Rajaraja Chola II

Infobox Chola | name=Rajaraja Chola II
tamil = இரண்டாம் இராஜராஜ சோழன்


caption = "Chola territories during 1170 CE"
reign= 1146 – 1173 C.E.
title = Parakesari
capital = Gangaikonda Cholapuram
queen= Avanimulududaiyal
Bhuvanimulududiyal
Ulagudai Mukkokilan
children= Unknown
predecessor= Kulothunga Chola II
heir= Rajadhiraja Chola II
father= Kulothunga Chola II
year of birth= Unknown
year of death= 1173 C.E.

Rajaraja Chola II succeeded his father Kulothunga Chola II to the Chola throne in 1150 C.E. He was made his heir apparent and coregent in 1146 C.E and so the inscriptions of Rajaraja II count his reign from 1146 C.E. Rajaraja's reign began to show signs of the coming end of the great dynasty.

Growing weakness

The extent of the Chola territories remained as they were during Rajaraja's predecessors. The Vengi country was still fimmly under the Chola rule. However the feudatory Telugu Chola chieftains of Velanadu began to assert their independence more and more. There had been string of disasters from towards the close of Kulothunga Chola I's reign. The Chola territories, which was at its greatest under Rajendra Chola II had indeed become severely circumscribed by the successes of the Hoysalas, but with whom the Cholas from the times of Kulothunga-II had friendly relations, especially considering that both the empires had a common enemy the Western Chalukyas, whose own power had been waning after the death of Vikramaditya VI and the re-conquering of the Vengi territories from the Western Chalukyas by Vikrama Chola. However, this was a time when there was a gradual weakening of most of the hitherto large empires like the Cholas and Western Chalukyas. Even the Hoysalas would feel the pressure even more in the coming years as the Kadambas in West Karnataka, Kalachuris under Bijjala and the Kakatiyas from the times of Prolla-I would limit the further expansion and growth of the Cholas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas themselves. In fact, the Kalachuris and Kakatiyas would ultimately (along with Yadavas and Hoysalas) become responsible for wiping out of the Western Chalukyas. Also not unrelated developments were the fact that increasingly, the local chieftains, and dynasties who had so far been loyal to their Chola overlords, were beginning to grow in power and influence.

The Chola central administration did show weaknesses with regard to their control and effective administration over the outlying parts of the empire, which became pronounced towards the end of Raja Raja-II's reign. However, Raja Raja-II regained adequate control of provinces like Vengi, Kalinga, Pandya and Chera territories. He probably even invaded Sri Lanka. He also did not relent on the Chola control of the eastern part of Gangavadi, despite the growth of Hoysala power. This is borne out by the fact that not just Raja Raja-II, but also his successors like Kulothunga-III bore titles like Tribhuvana Chakravartin by their capable defence (when required) against adversaries. But slowly but surely, during the time of Raja Raja-II and his immediate successor, the constant warfare and pursuit of territory that was draining the resources of successive Chola emperors and during the time of Rajadhiraja-II and Raja Raja-III this weakness would be characterized by their ineffective rule and dependence on the Pandyas and Hoysalas, who would be competing for becoming the paramount power in South India.

During the closing years of Rajaraja's reign, a great civil unrest as a result of a succession dispute convulsed the Pandya country, further weakening Chola influence there. This was only to be expected as even though the Pandyas were subjugated by the Cholas since the time of Aditya I and were firmly controlled till the time of Virarajendra, the Madurai kingdom nevertheless kept making efforts from time to time, for gaining their independence from their occupiers. Later Pandyas like Maravarman or Maravaramban Sundara Pandyan, Jatavarman Vira Pandyan and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan steadily went on increasing their power and prestige and were to emerge as the most powerful kingdom in South India during the period 1200-1300 AD. Their cause was also helped by the fact that the Hoysalas themselves, after Veera Ballala-II had to contend with the growing power of their own neighbours and adversaries like the Kalachuris, Kakatiyas with the result that their own hold on their northern dominions consisting of the Chalukya territories would become weak and they themselves had to first shift their capital from Halebidu to Belur and later, they established themselves partially even in Tamil Nadu in Gingee near Vellore and founded a second capital named Kuppam (near Samayapuram) on the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli. Hoysalas themselves entered into marital and military alliances in turn with both the Pandyas and Cholas, but later themselves had to withstand the onslaught of the Pandyas who drove them out of Tiruchy and even conceded territories of Mysore and Mandya during 1215-1300 AD. These developements were to slowly but surely weaken the Chola kingdom, though their was a minor revival during the fairly steady rule of Kulothunga-III (1178-1218 AD).

Death and succession

The last regnal year cited in Rajaraja's inscription is 26. That makes the last year of his reign 1173 C.E. It seems likely that Rajaraja made Rajadhiraja Chola II heir apparent and coregent in 1163 C.E. Rajadhiraja was not the son of Rajaraja, but a grandson of Vikrama Chola by one of his daughters. It is very likely that this was because Rajaraja Chola II did not have any direct suitable descendant to ascend the Chola throne.

Socio-Religious Achievements

One of the most important achievements of Raja Raja-II was that despite being considered a weak king, it appears that he did enjoy periods of calm and peace especially during the later half of his 26 year rule. It was during this period that he initiated construction of the very famous Airavateswarar Temple at Darasuram near Kumbakonam. This royal Siva temple, which is one of the trinity of the Great Living Chola Temples along with the Tanjore and Gangaikonda Chozhisvaram Brahadeeswarar Alayams all of which are World Heritage Sites, can be considered to be contemporaneous to the Belur and Halebid temples of the Hoysalas, both of which are stated to have taken between 80 to 100 years to complete. The Airavateswarar (pictured above)Temple was begun later than at least the Halebidu Temple but was completed earlier, either by the time the rule of Raja Raja-II ended or during the initial period of his successor, Rajadhiraja-II. The Airavateswarar Temple is considered an architectural marvel of the Later Chola period and this tradition was carried on by Kulothunga-III who built the Kampahareswarar Temple at Tribhuvanam in commemoration of his conquest of Madurai and Kalinga. This temple contains innumerable miniature freezes containing stories from Ramayanam, Periya Puranam and other stories devoted to Siva-Parvati, Vinayagar, Karthikeya etc. The temple is also a symbol of continuing architectural tradition of the Chola craftsmen for it also has musical stairs called the Saptasvaras near a small shrine for Ganapati. The Muhamandapam or the Mukhyamandapam of this temple is a real architectural marvel containing many great architectural specimen and was a continuation of the Later Chola tradition of building temples in the shape of giant elephant-driven Rathas or Chariots, which was also carried on not just by later Chola kings such as Kulothunga-III but also by the kings of Kalinga and culminated in construction of the Sun Temple of Konarak by Eastern Ganga king Narasinghdeo. This is one of the later Chola temples which have remained unparalleled in terms of architectural excellence to date, that left a lasting impression on the succeeding dynasties to the Chola rule.

It seems Raja Raja-II also made numerous grants to the temples at Tanjore, Chidambaram, Kanchi, Srirangam, Tiruchy as well as to the temples at Madurai. He was also believed to be a regular visitor to the temples in Parasurama's country (Kerala), which were also recipients of his grants.

Overall he was a benevolent king who did care for his subjects, as evidenced by his relief measures to the people during the times of both the famine and civil unrest, which though did take some effort to subdue, but which finally ensured that he retained the loyalty and respect of his ministers, commanders and the general sections of the populace. [ [**]

Extent of the Empire and Summary of the rule and legacy of Raja Raja-II

Even though there was a famine which further caused a civil disturbance, Raja Raja-II nevertheless, kept most of his adversaries under control and also succeeded in largely maintaining the Chola territories comprising of their possessions in Tamizhagam including Kongunadu, Madurai and Thirunelveli, Nellore-Guntur areas (with Renandu and Telugu Cholas having allegience to Raja Raja-II but controlling their areas with more authority than before), Visaiyavadai(Vijayawada)-Eluru-Rajahmundry-Prakasham (Draksharama) areas traditionally controlled by Vengi kings, Kalinga (whose King was a tribute paying subordinate and a supportive feudatory to Chola overlordship).. up to the banks of Hooghly. In addition, he also had Northern Sri Lanka (as was the case during the time of his illustrious predecessor, Raja Raja-I) under his loose control while as compared to before, even though he had subdued Chera kings, due to the re-emergence of Pandya power, he was forced to allow more autonomy to Malainadu kings with whom he was believed to be having marital relations. But somehow, Raja Raja-II proved strong enough to retain control of the eastern Gangavadi province, which was regained from the Hoysalas by his predecessor, the great Vikrama Chola. Possibly, the Hoysalas themselves were trying to free themselves from the control of Western Chalukyas and other rapidly growing adversaries like Kalachuris and Kakatiyas, who were as hostile to the Chalukyas and Hoysalas, as they were to the Cholas and even the Pandyas, as would be evidenced in the later years. [1]

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/ [1] http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/