Rajendra Chola I: Difference between revisions

{{Use Indian English|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Rajendra I

| native_name = Please do not add "WP:INDICSCRIPT"

| title = Parakesari, Yuddhamalla, Mummudi Cholan, Gangai Kondan, Kadaram Kondan, [[Jayasimha II (Western Chalukya dynasty)|Jayasimha]] Kula Kaalan, Chalukya Chudaamani, Thelagaramari (Thelungu Kula Kaalan), [[Kuntala country|Rattapadi]] Konda Chola

| image = Rajendra Chola (cropped).JPG

| caption = Sculpture of Rajendra I represented as Lord Chandikeswara ([[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]])

| succession = [[Chola Empire|Chola Emperor]]

| reign = 1014 CE – 1044 CE<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=46–49}}</ref>

| predecessor = [[Rajaraja Chola|Rajaraja I]]

| successor = [[Rajadhiraja Chola I|Rajadhiraja I]]

| birth_name = Madhurantaka Chola

| birth_date = 971 CE

| birth_place = [[Thanjavur]], [[Chola Empire]] (modern day [[Tamil Nadu]], India)

| death_date = 1044 CE (aged 73)

| death_place = [[Brahmadesam, Cheyyar|Brahmadesam]], [[Chola Empire]]

  India<ref name="Ē. Kē Cēṣāttiri 19"/>

| spouse = * Tribhuvana (Vanavan Mahadevi)

| issue = * Rajarajan  

* Manukula Kesari

* Sanga Varman

| father = [[Rajaraja Chola|Rajaraja I]]

| mother = Vanavan Mahadevi ''alias'' Tribhuvana Mahadevi

| signature = Gangaikondacholan.JPG

| religion = [[Hinduism]]<ref>''The Imperial Pandyas: Mathematics Reconstructs the Chronology'', N. Sethuraman, 1978, p. 5, "Calendar System alone must be employed to fix the accession date of a Hindu king Rajendra Chola".</ref>

| succession2 = Co-Regent of the [[Chola Empire]]

| reign2 = 1012 CE – 1014 CE

| cor-type2 = Emperor

| coronation2 = [[Rajaraja I]]

| successor2 = [[Rajadhiraja Chola I|Rajadhiraja I]]

| succession4 = King of [[Maya Rata|Dakkinadesa]] <br/>

| reign4 = 1017 CE – 1044 CE

| successor4 = [[Rajadhiraja Chola I|Rajadhiraja I]]

| dynasty = [[Chola]]

| embed = yes

| branch = {{flagicon image|Chola_flag.png}} [[Chola military|Chola Army]]  

| branch_label = Service

| serviceyears = 992 – 1044 CE

| rank = [[Field marshal|Senathipathi]] (992 – 1014 CE) <br />

'''Rajendra I''' <!--Please do not add "WP:INDICSCRIPT"-->([[Help:IPA/English|/rɑːdʒeɪndrə/]]; [[Middle Tamil]]: Rājēntira Cōḻaṉ; [[Classical Sanskrit]]: Rājēndradēva Cōla; [[Old Malay]]: ''Raja Suran<ref name="TasaiDjamari2005">{{cite book |author1=S. Amran Tasai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YcVkAAAAMAAJ&q=Rajendra+Chola+zulkarnain |title=Sejarah Melayu: sebagai karya sastra dan karya sejarah : sebuah antologi |author2=Djamari |author3=Budiono Isas |publisher=Pusat Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan Nasional |year=2005 |isbn=978-979-685-524-7 |page=67}}</ref><ref name="Miksic20132">{{cite book |author=John N. Miksic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMt3BgAAQBAJ&dq=chola+zulkarnain&pg=PA147 |title=Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300_1800 |date=30 September 2013 |publisher=NUS Press |isbn=978-9971-69-574-3 |pages=147– |author1-link=John N. Miksic}}</ref>''; c. 971 CE – 1044 CE), who is often referred to as '''Rajendra the Great''' and '''Gangaikonda Cholan''' (Middle Tamil: ''Kaṅkaikoṇṭa Cōḻaṉ''; ''lit.'' "Bringer of the Ganges"), and '''Kadaram Kondan''' (Middle Tamil: ''Kaṭāram Koṇṭāṉ''; ''lit.'' "Conqueror of [[Kedah]]"), was a [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] Emperor who reigned from 1014 and 1044 CE. He is considered the most significant ruler in early eleventh-century South Asia for his role in patronising the arts, encouraging trade, influential diplomacy, military conquest, and expansion of the Chola Empire to its greatest extent.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Thapar|first=Romila|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gyiqZKDlSBMC|title=The Penguin History of Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2003|isbn=978-0-14-302989-2|location=New Delhi|pages=364–365|language=|orig-year=2002}}</ref>{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=194-195}}{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=228}}

Rajendra Chola I was born in [[Thanjavur]] to [[Rajaraja I]] and his queen Vanavan Mahadevi. Rajendra assumed royal power as co-regent with his father in 1012 until his father died in 1014, when Rajendra ascended to the Chola throne. During his reign, the Chola Empire was the largest and most-significant political, military, and economic force in the [[Indian subcontinent]]; it extended its reach via trade and conquest across the [[Indian Ocean]], making Rajendra one of only a few Indian monarchs who conquered territory beyond South Asia. In his early years, Rajendra was involved in the [[Chola military|Chola Army]], with which he fought in several campaigns against the [[Western Chalukya Empire|Western Chalukyas]] and the rulers of [[Anuradhapura]], earning him his first victories. He quelled rebellions in the [[Chera dynasty|Chera]] and [[Pandya dynasty|Pandiya]] vassal states, and in [[Sri Lanka]]. As Emperor, Rajendra completed the conquest of Anuradhapura and brought a large portion of Sri Lanka under imperial rule.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Spencer |first=George W. |date=May 1976 |title=The Politics of Plunder: The Cholas in Eleventh-Century Ceylon |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-asian-studies/article/abs/politics-of-plunder-the-cholas-in-eleventhcentury-ceylon/926938631DA4BF69B0DED43421E08658 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |language=en |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=405–419 |doi=10.2307/2053272 |jstor=2053272 |s2cid=154741845 |issn=1752-0401}}</ref> Rajendra expanded Chola rule by defeating the kingdoms of [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]] and [[Bengal|Vengai]], and subduing the islands of [[Lakshadweep|Laccadives]] and the [[Maldives]], which he renamed ''Munnir Palantivu Pannirayiram'' ("Twelve Thousand Islands and the Ocean Where Three Waters Meet"). These islands were later used as strategic naval bases. During his [[South-East Asia campaign of Rajendra Chola I|South-East Asia campaign]], he annexed [[Srivijaya]], [[Kedah]], [[Tambralinga]] and [[Pegu]], achieving imperial dominance in the region and cementing the Chola's continued influence in South-East Asia.

Rajendra conducted a continuous war of attrition against the [[Pala Empire|Pala dynasty]] and captured a great deal of wealth, which he used to build the city of [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram|Gangaikondacholapuram]], the capital of the [[Chola dynasty|Chola Empire]], and one of the great centres of trade and commerce in South Asia for several centuries.<ref name=":2" /> The city was remarkable for its artificial lake, extensive fortifications, moats surrounding the imperial palace, and the [[Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram|Brihadisvara Temple]]. Rajendra was a devout follower of [[Shaivism]] but welcomed Buddhism and built several [[stupas]] across South-East Asia and South India.

One of the most enduring legacies of Rajendra's reign is the emergence of new forms of trade. Partly due to his dominance of the [[Strait of Malacca]] and several other inshore areas, a commercial system called "emporia",<ref>{{Cite book |title= Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa|chapter=10 Rajendra Chola's Naval Expedition and the Chola Trade with Southeast and East Asia |year=2009 |pages=168–177 |doi=10.1355/9789812309389-015 |isbn=9789812309389 |chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1355/9789812309389-015/pdf}}</ref> which refers to exporting goods according to their demand, arose, making trade within the Empire considerably more profitable, engendering a larger, more powerful military, facilitating the further widening of trade networks. The [[Khmer Empire]] was a major ally and trading partner, and helped the Cholas expand their networks as far as [[Song dynasty|Song China]]. This link allowed Rajendra to incorporate Chinese vessels into the Chola military. These networks also extended west; the Cholas engaged in the spice trade with [[Arab world|Arabia]], [[North Africa]], [[Anatolia]] and [[Turkic peoples]].

Rajendra Chola I was succeeded by his son [[Rajadhiraja Chola|Rajadhiraja I]], who ruled from 1044 to 1054.{{sfn|Karashima|2014|p=370}}

[[File:Rajendra Chola, Gangaikondasolapuram.jpg|thumb|Depiction of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] Praising Lord Chandikeswara]]

The exact birth date of Rajendra I is unknown; it is suspected he was born around 971 CE.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last1=Kramrisch|first1=Stella|last2=Boner|first2=Alice|last3=Sarma|first3=Sadasiva Rath|last4=Das|first4=Rajendra Prasad|date=1975|title=New Light on the Sun Temple of Konarka|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3250236|journal=Artibus Asiae|volume=37|issue=4|pages=306|doi=10.2307/3250236|jstor=3250236 |issn=0004-3648}}</ref> He was the son of [[Rajaraja Chola|Rajaraja I]] and queen [[Vanavan Mahadevi]], who is also called Thiripuvāna Mādēviyār. Rajendra had a younger brother named [[Araiyan Rajarajan]], who became a commanding general of a Chola army, and at least three sisters; the younger sister was [[Kundavai Pirāttiyār]], the queen of Chalukya-Vimaladitya; and a daughter called Mahadevi. Other significant members of the royal household include queen mother Dantisakti Vitanki—alias Lokamahadevi. The ''[[nakshatra]]'' of Rajendra's birth was [[Thiruvathira|Thiruvathirai]] (Ardra).{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=186-187}}

Rajendra was declared heir apparent and formally associated with his father in the administration of the Chola Empire in the final years of his father's reign (1012–1014). {{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=194-195}} In 1018, Rajendra appointed his son Rajadhiraja as heir apparent or co-regent to the Chola throne, which Rajadhiraja occupied from 1018 to 1044.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=195-196}}

 

==Military conquests==

On his father's behalf  Rajaraja I, Rajendra I started his wars on the Indian mainland when he was a co-regent for his father  in an expedition in 1012 with the capture of [[Maruthuvakudi|Aduthurai]] in modern-day central [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Vanavasi]] in western Tamil Nadu. He then directed his attention to Kollipaakkai in northern [[Andhra Pradesh]] and captured it in 1013. In 1014, Rajendra led a war against the Irratiapaadi ElaraIiakam in northern [[Karnataka]] and southern [[Maharashtra]]. He also captured its capital city [[Mannaikadakkam]] or [[Maleked]] on behalf of his father, which met this reversal after its initial capture by Rajaraja Cholan in 1006. With the death of Rajaraja Cholan I in 1014 CE and the ascension of Rajendra to the Chola throne in the same year. After a lapse of two years, in 1016, Rajendra sent a naval force to Sri Lanka and brought the Anuradhapura Kingdom under his control.<ref name=":4" /> Following an expedition to eastern [[Kerala]] in 1017, Rajendra captured [[Kudamalai Nadu]].{{sfn|M. G. S. Narayanan|2013|p=115-118}}

 

In 1018, Rajendra's forces captured the [[Maldives]] and [[Lakshadweep]] islands, and the same year captured [[Sandimaaththivu]], the [[Kavaratti]] island west of Kerala.{{sfn|K. A. N. Sastri|1992|p=2}}{{sfn|K. A. N. Sastri|1992|p=2}} In 1019, Rajendra sent another expedition against the Irrataipaadi Elaraiillakam, northern Karnataka and southern Maharashtra. With its new capital at Kalyani in northernmost Karnataka, which the Cholas lost again but recaptured after a battle at Musangi in eastern Karnataka. After a two-year lapse, Rajendra, with his capture of many regions of the Indian mainland, became more ambitious in conquering the northern and north-western parts of India. He commenced his war expedition in this direction in 1021, capturing Sakkarakkoattam in the south of [[Chhattisgarh]]. Then, he sent part of his forces to the [[Ganges river]] in the north and the other in a north-westerly direction. At the same time, he stationed himself at Sakkarakkoattam until the two expeditions were complete.

The second expedition went to Uttarapatha and [[Gangetic]] region countries towards the Ganges river in the north from Sakkarakkoattam; they captured the regions of Odda Vishayam and Thandabuththi  in [[Odisha]], Kosala Naadu in northern Chhattisgarh, Thakkana Laadam and Uttara Laadam in [[Jharkhand]], and Vangala Desam in modern-day Bangladesh, and reached the Ganges. The Chola Indian Mainland expedition ended in 1022, and details of the countries conquered by his forces in the expedition were included in his Meikeerthi's from 1023. With the return of Rajendra Chola's forces to the Chola capital in 1022, the Royal Guru of Rajendra, Isaana Pandithar, built Gangaikonda Cholaeswarer temple at Kulampandel, Tamil Nadu. With his return, Rajendra claimed a new title, "Gangaikondaan", and gave the title "Gangaikonda Cholan" (the Chola who captured Gangai) to his younger brother, who led the Gangetic expedition. Rajendra commenced the construction of a new city named "Gangaikonda Cholapuram", with a new Siva temple named "Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem" and a large temple water tank called "Chola Gangam", where the holy water brought from the Ganges river was mixed. The Essalam Copper Plates of Rajendra state with the conquest of the Gangetic region, Rajendra constructed the new city of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the great Gangaikonda Choleswarer temple, and the sacred Cholagangam Tank at the Udaiyar Palaiyam region of Ariyalur district. In the temple "[[Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem]]" he built, the presiding deity of the Karuvarai (Sanctum Sanctorium) called the "Gangaikonda Cholaeswarer" also known as "Peruvudaiyar" – the God Siva in the form of Lingam, the biggest Lingam among the Siva Temples in the world over, having a height of {{convert|13|feet|m|abbr=out}} and a circumference of {{cvt|20|feet}}. The ''[[praśasti]]'' mentions Rajendra's conquests:<ref name="Kamalakkannan">{{cite web |last=Kamalakkannan |first=S. |title=Valanchulivanar, varalaaru aivum aivu varlarum |url=http://www.varalaaru.com/design/article.aspx?ArticleID=304 |access-date=18 August 2020 |publisher=varalaaru.com}}</ref>{{blockquote|On the third Regnal year of Rajendra Chola – the conqueror of the East country, Ganges and Kadaram; this stone inscription was made to record the tax exemption grant given by Rajendra, the one who surrendered to [[Shiva]].<ref name="Kamalakkannan" />}}

The Vijayamkonda Cholaeswarem Siva temple of Erumbur in [[Cuddalore]] district – the present-day Kadambavanesvara temple near [[Erumbur]]&nbsp;– was built to commemorate the victory of Rajendra's forces over Sri Vijaya and many regions of [[Sumatra]]. The Kadaremkonda Cholaeswarem Siva temple in Kudimallur in Vellore district&nbsp;– present-day Bhimeswara temple near Kalavai&nbsp;– was built to commemorate Rajendra's victory over Kadarem and many regions of present-day Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mabbett |first=I. W. |date=September 1982 |title=Trade and Statecraft in the Age of Cōlas. By Kenneth R. Hall. New Delhi: Shakti Malik Abhinav Publications, 1980. Pp. viii, 238. Acknowledgements, Appendices, Bibliography, Index. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022463400008882 |journal=Journal of Southeast Asian Studies |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=411–413 |doi=10.1017/s0022463400008882 |issn=0022-4634}}</ref>

Rajendra I's overseas war expedition commenced in 1023; a large fleet of ships with Chola warriors was sent to Sri Vijaya, [[Palembang]] in southern Sumatra, which was captured. After that, the fleet captured the adjacent settlement Malaiyur.<ref name=":5" /> From there, the fleet sailed to the nearby island [[Bangha]] and captured Mevilibangham. The fleet then sailed to [[Pannai, on the eastern Sumatran mainland, followed by Ilamuridesam in northern Sumatra. The forces next sailed to Malaysia and captured Vallaipandur in modern-day north-east Malaysia and Kadarem in north-west Malaysia. From here, Rajendra's forces sailed north and captured the adjacent settlement Ilankasokam in south-east Thailand, followed by Mathamalingam, eastern Thailand and Thalaitakkolam in south-west Thailand. From here, the fleet departed to India, ''en route'' capturing Manakkavaarem in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], the southern Myanmar (Burma) seaport city Magpapaalam, and returned to Chola country.<ref name=":4" /> The Chola south-east Asian expedition ended in 1024, and details of the lands conquered by his forces in this expedition were included in his [[Meikeerthan]] early silver ''kasu'' of 1025.<ref name="C. Majumdar 1961 pp. 338-3422" /> With Rajendra's victory over Sri Vijaya(m) of Sumatra in 1023, he built a Siva Temple at Erumbur, Tamil Nadu, and named it Vijayamkonda Cholaeswarem.

[[File:Chola Kings. Rajaraja I. 985-1014 CE Uncertain Tamilnadu mint. Chola, conqueror of the Gangas in Tamil, seated tiger with two fish.jpg|thumb|left|250x250px|Coin of Rajendra containing [[Devanagari script]]]]

With his triumph over the Kadaram, Rajendra assumed the new title "Kadaremkondaan", and one of his grandsons who led the Kadaram expedition was given the title "Kadaremkonda Cholan" (the Chola who captured Kadarem). A region of the present-day Kudimallur, Tamil Nadu, was named "Kadarekonda Cholapuram". Some villages in present-day Tamil Nadu still bear the names Kidarankondan in Thiruvaarur and Ariyalur regions (present Gedaramkondan in Ariyalur) and Kadaramkonda Cholapuram (present Narasingpuram). With Rajendra's victories over Kadaram, Malaysia, in 1023, he built a Siva temple in northern Tamil Nadu and named it Kadaremkonda Cholaeswarem.<ref name="sastrip2102" />

Following Rajendra's victories in the wars on the Indian mainland and near-overseas, he built two "magnificent & gigantic temples completely out of Granite stone" as living monuments of his forces' great valour and superior status in this region, which are included in the [[UNESCO World Heritage Series]].<ref>{{cite journal |date=December 2017 |journal=Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research |volume=4 |issue=12 |title=PLACE OF TOURIST INTEREST IN THANJAVUR DISTRICT – A STUDY |last=Jeyabalakrishnan |first=P. |url=https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1712225.pdf}}</ref> The two granite temples  were built to commemorate their triumphs far overseas and as monuments of the Chola's achievements in South-East Asia and the high status of the Medieval Chola Empire in the world history of that period (1025 CE).<ref name=":6" />

=== Rajendra's conquest chronology ===

|Cholas annexed several territories of the [[Western Chalukya Empire|western Chalukyas]]

|[[Chola conquest of Anuradhapura|Conquest of Sri Lanka]]

|Cholas annexed the entirety of [[Sri Lanka]], [[Anuradhapura Kingdom]] king [[Kassapa VI]] becomes his puppet ruler

|Conquest of the [[Chera dynasty|Chera Kingdom]] and [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya Kingdom]]

|[[Chola expedition to North India|Conquest of the Kalinga]]

|Cholas annexed region of [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]]

|Cholas raid and demolish [[Malkheda]], then annexed the Raichur district from the [[Western Chalukya Empire|Western Chalukyas]] Empire.

|[[Chola expedition to North India|Conquest of the Ganges]]

|[[South-East Asia campaign of Rajendra Chola I|Conquest of Pegu]]

|[[Chola invasion of Srivijaya|Conquest of the Srivijaya Empire]]

|[[Srivijaya]], Kadaram ([[Kedah|Keddah]]), and other surrounding kingdoms occupied by the Cholas

== Battles in southern India ==

{{refimprove|section|date=June 2023}}

 

{{blockquote|In the eighth year of the reign of Kopparakesarivanmar sri Rajendra Sola Deva, who, while the goddess of Fortune, having become constant, increased, and while the goddess of the great Earth, the goddess of victory in battle and the matchless goddess of Fame, having become his great queens, rejoiced-that in his extended lifetime, conquered with his great war-like army Idaiturai-nadu, Vanavasi shut in by a fence of continuous forests; Kollipakkai, whose walls were surrounded by sulli trees; Mannaikkadakkam whose fortification was unapproachable.<ref name="Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 10, Part 1, page 32">Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 10, Part 1, page 32</ref>}}

 

In 1018 and 1019 CE, Rajendra invaded and conquered the [[Pandya]] and [[Chera Perumal]] kingdoms.<ref name="sastri165">See Sastri, K. A. N., ''A History of South India'', p165</ref> He appointed one of his sons as viceroy with the title ''Jatavarman Sundara Chola-Pandya'' with [[Madurai]] as the headquarters in charge of both Pandya and Chera/Kerala.

Rajendra Chola I fought several battles with [[Western Chalukyas]]. From 992 CE to 1008 CE, during the reign of Rajaraja I, Rajendra raided and annexed several towns, such as Rattepadi, Banavasi and Toanur.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

In 1015, Jayasimha II became the king of Western Chalukyas. He tried to recover the losses suffered by his predecessor [[Satyashraya]], who fled his capital and was later restored to the throne by Raja Raja I as a tribute-paying subordinate. Initially, Jayasimha II was successful because Rajendra was busy with his campaigns in Sri Lanka.<ref name="sastri166">See Sastri, K. A. N., ''A History of South India'', p166</ref> In 1021, after the demise of the [[Eastern Chalukyas|Eastern Chalukyan]] king Vimaladitya of [[Vengi]], Jayasimha supported Vijayaditya VII's claim to the throne against the claims of [[Rajaraja Narendra]], the son of Vimaladitya and Chola princess Kundavai.<ref name="sastri166" /> Rajendra helped his nephew Rajaraja defeat Vijayaditya.<ref name="Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, page 70">''Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, page 70''</ref>

Rajendra fought Jayasimha in the Battle of Maski.<ref name="sastri166" /> Rajendra led a 900,000-strong army and defeated [[Jayasimha II (Western Chalukya dynasty)|Jayasimha II]] at the Battle of Maski in 1019 and 1020. On the eastern front, Rajendra led [[Rajaraja Chola I]]'s army in Vengi and routed the rulers in battle. Vengi was later the site of the coronation of Rajendra's nephew following his victories in the [[Chola expedition to North India]].{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Under his father Rajaraja I, Rajendra Chola I's commander [[Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan]] commanded an army that invaded Sri Lanka and sacked the capital city [[Anuradhapura]].{{sfn|Spencer|1976|p=411}} The new Chola capital was at [[Polonnaruwa]], which was renamed "Jananathamangalam", a title of Rajaraja. Chola official Tali Kumaran erected a Siva temple called Rajarajeshvara ("Lord of Rajaraja") in the town Mahatittha&nbsp;– modern Mantota, Mannar&nbsp;– which was renamed Rajaraja-pura.{{sfn|K. A. N. Sastri|1992|p=3}} Chola-occupied territories on the island were named Mummudicholamandalam after Mummudi Chola or Rajaraja I, Rajendra's father.{{sfn|Karashima|2014|p=132}}

During his reign, Rajendra's father [[Raja Raja Chola I|Rajaraja I]] annexed the [[Anuradhapura Kingdom|Kingdom of Anuradhapura]] in northern Sri Lanka. Rajendra invaded the [[Kingdom of Polonnaruwa]] in the south in 1017.<ref name="Indian History with Objective Questions and Historical Maps Twenty-Sixth Edition 2010, South India page 59">''Indian History with Objective Questions and Historical Maps Twenty-Sixth Edition 2010, South India page 59''</ref> Chola raids were launched southwards from [[Rajarata]] into Rohana. By his fifth year, Rajendra claimed to have completely conquered the island. The whole of Anuradhapura, including the south-eastern province Rohana, was incorporated into the Chola Empire.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=199–200}} According to the Sinhalese chronicle ''[[Mahavamsa]]'', the conquest of Anuradhapura was completed in the 36th year of the reign of the Sinhalese monarch Mahinda V&nbsp;– about 1017 to 1018.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=199–200}} But the south of the island, which lacked large, prosperous settlements to tempt long-term Chola occupation, was never fully consolidated by the Chola. Under Rajendra, the Chola's predatory expansion in Sri Lanka approached a point of diminishing returns.{{sfn|Spencer|1976|p=416}} According to the Culavamsa and Karandai plates, Rajendra led a large army into Anuradhapura and captured Mahinda's crown, queen and daughter, a vast amount of wealth and the king himself, whom Rajendra took to India as a prisoner to India, where he died in exile in 1029.{{sfn|Spencer|1976|p=417}}{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=199–200}}

Eleven years after the conquest of Rohana, Prince Kassapa, son of Mahinda, hid in Rohana, where Chola forces unsuccessfully searched for him. Soon after the death of Mahinda, Kassapa assumed the [[Sinhalese monarchy]] as [[Kassapa VI]]&nbsp;– also known as Vikramabahu&nbsp;– and reigned in Rohana from 1029 to 1040 while attempting to organise a campaign of liberation and unification. Taking advantage of uprisings in the [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]] and [[Chera/Perumals of Makotai|Chera]] kingdoms, Kassapa VI massacred the Chola garrisons in Rohana and drove the 95,000-strong Chola army to Pulatthinagara but he died before he could consolidate his power. A series of ephemeral aspirants to the throne subsequently appeared and disappeared in Rohana without dislodging the Cholas from the north.{{sfn|Spencer|1976|p=417}} Kassapa VI's mysterious death in 1040, however, brought an end to the war. His successor [[Mahalana-Kitti]] (1040–1042) tried to lead an revolt against the Cholas but failed.

 

[[Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa]] I (1055–1110) descended from or claimed to be descended from the Sinhalese royal house, the [[House of Lambakanna II]]. By the age of seventeen, he had defeated his most-potent rivals in Rohana and was anxious to take on the Cholas.{{sfn|Spencer|1976|p=417}} The crisis in the country left a few scattered, turbulent chiefs and intractable rebels whose allegiance, if any, was at best opportunistic, which proved a problem to both sides in the conflict, frustrating both the Sinhalese kings and the Cholas. Vijayabahu, from his base in Rohana, faced a similar difficulty; he had to contend with the hostility of local chiefs who regarded him as a more-significant threat than the Cholas to their independence. For that reason, the Cholas recruited nominal support from rebel chiefs in Rohana. Vijayabahu needed help consolidating a firm territorial base from which to launch a decisive campaign against the Cholas. On another front, the Cholas needed to eliminate similar opposition in the north. Gradually the wider conflict developed into a prolonged, back-and-forth struggle of raids and counter-raids; the forces of Vijayabahu advanced upon Polonnaruva, and then fell back to fortresses in [[Dakkhinadesa]] and Rohana to withstand retaliatory Chola attacks and sieges.{{sfn|Spencer|1976|p=417}} Vijayabahu eventually defeated the Cholas and drove them out of the island restoring Sinhalese sovereignty.

{{Main|Chola expedition to North India}}

[[File:Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu.jpg|thumb|left|[[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] was built by Rajendra to celebrate his success in the Ganges Expedition]]

In 1019 CE, Rajendra's forces marched through [[Odisha|Kalinga]] towards the Ganges river. In Kalinga, the Chola forces defeated Indraratha, ruler of the [[Somavamsi dynasty]].<ref>Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (2000) [1935]. The Cōlas. Madras: University of Madras. p.208</ref> Rajendra accepted the help of the Paramaras and the Kalachuris, with whom Indraratha had a bitter enmity, and Rajendra took advantage of this situation. The combined armies defeated Indraprastha, who was probably killed. The Chola army eventually reached the [[Pala Empire|Pala]] kingdom of Bengal, where they defeated [[Mahipala]]. The Chola army also defeated the last ruler of the [[Kamboja Pala dynasty]], Dharmapala of Dandabhukti.<ref>Ancient Indian History and Civilization by Sailendra Nath Sen p.281</ref><ref>West Bengal District Gazetteers: Nadīa p.63</ref> The Chola army went on to raid eastern Bengal&nbsp;– modern-day Bangladesh&nbsp;– defeated [[Govindachandra (Gahadavala dynasty)|Govindachandra]] of the [[Chandra dynasty]], and invaded the [[Bastar state|Bastar]] region.<ref>The Cambridge Shorter History of India p.145</ref><ref>Dimensions of Human Cultures in Central India by Professor S.K. Tiwari p.161</ref>

The Tamil ''[[praśasti]]'' of Rajendra I reads:

{{blockquote|(He seized) Śakkarakkōţţam, whose warriors were brave; Madura-maṇḍalam destroyed in a trice, the prosperous city of Nāmaṇaik-kōṇam with its dense groves. Pañcap-paḷḷi whose warriors (bore) cruel bows, Māśunideśa with its green fields; a large heap of family-treasures with many (other) treasures (which he carried away), after having conquered Indraratha of the ancient race of the moon, together with (his) family, in a fight which took place at Ādinagar, (a city) whose fame knew no decline; Oḍḍa-[[viṣaya]] which was difficult of approach on account of its dense forest defence; the good Kōśalai-nāḍu where Brahmins assembled; Taṇḍabutti in whose gardens bees abounded, (land which he acquired) after having destroyed Dharmapāla (in) a hot battle; Takkaṇalāḍam, whose fame reached (all) directions, (and which he occupied) after having forcibly attacked Raṇaśura; Vangāḷa-deśā, where the rain water never stopped, (and from which) Gōvindacandra fled, having descended (from his) male elephant; elephants of rare strength, women and treasure, (which he seized) after having been pleased to put to flight in a hot battlefield the strong Mahipāla by the sound of a conch from the deep sea; Uttiralāḍam (on the shore of) the expansive ocean (producing) pearls; and the Gangā whose waters bearing flagrant flowers dashed against the bathing places (''tirtha'')<ref name="sastrip207">[[#Sastri|Sastri]], p 207</ref>}}

To celebrate his victory in the Ganges, Rajendra constructed a new capital at [[Gangaikondacholapuram]] and built [[Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram|Gangaikonda Choleeswarar Temple]], which is similar to the [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] at Thanjavur. There has been general disagreement among historians on the nature of the expedition. Early scholars such as [[V. Venkayya]] interpreted Rajendra's campaign to "bring the waters of the Ganges into Chola territory" as a pilgrimage to the Ganges river.<ref name="sastrip209">[[Chola expedition to North India#Sastri|Sastri]], p 209</ref> This theory has been refuted by later historians, the most notable being [[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri]].<ref name="sastrip2102">[[Chola expedition to North India#Sastri|Sastri]], p 210</ref> The military nature of the campaign is suggested by the last line of the Thiruvalangadu plates, which state the king erected the Cholaganga tank as a ''Ganga-jalamayam jayasthambham'' ("liquid pillar of victory).<ref name="sastrip2102" />

The Chola expedition to the Ganges had a long-lasting influence. According to R. D. Banerji, a [[Kannadiga]] chief who accompanied Araiyan Rajarajan on his campaign settled in Bengal and founded the [[Sena Dynasty]].<ref name="sastrip2102"/> It is believed the Karnata people of [[History of Mithila|Mithila]] might have descended from soldiers of the Chola army.<ref name="sastrip2102" /> According to the ''Siddhantasaravali'' of Trilocana Sivacharya, many [[Shaivism|Shaivite]] [[Brahmins]] from Bengal were taken to Chola country, where Rajendra granted them lands. They eventually settled in [[Kanchipuram]] and the [[Cauvery Delta]], forming the [[Sivacharya]] community.<ref name="sastrip2102" />

== Campaigns in South-East Asia ==

[[File:Charter issued by king Rājendra Chola I Or. 1687.pdf|left|thumb|[[Charter]] issued by Rajendra I that declared the collection of revenue to build a [[Vihāra|Buddhist Vihara]] in [[Srivijaya|Sriwijaya]].]]

[[Srivijaya]] was a kingdom centred in [[Palembang]], [[Sumatra]], and was ruled by the [[Sailendra dynasty]]. During the reign of [[Maravijayottunggavarman|Mara Vijayatungavarman]], Srivijaya had cordial relations with the Chola Empire during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I, leading to Mara Vijayatungavarman building the [[Chudamani Vihara]] in [[Nagapattinam]]. [[Sangrama Vijayatunggavarman]] succeeded Mara.

[[Suryavarman I|Khmer Emperor Suryavarman I]] started a war against the kingdom of [[Tambralinga]] on the [[Malay peninsula]], and requested aid from Rajendra.<ref name="Kenneth R. Hall 1975 pp. 318-336">Kenneth R. Hall (October 1975), "Khmer Commercial Development and Foreign Contacts under Sūryavarman I", ''Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient'' 18 (3), pp. 318-336, Brill Publishers</ref><ref>Munoz, Paul Michel. ''Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula'' p. 158-159</ref> After learning of Suryavarman's alliance with Rajendra, Tambralinga requested aid from Srivijaya, which Sangrama granted.<ref name="Kenneth R. Hall 1975 pp. 318-336" /><ref name="C. Majumdar 1961 pp. 338-342">*Majumdar, R. C. (1961). [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3249234 "The Overseas Expeditions of King Rājendra Chola"], ''Artibus Asiae'' '''24''' (3/4), pp.&nbsp;338–342. Artibus Asiae Publishers.</ref> This led to the Chola invasion of the Srivijiya Empire. This belligerence were partly influenced by religion; the Chola and [[Khmer Empire]] were Hindu [[Shaivism|Shaivistes]], while Tambralinga and Srivijaya Empires were [[Mahayana|Mahayana Buddhists]].<ref name="Kenneth R. Hall 1975 pp. 318-3362">Kenneth R. Hall (October 1975), "Khmer Commercial Development and Foreign Contacts under Sūryavarman I", Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 18 (3), pp. 318-336, Brill Publishers</ref> <ref name="C. Majumdar 1961 pp. 338-3422">[[R. C. Majumdar]] (1961), "The Overseas Expeditions of King Rājendra Cola", Artibus Asiae 24 (3/4), pp. 338-342, Artibus Asiae Publishers</ref>

The Cholas are known to have benefitted from both [[piracy]] and foreign trade. Sometimes, Chola naval expeditions led to plunder and conquest as far as South-east Asia.<ref>{{cite book |author=Craig A. Lockard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOfjaW7C3AsC&dq=Chola+piracy&pg=PA367 |title=Societies, Networks, and Transitions: A Global History |date=27 December 2006 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=0618386114 |page=367 |access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref> While Srivijaya controlled two major naval choke points the [[Malacca Strait|Malacca]] and [[Sunda Strait]]s, the Malacca Strait's north-west opening was controlled from Kedah on the Malay peninsula side and from [[Pannai]] on the Sumatran side.

=== Other campaigns in South-East Asia ===

In 1025 CE, Rajendra's Chola forces crossed the [[Indian Ocean]] and invaded Srivijaya, attacking several places in modern-day Malaysia and Indonesia.<ref name="Coedes">{{cite book |last=Coedès |first=George |title=The Indianized States of Southeast Asia |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |others=trans. Susan Brown Cowing |year=1968 |isbn=978-0-8248-0368-1 |editor=Walter F. Vella |pages=142–143 |author-link=George Coedès}}</ref> The Cholas sacked the capital [[Kedah|Kadaram]] and [[Pannai]] on Sumatra, and [[Melayu Kingdom|Malaiyur]] on the Malay peninsula. Rajendra also invaded [[Tambralinga]] and the [[Gangga Nagara]] Kingdom in modern-day Malaysia and southern Thailand.<ref name="Civilization p.866">The Sea and Civilization: A Maritime History of the World by Lincoln Paine p.866</ref><ref>Andaya, Leonard Y. ''Leaves of the Same Tree: Trade and Ethnicity in the Straits of Melaka'' p.35</ref><ref name="Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 10, Part 1, page 41">''Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 10, Part 1, page 41''</ref> Chola forces captured the last ruler of the [[Sailendra Dynasty]] [[Sangrama Vijayatunggavarman]].<ref name=":5">Kulke, Hermann; Kesavapany, K.; Sakhuja, Vijay. Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia p. 230</ref> The Chola invasion was the end of Srivijaya.<ref name="ReferenceA">Abshire, Jean. ''The History of Singapore'' p. 17</ref><ref name="Between 2 Oceans p.16">Murfett, Malcolm H.; Miksic, John; Farell, Brian; Chiang, Ming Shun. ''Between Two Oceans: A Military History of Singapore from 1275 to 1971'' p. 16</ref> Srivijaya's maritime power declined under the Chola attack.<ref name="Southeast Asia p.43">Sar Desai, D. R. ''Southeast Asia: Past and Present'' p.43</ref> Chola forces conquered large portions of Srivijaya, including its ports [[Nakhon Si Thammarat|Ligor]], Kedah and [[Temasek|Tumasik]] (now Singapore).<ref name="Southeast Asia p.43" /><ref>Munoz, p. 161</ref> The Chola invasion furthered the expansion of Tamil merchant associations such as the [[Manigramam]], [[Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu|Ayyavole]] and [[Ainnurruvar]] into South-East Asia,<ref>Sen, Tansen. ''Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations 600-1400''  p. 159</ref><ref>Findlay, Ronald; O'Rourke, Kevin H. ''Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium'' p. 69</ref><ref>Wink, André. ''Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: Early Medieval India and the expansion of Islam 7th-11 centuries'' p. 325</ref><ref>Sen, Sailendra Nath. ''Ancient Indian History and Civilization'' p. 564</ref> and for the next century, Tamil trading companies from southern India dominated the region.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="Between 2 Oceans p.16" /> Rajendra's expedition is mentioned in corrupted form as Raja Chulan in the medieval Malay chronicle ''[[Sejarah Melaya]]'', and Malay princes have names ending with Cholan or Chulan, such as [[Raja Chulan]] of [[Perak]].<ref>Gunn, Geoffrey C. ''History Without Borders: The Making of an Asian World Region, 1000-1800'' p. 43</ref><ref>Kulke, Hermann; Kesavapany, K.; Sakhuja, Vijay. ''Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia'' p. 71</ref><ref>Sen, Tansen. ''Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations'' p. 226</ref><ref>Kalyanaraman, A. ''Aryatarangini, the Saga of the Indo-Aryans'' p.158</ref><ref>Singam, S. Durai Raja. ''India and Malaya Through the Ages''</ref> One record of Rajendra describes him as the King of [[Lamuri]] in north Sumatra.<ref>Wink, André. ''Al-Hind: The Slave Kings and the Islamic Conquest'' p. 326</ref> The Chola invasion led to the fall of the [[Sailendra Dynasty]] of Srivijaya also coincided with the return voyage of the Buddhist scholar [[Atiśa]] from Sumatra to India in 1025.<ref>Atisa and Tibet: Life and Works of Dipamkara Srijnana by Alaka Chattopadhyaya p.91</ref>

Despite the devastation, the Srivijaya mandala survived because the Chola attack was short and only meant to plunder so the invasion failed to install direct administration over Srivijaya. This invasion severely weakened the Srivijayan hegemony, and enabled the formation of regional kingdoms like [[Kahuripan]] and its successor [[Kediri (historical kingdom)|Kediri]], in [[Java]], which were based on agriculture rather than coastal and long-distance trade. Sri Deva was enthroned as the new king and trading activities resumed. Deva sent an embassy to the court of China in 1028.<ref name="Munoz 163">{{cite book |last=Munoz |first=Paul Michel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NqwuAQAAIAAJ |title=Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula |publisher=Editions Didier Millet |year=2006 |isbn=981-4155-67-5 |location=Singapore |pages=163}}</ref> The invasion was not followed by direct Cholan occupation, and the region was unchanged geo-politically, trade had considerable consequences. Tamil traders encroached on the Srivijayan realm that was traditionally controlled by [[Malay Indonesians|Malay]] traders, and the Tamil guilds' influence increased on the Malay peninsula and the north coast of Sumatra.<ref name="Munoz 163" />

With the growing presence of Tamil guilds in the region, relations between Srivijaya and the Cholas improved. Chola nobles were accepted in the Srivijaya court, and in 1067, a Chola prince named Divakara or Devakala was sent as a Srivijayan ambassador to the Imperial Court of China. The prince, who was the nephew of Rajendra Chola, was enthroned in 1070 as [[Kulothunga Chola I]]. During the Kedah rebellion, Srivijaya asked the Cholas for help. In 1068, [[Virarajendra Chola]] launched a naval raid to help Srivijaya reclaim Kedah.<ref name="Suvarnadwipa p.305">Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions by Hermann Kulke, K Kesavapany, Vijay Sakhuja p.305</ref> Virarajendra reinstated the Kedah king at the request of the Srivijayan Maharaja, and Kedah accepted Srivijayan sovereignty.<ref name="Munoz">{{cite book |last=Munoz |first=Paul Michel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NqwuAQAAIAAJ |title=Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula |publisher=Editions Didier Millet |year=2006 |isbn=981-4155-67-5 |location=Singapore}}</ref><ref name="Suvarnadwipa p.305" />

[[File:A 11th century relief with woman praying to Shiva Linga Shaivism.jpg|left|thumb|Rajendra Praying to a [[Lingam|Shiva Lingam]]]]

 

Rajendra I died in 1044 in Brahmadesam, present-day [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]] district, Tamil Nadu. Rajendra's son [[Rajadhiraja Chola I|Rajadhiraja I]] recorded this information in an inscription, which states Rajendra's queen Viramahadevi committed [[Sati (practice)|sati]] upon her husband's death. Her remains were interred in the same tomb at Brahmadesam. It adds the queen's brother Madhuranthaka Parakesari Velan,<ref>{{cite book|author=Place Names Society of India|title=Studies in Indian place names, Volume 6|publisher=Published on behalf of the Place Names Society of India by Geetha Book House, 1984|editor=Madhav N. Katti|page=89}}</ref> who was a general in Rajendra's army, constructed a watershed at the same place in memory of his sister.<ref name="Ē. Kē Cēṣāttiri 19"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Place Names Society of India|title=Studies in Indian place names, Volume 6|publisher=Published on behalf of the Place Names Society of India by Geetha Book House, 1984 - India|editor=Madhav N. Katti|page=89}}</ref>

[[File:Domlur chola stone art 10th century,bangalore.jpg|thumb|Sculpture of Rajendra with [[Middle Tamil]] Inscriptions]]

 

According to the Siddanta Saravali of Trilochana Sivacharya, Rajendra Chola I was a poet who composed hymns to praise the god Siva. A commentary on the same work says Rajendra brought several [[Saivas]] from the banks of the Ganges river and settled them in [[Kanchi]] and across the Chola Empire.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|author=R. S. Sharma, K. M. Shrimali|title=A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206, Volume 4, Part 1, A comprehensive history of India, K. K. Dasgupta|publisher=People's Publishing House, 1992|page=14}}</ref>

Rajendra I bore the title ''Chalukya-Chudamani'' (Crest Jewel of the Chalukyas).<ref name=":1">{{cite book|author=N. Subrahmanian|title=Tamil Epigraphy: A Survey|publisher=Ennes Publications, 1980|page=128}}</ref>

Rajendra I had many queens; Tribhuvana or Vanavan Mahadevi, Mukkokilan, Panchavan Mahadevi, Puteri Onangki and Viramahadevi, the last of whom committed sati upon Rajendra's death.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=228}} He had seven sons; Rajarajan, [[Rajadhiraja Chola|Rajadhiraja]], [[Manukula Kesari]], Sanga Varman, [[Rajendra Chola II|Rajendra II]], Rajamahendran and [[Virarajendra Chola|Virarajendra]]. Rajarajan was the eldest of the seven but died before reaching thirteen. [[Manukula Kesari]] died in 1021 during the war with the [[Western Chalukya Empire|Western Chalukyas]]. Arulmoli Nangaiyar Piranar and Ammangadevi (queen of eastern Chalukya [[Rajaraja Narendra]] and the mother of [[Kulottunga I]]) are the known daughters of Rajendra.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=228}}

== Issue ==

|Chola Emperor from 1044 C.E. to 1052 C.E.; Died in the [[Battle of Koppam]] against the [[Western Chalukya Empire|western Chalukyas]]

|Tiribhuvana( Vanavan Mahadevi)

|Sanga Varman

|Panchavan Mahadevi

|Chola Governor of the [[Sri Lanka|Mummudichola Mandalam]] (Polonnaruwa) from 1024 C.E. to 1059 C.E.

|Chola Emperor, from 1052 C.E. to 1064 C.E., Retains his father's possessions.  

|Chola Emperor from 1065 C.E. to 1070 C.E. and King of Kadaram([[Kedah]]) from 1067 C.E. to 1070 C.E.; Put down several rebellions in Kadaram and [[Sri Lanka]] but lost over [[Srivijaya]].  

|Queen of Kodumbalur King Elangovel Thrichirapalli

|Queen Consort of [[Eastern Chalukyas|eastern Chalukya]] King [[Rajaraja Narendra]]; Mother of Chola Emperor [[Kulottunga I]].

[[File:Gangaikonda CholaPuram 1.JPG|left|thumb|[[Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram|Brihadisvara Temple]] at [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] was modeled after the [[Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur|Brihadisvara Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]].]]

[[File:Padur kalai amman temple.jpg|left|thumb|[[Pathirakali Amman Temple]]]]

 

Rajendra Chola I built several sites.{{sfnp|Vasudevan|2003|pp=21-24|ps=}} Rajendra built [[Gangaikondacholapuram]] to commemorate his victory over the [[Pala Dynasty]]. The name of the city Gangaikonda Cholapuram means "The City of the Conqueror of Ganga River" or "the town of the one who defeated the kings near the Ganga". The city has an artificial lake, which is filled with water from the Kolerun and Vellar rivers. The outer fortification in the city is wider than the inner one. The remains of the outer fortification consists of a mound encircling the palace.

Rajendra established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his capital from the mediaeval Chola capital [[Thanjavur]], which became the capital for the next 250 years.<ref name=":6">{{cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bI9_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA674 |title=Faiths Across Time: 5,000 Years of Religious History [4 Volumes]: 5,000 Years of Religious History |date=15 January 2014 |isbn=9781610690263}}</ref> Rajendra I built several temples using plans and infrastructure recommended in Tamil [[Vastu shastra|Vastu]] and Agama [[sastra]] texts.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=241-249}} These included a [[Ayyappan|Dharma Sasta]], Vishnu and other temples. These temples were destroyed in the late 13th and 14th centuries, except the Brihadishvara temple. The other Chola landmarks are evidenced by soil-covered mounds and excavated, broken pillar stumps and brick walls found over several kilometres from the surviving temple.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=241-249}}<ref name="V">{{Cite book |last=S. |first=Vasanthi |title=Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia |publisher=Institute of south-east Asian Studies |year=2009 |isbn=978-981-230-938-9 |editor-last1=Kulke |editor-first1=Hermann |location=Singapore |pages=96–100 |chapter=Excavation at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the imperial capital of Rajendra Chola, and its significance |editor-last2=K. |editor-first2=Kesavapany |editor-last3=Sakhuja |editor-first3=Vijay |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2swhCXJVRzwC&pg=PA96}}</ref>

Rajendra states Dehejia must have involved the same artisans used by his father and transferred them from Thanjavur.<ref name="Vijay">{{cite book |last=Dehejia |first=Vidya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23F7vTn3hBMC&pg=PA80 |title=Art of the Imperial Cholas |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780231515245 |pages=79–81}}</ref> Most or all of the Chola kings from Rajendra I had their coronations at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Archaeological excavations have revealed fort walls and palace remains a few kilometres from this temple.

Rajendra also built a royal palace of burnt brick. The ceilings were covered with small, flat tiles laid in several courses in a fine lime mortar. The pillars were probably made of polished wood and were supported on granite bases; a few pillar bases have survived. Iron nails and clamps have been recovered from this palace site. A tunnel links the palace and the temple's inner first prakaara to the north.

Rajendra also developed [[Koneswaram temple]] in [[Trincomalee]]. The temple to [[Bhadrakali]], which is located further along the complex inland along Konesar Road, benefitted from Rajendra. <ref name="Rajendra I 20072">An inscription of Rajendra I was found at the goddess Kali's Temple in Trincomalee, detailing his expansion of the shrine. Indrapala, Karthigesu (2007). The evolution of an ethnic identity: The Tamils in Sri Lanka C. 300 B.C. to C. 1200 A.D. Colombo: Vijitha Yapa. {{ISBN|978-955-1266-72-1}}.</ref> The Kali temple is mentioned in the book ''Birds of Prey'' (1997) by [[Wilbur Smith]], which is set in the 1660s. The ''Thirukonasala Mahatyam'', describing the origins of the world, Lanka and Koneswaram based on puranic legends, is lost. The historical literature ''[[Mattakallappu Manmiyam]]'' (''Batticaloa Manmiyam'') chronicles the Tamil settlement in Batticaloa; it follows the ''Dakshina Kailasa Puranam'' and ''Dakshina Kailasa Manmiam'' in its description of Koneswaram as one of the nine most-important and sacred sites in the world for Hindus.<ref name="CSHindu2">{{cite book |last1=Sivaratnam |first1=C |title=An outline of the cultural history and principles of Hinduism |publisher=Stangard Printers |year=1964 |edition=1 |location=Colombo |oclc=12240260 |quote=Koneswaram temple. Tiru-Kona-malai, sacred mountain of Kona or Koneser, Iswara or Siva. The date of building the original temple is given as 1580 B.C., according to a Tamil poem by Kavi Raja Virothayan translated into English in 1831 by Simon Cassie Chitty...}}</ref>

Rajendra also expanded the [[Pathirakali Amman Temple]] in Trincomalee. It attracted many pilgrims during his reign.

Rajendra developed an efficient water management system from the village level upwards. The increase in royal patronage, and the number of ''devadana'' and ''bramadeya'' lands increased the role of the temples and village assemblies. Committees like (tank committee) and totta-variam (garden committees) were active, and the temples had vast resources in land, men and money.  

Rajendra built a large tank named Cholagangam in his capital city Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and it was described as the liquid pillar of victory.

[[Ottakoothar|Ottakoothar's]] ''Vikrama Cholan Ula'' mentions Rajendra's conquests:{{blockquote|The king Rajendra Chola, generous as Karpaga tree that gives whatever one wants, went with his army, conquered and ruled and protected the land,

The Malay-language ''[[Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain]]'' was written about [[Alexander the Great in legend|Alexander the Great]] as [[Dhul-Qarnayn]], and from it, the ancestry of several South-East Asian royal families is traced to [[Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain|Iskandar Zulkarnain]] (Alexander the Great).<ref name="(Malaysia)1999">{{cite book|author=Balai Seni Lukis Negara (Malaysia)|title=Seni dan nasionalisme: dulu & kini|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZL-fAAAAMAAJ&q=Rajendra+Chola+zulkarnain|year=1999|publisher=Balai Seni Lukis Negara|isbn=9789839572278}}</ref> through Rajendra (Raja Chulan, Raja Cholan) in the ''[[Malay Annals]]'' such as the Sumatran [[Minangkabau people|Minangkabau]] royalty.<ref name="Miksic2013">{{cite book|author=John N. Miksic|author1-link=John N. Miksic|title=Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300_1800|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMt3BgAAQBAJ&q=chola+zulkarnain&pg=PA147|date=30 September 2013|publisher=NUS Press|isbn=978-9971-69-574-3|pages=147–}}</ref><ref name="Vienne2015">{{cite book|author=Marie-Sybille de Vienne|title=Brunei: From the Age of Commerce to the 21st Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfpIBwAAQBAJ&q=chola+zulkarnain&pg=PA47|date=9 March 2015|publisher=NUS Press|isbn=978-9971-69-818-8|pages=47–}}</ref>

[[File:Chola inscription from the rock-cut cave temple at Thirunanthikarai.jpg|thumb|Inscriptions dating to Rajendra's 18th regional year (c.1032 CE). [[Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu]], India]]

[[File:Domlur Chola Temple.jpg|thumbnail|Tamil Inscription at [[Domlur Chokkanathaswamy temple|Chokkanathaswamy temple]] [[Bangalore, Karnataka]], India]]

Several inscriptions of Rajendra commemorating his reign and conquests have been found. An inscription at Adhipuriswara temple in [[Chengalpattu]] district gives his natal star as [[Tiruvadarai]]. Donations were made to the temple to celebrate the king's birthday in Maargali.<ref>{{cite book|author=S. R. Balasubrahmanyam|title=Middle Chola Temples: Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I, A.D. 985-1070|publisher=Thomson Press (India), 1975 - Hindu temples - 424 pages|page=301}}</ref> An inscription at Umamahesvara temple in Konerirajapuram, [[Thanjavur]] district, refers to donations by Alvar Parantakan Kundavai-Pirattiyar during the third year of Rajendra's reign.<ref>{{cite book|author=S. R. Balasubrahmanyam|title=Middle Chola Temples: Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I, A.D. 985-1070|publisher=Thomson Press (India), 1975|page=269}}</ref>

=== Officials ===

Rajendra appointed his son Rajadhiraja as heir apparent to the Chola throne in 1018.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=195-196}} Large military expeditions, like the Pandya and Chalukya wars, were carried out by Rajadhiraja.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=226-227}} The prominent officials of the time were:

* [[Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan|Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar]]{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1955|pp=226-227}}

*The state government of Maharashtra proposed to dedicate Rajendra's portrait to [[Mazgaon Docks]]<ref>{{cite news|date=2016-09-29|title=Rajendra Chola: Maharashtra to dedicate Tamil emperor Rajendra Chola's portrait to Mazgon Docks|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-to-dedicate-Tamil-emperor-Rajendra-Cholas-portrait-to-Mazgon-Docks/articleshow/54574985.cms|access-date=2018-01-11}}</ref>

*The video game ''[[Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition#Expansions|Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition: Dynasties of India]]'' contains a five-chapter campaign titled ''Rajendra''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ageofempires.com/games/aoeiide/dynasties-of-india/|title=Dynasties of India - Age of Empires|website=www.ageofempires.com}}</ref>

*''Vengayin Maindhan'' by [[Akilan]] covers the life and achievements of Rajendra

*''Gangapuri Kavalan'' by [[Vembu Vikiraman]] in which Rajendra's the protagonist

*''Mannan Magal'' by [[Sandilyan]] set in the period of Rajendra

File:11th century Gangaikonda cholapuram Temple, dedicated to Shiva, built by the Chola king Rajendra I Tamil Nadu India (68).jpg|Entrance of Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple

File:11th century Bhaktavatsala temple, Cheranmahadevi Tamil Nadu India - 9.jpg|[[Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple, Thirunindravur|Bhaktavatsala Temple]]

* [[History of South India|History of south India]]

* {{Cite book |last=Karashima|first=Noboru|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fpdVoAEACAAJ|title=A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0-19-809977-2|location=New Delhi}}

* {{Cite book |author=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-iZTQwAACAAJ |title=The Colas |publisher=University of Madras |date=1955 |edition=2nd revised |orig-year=1935}}

* {{cite book |first=Geeta |last=Vasudevan |year=2003 |title=Royal Temple of Rajaraja: An Instrument of Imperial Chola Power |publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=0-00-638784-5}}