sharp claws and curved stripes growing strong within a cage, his strength matured while he was in the bondage of his enemies. Just as a large-trunked elephant pulls down the banks of a pit and reunites with its mate, he, after deep and careful consideration, drew his sword, overpowered the strong guard, and eventually achieved his glorious heritage.}}

== Military conquests ==
=== Battle of Venni ===
{{Main|Battle of Venni}}
According to the '' Poruṇarāṟṟuppaṭai'', Karikala Chola fought a great [[Battle of Venni]] in which both [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandyan]] and [[Chera dynasty|Cheran]] king [[Uthiyan Cheralathan]]<ref>{{cite book|title=[[A History of South India: From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar]]|first=K. A. Nilakanta|last=Sastri|author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|ref=Sastri}} </ref> suffered a defeat.<ref name=majumdar137>See Majumdar, p 137</ref> Although we know very little about the circumstances leading to this battle, there can be no doubt that it marked the turning point in Karikala’s career, for in this battle he broke the back of the powerful confederacy formed against him.<ref name=tri458>See Tripathi, p 458</ref> Besides the two crowned kings of the Pandya and Chera countries, eleven minor chieftains took the opposing side in the campaign and shared defeat at the hands of Karikala.<ref name=kulke104>See Kulke and Rothermund, p 104</ref><ref name=Balambal>{{cite book|title=Studies in the History of the Sangam Age|pages=21|isbn=978-8185163871|year=1998|last=V.|first=Balambal|publisher=Kalinga Publications|location=New Delhi}}</ref> The Chera king, who was wounded on his back in the battle, committed suicide by starvation. Venni was the watershed in the career of Karikala which established him firmly on his throne and secured for him some sort of hegemony among the three crowned monarchs. Venni is also known as Vennipparandalai and now it is known as [[Kovilvenni]] and is situated near [[Thanjavur]].<ref name=sastri112>See Nilakanta Sastri, ''A History of South India'', p112-113</ref>

=== Battle of Vahaipparandalai ===

According to Pattinapalai verse:

{{quote|"Those from Oli land are humble and under
his control. Those from the ancient Aruva
land submit to him. Northerners lose to
him and Kudanadu ruler bows to his might.
He captures enemy forts and ruins the strengths
of the Pandiyan king. He ruins the weak forest
kings and their heirs with enraged red eyes,
as well as king Irungovel's clan, with his huge
army of brave warriors."|source =Pattinapalai (274 - 285)<ref>{{cite web |title=Pathuppāttu – Pattinappālai |url=https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/pathuppattu-pattinappalai/ |author=Vaidehi Herbert |access-date=5 August 2026 |publisher=Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi |language=en |at=lines 274–285}}</ref>
}}
The [[Battle of Vahaipparandalai]] was a significant military engagement during the Sangam period in South India, fought by the Chola king Karikala. In this battle,[[Karikala Chola]] defeated confederacy of nine enemy chieftains, forcing them to submit. This victory, along with his earlier triumph at the [[Battle of Venni]], solidified Karikala's dominance over the [[Tamilakam|Tamil region]] and established him as a powerful ruler.[[Paranar]], a contemporary of Karikala, in his poem from ''[[Agananuru]]'' mentions this incident without giving any information on the cause of the conflict.<ref name="sastri112">See Nilakanta Sastri, ''A History of South India'', p112-113</ref><ref name="NilakantaSastri120">{{Cite book |last=K. A. Nilakanta Sastry |url=http://archive.org/details/history-of-south-india-k.-a.-nilkanta-sastry |title=A History Of South India (K. A. Nilakanta Sastry)}}</ref>The Confederacy of Nine kings and their vassals were defeated by him , Numerous Oliyars Submitted to him , The Pallavas of Kanchi and the Kurumbas were Compelled to accept his sovereignty. The Battle of Vahaiparantalai make karikala master of vast domination including Thondaimandalam . Pattinapalai mentioned the city was strong walls with Goddess of victory and karikala furnished with door tiger cryst engraved . Pattinapalai also said Karikala chola has no enemies that he left his capital puhar with sword and proceeded his rule north up to Himalayas . Bramanical sacrifice was encouraged in his rule and karikala patrone litterature.According to Seshadri sastri karikala reign was 113AD to 135 AD.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mahajan |first=V. D. |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=sjscEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA622&dq=karikala+kurumbas&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwinn5v7xoeWAxUrzDgGHYAWEGIQ6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q=Vahaiparantalai&f=false |title=Ancient India |publisher=S. Chand Publishing |isbn=978-93-5283-603-1 |language=en}}</ref> Oliyar, Aruvalar ,Vadavar , Kudavar , Tennavar ,Poduvar Irungovel were defeated in that battle of Vahaiparantalai.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kalidos |first=Raju |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=zG1uAAAAMAAJ&q=Karikala+defeated+vadavar&dq=Karikala+defeated+vadavar&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjExvvws4iWAxVdQmwGHT4UKAsQ6AF6BAgIEAM#oliyar |title=History and Culture of the Tamils: From Prehistoric Times to the President's Rule |date=1976 |publisher=Vijay Publications |language=en}}</ref> "The famous victor, the Sola, Karikal, protected the families of the Kurumbar who tend (flocks) onthe hill-tops".the poem also states karikala destroyed forests and turned into habbitable places.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Srinivas Iyengar |first=P. T. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.277107 |title=History of the Tamils from the earliest times to 600 A.D |date=1929}}</ref> According to Paranar The nine princess with large army who proposed karikala probably Kurumbas and they were defeated by Karikala in that battle .<ref>{{Cite book |last=V. Kanakasabhai |url=http://archive.org/details/TheTamilsEighteenHundredYearsAgo1956 |title=The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago |date=1956}}</ref>

=== Srilanka Conquests ===
According to legends Karikala was one of the few Chola kings who won the whole of Ceylon{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} (Lanka). The Grand anicut was built after his conquest over the Singalese kingdom and he used Singalese war prisoners for the hard task of moving stones from the mountains to the river bed of the Kaveri.{{cn|date=October 2021}} The ''Pattinappalai'' also describes the destruction caused by Karikala’s armies in the territories of his enemies and adds that as the result of these conflicts, the "Northerners and Westerners were depressed… and his flushed look of anger caused the Pandya’s strength to give way…".

The Chola invasion of Anurathapura happened in 110 AD, during the reign of [[Vankanasika Tissa]], the ruler of the [[House of Lambakanna I|Lambakanna dynasty]]. Karikala had a powerful [[Chola navy|navy]], which he used to capture Sri Lanka. During the campaign, Karikala’s forced defeated Vankanasika Tissa and captured 12,000 Sinhalese Prisoners along with treasures and The war Prosoners was to work as slaves to build the Kaveri Dam.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wijesekera |first=Nandadeva |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=zoNuAAAAMAAJ&q=Karikala+Chola+Srilanka&dq=Karikala+Chola+Srilanka&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiIwfXkpJKUAxVeQ_EDHWPGDsEQ6AF6BAgNEAM#Karikala%20Chola%20Srilanka |title=Contacts and Conflicts with Sri Lanka |date=1986 |publisher=N. Wijesekera |language=en}}</ref> Kallanai is a massive dam of unhewn stone, 329 metres (1,080 ft) long and 20 metres (60 ft) wide, across the main stream of the Kaveri. A later Chola record from Tiruvaduturai refers to this event that is raising the banks of the Kaveri by Parakesari Karikala Chola.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Subramaniam |first=N. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.462306 |title=History Of Tamilnad |date=1962}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=REDDY |first=Prof P. CHENNA |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=j1amEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA144&dq=12,000+prisoners+karikala&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiH5O7fsYmUAxVJUGwGHQNyOPMQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=12,000%20prisoners%20karikala&f=false |title=REVISITING INDIA’S PAST: Commemoration Volume to Prof. Vijay Kumar Thakur |date=2023-01-09 |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Navaratnam |first=C. S. |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=pUKAr_2qEhwC&q=Karikala+Chola+12+000+prisoners&dq=Karikala+Chola+12+000+prisoners&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjaqeDwuomUAxURSmwGHZk6DsMQ6AF6BAgLEAM#12000 |title=Tamils and Ceylon: From the Earliest Period Up to the End of the Jaffna Dynasty with a Chart of Important Events Up to 1900 |date=1958 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Conquest of Tondainadu and Andhra from Pallavas ===
Based on numerous village records and [[Telugu Chodas|Telugu Chola]] inscriptions found in Andhra, Karikala seems to have battled against a Pallava king named Trilochana Pallava or Mukhanti Pallava or Mukhanti Kaduvetti and captured [[Tondaimandalam|Tondainadu]], leaving the southern Telugu country to the Pallava king. The Pallava king who had [[Kanchipuram|Kanchi]] as his capital moved the capital to [[Srikalahasti|Kalahasti]] after losing Kanchi in the battle. The inscriptions also says that Karikala ordered Trilochana Pallava to come and assist him in building the flood banks along the Kaveri river. But the Pallava king who was ruling from Kalahasti declined to obey which made Karikala to declare war against him. Karikala won the battle and captured the Telugu country. During that time period, southern Andhra was covered with big forests which is not fit for cultivation. So, Karikala destroyed the forests and planted many villages. One of the villages is Pottapi, which was the most important village and hence the whole locality acquired in course of time the name Pottapi Nadu. Unlike Trilochana Pallava, Karikala Chola donated lands not only to Brahmins but also to the cultivators.<ref>{{Cite book |last=N. |first=Venkata Ramanayya |title=Trilochana Pallava And Karikala Chola |publisher=V. Ramaswamy Sastrulu & Sons |year=1929 |location=Madras |pages=65–69 |language=English}}</ref>

=== Northern Expedition and Conquests ===
According to Silapathikaram, Indira vilavureduttakadai verses 89 to 110 Mentioned Karikala Chola Military Achivements:

{{quote|"Once Tirumavalavan felt that there was no foe on either side fit to fight with him and thinking, in his thirst for war, that there might be foes in the north, he had an auspicious day chosen for taking out hig sword, umbrella and war-drum, and he prayed to his guardian deity that he might be lucky enough to find an enemy fit to encounter his broad shoulders, and advanced in that direction. Finding the great Himalayas, the residence of gods, as the barrier arresting his further progress, he retreated with pride after engraving his tiger-emblem on its rocky side.
On his return, the king of the great [[Vatsa|Vacciranadu]] whose sway extended as far as the roaring sea (in the east), gave him a pearl canopy as tribute while th» king of [[Magadha]] famous for his sword-play, and his enemy a while ago, presented to him an audience-hall (pattimandapam) . The king of [[Avanti]] gave him a friendly present of a tall and beautiful arch on the gateway. Though all these were made of gold and gems, their technique was not known to human artists even of exceptional skill ; they were long ago given to the ancestors of these three monarchs by the divine Maya in return for some valuable service rendered to him. When they were all placed together, they formed an artistic mandapam much praised by great men."|Silapathikaram,Indira vilavureduttakadai 89-110<ref>{{cite book |last=Dikshitar |first=V. R. Ramachandra |title=The Silappadikaram |publisher=Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford |year=1939 |page=114 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.201802/page/n128/mode/1up |access-date=7 August 2026 |chapter=Indira Vilavureduttakadai, verses 89–110}}</ref>}}

According to [[Cilappatikaram]], Nadukarkadai mentioned about Karikala Chola Successful North India Campaign and he received gifts from [[Indo-Aryan peoples|north]] Indian kingdoms by tributary it's follows:

{{quote|"O king with the tumbai and the anklet, tokens of success in battle! Attended by these vanquished [[Aryan|Arya]] kings we went to the ancient city of Sembiyan ([[Chola]]) and paid our respects to him through his officers. Seated in the ornamented mandapam constructed (with the materials received as gifts) from the Vaccira ([[Vatsa]]), [[Pradyota dynasty|Avanti]] and [[Magadha]] kings, he remarked to the commander of his chariot corps occupying the front rank of the army : ' it is no achievement to capture in the wide expanse of the battlefield those who, after displaying great military prowess, gave up their umbrellas and swords and fled in the disguise of non-combatants.”|source=[[Cilappatikaram]], Nadukarkadai 78 - 94<ref>{{cite book
|last=Dikshitar
|first=V. R. Ramachandra
|title=The Silappadikaram
|year=1939
|publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.35913/page/319/mode/1up
|page=319
|access-date=26 April 2026
}}</ref>
}}
After subduing the south Karikala went on an expedition to the north and engraved his tiger emblem in the Himalayas. The king of the great [[Vajra (king)|Vajra]] whose sway extended as far as the roaring sea (in the east), gave him a pearl canopy as a tribute while the king of [[Magadha]] famous for his sword-play, and his enemy a while ago, presented to him an audience hall (pattimandapam). The king of [[Avanti (Ancient India)|Avanti]] gave him a friendly present of a tall and beautiful arch on the gateway. Though all these were made of gold and gems, their technique was not known to human artists even of exceptional skill; they were long ago given to the ancestors of these three monarchs by the divine [[Mamuni Mayan|Maya]] in return for some valuable service rendered to him.<ref name="The Silappadikaram, page 114">The Śilappadikāram by V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar, p114-115</ref>

== Grand Anicut ==
[[File:Grand Anaicut.JPG|thumb|Kallanai built by Karikala Chola on river Kaveri]]

Sometime between the reign of Sinhalese monarch [[Vankanasika Tissa]], Karikala, with a large army, invaded the island and took away 12,000 Sinhalese men to work as slaves to build the Kaveri Dam.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6nrXAAAAMAAJ&q=sinhalese+slaves+kaveri+dam | isbn=9789555801102 | title=Walking to Kataragama | year=2007 | publisher=International Centre for Ethnic Studies }}</ref>

Later Chola kings attributed the building of dikes along the banks of the [[Kaveri]] to Karikala.<ref name=majumdar137 /><ref name=kulke104 /><ref name="History of ancient India, page 478">''History of ancient India, page 478: ..raising the banks of the Kaveri by Parakesari Karikala Chola''</ref><ref name="Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 39, page 156">''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 39, page 156</ref> The raising of the banks of the river Kaveri by Karikala is also mentioned by the Malepadu plates (seventh century CE)<ref>{{Cite book|last=R. C. Majumdar|first=General Editor|url=https://archive.org/details/classicalage03bhar|title=History and Culture of the Indian People, Volume 03, The Classical Age p.265|date=1970|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|others=Public Resource}}</ref> of the [[Telugu_Cholas#Renati_Cholas|Telugu Chola]] sovereign of Renadu, [[Tumkur|Erigal]]-Mutturaju Punyakumara, who claims descent from Karikala: ''karuna – saroruha vihita – vilochana – pallava – trilochana pramukha kilapritvisvara karita kaveri tira'' (he who caused the banks of the Kaveri to be constructed by all the subordinate kings led by the Pallava Trilochana whose third eye was blinded by his lotus foot).

The [[Grand Anicut]], also known as the Kallanai was built by Karikala<ref name="kallanai_googlebook">{{cite book | last = Singh | first = Vijay P. |author2=Ram Narayan Yadava | title = Water Resources System Operation: Proceedings of the International Conference on Water and Environment | publisher = Allied Publishers | year = 2003 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Bge-0XX6ip8C&dq=kallanai&pg=PA508 | isbn = 81-7764-548-X | page = 508}}</ref> and is considered one of the oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structures in the world which is still in use.<ref name="kallanai_oldest">{{cite web | url = http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/traditionwater.pdf | title = ''This is the oldest stone water-diversion or water-regulator structure in the world''| access-date = 2007-05-27 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070206130842/http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/traditionwater.pdf |archive-date = 2007-02-06}}</ref> The Kallanai is a massive dam of unhewn stone, 329 metres (1,080 ft) long and 20 metres (60 ft) wide, across the main stream of the Kaveri.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9021884/Cauvery-River|title=Cauvery River – Britannica Online Encyclopedia}}</ref> A later [[Chola]] record from Tiruvaduturai refers to this event that is raising the banks of the Kaveri by Parakesari Karikala Chola.<ref name="Rama Shankar Tripathi 478">{{cite book|title=History of Ancient India|author=Rama Shankar Tripathi|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass, 1967 - India - 605 pages|page=478}}</ref><ref name="Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri 68">{{cite book|title=Studies in Cōḷa history and administration|author=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri|publisher=University of Madras, 1932 - History - 210 pages|page=68}}</ref>

== Perur Patteeswarar Temple ==
[[File:Perur Patteeswarar1.jpg|thumb|Perur Patteeswarar Temple]]
After his victory over the Northern kingdoms of Vatsa, Magadha and Avantika, Karikala returned back to [[Tamilakam|Tamil land]] and worshipped Lord [[Shiva]] at the [[Perur Pateeswarar Temple, Coimbatore|Perur Pateeswarar Temple]] located at the banks of river [[Noyyal]] in present day [[Coimbatore]]. Karikala was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He is said to have done the [[Kumbhabhishekham]] (sanctification ritual) of the temple through hundred golden vessels. A famous text named '''Perur Puranam''' was composed by Kachiyappa Munivar in Tamil on the origin of the temple.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perurpatteeswarar.tnhrce.in/history-patteeswarar.html|title=Arulmigu Patteeswarar Swamy Temple - History|access-date=14 December 2016}}</ref>

=== Karikala Cholan Manimandapam ===
[[File:Karikaala Chozan Memorial -1.jpg|thumb|Karikala Cholan Manimandapam]]
Karikala Cholan Manimandapam (memorial hall) was built in honour of the king who built the Grand Anicut. The hall designed as per Chola architecture style was built at a cost of {{INR}} 21 million. It features a bronze statue of the king.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/Karikalan-cholan-memorial-inaugurated/articleshow/30300318.cms | title=Karikalan cholan memorial inaugurated |newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/karikalan-manimandapam-ready-for-inauguration/article5342940.ece | title=Karikalan Manimandapam ready for inauguration |work=The Hindu | access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref>

== Dating Karikala ==
According to [[Nilakanta Sastri]] Karikala reigned in 90 CE.<ref name="A History of South India, page 119">A History of South India: From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar, page 119</ref>

However, [[V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar]] states that the Karikala mentioned in [[Silappadikaram]] and [[Sangam literature]] are two different kings and the Karikala mentioned in [[Silappadikaram]] has nothing to do with Trilocana Pallava and nothing prevents another Karikala having flourished in [[Puhar, Nagapattinam|Puhar]] a few centuries later.<ref name="The Silappadikaram, page 24">The Śilappadikāram by V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar, page 24</ref>

The copper-plate charters and stone inscription of the 10th and 11th centuries also mention two different Karikala thus unable to determine his exact reign.

== See also ==
* [[Legendary early Chola kings]]
* [[Tamil history from Sangam literature]]
* [[List of Tamil monarchs]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite book|title=[[A History of South India: From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar]]|first=K. A. Nilakanta|last=Sastri|author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|ref=Sastri}}
* {{cite book | first= Kulke| last= Hermann |author2=Rothermund D| orig-year= 2000| year=2001 | title= A History of India | publisher= Routledge | isbn= 0-415-32920-5}}
* {{cite book | first= R.C | last= Majumdar| year= 1987| title= Ancient India | publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publications | location= India| isbn= 81-208-0436-8}}
* {{cite book | first= A.S| last= Mudaliar| orig-year= 1931| year= 1984| title= Abithana Chintamani| publisher= Asian Educational Services | location= New Delhi}}
* {{cite book | first= K.A| last= Nilakanta Sastri| author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri | orig-year= 1935| year= 1984| title= The CōĻas| publisher= University of Madras | location= Madras}}
* {{cite book | first= K.A | last= Nilakanta Sastri| orig-year= 1955| year= 2002| title= A History of South India| publisher= OUP| location= New Delhi}}
* {{cite book | first= Rama Sankar| last= Tripathi| year= 1967| title= History of Ancient India| publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publications| location= India| isbn= 81-208-0018-4}}
* {{cite book | title=History of the Tamils from the Earliest Times to the Present Day| last= Iyengar| first= P. T. Srinivasa | author-link= P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar| year=1929}}
* {{cite book | first= R.| last= Raghava Iyengar| year= 1951| title= Pattinapalai, Research Monograph| publisher= Annamalai University Publications| location= Chidambaram}}

[[Category:Chola kings]]