DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW

UNIVERSITY

VISAKHAPATNAM

PROJECT ON

MICRO HISTORIES AND THEIR VALUES

SUBJECT: CHOLA’S

BY

PRASHANT DIXIT
Roll.no. 2019 B.A L.L.B 110
1st Semester D.S.N.L.U
___________________________________________
Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University Nayaprastha, Sabbavaram,
Visakhapatnam - 531035

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Viswachandranath Madasu and staff of DSNLU,
for supporting me all through the process.
Secondly, Thanks to all my fellow students who have helped in the research,
during this project.

PRASHANT DIXIT, 2019110

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTERISATION

CHAPTER-1: What is Micro History? & What are its values? -----------------5
CHAPTER-2: Chola’s Dynasty. -----------------------------------------------------8
CHAPTER-3: THE ORIGINS OF THE CHOLA EMPIRE----------------------10
CHAPTER-4: POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHOLAS ---------------------------13
CHAPTER-5: Chola’s Administration-----------------------18
CHAPTER-6: Chola’s art and architecture----------------------------------22
CHAPTER-7: Conclusion-----------------------------------------------------------26

BIBLIOGRAPHY & E-Sources-----------------------------------------------------27

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 CHAPTER-1
WHAT IS MICRO HISTORY? & WHAT ARE ITS VALUES?

INTRODUCTION:
Historians still can't seem to build up a far reaching and decisive definition for
the expression "miniaturized scale history," to a great extent since it stays on the
edge of current chronicled study. The development of small scale authentic
examination in various areas crosswise over Europe and North America and in an
assortment of dialects has additionally aggravated the issue, driving, now and
again, to advance equivocalness. Its inception, be that as it may, is clear. The
development of antiquarians, especially those informed in Europe, towards a
small scale recorded way to deal with contemplating history created from a
political and social discussion happening in the sociologies during the 1970s and
1980s. As history specialists concentrated on social instead of financial elements,
it turned out to be evident that specific "political occasions and social substances"
couldn't be clarified enough by existing largescale recorded models.
Fundamentally, verifiable narratives didn't represent the encounters of all
individuals from the occasion, society, or culture being examined. Therefore,
miniaturized scale students of history have tried review individuals not as a
gathering, but instead as "people who must not be lost either inside the verifiable
procedures or in mysterious groups ".

Concentrating on the individual instead of the gathering additionally has driven

miniaturized scale students of history to concentrate on the "edges" of intensity
as opposed to the Center. For miniaturized scale students of history, this has
included looking at the lives and encounters of the burdened and misused, people
who are regularly disregarded by large scale chronicled studies and who seldom
fit the current or coming about model. This assessment, in any case, isn't restricted

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to individuals. It additionally stresses the escalated investigation of "single,
intense, frequently segregated spots, and phenomenal – however regularly
verifiably 'irrelevant' – occasions". Thusly, smaller scale students of history have
endeavored to define a past filled with regular day to day existence. The
philosophy utilized in analyzing the lives of underestimated individuals is
regularly alluded to as "thick portrayal," a system frequently utilized by social
anthropologists like Clifford Geertz. As opposed to endeavoring to fit the people's
encounters into biased social chronicles, Geertz advocates the utilization of
minuscule investigation as a methods for producing ends that are pertinent to a
more noteworthy level of the overall public. The primary challenge faced by
micro historians when developing these histories of everyday life is a lack of
reference material. The marginalized subjects of their studies have left few traces
or documents regarding their lives and experiences and those who have may not
be representative of the sector of the population under consideration. Even the
protagonist in Ginzburg’s celebrated work The Cheese and the Worms: The
Cosmos of a Sixteenth - Century Miller left behind an unusually abundant
collection of personal information, leading some to question whether this literate
“miller” was typical of the marginalized class.
Microhistory is a chronicled strategy that takes as its object of concentrate the
cooperations of people and little gatherings with the objective of segregating
thoughts, convictions, practices, and activities that would some way or another
stay obscure by methods for increasingly customary verifiable systems.
Microhistory rose, principally in Italy, in the late 1970s and mid 1980s, as a rebel
against investigations of huge social gatherings and long, slow authentic changes.
The first microhistorians were particularly disappointed with then dominating
social history strategies that focused on expansive subjects over very significant
stretches of time, the popular longue durée. The microhistorians additionally
protested the undeniably mainstream utilization of quantitative techniques

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enlivened by the French Annales experts, the Cambridge Population Group, and
American cliometricians. The wellspring of the microhistorians' disappointment
was the way that quantitative methodologies will in general lessen the lives of
millions to a couple of monetary and statistic information focuses. The
microhistorians' reaction to these apparent shortcomings in social history, as it
was then generally drilled, was to endeavor to make another strategy that would
enable antiquarians to rediscover the lived involvement of people, with the point
of uncovering how those people interfaced with each other, yet in addition with
the more extensive monetary, statistic, and social structures that conventional
social history had taken as its topic.
The expression "microhistory" was first begat by a gathering of Italian students
of history related with the diary Quaderni Storici and, later, a progression of
books, microstorie, distributed by Einaudi. The most powerful were Carlo
Ginzburg, Edoardo Grendi, Giovanni Levi, and Carlo Poni. Together they started
to characterize the hypothetical underpinnings of what wound up known as
microhistory. Some French and North American researchers before long went
with the same pattern, yet their endeavors came up short on the automatic element
of the Italians' work. Consequently it was the Quaderni Storici bunch that to a
great extent built up the terms of discussion and the limits of the strategy from an
early date, and without them microhistory probably won't have turned into an
unmistakable practice.
IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
Maybe the most widely recognized and recognizable normal for smaller scale
history is its decrease of scale, as proposed by the prefix "miniaturized scale."
Rather than portraying and dissecting wide points, for example, the American
Civil War, miniaturized scale students of history center around explicit occasions,
for example, Pickett's Charge, which happened inside the setting of more
extensive fields of study. As per antiquarian Ronald Hoffman, "it is a lot of like

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the writer William Blake's directive to see a world in a grain of sand". It is
significant, nonetheless, not to mistake miniaturized scale history for nearby
history or account. Both utilize a comparative research technique however neglect
to associate explicit occasions with more extensive social settings, another
significant yet more subtle normal for miniaturized scale history. Hoffman states:
"Smaller scale history examines separated points to understand the bigger
universe of chronicled conditions and changes". Except if Stewart breaks down
Pickett's Charge inside the setting of the American Civil War, his work, albeit
very much looked into and charming, would neglect to meet the prerequisites of
smaller scale history and could be depicted uniquely as "episodic
antiquarianism."
IN INDIA:
The most common and identifiable kingdoms that were present in the era of
“Chola Dynasty”
in the southern part of India is “The Chola Dynasty: 9th century BCE–13th
century” which is the popular and one of the most powerful kingdom. Most of
the historians describe more about it only they don’t describe about other minor
kingdoms that were present in that era of time. Here the chance where some of
the micro historians provide us valuable information regarding the other minor
kingdoms and about their socio-political relations and their economic, art,
architecture, military power etc., since it is difficult to explain each and every
information in the project. So, I with the prior permission of our kind History Sir,
would like to take up “the Art and Architecture” part of the Chola Dynasty
which their famous for.

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 Chapter 2
Chola’s Dynasty

The Chola Empire has been one of the most dominant and broad realms of South
India. Alongwith the vassal states, it may be the longest realm to prosper in South
India. Its ascent in the ninth century brought under its influence an enormous
piece of the landmass. The Cholas built up a ground-breaking naval force which
empowered them to build up India's ocean exchange the Indian Ocean, and to
overcome Sri Lanka and the Maldive Islands. Their impact was felt even in the
nations of South-East Asia. The Chola tradition was established by Vijayalaya
around 850 AD evidently by beginning as a vassal of the Pallava ruler. With the
struggle among Pallavas and Pandyas, Vijayalaya involved Tanjore also, made
his capital. Their country was called Cholamandalam which included present day
Tanjore, Trichinopoly and the Pudukottai state. Kaveri Waterway was the
heartland of the Chola administration. Uraiyur, by and by known as Tiruchirapalli
was one of its most seasoned capital. They led from later half of the ninth century
till the start of the thirteenth century.
The Chola tradition was a Tamil administration of southern India, one of the
longest-decision lines on the planet's history . The most punctual datable
references to the Chola are in engravings from the third century BCE left by
Ashoka, of the Maurya Empire (Ashoka Major Rock Edict No.13). As one of the
Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam, alongside the Chera and Pandya, the line
kept on overseeing over a changing area until the thirteenth century CE.

The heartland of the Cholas was the prolific valley of the Kaveri River, however
they governed a fundamentally bigger zone at the stature of their capacity from
the later 50% of the ninth century till the start of the thirteenth century. The entire
nation south of the Tungabhadra was joined together and held as one state for a

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time of three centuries and more somewhere in the range of 907 and 1215 AD.
Under Rajaraja Chola I and his successors Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola,
Virarajendra Chola, and Kulothunga Chola I, the line turned into a military,
monetary and social power in South Asia and South-East Asia. The intensity of
the new realm was broadcasted toward the eastern world by the endeavor to the
Ganges which Rajendra Chola I attempted and by maritime strikes on urban areas
of the city-territory of Srivijaya, just as by the rehashed government offices to
China. The Chola armada spoke to the peak of antiquated Indian ocean control.
During the period 1010–1153, the Chola domains extended from the islands of
the Maldives in the south to as far north as the banks of the Godavari River in
Andhra Pradesh. Rajaraja Chola vanquished peninsular South India, added
portions of which is currently Sri Lanka and involved the islands of the Maldives.
Rajendra Chola sent a successful undertaking to North India that contacted the
stream Ganges and vanquished the Pala leader of Pataliputra, Mahipala. He
likewise effectively attacked urban communities of Srivijaya of Malaysia and
Indonesia.The Chola tradition went into decrease toward the start of the thirteenth
century with the ascent of the Pandyan line, which eventually caused their
downfall.

The Cholas left an enduring inheritance. Their support of Tamil writing and their
energy in the structure of sanctuaries has brought about some extraordinary works
of Tamil writing and architecture. The Chola rulers were eager developers and
imagined the sanctuaries in their realms as spots of love as well as focuses of
monetary activity. They spearheaded an incorporated type of government and set
up a trained organization. The Chola school of workmanship spread to Southeast
Asia and impacted the design and craft of Southeast Asia.

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 Chapter 3

THE ORIGINS OF THE CHOLA EMPIRE

Historians have had various views regarding its origin. The most accepted theory
is that Cholas is the name of a ruling family or clan of ancient times. The Tamil
literature of the Sangam period has information regarding the Cholas of the early
period. Cholas have had a mention in the Ashokan pillars too. There are four
periods attributed to the history of the Cholas. They are the early Cholas of the
Sangam literature, the period between the decline of Sangam Cholas and rise of
medieval Cholas, and later Chola dynasty of Kulothunga Chola I. However the
most commonly held view is that this is, like Cheras and Pandyas, the name of
the ruling family or clan of immemorial antiquity. The annotator Parimelazhagar
writes "The charity of people with ancient lineage (such as the Cholas, the
Pandyas and the Cheras) are forever generous in spite of their reduced means".
Other names in common use for the Cholas are Killi, Valavan and Sembiyan.
Killi perhaps comes from the Tamil kil meaning dig or cleave and conveys the
idea of a digger or a worker of the land. This word often forms an integral part of
early Chola names like Nedunkilli, Nalankilli and so on, but almost drops out of
use in later times. Valavan is most probably connected with 'valam' - fertility and
means owner or ruler of a fertile country. Sembiyan is generally taken to mean a
descendant of Shibi - a legendary hero whose self- sacrifice in saving a dove
from the pursuit of a falcon figures among the early Chola legends and forms the
subject matter of the Sibi Jataka among the Jataka stories of Buddhism. In Tamil
lexicon Chola means Soazhi or Saei denoting a newly formed kingdom, in the
lines of Pandya or the old country. Sora or Chozha in Tamil becomes Chola in
Sanskrit and Chola in Telugu. On the historical backdrop of the early Cholas there
is very

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minimal valid composed proof accessible. History specialists during the previous
150 years have gathered a ton of learning regarding the matter from an assortment
of sharp ces, for example, antiquated Tamil Sangam writing, oral conventions,
strict writings, sanctuary also, copperplate engravings. The fundamental hotspot
for the accessible data of the early Cholas is the early Tamil writing of the Sangam
Period. There are additionally concise notification on the Chola nation what's
more, its towns, ports and business outfitted by the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
(Periplus Maris Erythraei). Periplus is a work by an unknown Alexandrian dealer,
written in the hour of Domitian (81-96) and contains ver y little data of the Chola
nation. Composing a large portion of a century later, the geographer Ptolemy
gives more insight concerning the Chola nation, its port and its inland urban areas.
Mahavamsa, a Buddhist book composed down during the fifth century CE, relates
a number of contentions between the occupants of Ceylon and Cholas in the first
century BCE. Cholas are referenced in the Pillars of Ashoka (engraved 273
BCE-232 BCE) engravings, where they are referenced among the realms which,
however not subject to Ashoka, were on inviting terms with him. The Cholas
framed one of three decision traditions in Tamil-speaking South India. From 300
BC to 1267 AD, the Cholas had two residencies: the first from 300 BC to 740
AD; and the second from 850 AD to 1267 AD as the "Majestic Cholas of Tanjore"
(Sastri, 1955; Gautam, 2013). The most extraordinary action occurred in the
second residency during the medieval time of 850-1275 AD. The Cholas led a lot
of South India and made victories into Sri Lanka., Maldives and recent Indonesia.
Discretionary missions arrived at Burma (Myanmar), Malaysia, and China. The
Cholas were incredible for the association of their military and maritime armadas,
yet they were likewise adroit in making savvy collusions, trading blessings with
nearby rulers, setting up understandings and affirming authority over new
domains by implication, in this way upgrading authoritative costs (site of the
Smithsonian Institute1). Other than being incredible winners, their victories went

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past military system, to broad structure of sanctuaries, and productive help to the
advancement of workmanship and culture with eminent stylish greatness
(Rathnasabapathy, 2009), that make it beneficial to think about the achievement
of the tradition as identical to that of fruitful exhibition of a present-day
association.
Sastri (1935: 12) in his great recorded treatise on the Cholas clarifies: "In the age
of the Colas [Cholas], the most innovative time of South Indian History, the entire
of South India was just because brought under the influence of a solitary
government, and a genuine endeavor made to confront and tackle the issues of
open organization emerging from the new conditions. In neighborhood
government, in craftsmanship, religion and letters, the Tamil nation arrived at
statures of greatness never came to again in succeeding ages; in every one of these
circles as in that of outside exchange and oceanic action, the Cola time frame
denoted the summit of developments that started in a previous age, under the
Pallavas".

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 Chapter 4
POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHOLAS

Vijayalaya was one of the feudatory of the Pallavas who caught Tanjore from
some nearby chieftains and built up a semi self-ruling state. The intensity of the
Pallavas declined significantly before long, and by the start of the ninth Century
CE,Vijayalaya's successors figured out how to break free from the over lordship
of the Pallavas. They offered fight to the Pallavas also, vanquished them. They
likewise vanquished the Pandyas of Madurai and stretched out they influence to
most pieces of advanced Southern Tamil Nadu. Be that as it may, Krishna III, the
Rastrakuta ruler who controlled the northern pieces of Tamil Nadu, executed the
Chola sovereign Rajaditya at the clash of Thakkolam in 949 CE. The ruler
Parantaka passed on the following year, and his second child Gandaraditya rose
the position of royalty. He was more inspired by legislative issues than in religion,
and accordingly the domain stagnated. Very soon, he lost the position of authority
to his more youthful sibling Arinjaya, Arinjaya kicked the bucket presently and
his child Sundara Chola turned into the ruler. Sundara Chola was instrumental in
reviving the domain. Following the passing of Krishna III in 965, the Rastrakuta
Empire began to decay. Sundara Chola took advantage of this lucky break and
sent a military under the direction of the crown sovereign Aditya Karikala to fill
the void. Aditya was effective in the fight and broadened Chola spaces in the
north up to Tondaimandalam. He likewise vanquished the Pandyas by and by and
squashed what was left of their capacity. In any case, Uttama Chola, child of the
past ruler Gandaraditya figured out how to have Aditya Karikala killed, with the
goal that he could turn into the beneficiary clear. Uttama Chola became the lord,
however his rule went generally uneventful. In 985, Rajaraja
Chola, another child of Sundara Chola figured out how to supplant him as the
lord.

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Rajaraja and Rajendra chola

Be that as it may, the best distinguishing strength for Rajaraja Chola was his
undertaking to North India in 1022 CE. He is the main South Indian lord to have
driven an effective undertaking up the River Ganga. Going through the Kalinga
Region, he crossed the Ganga also, added those locales to the Chola Empire. He
accepted the title "Gangaikonda Chola" or the "champion of Ganga", and
manufactured another capital close to the mouth of the Cavuery River and
called it Gangaikondacholapuram. Rajaraja had been selected beneficiary clear
in his dad's life-time, and had broad experience of organization and fighting
before his increase to the position of royalty. Rajaraja demolished the Chera
naval force at Trivandrum, and assaulted Quilon. He at that point vanquished
Madurai and caught the Pandyan ruler. He additionally attacked Sri Lanka and
added its northern part to his Empire. These moves were mostly roused by his
craving to carry the exchange with the South-East Asian nations under his
influence. The Coromandal coast and Malabar were the habitats for India's
exchange with the nations of South-East Asia. One of his maritime adventures
was the victory of the Maldive Islands.
In the north, Rajaraja attached the north-western parts of the Ganga district in
north-west Karnataka, and overran Vengi. Rajendra I conveyed forward the
annexationist approach of raja by totally overwhelming the Pandya and Chera
nations also, incorporating them in his Empire. The victory of Sri Lanka was
additionally finished, with the crown and illustrious badge of the ruler also, the
sovereign of Sri Lanka being caught in a fight. Sri Lanka was not ready to liberate
herself from the Chola control for another 50 years. Rajaraja and Rajendra I
denoted their triumphs by raising various Shiva and Vishnu sanctuaries at
different spots. The most well known of these was the Rajarajeshwara sanctuary

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at Tanjore which was finished in AD 1010. The Chola rulers received the practice
of having long engravings composed on the dividers of these sanctuaries, giving
a recorded account of their triumphs. That is the reason we discover significantly
more about the Cholas than their antecedents. One of the most exceptional
endeavors in the rule of Rajendra I was the walk crosswise over Kalinga to Bengal
in which the Chola armed forces crossed the Ganga, and vanquished two nearby
lords. This undertaking, which was driven by a Chola general, occurred in 1022
what's more, pursued a similar course which the incredible victor Samudragupta
had pursued. To recognize this event, Rajendra I
expected the title of Gangaikondachola (or 'the Chola victor of Ganga'). He
manufactured the new capital close to the mouth of the Kaveri and called it
Gangaikondacholapuram (or 'the city of the Chola winner of the Ganga'). A
significantly increasingly noteworthy adventure in the hour of Rajendra I was the
maritime campaign against the restored Sri Vijaya Empire. The Sri Vijaya
Empire, which had been resuscitated in the tenth century, reached out over the
Malay promontory, Sumatra, Java and the neighboring islands and controlled the
abroad exchange course to China. The leaders of the Sailendra line were
Buddhists and had agreeable relations with the Cholas. The Sailendra ruler had
fabricated a Buddhist religious community at Nagapatam and, at his example,
Rajendra I had invested a town for its upkeep. The reason for the rupture between
the two obviously was the Chola energy to expel impediments to Indian brokers,
and to grow Chola exchange with China. The undertaking prompted the victory
of Kadaram or Kedah and various different places in the Malay landmass and
Sumatra. The Chola naval force was the most grounded in the territory for quite
a while and the Bay of Bengal was changed over into a 'Chola lake'. Three of
Rajendra's children Rajadhiraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola II and Virarajendra
Chola tailed him to majesty. Every one of them proceeded with the Chalukya
wars. Rajadhiraja lost his life on the combat zone during one such fights and

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Rajendra Chola II delegated himself on the war zone and proceeded with the
battle. At last, Virarajendra figured out how to part the Chalukya realm by
persuading the Chalukya sovereign Vikramaditya IV to a union. The Chola -
Vikramaditya collusion was effective in the war zone and Virarajendra delegated
Vikramaditya as the lord of the Western Chalukya realm. He went about as a
cradle between the Cholas also, the Chalukyas in Kalyani. Vikramaditya
additionally attempted to anticipate Rajendra Chalukya, an Eastern Chalukyan
sovereign of Chola plunge from rising the Vengi royal position. Anyway when
Virarajendra kicked the bucket in 1070 C.E., Rajendra Chalukya struck back and
built some inward disarray in the Chola realm, where the new Chola ruler
Athirajendra Chola was killed. Rajendra Chalukya delegated himself Kulothunga
Chola I (1070 C.E.), in this way overriding the Chola line with the Chalukya
administration. The Chola rulers additionally sent various consulates to China. A
Chola international safe haven of 70 vendors arrived at China in 1077 and, as per
a Chinese record, got "81,800 strings of copper-cash," that is, multiple lakhs of
rupees as an end-result of the articles of tribute involving "glass-ware, camphor,
brocades, rhinoceros horns, ivory, and so on." Tribute was the word utilized by
the Chinese for all articles brought for exchange. The Chola rulers battled always
with the Chalukyas who had succeeded the Rashtrakutas. These are known as the
later Chalukyas and their capital was at Kalyani. The Cholas and the later
Chalukyas conflicted for the over lordship of Vengi (Rayalseema), the
Tungabhadra doab and the Ganga nation in north-west Karnataka. Neither one of
the sides had the option to increase a conclusive triumph in this challenge and at
last it depleted both the Empires. It likewise gives the idea that the wars were
getting to be harsher during this time. The Chola rulers sacked and ravaged
Chalukyan urban areas including Kalyani, and slaughtered the individuals,
including brahmanas and youngsters. They embraced a comparative arrangement
in the Pandya nation settling military states to overawe the populace. They

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decimated Anuradhapur, the antiquated capital of the leaders of Sri Lanka, and
treated their ruler and sovereign brutally. These are blotchs throughout the entire
existence of the Chola Empire. Be that as it may, when they had vanquished a
nation, the Cholas attempted to set up a sound arrangement of organization in it.
One of the astounding highlights of the Chola organization was their consolation
to neighborhood self-government in the towns all over their Empire. The Chola
Empire proceeded in a thriving condition during the twelfth century. Be that as it
may, it declined during the early piece of thirteenth century. The later Chalukyan
Empire in the Maharashtra zone had additionally reached an end during the
twelfth century. The spot of the Cholas was taken by the Pandyas and the
Hoysalas in the south, and of the later Chalukyas by the Yadavas what's more,
the Kakatiyas. These states stretched out support to expressions and engineering.
Tragically, they debilitated themselves by persistently battling against one
another, sacking the towns and not by any means saving the sanctuaries. At last,
they were decimated by the Sultans of Delhi in, the start of the fourteenth century.

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 Chapter 5
Chola’s Administration
Chola Army and Navy
The Cholas kept up a huge armed force comprising of elephants, rangers and
infantry which were called the three appendages of the military. The infantry was
by and large furnished with lances. The majority of the rulers had protectors who
were promised to shield the rulers indeed even at the expense of their lives. The
Venetian voyager, Marco Polo, who visited Kerala in the thirteenth century, says
that all the soldiers- in the body-guard consumed themselves in the memorial
service fire of the ruler at the point when he passed on - an explanation which
likely could be an embellishment. The Cholas likewise had a solid naval force, as
we have seen, which commanded the Malabar and Coromandal coast and for
quite a while, the whole Bay of Bengal. The Chola Navy contained the maritime
powers of the Chola Empire alongside a few different naval-arms of the nation.
The Chola naval force assumed an indispensable job in the extension of the Chola
Empire, including the victory of the Ceylon islands and maritime attacks on Sri
Vijaya (present-day Indonesia). The naval force developed both in size and status
during the Medieval Cholas rule. The Chola Admirals directed a lot of regard
and notoriety in the general public. The naval force leaders additionally went
about as ambassadors in a few examples. From 900 to 1100, the naval force had
developed from a little backwater element to that of a strong power projection
and discretionary image in all of Asia, yet was progressively diminished in
hugeness when the Cholas took ashore conflicts for oppressing the Chalukyas of
Andhra-Kannada zone in South India.

Chola Government

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The lord was the most notable individual in the Chola organization. All power
rested in his grasp, yet he had a gathering of pastors to prompt him. The Chola
Empire was isolated into mandalams or areas and these, thusly, were partitioned
into valanadu and nadu. Now and again, rulers of the imperial family were
delegated governors of areas. Authorities were commonly paid by giving them
assignments of revenue-bearing lands. The Chola rulers fabricated a system of
illustrious streets which were valuable for exchange also with respect to the
development of the military. Exchange and business prospered in the Chola
Realm, and there were some huge exchange societies which exchanged with Java
and Sumatra. This whole structure was encased in a patio encompassed by high
dividers, which were punctured by grandiose entryways called gopurams. In
course of time, the vimanas ascended higher furthermore, higher, the quantity of
yards were expanded to a few, and the gopurams likewise turned out to be
increasingly intricate. Accordingly, sanctuary turned into a small city or castle,
living-rooms for clerics and numerous others being given in it The sanctuaries for
the most part delighted in revenue-free awards of grounds of their costs. They
additionally got awards and rich gifts from the well off vendors. A portion of the
sanctuaries turned out to be so rich that they entered business, loaned cash, and
partook in business undertakings. An early case of the Dravida style of sanctuary
engineering is the Eighth century sanctuary of Kailasanatha at Kanchipuram. One
of the best and most expand instances of the style is, be that as it may, gave by
the Brihadiswara sanctuary at Tanjore worked by Rajaraja I. This is additionally
called the Rajaraja sanctuary in light of the fact that the Cholas were in the
propensity for introducing pictures of lords and sovereigns in the sanctuaries,
notwithstanding the divinity. The sanctuary at Gangaikondacholapuram, in spite
of the fact that in a run down condition, is another fine case of sanctuary design
under the Cholas. Countless sanctuaries were additionally worked at different
places in south India. In any case, it might be well to recall that the returns for a

20
portion of these exercises were acquired from the loot of the number of
inhabitants in the neighboring regions by the Chola rulers. After the fall of the
Cholas, sanctuary building movement proceeded under the Chalukyas of Kalyani
and the Hoysalas. The area of Dharwara had the Hoysala capital Halebid which
had an enormous number of sanctuaries. The most radiant of these is the
Hoysalesvara sanctuary. It is the best case of what is known as the Chalukyan
style. Aside from the pictures of divine beings and their chaperons, the two people
(yaksha and yakshini), the sanctuaries contain finely formed boards which show
an occupied
display of life, including move, music and scenes of war and love. Consequently,
life was firmly incorporated with religion. For the normal man, the sanctuary was
not simply a spot for venerate but rather the center of social and social life also.
The specialty of figure achieved an exclusive requirement in south India during
this period. One case of this was the goliath statue of Gomateswar at Sravana
Belgola. Another angle was picture making which arrived at its peak in the
moving figure of the Shiva called nataraja. The nataraja figures of this period,
especially those in bronze, are viewed as artful culminations. Some fine instances
of this are to be found in historical centers in India and outside. The Cholas
likewise focused on water system. The primary water asset for this realm was the
Kaveri waterway. Numerous tanks for water system were constructed. A portion
of the Chola rulers did a detailed overview of land so as to fix the legislature's
portion of the land income. We don't have the foggiest idea what correctly the
administration's offer was. Notwithstanding area charge, the Chola rulers drew
their salary from tolls on exchange, imposes on callings, and furthermore from
the loot of the neighboring regions. The Chola rulers were rich and could stand
to fabricate various towns and great landmarks.
By an investigation of different engravings a few insights concerning town
government during the hour of Cholas rise. We know about two gatherings, called

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the ur and the sabha or mahasabha. The ur was a general get together of the town.
Notwithstanding, we know more about the working of the mahasabha. This was
a social affair of the grown-up men in the brahmana towns which were called
agraharas. These were towns settled by the brahmanas in which the greater part
of the land was rent-free. These towns appreciated a enormous proportion of self-
governance. The undertakings of the town were overseen by an official board of
trustees to which instructed people owning property were chosen either by
drawing parts or by pivot. These individuals needed to resign like clockwork.
There were different boards of trustees for making a difference in the appraisal
and accumulation or land income for upkeep of peace, equity, and so forth. One
of the significant advisory groups was the tank board of trustees which took care
of the dissemination of water to the fields. The mahasabha could settle new
grounds, and exercise possession rights over them. It could likewise raise
advances for the town and toll charges.

Social LIFE
The degree and resources of the Chola Empire empowered the ruler s to
manufacture great-capitals ,, for example, Tanjore, Gangaikondacholapuram,
Kanchi, and so on. The rulers kept up colossal family units and enormous royal
residences with meal corridors, roomy gardens and porches. In this way, we learn
of seven or five-storeyed houses for their boss. Sadly none of the royal residences
of the period have endure. The Chola capital Gangaikondacholapuram is
currently only a little town close Tanjore. Be that as it may, portrayals of the
grand castles of the rulers and their priests, and of similarly heavenly houses in
which the well off traders lived, are to be found in the writing of the period.

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 Chapter 6
Chola’s art and architecture
Chola Architecture

Sanctuary engineering in the south achieved its peak under the Cholas. The style
or engineering which came into vogue during this -period is called Dravida, on
the grounds that it was bound generally to sooth India. The principle highlight of
this style was the structure of story upon story over the boss deity-room
(garbhagriha). The quantity of stories changed from five to seven and they had a
common style which came to be known as the vimana. A pillared corridor called
mandap, with intricately cut columns and a level rooftop, was commonly set
before the sanctum. It went about as a group of people corridor and was a spot
for different exercises, for example, stately moves which were performed by the
devadasis-the ladies commit to the administration of -the divine beings. Now and
again, a section used to be included around the sanctum with the goal that the fans
could go round it. This whole structure was encased in a
patio encompassed by high dividers, which were punctured by grandiose
entryways called gopurams. In course of time, the vimanas ascended higher
furthermore, higher, the quantity of yards were expanded to a few, and the
gopurams likewise turned out to be increasingly intricate. Accordingly, sanctuary
turned into a small city or castle, living-rooms for clerics and numerous others
being given in it The sanctuaries for the most part delighted in revenue-free
awards of grounds of their costs. They additionally got awards and rich gifts from
the well off vendors. A portion of the sanctuaries turned out to be so rich that they
entered business, loaned cash, and partook in business undertakings. An early
case of the Dravida style of sanctuary engineering is the Eighth century sanctuary

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of Kailasanatha at Kanchipuram. One of the best and most expand instances of
the style is, be that as it may, gave by the Brihadiswara sanctuary at Tanjore
worked by Rajaraja I. This is additionally called the Rajaraja sanctuary in light of
the fact that the Cholas were in the propensity for introducing pictures of lords
and sovereigns in the sanctuaries, notwithstanding the divinity. The sanctuary at
Gangaikondacholapuram, in spite of the fact that in a run down condition, is
another fine case of sanctuary design under the Cholas. Countless sanctuaries
were additionally worked at different places in south India. In any case, it might
be well to recall that the returns for a portion of these exercises were acquired
from the loot of the number of inhabitants in the neighboring regions by the Chola
rulers. After the fall of the Cholas, sanctuary building movement proceeded under
the Chalukyas of Kalyani and the Hoysalas. The area of Dharwara had the
Hoysala capital Halebid which had an enormous number of sanctuaries. The most
radiant of these is the Hoysalesvara sanctuary. It is the best case of what is known
as the Chalukyan style. Aside from the pictures of divine beings and their
chaperons, the two people (yaksha and yakshini), the sanctuaries contain finely
formed boards which show an occupied display of life, including move, music
and scenes of war and love. Consequently, life was firmly incorporated with
religion. For the normal man, the sanctuary was not simply a spot for venerate
but rather the center of social and social life also.
The specialty of figure achieved an exclusive requirement in south India during
this period. One case of this was the goliath statue of Gomateswar at Sravana
Belgola. Another angle was picture making which arrived at its peak in the
moving figure of the Shiva called nataraja. The nataraja figures of this period,
especially those in bronze, are viewed as artful culminations. Some fine instances
of this are to be found in historical centers in India and outside.

Arts and Literature

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The leaders of the different traditions of the Cholas belittled expressions and
writing. While Sanskrit was viewed as the language of high culture and various
lords just as researchers and court artists wrote in it, a striking component of
the period was the development of writing in the language of the territories.
Various prevalent holy people called nayanars and alvars who were enthusiasts
of Shiva and Vishnu thrived in the Tamil zone between the 6th and the ninth
hundreds of years. They made their works in Tamil and different dialects of the
zone. The works of these holy people, which were gathered into eleven
volumes under the name Tirumurais in the early piece of the twelfth century,
are viewed as sacrosanct and are viewed as the fifth Veda. The time of Kamban
who is put in the second 50% of the eleventh and the early piece of the twelfth
century is viewed as a brilliant age in Tamil writing. Kamban's Ramayana is
viewed as an exemplary in Tamil writing. Kamban is accepted to have lived at
the court of a Chola ruler. Numerous others took their subjects from the
Ramayana and Mahabharata, in this manner bringing these works of art closer
to the individuals. In spite of the fact that more youthful than Tamil, Kannada
likewise turned into an abstract language during this period. The Rashtrakuta,
the Chalukya and the Hoysala rulers disparaged Kannada just as Telugu. The
Rashtrakuta lord, Amoghavarsha, composed a book on poetics in Kannada.
Numerous Jain researchers likewise added to the development of Kannada.
Pampa, Ponna and Ranna are viewed as the three jewels of Kannada verse.
Despite the fact that they were affected by Jainism, they additionally
composed on subjects taken from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata
Nanniah, who inhabited the court of a Chalukyan ruler started the Telugu
adaptation of the Mahabharata. The work started by him was finished in the
thirteenth century by Tikkanna. Like the Tamil Ramayana, the Telugu
Mahabharata is a great which enlivened numerous consequent journalists.

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Numerous people or well known subjects are additionally to be found in these
literary works. Well known topics which were not gotten from Sanskrit and
which reflect mainstream opinions and feelings are called desi or country in
Telugu.

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 CONCLUSION
The implications of micro history are many. Micro history has intensified
interdependence and various branches which are yet to be enlightened. This is
reflected in Interdependence in regard to the availability of sources and
conformity of such sources. As a result, its developments are not determined
entirely by various micro historians and also by the availability of primary
sources. Rather, they are influenced by both conditions as they are essential. It is
thus clear that with the help of micro history we can identify the minuscule
kingdoms and regarding their art &architecture skills, traditions & customs and
also their economic sources that existed in a time period where large and powerful
kingdoms prevailed and many historians wrote regarding this kind of kingdoms
only but with help of the introduction of the subject “Micro History” we are able
to know everything regarding such small kingdoms.

In the similar way while I was researching regarding some of the small
kingdoms that were present in the medieval period of our country I was
successfully able to find out one of such kingdoms that is “CHOLA DYNASTY”
it was present in southern most part of country and which has its origin from like
the other kingdoms i.e., ARYANS. As, I had selected this kingdom with respect
to other kingdom is that they had a good view on art and architecture and they are
the ones who are responsible for promotion of Hinduism in our country by the
construction of temples and also donated huge areas of lands for their
maintenance and they didn’t even collect revenue on those lands and also for the
propagation of Hinduism they even constructed stupas and pillars which were
helpful as primary sources for knowing the history of Chola and this short period
of time but I have tried my level best to evaluate the overall history of Chola
dynasty.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND E-SOURCES
BOOKS:
1. C.Sivaramamurti, Five Master pieces of Indian sculptures
2. Discovering the magic of Chola Art; India and You. January-February
2009
3. DR.D.R. Rajesh, The Chola Sculpture.
4. K.R. Srinivasan, The dharma ratha and its sculptures mahabalipuram
5. Myneni Krishna Kumari, Iconography of the door guardians of south India
Dvarapalas
6. N. Vemlata Ramahaiyya, texts trilochana Pallava and karikala chola
7. R. Gopalam, History of Chola ,1924.

E-Sources:
1. http://web.uvic.ca/vv/student/vicbrewery/content/microhistory.html
2. Tamilnadu.ind.in, pdf
3. Incredibleindia.org, pdf
4. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chalukya-dynasty.
5. https://www.importantindia.com/490/cholas-culture-literature-art-and-
architecture/
6. http://www.tamilnadu.ind.in/tamilnadu_history/pallava/pallava.php
7. http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_ptdkl_monu_virupaksha.asp

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