a brief historical survey on medieval cholas

7/25/2019 A Brief Historical Survey on Medieval Cholas

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A brief historical survey on medieval Cholas and their

relations with the Cheras (Keralas) of the contemporary

period (A.D.801-A.D.1120)

Topic started byR.Sri Hari(@ modem62.bayrac.eureka.lk) on Tue Nov 6 12:58:39 .All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

A BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY ON

MEDIEVAL CHOLAS AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE CHERAS {KERALAS}

OF THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD{A.D.801 - A.D 1120}

Introduction

During the periods of the nineth and the tenth centuries, the Chera country was ruled by

three principal royal dynasties known as the Ayes, Venads and Kulasekaras from threedistinctive regions of Kerala (the Sanskritised version of Chera), and the kings of thesethree dynasties and the other Chieftains ruling small regions of rest of the Kerala, all weregenerally referred to as the Cheras or Keralas by the people of Chola & Pandiya countries

of this period.

The Aye dynasty were ruling a region covering from the present Nagerkoil of Tamil

Nadu the southern end of the Aye kingdom, upwards into Kerala to the present

Anjuthengu in the north of the present Thiruvananthapuram, and was known as AyeNadu. Their capital was at Vilignam a seaport city south of Thiruvananthapuram. The

Aye Nadu also included the Kanthalursalai - a military and Vedic studies acadamy and an

armoury centre of the Aye kings, and was located deep south beyond the Vilignam alongthe sea coast closer to Nagerkoil the southern end of the Aye kingdom.

The Venad dynasty were ruling a region beyond Anjuthengu covering a region upto

Kottayam, known formally as Venadu and also as Kollam Desam with their capital at

Kollam (proper), also a seaport city on the west Kerala.

The Kulasekara dynasty were ruling a region of Kerala beyond Kottayam further north

upto and around the present region of Kolikkodu (Calicut) and known as KudamalaiNadu, with their capital at Mahodayapuram (Kodungolur) a seaport city also known as

Makothai, and a second interior capital known as Uthakai in the Kongu country of that

period (the present Udhagamandalam region of the Tamil Nadu, bordering the Keralaalso known as Udhagai), which was under their rule during this period.

Unlike the Aye and the Venad dynasty, the vast territory ruled by Kulasekara dynastycovered many small regions called Nadus under different names, which were ruled by

the local Chieftans who accepted the authority of the Kulasekara dynasty, and ruled their

respective regions as subordinates to them.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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The Chera kings from A.D.801 up to the advent of Vijayalaya Chola

Towards the beginning of the nineth century{i.e. A.D.801} a powerful Chera king knownas Kulasekaran {A.D.801-820} was ruling in Kudamalainadu of the Kerala country

covering the length of the Kolli - Malai (hills) regions in central and north Kerala, from

his capital at Mahodayapuram.

He has claimed for himself the titles Kolik-kon, Kudal-nayagan, Kongar Kon

confirming his authority over Koliyur (the Uraiyur of the Chola country), and Kudal (the

Madurai of the Pandiya country), and also over the Kongu country. It was probablyduring this period the Uthahai became the second capital of the Kulasekara dynasty with

a member of the Kulasekara family appointed to rule over this region.

Kulasekaran was an ardent devotee of - Sri Rama (regarded as an incarnation of GodVishnu), and hence the Vaishnavites of this period referred to him as Kulasekara Perumal

in reverence.

He made pilgrimages to Thiruvarangam (Sri Rangam) in Cholanadu, and Thiruvenkatam

(Thiruppathi) in Thondainadu - among others, and has composed a set of hyms - in Tamil

in praise of God Vishnu named as "Perumal Thirumoli", and in Sanskrit named as

"Muhunda Mala". He abdicated the Chera throne to lead a holy life and was venerated asone of the twelve great Tamil Vaishnava Saints, known as the Kulasekara Alvar.

The Chera king Kulasekaran had a son by the name Rajasekaran. With the abdication ofKulasekara from Chera throne, his son Rajasekaran{A.D.820-844} became the king of

the Chera country. He was also known by the name Cheraman Perumal and unlike his

father was an ardent devotee of God Siva.

Rajasekaran while ruling the Chera country from Mahodayapuram spent most of his time

in religious activities and in meditation at the Siva Temple in Thiruvanjaikkalam at

Kodungolur (Mahodayapuram) in the Kerala country. It was during this time one of thegreat Tamil Saiva Saint of Tamil Nadu - the Sundaramurthi Nayanar made a pilgrimage

to the Thiruvarur Temple in the Chola country. The Chera king Rajasekaran with utmost

desire to meet this great Tamil Saiva Saint, also went to Thiruvarur at this same time.

Here with the blessings of God Siva of Thiruvarur the Chera king composed hyms in

Tamil in his praise known as "Mummanikkovai". From there he went along with the

Tamil Saint Sundarmurthi Nayanar to the Siva shrine at Vedaranniyam in the Cholacountry and other Siva Shrines all over the Pandiya country. He composed further hyms

in Tamil in praise of God Siva known as "Ponnvanna Anthathi" and "Thirukkalyana

Gnana Ulla" and became to be known and venerated as Cheraman Perumal Nayanar. All

the above hyms composed by him have been included in the eleventh Thirumurai(Thirumurais are a collection of the sacred hyms in Tamil, sung on God Siva by various

Tamil Saiva Saints of TamilNadu and few from the Kerala State).

Finally at the eager request of the Cheraman Perumal Nayanar the Tamil Saiva Saint


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Sundaramurthi Nayanar opted to visit the palace of this Chera king at his capital city of

Mahodaiyapuram in the Chera country travelling through Kongunadu the present

Udagamandalam (Udagai) region of TamilNadu.

While being here in A.D.844 the Saint Sundaramurthi Nayanar died. Unable to bear the

grief of the death of this great Saint, the Cheraman Perumal Nayanar too met his deathsoon thereafter in the same year.

It was during the period of the Chera king Kulasekaran and partly during the period of the

Chera king Rajasekaran, the great Saiva Saint of Chera (Kerala) country namely theSankaracharya who founded the Advaita doctrine lived in Kerala.

It also appears the Tamil Saiva Saint known as Venattu Adigal from Venad in the Chera

country though not classified under the sixty-three Tamil Saiva Saints of Tamil Nadu, thehyms composed by him named Thiruvisaippa on God Siva of Chidambaram in Chola

country, has been included in the nineth Thirumurai. It appears the Venattu Adigal lived

during a period after the Tamil Saiva Saint the Sundaramurthi Nayanar.

The Chera king Rajasekara alias Cheraman Perumal Nayanar was followed by his son the

king Sthanu Ravi alias Ravi Varma Kulasekaran (alias Ko-Kandan) (A.D.844 - 885) on

the Chera throne at Mahodayapuram. Sthanu Ravi too was a Saivite like his father. Hehad a daughter by the name Kilanadigal who married king Vijayaragadeva from another

Chera royal family ruling a part of Kerala.

It was only towards this time - the mid nineth century A.D, the Chola dynasty emerged

more into limelight, after a long spell in partial or total obscurity in the political scene of

Tamil Nadu for nearly six centuries.

Period of Vijayalaya Chola {A.D.848-881}

The first among this line of medieval Cholas who came into prominance was the kingVijayalaya Chola {A.D.848-881}, who ruled the Chola country from Thanjavur.

It appears that the Chera kings of this period, had very friendly relations with the Chola

country. The Sthanu Ravi and his daughter both being of Saivite faith, and with theprevailing good relations that existed with the Chola country, had made their

endowments to the Siva temples in the Chola country

In the year A.D.849 during the rule of the Chera king Sthanu Ravi also known as Ravi

Varma Tribuvanachakravarti Kulasekaradeva, the villagers of the Chalukkipparu has

gifted a village named Satanur in the Thondainadu to the temple of Siva named as

Tiruayanisuramudaiya Nayanar.

The Chera Queen Kilanadigal provided gold for a lamp at the temple of Thiruvannamalai

in Thondaimanadu (adjacent to Chola country) in the year A.D..851. The Chera king(Ko)Kandan Ravi alias Sthanu Ravi also gifted land for lighting lamp at the temple at


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Kuttalam in Pandiyanadu in the year in the year A.D.870.

Period of Athiththa Chola {A.D.871-907}

In the year A.D.881 with the demise of Vijayalaya Chola his son Athiththa Chola

{A.D.871-907} succeeded on the Chola throne, who was a co-regent of Vijayalaya fromA.D.871. During the period of his rule the Athitha Chola waged war on Kongunaduassisted by the Chera king Sthanu Ravi, and captured it from the Pandiyan king.

A general named Vikki Annan the chieftan of Kodumbalur was greatly instrumental inwinning this war by the Cholas, and was rewarded jointly by the Chola & Chera kings

with a crown, palace, elephants, royal palanquin, drum and the given the title "Sembiyan

Thamil Verl".

Towards the middle of Athitha Cholas rule theChera king Sthani Ravi died and was

followed by Rama Varma Kulasekara{A.D.885-917} on the Chera throne.

During this time the Pandiya king Paranthaha Vira Narayanan (A.D.860-905) married a

Chera Princes named Vanavan Mathevi, and to them was born the Pandiyan king named

Rajasimhan-2 (A.D.900-920).

Period of Paranthaha Chola{A.D.907-953}

Athitha Chola was succeeded by his son Paranthaha Chola (A.D.907-953) on the Cholathrone. He married Udaiya Pirattiyar Kokkilan Adigal daughter of the Chera king Rama

Varma of Kulasekara dynasty. He also married the daughter of another Chera king

Paluvettaraiyar Kandan Amuthan named Arumoli Nangai ruling from west Paluvur of the

present Tirutchirappalli in Tamil Nadu bordering Kerala. He had a further queen by thename Villavan Mathevi probably the daughter of the Venad King of the Chera country,

who refer themselves as Villavar.

Paranthaha Chola-1 had an elder son by Kokilanadigal named Rajathithya, a second son

by the name Gandarathitha and a younger son by Arulmoli Nangai named Arinjayan.

A native of Nandikkaraiputtur in Kerala Country named Velankumaran was the generalof the Chola Prince Rajathithya. However the Prince Rajaditya died very young in a war

in Thondainadu.

Paranthaha Chola with the intention of annexing the Pandiyanadu waged war with

Pandiya king Rajasimhan-2. In this war the Chera king Rama Varma Kulasekara assisted

Paranthaha.

Rajasimhan-2 was defeated and went to Sri Lanka, and with the assistance of the king of

Sri Lanka fought back with Paranthaha and his allies namely the Pallavas and the Chera

king Ranma Varma at Thirupurambiyam. But he was defeated and again took refuge inSri Lanka.


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As Rajasimhan didnot receive further assistance from the Sri Lankan king for a second

expedition in regaining his throne, returned to the Chera Country of his mother.

The matrimonial alliance of Paranthaha Chola with the foremost among the royal families

of Kerala country namely the Kulasekara dynasty, paved way for the friendly relationsthat existed beteween these two countries to increase many folds. During this period thereseems to have been an inflow of people from Chera country to the Chola country, some

of whom even worked for the Chola king.

The Kokkilan Adigal daughter of this Chera king (and the queen of Paranthaha Chola)

the has provided gold for expenses for lighting lamps at the temple at Lalgudi in

Cholanadu in the year A.D.923.

In this same year of A.D.923 Alala-arisilar Kumaran a native of the Kodungolur

(Mahodayapuram) of (Kuda)Malainadu of Kerala country gifted gold for lampstand at

the temple Thirunallakuntram in Kudumiyam\nmalai in Cholanadu

In this same year another native also from Kodungolur of Malainadu gifted gold for a

lamp at the temple at Kudumiyanmalai in Cholanadu.

In the year A.D.926 queen Kokkilan Adigal has provided gold for lighting lamps at the

temple at Thiruvidaimaruthur in Thanjavur.

She also ordered the construction of a stone temple named Thiruththondiswarem at

Thirunavalur in Chola country. During her time a tank has been constructed near

Tribuwani (near present Pondicherry) and named after her as Kokkilanadi-pereri in Chola

country.

There has been a native of the Chera country known as Kerala Kurumban given a high

office in the Chola kingdom by Paranthaha Chola with the title Parakesari MevendaVelar whose wife made gifts to the the temple as Tiruvottriyur in the year A.D.927.

In the year A.D 936 Ravi Nili the daughter of Chera king Vijayaragadevar (who was

inturn the Son-in Law of earlier Chera king Sthanu Ravi) provided thirty kalanju (ameasure) of gold for lighting lamp to the Mahadeva at the temple of Thiruvottriyur in

Thondainadu which was under Chola rule.

Another native of Kodungolur (Mahodayapuram) of Malainadu (Kudamalainadu) in

Kerala country in the year A.D.936 donated a lamp to the temple at Thiruchanur in

Thondaimandalam.

In the year A.D.943 the Kerala general Velankumaran of Prince Rajathithya (eldest son

of Paranthaha Chola) built a stone temple to Arruttali Mahadeva at Mudiyur on the

Pennar river in Thondaimandalam.


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Sheep for maintaing lamp was given to the temple at Thirumalpuram in Thondainadu by

Puvan Maran a native of Nediyatali of Kodungolur (Mahodayapuram) in the Kerala

country in the year A.D.948.

Another native of Kodungolur in Malainadu donated lands to the presiding God Perumal

at the Thiruvenkadu temple in Thanjavur A.D.952

Towards this time with the demise of the Chera king Rama Varma, the king Kothai Ravi

Varma{A.D.917-947} succeeded on the Chera throne at Mahodayapuram the capital of

Kudamalainadu in Kerala country.

After thirty years of rule Kothai Ravi Varma was followed by Indukotha Varma{A.D.

944-962} on the Chera throne at Mahodayapuram.

Period of Gandarathitha Chola {A.D.950-957}

After Paranthaha-1, his second son of Gandarathithya Chola (A.D..950-957) ascended theChola throne after being a co-regent with Paranthaha Chola from A.D.953. Though he

was the Chola king his thoughts were always around God Siva leading a more religious

life, and with his blessings have composed religious hyms in Tamil known as

Thiruvisaippa which have been included in the nineth Thirumurai.)

Period of Arinjaya Chola {A.D.956-957}

He was followed by Arinjaya Chola (A.D.956-957) who succeeded to the Chola throne.

He too married the daughter of the Chera king the Indukothai Ravi Varma named

Athithan Kothai Piratiyar.

Period of Sundera Chola {A.D. 957-970}

With the premature death of Arinjaya Chola his son the Sundera Chola ascended theChola throne. He married the daughter of the Malaiyaman king of Thirukkovalur in

Thondainadu named Udaya Piratiyar Thambiranadigal Vanavanmatheviyar alias

Thiribhuvanamatheviyar and also Paranthahan Theviammanar daughter of a Chera king ,

and to the former was born the great Chola king RajaRaja-1.

During this period the Chera king Indukotha Varma was succeeded by Bhaskara Ravi

Varma -1{A.D.962-1019} at Mahodayapuram. Baskara Ravi Varma - 2{A.D.979-1014}appears to have assisted Bhakara Ravi Varma1 in ruling his vast Chera empire which

stretched from the present Calicut to Tiruvanandapuram region encompassing the

Kudamalainadu, Kongunadu and Venad, as his co-regent probably from Uthahai in the

Kongu region which was under the Chera rule during this period.

Period of Uthama Chola {A.D. 970-985}

After the demise of Sundera Chola his son Rajaraja1 was the legitimate heir to the


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Mummudicholanallur a subdivision of Rajarja Tennadu (Aye Nadu).

Here to the temple known as Tirunandikkarai he donated grants in the year A.D.1003 andordered in the month of Iyppasi (October/November) a festival to be celebrated ending on

the day of Sadaya nakshaththiram (his birth star), on which day the image of the God at

the temple of Tirunandiikkarai was to be bathed in the river and a perpetual lamp namedRajarajan to be lit every day.

He now turned his attention on his conquest of the territories in the Karnataka country,

Kudamalainadu, and the Kongu region of the present Tamilnadu. Chola king Rajaraja-1thereafter sent an ambassador to the co-regent of the king Baskara Ravi Varma-1 of

Mahodai ruling from Uthahai (present Udhagamandalam also known as Udagai), namely

Baskara Ravi Varma2 probably a member from the family of Kulasekaras, requesting

him to submit to Chola suzerainty and to pay tributes.

The Chola ambassador was humilated by the Chera co-regent of Uthahai and was put to

prison at Uthahai, which enraged Rajaraja Chola-1 who sent a large expedition to Uthahaiprobably in the year A.D.1014 which was destroyed and the city was captured and it

appears Baskara Ravi Varma2 met his death and Kongunadu was controlled by Cholas.

The Chola forces further moved into the Kudamalainadu the north and central regions ofKerala state and defeated Baskara Ravivarman Thiruvadi (Baskara Ravi Varaman1)

the ruling king of the Kulasekara dynasty, and captured his capital Mahadayapuram

(Kodungolur). It appears Baskara Ravi Varman1 too accepted the Chola suzerainty andcontinued to rule from Mahodayapuram in the Kerala country paying tributes. This

brought all the territories of Chera country ruled by the other chieftans which were under

Baskara Ravi Varman - 1 too to accept the Chola supremacy.

The Chola forces moved further into the Venad territory (Kolladesam) and captured the

the region along with its seaport capital the Kollam(proper), which were at this time ruled

by the chieftain Govardhana Marttanda appointed by king Baskara Ravi Varman1 ofthe Mahodayapuram in Kudamalainadu.

Period of Rajendra Chola 1 {A.D.10121044}

Rajaraja Chola1 died in the year A.D.1014 and was succeeeded by his son Rajendra

Chola1 on the chola throne after being a co-regent with Rajaraja Chola from A.D1012.

During the period of Rajendra Chola1, in the year A.D.1019, with the agitation for

freedom by the king Baskara Ravi Varman - 1 of Kerala, he sent a war expedition under

the leadership of his second son Manukulakesari to Kudamalainadu in the Chera country

who defeated the Chera King Baskara Ravi Varma1 captured his capital Mahothai andsecured his crown, diadem and an island called Santhimathivu belonging to the Kerala

king beyond Kerala in Arabic sea. In this war Baskara Ravi Varman - 1 met his death.

With the his securing of the Chera crown the Rajendra Chola1 assumed the new title as


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Mudikonda Cholan. Rajendra Chola1 gave the title Chola Keralan to his second son

Manukulakesari and appointed him as the chola viceroy to rule the captured Kudamalai

Nadu of the Kerala country.

However with the necessaity of he having to lead a war expedition with eastern

Chalukiya king, he was recalled back from Chera country in the year A.D.1021, whileappointing the Chera king Veera Keralan{A.D1021-1028} son of Baskara Ravi Varmanto rule on accepting the Chola suzerainty.

Manululakesari met his death at the Chola-Chalukya war, and his father Rajendra Cholain his memory built a temple at Jayamaliswarem in A.D.1023 and built a Salai for

providing food named as Chola-Keralan Chalai and for revenue for its expenses gifted a

village named Chola-Kerala Nallur.

Rajendra Chola1 in memory of his mother after her death made a statue of herself and

installed at the temple known as Sembianmathevi at Nagapattinam and made

arrangements for its worship. In Sri Lanka too at Polonnaruwa Rajendra Chola built atemple by the name Vanavanmathevi Iswarem in her memory.

Rajendra Chila1 had a queen named as Panchavanmathevi daughter of the Chera king

Paluvettariyar and another by the name Vananvanmadevi daughter of the kingMalaiyaman of Kovalur.

Rajendra Chola built a new imperial capital named as Gangaikondasolapuram west ofpresent Chidambaram and there he built his new royal palace and named it as Keralan

Maligai commemorating his victory over Kerala kings.

Period of Rajadiraja Chola1 {A.D.1018-1054}

With the death of Rajendra Chola1 in A.D.1044 his eldest son the Rajadhiraja Chola

1 {A.D.1018-1054} who had been a co-regent of Rajendra Chola since A.D.1018succeeded on the Chola throne. When he ascended the throne among the countries that

were still under the Chola control, was the Mahodayapuram of the Kerala country.

During this period the Chera kings of the Kulasekara dynasty at Mahodai and of Venaduwere agitating to get their freedom. Rajadhiraja1 to contain these agitations sent forces

which first proceeded to Mahodayapuram and defeated the Chera king Veera Keralan in

A.D.1028, who was put to death by his elephant Atthivaranam.

He appointed Rajasimhan{1028-1043} the son of Vira Kerala as the Chera King on he

having accepted the Chola suzerainty, who continued to rule from Mahodai paying

tributes to Cholas, and had friendly relations with them for some time.

This fact is surmised from the fact that the Gopalaswami Temple at Mannar Kovil in

Tirunelveli pandiya was built by the Chera king Rajasimha, but was named by him asRajendra Chola Vinnagar. Rajendra Chola too has made a grant of land to this temple in


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A.D.1042

Further in the 14th year of the Sunder Chola Pandiya devar at Mannar Koyil in Tinnelvelithe Seralan Madeviyar Adicchi queen of the Chera king Rajasimhadevar made some

donations to this Rajendra Chola Vinnagar Alvar.

Again in Venad the new king of Govardhana Marthanda started agitating for freedomassisted by the chieftain known as Ramakuda Muvar of the region Koovaham also of

Kerala. Rajadiraja sent an expedition to Venad where its king was defeated and escaped

from his kingdom to the jungles along with the king of Koovakam, and Rajadhirajasforces further destroyed the military acadamy and arms centre that became active again at

Kanthalur Sala,i and attacked and defeated Vilignam which revived its efforts under Aye

kings to become independent, and was renamed as Rajendra Cholapattinam.

However it appears the king of Venad continued to rule accepting the suzerainty of the

Cholas, and agreeing to pay tributes. Rajasimha was followed by Bhaskara Ravi3

{A.D.1043-1082} on the Chera throne.

Period of Rajendra2 {A.D.1051-1063}

In the year A.D.1054 Rajadiraja Chola1 died in the battle field at Koppam. Immediatelyhis younger brother Rajendra Chola2{A.D.1051-1063} who was the co-regent with

Rajadhiraja Chola1 from A.D.1051, crowned as the next Chola in the battle field itself

and continued with the war with success to Cholas.

During this period one of his sons was given the title Chola Keralan in memory of his

elder brother Manukulakesari who bore the same title as Chola Keralan.

Period of Virarajendra {A.D.1063-1070}

With the demise of Rajendra2, Virarajendra Chola{A.D.1063-1070} was crowned asthe next king of the Chola empire. On he ascending the Chola throne, again the Cheras at

Venad and Mahodayaouram started agiatating to free themselves from the Chola fold.

Virarajendra first sent an expedition to Venad and killed the younger brother of the

Kerala king named Jananathan, while the king himself escaped from his country.

Later with the agitation also from the Chera king Bhaskara Ravi2, it necessiated

Virarajendra Chola to go on a renewed war expedition to the great cities of the Cheracountry namely the Uthahai and Mahodai with big elephant cavalry to suppress the

agitation. The Chera king in fear escaped with his family to safety. He defeating the

Chera country returned back with much tributes, elephants and maids.

Period of Adhirajendra {A.D1070-1073}

With the death of Virarajendra his son Adirajendra{A.D1070-1074} succeeded on theChola throne in A.D.1070, after being his co-regent from A.D1067. His period of rule


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ended within a short period of few months due to illness.

During this period a Chera chieftain by the name Kerala Kesari Athirajathirajadever whoalso bore the title Virakeralan ruling from Kongunadu have made donations to the

temple of Vishnu at Thirukkannapuram in Thanjavur region for lighting of lamps.

Period of Kulothtunga Chola {A.D1070-1120}

After the death of Adirajendra there has been a turmoil in the Chola country with no

direct male decendents in the line of the Rajaraja Chola1 to succeed.

Eventually the great-grandson of Rajaraja Chola1, namely Kulothtunga Chola1

{A.D.1074-1120} became the rightful heir to the chola throne hailing from the female

decendents of Rajaraja in the year A.D.1074.

Taking opportunity of the turmoil in the Chola country the Chera kings at Aynad, Venad

and Kudamalainadu agitated to gain freedom from from the Chola kings.

Kulothtunga Chola - 1 in A.D.1081 waged war with the Cheras. He captured Vilignam,

Kanthalursalai including Kottaru north of Kumari all of Ayenadu. The Chera king agreed

to rule as a subordinate king and pay tributes. At Kottaru in south Kerala country hestationd a nilappadai (ground force) known as Kottaru Nillapadai under the general

Araiyan Mathuranthahan alias Chola Keralarasan.

Kulothtunga Chola forces further moved to Mahodayapuram in Kudamalainadu in the

Kerala country and defeated the Chavar forces (suicide sqads) of Baskara Ravi Varma3

who also met his death in this war in A.D.1082. He was succeeded by Ravi Rama Varma

{A.D.1082-1090} on the throne with his acceptance to pay tribute to Cholas.

He was followed by Rama Varma Kulasekara {A.D.10901102} at Mahodayapuram

throne. It appears some time after A.D.1090 Rama Varma Kulasekara with his powerfulChavar forces defeated the Cholas and regained full power in Kudamalainadu. It seems

Kulothtunga Chola1 didnot take any serious attempt to regain the lost territories of the

Kerala country.

It appears this was the ending point of 100 years of intermittant war between the Cholasand the Cheras.

The Tamil Temple Inscriptions however mentions a few more Chola-Chera conflicts afterKulothtunga1 during the period of the remaing Cholas upto A.D.1250

a brief historical survey on medieval cholas

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