Kulothunga Chola II

Infobox Chola | name=Kulothunga Chola II
tamil = இரண்டாம் குலோத்துங்க சோழன்


caption = "Chola territories c. 1150 CE"
reign= 1133 – 1150 C.E.
title = Rajakesari
capital = Gangaikonda Cholapuram
queen= Tyagavalli
Mukkokilan
children= Rajaraja Chola II
predecessor= Vikrama Chola
heir= Rajaraja Chola II
father= Vikrama Chola
year of birth= Unknown
year of death= 1150 C.E.

Kulothunga Chola II was a 12th century king of the Chola Dynasty, among the Tamil people in the region that now primarily in southern India. He succeeded his father Vikrama Chola to the Chola throne in 1135 C.E. Vikrama Chola made his heir apparent and coregent in 1133 C.E and so the inscriptions of Kulothunga II count his reign from 1133 C.E.

Kulothunga II reigned over a period of general peace and good governance. There is no record of any warfare except for the consolidation of the Chola control over the northern Vengi territories, which had been won by his father Vikrama Chola by routing the Western Chalukyas.

Patron of Chidambaram

Kulothunga was a great devotee of the Siva shrine of Chidambaram. He celebrated his coronation in that city. Chidambaram is one of those five places where chola princes were invested with crown. He also financed the elaborate renovation of the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram. The poem "Kulothunga Cholan Ula" describes in detail the work carried out in Chidambaram. It is possible that this renovation work is the continuation of the work started by Vikrama Chola. He commissioned the work called "thiru thondar puranam", by his Noble Sekkilar, who composed it from Thillai(Chidambaram).

Religious intolerance

Kulothunga II had a comparatively peaceful reign. His intolerance or persecution of "Vaishnavas" is disputed. As explained in the 'Kulothunga Cholan Ula', during his time major development work at the Natarajar Temple at Thillai (Chidambaram) was carried out. Incidentally, this major Shaiva shrine also houses the (separate) temple of Lord Vishnu as Govindarajar, which is among the 108 Divya Desams (sacred temples of Lord Vishnu). Under Kulothunga II's orders, an attempt to persuade the patrons of the Vishnu shrine was made for temporarily removing the idol of Vishnu, ostensibly with the purpose of repairing and renovation, which was initially opposed by the Vaishnava community. Kulothunga-II probably got the idol forcibly shifted mainly so that the repair work is carried on smoothly and also with the intention of not causing any damage to the Vishnu shrine. This opposition of Vaishnavas to the (intended but not deliberate) removal and closure of Lord Vishnu's temple was interpreted in some quarters as persecution of Vaishnavites, because in Hinduism closure of a temple is opposed and at least a small lamp has to be lit in the temple, without which that temple is not considered fit for worship. It is also a well known fact that the great preceptor of the vaishnavites, Ramanuja was forced by his disciples who feared for his life, to leave Srirangam for Melkote where the hoysala king, though a jain, was secular. Kulothunga blinded all Vaishnavites who refused to accept that Siva was the supreme God and Ramanuja's aging preceptor Periya Nambi and his staunch disciple Kuresan were chief among those. Periya Nambi lost his life after that.

Personal life and family

Kulothunga II preferred to live in Chidambaram rather than the royal capital at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

We know of the names of two of the queens of Kulothunga II. The chief queen was Tyagavalli, also known as Buvanamulududaiyal. Mukkokilan, a princes of the family of Malaiyamans was the other queen.

Of the various titles Kulothunga had, "Anapaya" was perhaps his most favourite. It is found in his inscriptions as well in the poeting tribute "Kulothunga Cholan Ula". He was also called "Tirunirruchola".

Rajaraja Chola II succeeded him in 1150 C.E.

Popular Media

* Dasavatharam

References

* 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).
* South Indian Inscriptions - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/