Vijayalaya Chola
The Chola empire situated to the North-East of the Pandya territory once occupied a central place in the Tamil literature and the writings of Greeks disappeared in around 300 CE. Their chief source of power was centered at Uraiyur which was famous for its cotton trade. The famous Chola ruler Karikala Chola founded the city of Puhar coterminous with Kaveripattanam. However, under Karikala’s successors, the Chola power declined rapidly and their capital Kaveripattanam was destroyed. The Chola power was almost wiped out due to the attacks of the Pallavas from the north. They continued to hold command over districts of Mayiladuturai, Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Trichy and Pudukottai in modern Tamil Nadu.
THE CAPTURE OF THANJAVUR
The Kaveri deltas were divided between the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Pandyas of Madurai in the 6th and 7th centuries CE. The Pallavas ruled the entire Telugu-speaking region while the Pandyas ruled Madurai and Kerala. A war broke out between the Pandyas and the Pallavas who were the supreme power of the region at that time. Both dynasties fought to gain the political supremacy of South India. Taking advantage of the disturbed and chaotic situation, Vijayalaya defeated the Pandyas in 852 CE. He conquered Thanjavur with the help of Sattan Paliyilli from Elango Mutharaiyar and made himself the ruler. He defeated the Pallavas too. Thus the foundation of the medieval Chola dynasty was laid by King Vijayalaya. The capture of Thanjavur and the construction of a temple dedicated to the goddess Nishumbhasuthani have been mentioned in the Tiruvalangadu plate inscription of Vijayalaya. The Kanyakumari inscription states that he renovated the city of Thanjavur.
Vijayalaya took the title of Parakesarivarman and his successors took the titles of Parakesari and Rajakesari perhaps to acknowledge their ancestors of the same names.
THE PANDYAN INVASION
To curtail the growing power and influence of the Cholas, the Pandyan king Varagunavarman II became a subordinate ally of the Pallava king Nandivarman III. Both of them led an expedition in the Chola territory and reached as far as the north bank of the Kaveri River near Thanjavur. Vijayalaya who had grown old and weak lost his territory to the Pandyas. However, the territory was re-conquered by his capable Chola successors.
TEMPLES OF HIS PERIOD
Vijayalaya Choleshwaram temple, Puddukottai
This is one of the Cholas’ first mountain cave temples. It was renovated by Vijayalaya Chola.
Nishumbhasuthani Temple, Thanjavur
It is a Hindu temple built in the 9th century by Vijayalaya Chola after he conquered Thanjavur. Nishumbhasuthani is the name of the goddess Durga the presiding deity who is depicted in a sitting position. She is also known as Rakukala Kaliamman and Vada Bhadrakali.
