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| {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} | | #REDIRECT [[Uttama (Chola dynasty)]] |
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| {{Infobox royalty
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| | name = Uttama Chola <br />
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| | title = KoparakesariVarman
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| | image = Chola coin with legend "Uttama".png
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| | alt = Coin from the period of Uttama Chola
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| | caption =
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| | reign = 970–985 CE
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| | predecessor = [[Parantaka Chola II]]
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| | successor = [[Rajaraja Chola I]]
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| | spouse =Sorabbaiyar Tribhuvana Mahadevi,<br /> Kaduvettigal Nandippottairaiyar <br />Siddhavadavan Suttiyar
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| | spouse-type = Queen
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| | issue = Madurantaka Gandaradithar
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| | father = [[Gandaraditya]]
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| | birth_date = Unknown
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| | birth_place =
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| | death_date = 985 CE
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| | death_place =
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| | burial_place =
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| | religion =
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| }} | | }} |
| {{Chola history}}
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| '''Uttama Chola''' born Madurantaka ascended the [[Cholas|Chola]] throne c. 970 CE succeeding [[Parantaka Chola II]]. According to Tiruvalangadu plates of [[Rajendra Chola]], Madurantaka Uttama Chola's reign is placed after Aditya II. The latter may have been a co-regent of his father [[Sundara Chola]] and seems to have died before he could formally ascend the throne.<ref name=raosahib/> Uttama was the cousin of [[Sundara Chola|Parantaka II]] and was the son of the illustrious [[Sembiyan Mahadevi]] and [[Gandaraditya]].<ref name=bhakti>{{cite book|title=The Embodiment of Bhakti|author=Karen Pechilis Prentiss|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2000|page=97}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Ancient India: Collected Essays on the Literary and Political History of Southern India|author=Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1911|page=103}}</ref>
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| == Controversial ascension ==
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| The circumstances under which Uttama ascended the Chola throne is surrounded by controversy and mystery. Uttama was the son of Gandaraditya and his queen Sembiyan Mahadeviyar.<ref>{{cite book|title=Origin of Saivism and Its History in the Tamil Land|author=Subramanian K R|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=2002|page=71}}</ref> At the time of Gandarditya's death Uttama must have been a very young child. Due to his immaturity, his rights to the Chola throne were probably set aside and Gandaraditya's younger brother [[Arinjaya]] was crowned king.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Great Chola Temples: Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram, Darasuram|url=https://archive.org/details/greatcholatemple00siva|author=C. Sivaramamurti|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|year=2007|page=[https://archive.org/details/greatcholatemple00siva/page/11 11]}}</ref>
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| Arinjaya ruled for a very short time – possibly for less than a year and on his death, his son Parantaka II ([[Parantaka Chola II|Sundara Chola]]) succeeded him.<ref>{{cite book|title=A handbook of Tamil Nadu|author=K. M. Venkataramaiah|publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 1996 - History - 544 pages|page=359}}</ref> By the time Maduranthaka was old enough to claim the crown, Sundara Chola had two sons – [[Aditya II|Aditya Karikalan]] (the one who took the head of the Vira Pandya) and [[Rajaraja Chola I|Arulmozhivarman]].
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| During the reign of Paranta Sundara Chola, his son, Aditya II, was made the co-regent and heir apparent to the Chola throne even though Uttama Chola, the son of Gandaraditya Chola, had more right to throne. [[Aditya II]] was assassinated c. 969 CE under mysterious circumstances.<ref name=udaiyargudi1>{{cite book|title=Annals of Oriental Research, Volume 25|publisher=University of Madras.|year=1975|page=600}}</ref><ref name=udaiyargudi2>{{cite book|title=Early Indian land grants and state economy|author=Om Prakash|publisher=Excellence Publishers, 1988 - Land grants - 320 pages|page=175}}</ref> As per the Thiruvalangadu plates of [[Rajendra Chola I]] there was question on ascension and Arulmozhivarman, the future [[Rajaraja I]], chose to step aside for his paternal uncle Madhuranthaka. According to the [[Tamil Copper-plate inscriptions|Tiruvalangadu plates]], after the death of Aditya II Karikala, the people wanted [[Rajaraja Chola I|Arulmozhivarman]] - Aditya II Karikala's brother to be their king, but that noble prince refused to accept the offer saying that so long as his uncle Uttama-Chola wanted to be the king, he would step aside.<ref name=raosahib>{{cite book|title=South Indian Inscriptions, Volume III, Miscellaneous inscriptions from the Tamil Country|author=Rao Sahib H. Krishna Sastri|publisher=The Director General, Archaeological Survey On India, Janpath, New Delhi|year=1987|pages=413–426}}</ref>
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| == Role in Aditya II’s Assassination ==
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| We learn from an inscription dated during Rajaraja's time that the properties of some persons were confiscated as they had been convicted for treason. It is
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| also shown that these persons were involved in the conspiracy to kill Aditya II. The inscription from Udaiyargudi dated in the second regnal year of [[Rajaraja Chola]] states that the government confiscated the lands of a few people and their relatives, namely Soman, Ravidasan alias Panchavan Brahmadhirajan, Parameswaran alias Irumudichola Brahmadhirajan and Malaiyanur Revadasa Kramavittan and the properties of his son and mother for treason and for their hand in the murder of ''Karikala chola who took the head of the Pandya''. Among these Ravidasan and Parameswaran were government officials<ref name=southindiahistory>{{cite book|title=Proceedings of the Annual Conference, Volume 18|author=South Indian History Congress|year=1999|page=157}}</ref><ref name=udaiyargudi1/><ref name=udaiyargudi2/> We can safely gather that although Aditya II was killed in 969 C.E., no action had been taken by Uttama during his reign to bring justice to the perpetrators. K.A.N. Sastry in his authoritative ''Colas'' says that based on an inscription at the temple at Udayarkudi, circumstantial evidence pointed to Uttama's culpability in the assassination.
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| However, later research indicates that Sastry may be wrong in this claim, and possibly interpreted the Tamil inscriptions incorrectly. It seems reasonable to conclude that if there was any evidence against Uttama Chola, Rajaraja's son Rajendra would not have assumed the coronation name of Madhurathaka II.
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| There is every indication Uttama was religious and upstanding. An ardent Shiva devotee (as seen by inscriptions in Konnerirajapuram aka Thirunallam or in Kanchipuram), it was Uttama, under the guidance of his mother, who codified the temple patterns, epigraphy, art, sculpture, and the keeping of administrative records.
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| == Chola army and campaigns ==
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| Not much is known about the military conquests of Uttama but by his time most of Thondaimandalam had been recovered from the [[Rashtrakutas]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century|author=Upinder Singh|publisher=Pearson Education India, 2008 - Excavations (Archaeology) - 677 pages|page=559}}</ref> His dominions included [[Kanchi]] and [[Tiruvannamalai]] to the north.<ref>{{cite book|title=History and Culture of the Tamils: From Prehistoric Times to the President's Rule|author=Raju Kalidos|publisher=Vijay Publications|year=1976|page=128}}</ref> Many of his inscriptions are found in around [[Chengalpattu]] and North [[Arcot]] districts. The Chola army seems to have been in continued battles with the Pandyas and their ally the Sinhalas in Eelam or Sri Lanka. Several Chola coins of Uttama have been found in the Pandya country and in Eelam as proof of Uttama's activities there. We have a [[Indian copper plate inscriptions|copper-plate inscription]] of him, now at the Government Museum Chennai. It bears the symbol of a seated tiger with two fish beside it and bears the line ''This is the matchless edict of the King who taught justice to all the Kings in his realm''. But the genealogical section of the plates was lost. However, we do have the appendix portion at the end.<ref>{{cite book|title=Social and cultural history of Tamilnad, Volume 1|author=N. Subrahmanian|publisher=Ennes|year=1993|page=134}}</ref>
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| There are indications he upgraded the army, not just in troop levels but also in quality and organization. It is known through inscriptions that, at least from Uttama Chola's time, warriors were provided with waistcoats of armour.
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| An important general during his reign was [[Paluvettaraiyar]] Maravan Kandanar, who also served under Sundara Chola. His son Kumaran Maravan also served Uttama Chola.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume|author=K. K. Kusuman|publisher=Mittal Publications, 1990 - Inde - Civilisation - 349 pages|page=300}}</ref>
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| == Personal life ==
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| Uttama Chola was the son of Sembiyan Mahadevi and [[Gandaraditya]] Chola. Sembiyan Mahadevi was the daughter of a [[Mazhavaraayas|Malavarayar]] chieftain.<ref>{{cite book|title=Early Chola Temples: Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985|author=S. R. Balasubrahmanyam|publisher=Orient Longman, 1971 - Architecture, Chola - 351 pages|page=210}}</ref>
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| Uttama Chola had several queens. The names of some of them are known; Orattanan (Urattayana) Sorabbaiyar Tribhuvana-Mahadeviyar (chief queen), Kaduvettigal Nandippottairaiyar (probably a Pallava princess), and Siddhavadavan Suttiyar (related to Vikramasola-Miladudaiyar a prominent feudal king who ruled over Miladu part of present South Arcot District).<ref>{{cite book|title=A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States: Thanjavur District|author=T. V. Mahalingam|publisher=Indian Council of Historical Research|year=1992|page=364}}</ref> His father named him Gandan Madhurantakan alias Uttama Chola after his paternal uncles.<ref>{{cite book|title=Early Chola Temples: Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985|author=S. R. Balasubrahmanyam|publisher=Orient Longman, 1971|page=158}}</ref> Unlike some of the other kings of the Chola empire, he took after his mother and was very pious. It was due to his pious nature and support that his mother Sembiyan Madevi was able to continue with her own work of rebuilding temples.<ref>{{cite book|title=Śrīnidhiḥ: perspectives in Indian archaeology, art, and culture : Shri K.R. Srinivasan festschrift|author1=K. V. Raman|author2=K. R. Srinivasan|publisher=New Era Publications|year=1983|page=364}}</ref> He is known to have shown compassion to even his enemies.
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| As with most ancient Indian kings, Uttama Chola was religiously tolerant. Although a Saivaite (worshipper of [[Shiva|Siva]]), he also donated to temples dedicated for [[Vishnu]] especially to the Ullagaladar temple. He also granted large degrees of autonomy to his districts. He brought in best talent from other kingdoms. Kachipeedu (modern Kanchipuram) is also mentioned as one of his prominent cities. He is known to have contributed money, cattle, sheep to temples in modern Kumbakonam, Thirunallam (modern Konnerirajapuram), Thiruvallarai, Thirupatturai, Thirunedugalam, Thiruvisalur, Thirunaraiyur, Thiruvalangadu, Thirukkodika, etc.
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| Uttama Chola's mother pioneered the process of kalpani—converting brick, mortar, and wooden structures into granite and there is inscriptional evidence to show that he actively funded his mother in this work. She made a conscious effort to copy the older inscriptions before she re-built the temple, for example in a temple in Aavatuturai which was sung by the ''Moovar'', that is the Saivite saints, [[Appar]], [[Sundarar]] and [[Sambandhar]] there is an older inscription from the time before the temple was rebuilt. At other places like the Choleeswara temple at Kurralam which was sung by [[Appar]] and [[Sundarar]], there is an inscription that says it was built by Sembiyan Mahadevi<ref name=bhakti/> She survived this king and lived on for another 16 years into the reign of Rajaraja I.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Topographical List of Inscriptions of the Madras Presidency, Volume II, with Notes and References|author=V. Rangacharya|publisher=Asian Educational Services, New Delhi|year=1985|page=1357}}</ref>
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| Two sculptures of Uttama Chola (Madhuranthaka Devar) and his mother can be found in the Southern wall of the inner Prakara of the Konnerirajapuram (aka Thirunallam) temple near Kumbakonam. The inscription under the sculpture identifying Sembiyan Mahadevi identifies her and the Archaeological Survey of India interprets the bearded man behind her as Gandaraditya Chola.
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| == Death and succession ==
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| Uttama died c. 985 CE. Although he had at least one son (Madurantaka Gandaraditya), the line of succession passed back to Parantaka II family. [[Rajaraja Chola I]] succeeded as the Chola Emperor. Madurantaka served as an official in Rajaraja's court.
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| == Inscriptions ==
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| The following is an inscription of Uttama Chola from the Umamaheswaraswami temple in [[Konerirajapuram]],
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| {{Cquote|<center>''A record of the Chola king Madhurantakadeva alias Uttama Chola.''
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| ''Records that the temple of Tirunallamudaiyar was built of stone by Madevadigalar alias Sembiyan Madeviyar queen of Gandaradittadeva and mother of the king<ref>{{cite book|title=A Topographical List of Inscriptions of the Madras Presidency, Volume II, with Notes and References|author=V. Rangacharya|publisher=Asian Educational Services, New Delhi|year=1985|page=1387}}</ref>''
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| </center>}}
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| Yet another inscription of him from the Masilamanisvara temple in Tirumullaivayil,
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| {{Cquote|<center>''Dated in the reign of the Chola king Parakesarivarman alias Uttama Chola deva;''
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| ''records in his fourteenth year, gift of land by Sembiyan Madeviyar, queen of Gandaraditta Perumal and daughter of Malavarayar. The lands were purchased from the villagers in Ambattur in Ambattur-nadu, a district of Pular kottam <ref>{{cite book|title=A Topographical List of Inscriptions of the Madras Presidency, Volume I, with Notes and References|author=V. Rangacharya|publisher=Asian Educational Services, New Delhi|year=1985|page=423}}</ref>''
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| </center>}}
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| == Notes ==
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| {{reflist}}
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| == References ==
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| * Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1935). ''The CōĻas'', University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).
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| * Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). ''A History of South India'', OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
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| {{S-start}}
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| {{Succession box|title=[[Chola]]|before=[[Sundara Chola]]|after=[[Rajaraja Chola I]] |years=970–985 CE}}
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| {{s-end}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Chola, Uththama}}
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| [[Category:Chola kings]]
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| [[Category:980s deaths]]
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| [[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
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| [[Category:10th-century Indian monarchs]]
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