Chapter-8
South India and the cholas
Archaeological sources
Monuments
1. Brihadeshwara temple-
Also known as Rajarajeshwara
Located at Thanjavur
Was build around 1000 AD
Built by Rajaraja 1
Dedicated to lord Shiva
Best example of dravidian style of architecture in vastness,design,
sculptures and allied arts
Some features of this temple:-
a) It has a massive tower known as Vimana rising to a height of 180 feet
b) This tower is crowned by a massive dome which is a single rock of stone
weighing 80 tons
c) The garbh griha housing the colossal Shiva Lingam nearly 9 metres high
d) The outer doorway being flanked by two gigantic Dwarpals.
e) The inner walls have fine and bold sculptures of various Deities
Inscriptions
There were hundreds of inscripstions in both Tamil and Sanskrit.
Inscriptions were engraved on stone or metal so they cannot be tampered
with.
These sources are more trustworthy than written works.
Its significance:-
a) Some inscriptions provides information about the dates and the conquests
of various kings.
b) Some inscriptions describe the various ornaments worn by deities with
detail of weight of gold and gems .
c) Few copper plates are preserved in museum of leyden in Netherlands.
d) Inscriptions refers to which deity the temple is dedicated to
e) The Uttaramerur inscriptions contains details about the village
administration under Chola’s. it tells us that land revenue was the chief’s
source of income of king
Kings
1. Rajaraja 1
Defeated Chera
Seized Madurai
Annexed Kalinga
Invaded the island of Srilanka and then annexed its northern part
Towards the end of his reign he conquered Maldives.
He made an expansion for the rural self governing institutions
He built Brihadeshwara temple
He built several Vishnu temples also
2. Rajendra 1
Annexed whole of Sri Lanka
Built new capital at Gangaikonda- cholapuram
He dispatched a navel expedition for the conquest of king Shailendra’s
territories of Java and Sumatra
He constructed an artificial lake. Its embankments was more than 25 m in
length. It was filled with water from Kolerun and Vellar rivers.
He also constructed a splendid temple at his new capital. Its huge Lingam of
solid granite is impressive.
