Aditya Chola I- The second Chola ruler

BACKGROUND AND EARLY LIFE

Aditya Chola I was the son of Vijayalaya Chola, the founder of the medieval Chola dynasty. After Thanjavur was captured by Vijayalaya, the Pandyan king Varagunavarman II and the Pallava king Nandivarman III became allies. In order to curtail the increasing Chola power, Nandivarman sought the help of Varagunavarman and launched an expedition into the Chola territory. They reached till the north bank of the Kaveri in Thanjavur. By this time Vijayalaya had become weak and ill due to continuous wars and expeditions. He died shortly and was succeeded by his son Aditya Chola I. At the same time, the Pallava ruler Nandivarman also died and was succeeded by his elder son Nripatunga.

BATTLE OF THIRUPURAMBIYAM OR SRI PURAMBIYAM

After the accession of Nripatunga, Varagunavarman became his ally. However, the stepbrother of Nripatunga named Aparajita himself desired to become king. He allied with the king of the western Ganga dynasty named Prithvipathi I and Aditya Chola I.

The combined armies of both sides met at Thirupurambiyam near Kumbakonam in around 885 CE. The armies of Aditya Chola I, Aparajita, and Prithivipathi defeated Nripatunga, and Aparajita became the new king of the Pallava dynasty. This battle brought an end to the Pandya rule in South India and Varagunavarman spent the rest of his life as an ascetic. 

The battle of Thirupurambiyam greatly helped Aditya in gaining his lost territories. He won the territories lost by his father and also got some extra territories that were won from the defeated Pandyas. 

INVASION OF THE PALLAVA EMPIRE

Continuing his policy of ‘attack and invade’, Aditya Chola I decided to attack and invade the Pallava kingdom. He was not satisfied with his subordinate position under Aparajita. In the battle that followed his invasion, he pounced upon Aparajita when he was mounted on his elephant and killed him. This marked the end of the Pallava kingdom in Tondaimandalam situated in Tamil Nadu. The whole of South India except the Chera territory came under the rule of Aditya Chola. The Chola hegemony was re-established in the region. The Chera ruler Sthanu Ravi became a subordinate ally of Aditya Chola I and received royal honours from him. He gave his daughter in marriage to the son of Aditya Chola I

INVASION OF KONGU

The country of Kongu was ruled by the Pandyan king Veeranarayan. Aditya Chola I launched an expedition with the aid of the Chera king Sthanu Ravi and annexed Kongu in his territory.

TEMPLES OF HIS TIME

Being a Shaivite, Aditya Chola I encouraged construction of a large number of Shiva temples. According to the Anbil plate inscription of Sundara Chola, a large number of Shiva temples were built on either side of the Kaveri River commencing from Sahya Mountain to the sea.

Aditya Chola made huge grants to Thiruvarur temple and built the Sundaresvara temple and the Kodandaramesvara temple. Despite being a Hindu he was tolerant towards the other religions. 

Aditya was the patron of Sureshwara and Prabhakara who were the pupils of Kumara Bhatta.

FAMILY

Two chief queens of Aditya Chola I were Tribhuvanamadeviyar and Ilangon. However according to some historical records, he had many wives. A few of them were Thennavan Mahadevi, Thirunarana Mahadevi, Chembiyan Deviyar, Azhisi Kattadigal, etc.

DEATH

Aditya Chola I died in 907 CE in Tondaimanarur, now known as Tondamanad, in Andhra Pradesh. A shrine was built over his burial site by his son Parantaka I. He also built a Shiva temple on the ashes of his father.

Parantaka I succeeded his father Aditya Chola I.