Chola art and style of architecture india the destiny. Karikala chola was the most famous among the early chola kings, while rajaraja chola, rajendra chola and kulothunga chola i were famous emperors of the. Chola dynasty was one of the biggest dynasty that ruled south india for a very long period from early 9 th century to late th century. Uraiyur now tiruchchirappalli was its oldest capital. The chola kingdom was one of the three of ancient tamil tradition, but the dynasty had been virtually submerged for centuries when at the end of the 9th cent.
The cholas figure prominently in the preclassical tamil literature of the sangam. Chola dynasty is a post mauryan dynasty formed in 3 century bce. Chola dynasty was a tamil dynasty which was one of the longestruling dynasties in southern india. During the chola dynasty, the vastu shastra thrived at its peak and. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. Chola kings encouraged saivism and vaishnavism, most of their temples dedicated to either to lord shiva or lord vishnu. Chola dynasty was founded by vijayalaya around 850 ad apparently by starting off as a vassal of the pallava king.
The bhakti period, starting in the 14 th century, saw the rise of temples built for principal gods and a decline in jainism and buddhism. The great living chola temples is a unesco world heritage site designation for a group of chola dynasty era hindu temples in the indian state of tamil nadu. Rajendra chola i biography childhood, life achievements. Raja raja cholan the great south indian tamil king part 1. The history of the chola empire can be traced back before the 4th century b. These later cholas are termed as imperial cholas because they excercised ocntrol over sri lanka and malay peninsula. The earliest datable references to the chola are in inscriptions from the 3rd century. Pallava, rashtrakuta and other lesser dynasties and their rulers. By second century of the christian era, a chola king named karikalan rose to fame as a. The chola dynasty was a tamil dynasty of southern india, one of the longestruling dynasties in the worlds history. After sangam, the chola became feaudatories of uraiyur.
The chola dynasty a dravidian tamil dynasty that ruled primarily on the southern indian subcontinent from the 4th century bce to the th century ce. As one of the three crowned kings of tamilakam, along with the chera and pandya, the dynasty continued to govern over. The author attempts to give us an integrated view of chola art, including descriptions of the major personalities involved. No doubt this is a brilliant period in the history. History of the chola dynasty the three tamil dynasties chola, chera and pandyans have had a long history dating back to a time before the common era. Media in category art of the chola dynasty the following 14 files are in this category, out of 14 total. The chola dynasty was the greatest among all the south indian dynasties. Chola dynasty the most successful of the royal houses of southern india, the cholas were first mentioned in the rock inscriptions of the mauryan emperor ashoka in the middle of. They utilised the wealth earned through their extensive conquests in building longlasting stone temples and exquisite bronze sculptures, in an almost exclusively hindu cultural setting. The earliest datable references to this tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd. This coin is a genuine antiquity minted during the dynasty of the chola monarchs in southern india and ceylon. Chola dynasty was the most powerful dynasty of ancient india. Chola dynasty simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
May 07, 20 this is the story about the chola dynasty which is believed to have originated from the fertile valley of the river kaveri. The earliest datable references tae this tamil dynasty are in inscriptions frae the 3rd century bce left bi ashoka, o. Chola dynasty, south indian tamil rulers of unknown antiquity, antedating the early. They prospered most notably during their golden age mid10th through 11th centuries a. The dynasty originated in the rich kaveri cauvery river valley. Apart from reaching northwards to river ganges and. This dynasty was the product of decades of alliances based on marriages between the cholas and the eastern chalukyas based in vengi and produced some of the greatest chola emperors such as kulothunga chola i 10701120 c. Chola dynasty, rulers of chola dynasty, chola dynasty of.
Most of the present southern states were united as one state and was ruled by the cholas between 9071215 ad chola dynasty is famous for its art and architecture. The chola economy mainly depended on agriculture and trade the tang dynasty of china, the srivijaya empire in the malayan archipelago under the sailendras, and the abbasid kalifat at baghdad were the main trading partners. The rise of the cholas by the end of the 9th century ad, the cholas had defeated the pallavas and the pandyas and become the most powerful kings in south india. Completed between early 11th and the 12th century ce, the monuments include the brihadisvara temple at thanjavur, the temple of gangaikonda cholapuram and the airavatesvara temple at darasuram. The founder of the chola empire was vijayalaya, who was first feudatory of the pallavas of kanchi. Get chola dynasty map with major cities and current country boundaries. The temple of gangaikondacholisvaram and the airavatesvara temple at darasuram were declared world heritage sites by the unesco. The heartland of the cholas was the fertile valley of the kaveri river, but they ruled a significantly.
Chattopadhyaya general editor, history of science, philosophy and culture. See more ideas about chola dynasty, art and indian art. The history of chola empire indian history history discussion. The earliest datable references to this tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century bc left by asoka, of maurya empire. Rajendra chola i was one of the greatest emperors of the chola dynasty. He was a contemporary of the chera king perunjeral adani.
The rule of chola dynasty rose to prominence in 850 when their ruler vijayalaya defeated the pallavas and took over tanjore from them. The chola rulers also sent a number of embassies to china. The chola dynasty was an empire in the south india of tamil rulers. The last ruler of the cholla dynasty was rajendra iii ad 12461279. The first seeds of dravidian temple architecture in tamil nadu were. This era is frequently referred to as the chola period, after the. Find information about chola dynasty, its origin, reign and fall of the cholas. The chola dynasty was a tamil dynasty that flourished from the 9 th century through the th century. The legendary king karikan was the common ancestor through whom. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. The earliest datable references tae this tamil dynasty are in inscriptions frae the 3rd century bce left bi ashoka, o the maurya empire.
Chola dynasty pallavas 600900 ad cholas 9001150 ad the chola dynasty was one of the longest ruling dynasties in the history of southern india. Shiva nataraja india introduction to art concepts, sac. Chola architecture 900 1150 adthe capital of the chola dynasty was the city of thanjavur from 836 1267 ad the great temple of thanjavur was founded by rajaraja i. Chola domain was known as tondiamandalam or cholamandalam, with the capital at uraiyur in tiruchirapalli district and subsequently at kaveripattan or purhar, founded by the chola king karikala190 a. But in chola dynasty they became enlarged with high enclosure walls. The chola empire occupied present tanjore and trichirappalli districts with some adjoining areas. One of the longest lasting empires of south india, the chola dynasty heralded a golden age of exploration, trade, and artistic development. The chola army and navy together had 1,50,000 trained soldiers. This is the story about the chola dynasty which is believed to have originated from the fertile valley of the river kaveri. Upsc questions related to the topic culture are not so easy to prepare.
Under the famous rulers rajaraja i reigned 9851014 and rajendra i reigned 101442 chola power reached its zenith. Finial the finial in pallava dynasy was a little swelling in the top of the vimana. Vijayalaya was the founder of the imperial chola dynasty which was the beginning of one of. He was a weak ruler who surrendered to the pandyas. History, rules and life the cholas were an ancient race. Karikala was a famous chola king of the early time. Cholas, pandyas, and imperial temple culture easaa.
Rajendra chalukya crowned himself kulothunga chola i 1070 c. The dynasty came from the fertile valley of the kaveri river. The armies of the tributary chieftains also joined chola army at needy times. These later cholas are termed as imperial cholas because they excercised ocntrol over sri lanka and malay. Ancient indian history chola dynasty tutorialspoint. Bronze coins of this type were struck during the cholas golden age during the mid10th. Chola dynasty ias abhiyan ii ias upsc exam preparation. Most of the present southern states were united as one state and was. By the turn of the 8th century, there were three prominent kingdoms of. The chola economy mainly depended on agriculture and trade the tang dynasty of china, the srivijaya empire in the malayan archipelago under the sailendras, and the abbasid kalifat at baghdad were the. Chola dynasty had enriched the tamil literature, art and architecture like no other dynasties. It is believed that many southern royal families claimed their origin from the cholas. With the conflict between pallavas and pandyas, vijayalaya occupied tanjore and made his capital. Jun 24, 2017 chola kings encouraged saivism and vaishnavism, most of their temples dedicated to either to lord shiva or lord vishnu.
One of several kingdoms that historically dominated the indian subcontinent was the cholas. The chola dynasty wis ane o the langestrulin dynasties in the history o soothren indie. Before the chola period, the stone sculptures placed in the temples. Three states, namely, cholas, cheras, and pandya emerged in south india. Generally the chola army was led by the king or yuvaraja. The connection of the cholas with the uraiyur family. The chola dynasty was singularly prolific in kings of. This is a general historical survey of an important dynasty in peninsular india. The chola rulers established a sound administrative system along with their wars and expeditions. He had defeated the joint forces of chera and pandya kings and. Chola dynasty the most successful of the royal houses of southern india, the cholas were first mentioned in the rock inscriptions of the mauryan emperor ashoka in the middle of the third century b.
The chola dynasty was a tamil dynasty that ruled in southern india until the th century. Pallavas were the first recognisable south indian dynasty who indulged in the pursuit of architectural innovations. The imperial chola rulers of tanjore developed the dravidian style of temple architecture almost to perfection. During the chola dynasty, the vastu shastra thrived at its peak and all the temples constructed according to temple vastu shastra. The metropolitan museums shiva nataraja was made some time in the eleventh century during the chola dynasty 9thth centuries c. The list of cholas rulers and their contribution will enhance the general knowledge of the readers. Karikala chola was the most famous among the early chola kings, while rajaraja chola, rajendra chola and kulothunga. Not only does the hindu temple bring communities together with religion, but it also has social, economic. By second century of the christian era, a chola king named karikalan rose to fame as a powerful ruler. List of historical fiction about cholas score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. He expanded the chola empire from where his father rajaraja chola had left. As ane o the three crouned keengs o tamilakam, the dynasty continued tae govren ower varyin territory till the t. The main reason being lack of quality study materials which explain the same in simple language. With the conflict between pallavas and pandyas, vijayalaya occupied tanjore and made.
The temples build during this dynasty are one of the finest art. The chola dynasty was a tamil dynasty of southern india, one of the longest ruling dynasties in. The rulers of this line founded during the 9 th century ad a powerful empire which dominated a large part of the peninsula right till the. The chola kings gave enough care for the judicial administration. But in chola dynasty it became beautiful vase with artistic design. Their works taken up on a stupendous scale include irrigation. Chola domain was known as tondiamandalam or cholamandalam, with the capital at uraiyur in tiruchirapalli district and subsequently at kaveripattan or purhar, founded by the chola king. Not only did the cholas outlast ashokas mauryan empire, they continued to rule until 1279 cemore than 1,500 years. One of the most prominent dynasties in indian history is the chola dynasty. Chola empire dynasties of ancient india history for kids. Middle chola temples rajaraja i to kulottunga i ignca. Chola empire dynasties of ancient india history for. The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the kaveri river.
Instead of handing over his conquest to his pallava master, vijayalaya crowned himself the king of thanjavur and established there the famous chola dynasty. Sangam literature believes that the dynasties of chola, chera, and pandya belong to immemorial antiquity. Archaeological sources of the chola dynasty get the answers you need, now. The bhakti period, starting in the 14 th century, saw the rise of temples built for principal gods and a. The later chola dynasty ruled the chola empire from 1070 c. For lovers of tamil art, architecture, music, dance, poetry history. The chola dynasty was one of the longestruling dynasties in history. Nobody knows exactly when the first chola kings took power in the southern point of india, but certainly, the chola dynasty was established by the third century bce, because they are mentioned in one of ashoka the greats stelae. The chola empire consisted of entire south indian peninsula extending east to west from coast to coast, and bounded by an irregular line along the. Apart from the discussed features, chola temples had a beautiful shikara stone at the. The dynasty originated in the fertile valley of the kaveri river, and spread along the coromandel coast and to sri lanka. A chola king, known as elara, conquered sri lanka and ruled over it for about 50 years during the middle of the 2 nd century b.
Chola dynasty, south indian tamil rulers of unknown antiquity, antedating the early sangam poems c. Chola dynasty list of chola rulers and their contributions. The indian chola dynasty is an important landmark in the history of india. The earliest datable references to the chola are in inscriptions from the 3rd century bce left by ashoka, of the maurya empire ashoka major rock edict no. Nobody knows exactly when the first chola kings took power in the southern point of india, but certainly, the chola dynasty was established by the third century bce, because they are mentioned in one of. Chola architecture 900 1150 ad prepared by roopa chikkalgi. The heartland of the cholas was the fertile valley of the kaveri river, but they ruled a significantly larger area at the height of their power from the later half of the 9th century till the beginning of the th century. This dynasty was the product of decades of alliances based on marriages between the cholas and. This article was most recently revised and updated by emily rodriguez, copy editor.
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