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Srikantha Chola
| Srikantha Chola | |
|---|---|
| Rajakesari Varman, Choladhiraja | |
| Chola King | |
| Reign | 917 CE - 945 CE |
| Successor | Vijayalaya Chola |
| House | Pottapi Cholas |
| Dynasty | Chola |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Srikantha Chola (Telugu: శ్రీకాంత చోళుడు) also known as Srikantha Srimanohara Chola, was a Telugu Chola ruler belonging to Pottapi Chola family which claims descent from ancient Tamil king Karikala Chola. He was ruling Renadu region as a feudatory of Pallavas.
Ancestor of Imperial Cholas[edit]
For a very long time, historians could not trace the ancestry of Vijayalaya Chola, who is considered to be the founder of Medieval Chola dynasty, historians and epigraphists in the wake of Eastern Chalukya king's Copper plate grants,[1] Anbil plates[2] of Parantaka Chola II and Velanjeri plates[3] of Parantaka I believe that Vijayalaya chola might well belong to the Telugu Cholas lineage, who themselves trace their ancestry to the ancient Tamil King, Karikala Chola. Vijayalaya Chola's predecessor is Srikantha Srimanohara Choladhiraja according to Anbil plates of Parantaka Chola II. After mentioning Kochchenganan and his son Nalladikon, Anbil plates has the following verse,
"Srikantha-graha [na]rudha kumkumamka-bhujantarah
Srikantha iti-rajendras tat-kuli sam-ajayata"
The above line translates to: In his family was born the chief of kings called Sri Kantha on whose chest were impressed marks of saffron from Lakshmi (Sri)'s embracing his neck.[4] It will be evident from this that Srikantha was not the immediate successor of Nalladikon, but was a descendant of his, born in the family long after. The next verse introduces Vijayalaya Chola, the founder of Imperial Cholas.
Relation with Pandyas[edit]
Srikantha Chola is from Telugu Pottapi Chola family ruling Mylapore and her daughter's name is Akkalanimmati, the mother of Pandyan king Parantaka Viranarayana. The following lines are taken from Dalavayapuram copper plate of Pandyan king Parantaka Viranarayana,[5]
"Aravaraiian paltuli ayirama yiruttalaiyal
peritaritin porukkinra penim porai man magalai tta
todittolil inrutangiya tondaiyarkon tulakkijli
vadippadai manabharanan tirumagan mayilayar kon
Pottappi kulacholan pugaltarusiri Kandarajan
mattama malai valal manimagalakklanimmidi
tiruvayiru karuvuyirtta Sri Parantakamagarajan"
The above lines translates to: Tondainadu king, Srikantha Chola, the leader of great elephants belonging to Pottapi Chola family had a daughter named Akkalanimmati who was married to Pandyan emperor Srimara Srivallabha and their son is Pandyan king Parantaka Viranarayana.
Conquest of Tondaimandalam from Pallavas[edit]
During the reign of Pallava Dantivarman, no inscriptions were found since at least 819 CE till the end of his reign. The Velurpalaiyam plates of Pallava Nandivarman III, successor of Dantivarman, issued in the sixth year of his reign mention that the donor had to obtain his kingdom with the prowess of his arms killing many enemies in the battlefield. This event happened in the closing years of the reign of Dantivarman who was old by then. This alien occupation of the Pallava kingdom was perhaps the reason for the absence of inscriptions of Dantivarman. This foreign occupation of the Pallava kingdom was none other than Sri Kantha Chola of the Pottapi line. It could not have been that of the Rashtrakutas, as there was no inscriptions of Rashtrakutas found in Pallava kingdom during 27 years. Very likely it was by Sri Kantha Chola. This is supported by a Thillaisthanam in Thanjavur. The inscription says,
"Tondainadu pavina Solan Palayanaik-ko-kandan ayina Rajakesari Varman"
This Rajakesari Varman refers to Srikantha Chola and not Aditya Chola I as Aditya Chola never bore the name "Kantha". The attributes mentioned here like "Tondainadu pavina" (who spread or stabilized the Thondai nadu) and "Palayanaik"(Possessor of many elephants) are the same attributes given to Srikantha Chola in the Dalavayapuram copper plates of Parantaka Viranarayana Pandya. According to Venkayya, The name Rajakesari Varman in some of the inscriptions like the previously mentioned Thanjavur Thillaisthanam and the other one at Bhaktavatsala temple in Thirukalukundram is Srikantha Chola and not Aditya Chola I based on the age of the script used in those inscriptions. Those inscriptions were issued when Srikantha reissued the land grants made by previous rulers to Siva temples and this reissue happened when Srikantha Chola briefly occupied Tondaimandalam from the Pallava Dantivarman.[6] The reason for Srikantha to reissue the temple lands could be that the temple lands were taken away during the initial years of Pallava Dantivarman when he was under Rashtrakutas who were Jains. There is no reason for Aditya Chola I to reissue the temple lands.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Epigraphia Indica Vol V". MANAGER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI.
- ↑ "Epigraphia Indica Vol.15". 1920.
- ↑ "Thiruttani and Velanjeri Copper Plates".
- ↑ Gupta, S.p (1977). Readings in South Indian History. p. 63.
- ↑ Gupta, S.p (1977). Readings in South Indian History. pp. 62–63.
- ↑ Gupta, S.p (1977). Readings in South Indian History. pp. 68–70.