NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Theme : History of India
Paper : GS - 1
Ponniyin Selvan-1 has put the focus upon the Chola Dynasty.
The Chola kingdom stretched across present-day Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. During the period of the Cholas’ rise and fall (around 9th to 12th century AD), other powerful dynasties of the region would also come and go, such as the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan who defeated the Cholas, and the Chalukyas of the Andhra Pradesh region whom the Cholas frequently battled.
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Context
- About the Chola Kingdom
- Society under Cholas
- Education & Literature
- Art & Architecture
- Religion
Context : Ponniyin Selvan-1 has put the focus upon the Chola Dynasty.
About the Chola Kingdom:
- The Chola kingdom stretched across present-day Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. During the period of the Cholas’ rise and fall (around 9th to 12th century AD), other powerful dynasties of the region would also come and go, such as the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan who defeated the Cholas, and the Chalukyas of the Andhra Pradesh region whom the Cholas frequently battled.
- The dynasty was founded by the king Vijaylaya, described as a “feudatory” of the Pallavas.
Society under the Cholas:
- One of the biggest achievements of the Chola dynasty was its naval power, allowing them to go as far as Malaysia and the Sumatra islands of Indonesia in their conquests.
- While the extent of this domination is disputed, the Cholas had strong ties with merchant groups and this allowed them to undertake impressive naval expeditions.
- Succession wars were natural which is set in the time after the Rashtrakutas defeated the Cholas.
- Another feature is the practice of building grand temples. The grand Brihadeswara temple of Thanjavur, built by the Cholas, was the largest building in India in that period.
Education and Literature:
- Besides the temples and math as educational centers, several educational institutions also flourished.
- An inscription at Ennayiram, Thirumukkudal and Thirubhuvanai provide details of the colleges that existed in these places.
- development of Tamil literature reached its peak during the Chola peri
- Sivakasintamani written by Thiruthakkadevar and Kundalakesi belonged to 10th century
- Ramayana composed by Kamban and the Periyapuranam or Thiruthondar Puranam by Sekkilar are the two masterpieces of this age. Jayankondar’s Kalingattupparani describes the Kalinga war fought by Kulottunga I. The Moovarula written by Ottakuthar depicts the life of three Chola kings. The Nalavenba was written by Pugalendi. The works on Tamil grammar like Kalladam by Kalladanar, Yapperungalam by Amirthasagarar, a Jain, Nannul by Pavanandhi and Virasoliyam by Buddhamitra were the products of the Chola age
Art and Architecture :
- Dravidian style of art and architecture reached its perfection under the Cholas
- The chief feature of the Chola temple is the vimana.
- Early Chola temples were found at Narthamalai and Kodumbalur in Pudukottai district and at Srinivasanallur in Tiruchirappalli district. The Big Temple at Tanjore built by Rajaraja I is a master-piece of South Indian art and architecture. It consists of the vimana, ardha mandapa, maha mandapa and a large pavilion in the front known as the Nandi Mandapa.
- The architecture is the Siva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram built by Rajendra I.
- Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram in Tanjore District and the Kampaharesvara temple at Thirubhuvanam are examples of later Chola temples.
- The walls of the Chola temples such as the Tanjore and Gangaikondacholapuram temples contain numerous icons of large size with fine execution.
- bronzes of the Chola period are world-famous. The bronze statues of Nataraja or dancing Siva are masterpieces. The Chola paintings were found on the walls of Narthamalai and Tanjore.
Religion:
- Chola rulers were ardent Saivite. Shiva was the preeminent god for the Cholas and he was represented in two forms. The iconic form of Shiva was Lingodhbhava, and the Nataraja idol was the human form.
- A highly evolved philosophical system called Saiva Siddhanta was founded
- during this period.
- Kulathunga Chola was ardent shaivite. He persecuted vaishnavites. Bhakti saint Ramnujacharya left Srirangam and settled in Melkote,Karnataka.
FAQs :
1. Who was the founder of the Chola Dynasty?
Answer :The dynasty was founded by the king Vijaylaya, described as a “feudatory” of the Pallavas
2. What was the major Religion under the Cholas?
Answer : Chola rulers were ardent Saivite. Shiva was the preeminent god for the Cholas and he was represented in two forms. The iconic form of Shiva was Lingodhbhava, and the Nataraja idol was the human form.