Early Cholas - Wikipedia Early Cholas List of Chola kings and emperors Early Cholas Ellalan Kulakkottan Ilamchetchenni Karikala Nedunkilli Nalankilli Killivalavan Kopperuncholan Kochchenganan Perunarkilli Interregnum ( c. 200 -- c. 848 ) Medieval Cholas Vijayalaya 848 -- 891 ( ? ) Aditya I 891 -- 907 Parantaka I 907 -- 950 Gandaraditya 950 -- 957 Arinjaya 956 -- 957 Sundara ( Parantaka II ) 957 -- 970 Aditya II ( co-regent ) Uttama 970 -- 985 Rajaraja I 985 -- 1014 Rajendra I 1012 -- 1044 Rajadhiraja 1044 -- 1054 Rajendra II 1054 -- 1063 Virarajendra 1063 -- 1070 Athirajendra 1070 -- 1070 Later Cholas Kulothunga I 1070 -- 1120 Vikrama 1118 -- 1135 Kulothunga II 1133 -- 1150 Rajaraja II 1146 -- 1173 Rajadhiraja II 1166 -- 1178 Kulothunga III 1178 -- 1218 Rajaraja III 1216 -- 1256 Rajendra III 1246 -- 1279 Related dynasties Telugu Cholas of Andhra Chodagangas of Kalinga Rajahnate of Cebu Chola society Chola government Chola military Chola Navy Chola art Chola literature Flag of Chola Great Living Chola Temples Solesvara Temples Poompuhar Uraiyur Melakadambur Gangaikonda Cholapuram Thanjavur Tiruvarur The Cholas of the pre and post Sangam period ( 400 BCE -- 200 CE ) were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country. Their early capitals were Urayur and Kaveripattinam. Along with Pandyas and Cheras, Chola history goes back to the period where the history is covered with the mists of time. Contents 1 Sources 2 Early Cholas 3 Cholas in Sangam literature 3.1 Karikala Chola 3.2 Nalankilli and Nedunkilli 3.3 Kocengannan 4 Social conditions 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References Sources Ancient Tamil Nadu contained three monarchical states, headed by kings called Vendhar and several chieftaincies, headed by the chiefs called by the general denomination Vel or Velir. Still lower at the local level there were clan chiefs called kizhar or mannar. The Tamil area had an independent existence outside the control of these northern empires. The Tamil kings and chiefs were always in conflict with each other mostly over property. The royal courts were mostly places of social gathering rather than places of dispensation of authority ; they were centres for distribution of resources. The names of the three dynasties, Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras, are mentioned in the Pillars of Ashoka ( inscribed 273 -- 232 BCE ) inscriptions, among the kingdoms, which though not subject to Ashoka, were on friendly terms with him. The king of Kalinga, Kharavela, who ruled around 150 BCE, mentioned in the famous Hathigumpha inscription of the confederacy of the Tamil kingdoms that had existed for over 100 years. Karikala Chola was the most famous early Chola. He is mentioned in a number of poems in the Tamil Sangam literature. Another source for the available information of the early Cholas is the early Tamil literature of the Sangam Period. There are also brief notices on the Chola country and its towns, ports and commerce furnished by the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei ). Periplus is a work by an anonymous Alexandrian merchant, written in the time of Domitian ( 81 -- 96 CE ) and contains precious information of the Chola country. Writing half a century later, the geographer Ptolemy has more to tell us about the Chola country, its port and its inland cities. Mahavamsa, a Buddhist text, also recounts a number of conflicts between the inhabitants of Ceylon and the Tamil immigrants from Chola Country. Chronicles such as the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and stone inscriptions like Konesar Kalvettu recount that Kulakkottan, an early Chola king and descendant of Manu Needhi Cholan, was the restorer of the ruined Koneswaram temple and tank at Trincomalee in 438 CE, the Munneswaram temple of the west coast, and as the royal who settled ancient Vanniar ( not to confuse with present - day Vanniar or Palli caste. Early Cholas Main article : Early Chola kings The inscriptions of the Medieval Cholas are replete with history about the Early Chola kings. The Cholas were looked upon as descended from the sun. These historic incidents speak of the Chola king Kantaman, supposed contemporary of the sage Agastya, whose devotion brought the river Kavery into existence. There is also the story of the king Manu who sentenced his son to death for having accidentally killed a calf. Mahavamasa portrays King Elara who was defeated by Duttha Gamini ( c. 3rd century BCE ) as the just king who '... had a bell with a rope attached at the head of his bed, so that all who sought redress might ring it... '. King Sibi who rescued a dove from a hawk by giving his own flesh to the hungry hawk was also part of the early Chola history. These historic incidents received enormous emphasis in the later Chola period in the long mythical genealogies incorporated into the copper - plate charters of the 10th and 11th centuries. The earliest version of this is found in the Anbil Plates which gives fifteen names before Vijayalaya Cholan including the historical ones of Karikala, Perunarkilli and Kocengannan. The Thiruvalangadu Plate swells this list to forty - four, and the Kanyakumari Plate runs up to fifty - two. There are other lists gathered from literary works such as Kalingathuparani. No two of these lists agree, although some names and details are common to all. Cholas in Sangam literature See also : Tamil history from Sangam literature and Sangam literature The earliest Chola kings of whom we have tangible evidence are those mentioned in the Sangam literature, written in the period 200 BCE -- 300 CE. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to piece together an internal chronology of the Sangam works. Due to this, we know of several rulers, but not their chronology. All three kings have been portrayed as fighting the war or involved in feeding both the armies at that legendary war. Karikala Chola Main article : Karikala Chola Karikala Chola ( c. 90 BCE ) stands pre-eminent amongst all those mentioned in Pattinappaalai. Karikala 's father was Ilamcetcenni, a brave king and a hard fighter. ' Karikala ' means ' elephant feller ' or ' charred leg ', which is assumed to be a reference to an accident by fire which befell the prince early in his life. Pattinappaalai describes this accident and the enterprising way in which the prince escaped and established himself in the Chola throne. Pattinappalai is a long poem on the then Chola capital Kaveripattinam. This work also describes the numerous battles Karikala fought against the other two Tamil kings in one of which the Chera king was disgraced ( received a wound on his back ) and committed suicide. Karikala thus broke the confederacy that was formed against him and established hegemony over Pandyas and Cheras. Kallanai / Grand Anicut built by Karikala Cholan, on the River Kaveri, near Tiruchirappalli In later times Karikala was the subject of many legends found in the Cilappatikaram and in inscriptions and literary works of the 11th and 12th centuries. They attribute to him the conquest of the whole of India up to the Himalayas and the construction of the flood banks, Grand Anicut, of the Kaveri River with the aid of his feudatories. These legends however are conspicuous by their absence in the works of Sangam. Nalankilli and Nedunkilli Main articles : Nalankilli and Nedunkilli The poet Kovur Kilar mentions a protracted civil war between two Chola chieftains Nalankilli and Nedunkilli. Nedunkilli shut himself in a fort in Avur, which was being besieged by Mavalattan, Nalankilli 's younger brother. The poet chided Nedunkilli to come out and fight like a man instead of causing untold misery to the people of the city. In another poem, the poet begs both the princes to give up the civil war as whoever wins, the loser will be a Chola. Kocengannan Main article : Kocengannan Kalavali by Poygayar mentions the Chola King Kocengannan and his battle with the Chera king Kanaikkal Irumporai. The Chera was taken prisoner and Poygayar, who was a friend of the Chera, sang a poem praising the Chola King Kochchenganan in 40 stanzas. The Chola king, pleased with the work, released the Chera. Kalavali describes the battle fought at Kalumalam, near the Chera capital. Kocengannan is one of the 63 nayanars. Kocengannan became the subject of many instances in later times and is portrayed as a pious Siva devotee who built many fine temples for Siva along the banks of the river Kaveri. Social conditions Main article : Sangam period Sangam literature gives an unusually complete and true picture of the social and economic conditions during the early chola period. The culture is best described as an amalgam of the Dravidian and Aryan. The stories of Mahabharata and Ramayana were well known to the Tamil people, shown by the claims of some kings to have fed both the opposing army in the Mahabharata War. The claim that Shibi, who gave his own flesh to save a dove, as a Chola is obviously influenced by northern legends. The land of the Cholas was fertile and there was ample food. Sangam poems say that in the Chola country watered by the river Kaveri, in a space in which an elephant could lie, one can produce enough grain to feed seven. Hereditary monarchy was the prevailing form of government. Disputed succession and civil war was not uncommon. The sphere of the state activity was limited. In a society steeped in respect for custom, even the most perverse dictator could not have done much harm. The Chola monarchs were approachable by subjects and justice was meted out directly by the king in most occasions. This is in marked contrast to the magnificent empires of the later Cholas where the Emperor was kept much away from contact with the lay people. The kings often took the field in person in battles and if the kings was killed or wounded in battle, his army immediately gave up the fight and surrendered. The trade that flourished between the Chola country and the ancient Roman Empire is given in much detail by Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( c. 75 CE ). See also Chola Historic early Chola kings Sangam literature Kingdom of Chu Chu ( state ) Notes Jump up ^ K.A.N. Sashtri, A History of South India, pp 109 -- 112 Jump up ^ ' There were three levels of redistribution corresponding to the three categories of chieftains, namely : the Ventar, Velir and Kilar in descending order. Ventar were the chieftains of the three major lineages, viz Cera, Cola and Pandya. Velir were mostly hill chieftains, while Kilar were the headmen of settlements... ' -- `` Perspectives on Kerala History ''. P.J. Cherian ( Ed ),. Kerala Council for Historical Research. Archived from the original on 26 August 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006. Jump up ^ K.A.N. Sastri, A History of South India, p 129 Jump up ^ ' Everywhere within Beloved - of - the - Gods, King Piyadasi 's domain, and among the people beyond the borders, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Satyaputras, the Keralaputras, as far as Tamraparni... ' -- `` Ashoka 's second minor rock edict ''. Colorado State University. Retrieved 15 November 2006. Jump up ^ K.A.N. Sastri, The CōĻas, 1935 p 20 Jump up ^ `` Hathigumpha Inscription ''. Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX ( 1929 -- 1930 ). Delhi, 1933, pp 86 -- 89. Missouri Southern State University. Archived from the original on 17 November 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006. Jump up ^ Pattinappaalai, Porunaraatruppadai and a number of individual poems in Akananuru and Purananuru have been the main source for the information we attribute now to Karikala. See also K.A.N. Sastri, The Colas, 1935 Jump up ^ Tamils and the meaning of history. Contemporary South Asia. 3. Routledge. 1994. pp. 3 -- 23. doi : 10.1080 / 09584939408719724. Jump up ^ Schalk, Peter ( 2002 ). `` Buddhism Among Tamils in Pre-colonial Tamilakam and Ilam : Prologue. The Pre-Pallava and the Pallava period ''. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Uppsala University. 19 - 20 : 159, 503. The Tamil stone inscription Konesar Kalvettu details King Kulakottan 's involvement in the restoration of Koneswaram temple in 438 A.D. ( Pillay, K., Pillay, K. ( 1963 ). South India and Ceylon ) ; Jump up ^ Kamil Veith Zvelebil, Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature, p12 Jump up ^ Nilakanta Sastri, A History of South India, p 105 References Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. ( 1955 ). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi ( Reprinted 2002 ). South Indian Inscriptions - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/ Nagaswamy, R, Roman Karur, Brahadish Publications ( 1995 ) Krishnamurthy, R Non-Roman Ancient Foreign Coins from Karur in India, Garnet Publishers, Chennai Codrington, H.W. A short History of Ceylon, London ( 1926 ) < http://lakdiva.org/codrington/ >. Keay, John ( 2000 ). India : A History. New Delhi : Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0 - 00 - 255717 - 7. Preceded by - Chola empire : Early Cholas Succeeded by Medieval Cholas Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Early_Cholas&oldid=859902778 '' Categories : Dynasties of India Empires and kingdoms of India Chola dynasty History of Tiruchirappalli Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from March 2017 Use Indian English from March 2017 All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English Talk Contents About Wikipedia Lietuvių മലയാളം தமிழ் Edit links This page was last edited on 17 September 2018, at 01 : 37 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who is considered the greatest of the early chola kings
Answer: Karikala Chola