# 1173 Polonnaruwa invasion of Chola

In 1173, an invasion began against the dynasty of South India by the Sinhalese king Maha Parakramabahu and Vira Pandyan of Pandyan Dynasty. His armies and Vira pandya armies first captured the Pandyan kingdom, and then advanced into Chola Nadu, attacking the Tondi and Pasi regions of Present-day Ramanathapuram. Then Cholas responded by sending army there, then came news from Pil'ai Pallavaräyar that the pradhānis includ-ing Jayadratha and Lankāpuri dandanāyakas and the entire force from Ceylon had sustained defeat. And the Sämbuvarāya in his gratitude presented the village of Arppakkam to Svāmidēvar.

## Background

In approximately 1173, the Sinhalese kingdom of Polonnaruwa, invaded the neighbouring Pandya kingdom and overthrew its leader Kulasekhara Pandyan. The Sinhalese monarch, Parakramabahu I ordered Vira Pandyan to be installed to the throne. However due to the Chola king, Rajadhiraja's increased his involvement in the war, the Chola mainland Ramanathapuram region Tondi and pasi became a target of the invading forces.

## Invasion of Chola kingdoms

After conquering the Pandyan kingdom, The captives were sent for works, such as repairing the stupas.

## Chola reactions

Rajadhiraja instructed his general to kill Lankapura. Meanwhile, the fear-ridden residents, started performing for Shiva, expecting for relief from the invaders.
The worshippers carried the worship for 28 days, until they received the news Lankapura and other soldiers are killed by Cholas. The chief who ruled the village of Arapakkam, Edirisola Subramanam, granted the village to a Hindu priest who helped conduct worships.
Rajadhiraja II then responded by sending his commander Thiruchitrambalamudaiyan Perumanambi along, with a strong army with specific instructions to kill Lankapura and Jagad Vijaya of the Polonnaruwa Army and hang their heads from the gates of the palace of Madurai.
Pallavarayar alias Tirucirrambalamudaiyan perumanambi, who was entrusted with these tasks, entertained Kulasekhara suitably during his stay in the Cola country and having with his army, resources and zeal, brought about the reconquest of the Pandiyan kingdom. He carried out his master's orders to the letter by nailing the heads of Lankapuri-dandanayaka and others(other Soldiers) to the gates of Madura.
The Chola inscriptions that describe this war make it appear that the Chola intervention under Pallava Rayar, the son of Edirillsola Sambuvarayan, was effective, and was the deciding factor in the retirement of the Ceylonese. Kulasekhara was able, after the departure of the Ceylon army, to maintain the campaign, and ultimately victory seems to have turned in his favour. The war continued against Vira Pandya even after the retirement of the Singhalese. Kulasekhara died in the course of the war or soon after.The last great Chola Kulottunga III, as heir-apparent, took up the cause of his son Vikrama Pandya vigorously, and, according to the Chola record at Tirukkollambudur of the fourth year of Kulottunga III (A.D. 1182), "the Singhalese soldiers had their noses cut off and rushed into the sea. Vira Pandya himself was compelled to retreat. The town of Madura was captured and made over to Vikrama Pandya." The war thus ended in favour of the Cholas, sometime in the 1170s.
Following rumours that Parakramabahu was preparing for another invasion, Rajadhiraja II sent a brigade commanded by Annan Pallavarayan to launch a pre-emptive strike. Annan Pallavarayan invaded Polonnaruwa and destroyed Parakramabahu's preparations for the invasion. The Cholas also provided support to Sinhalese Prince Sri Vallabha, nephew of Parakramabahu and a rival claimant to the Polonnaruwa throne. Sri Vallabha decided to stay in the Chola camp, assisting the Cholas.
The expedition that was sent with Srivallabha at its head captured and destroyed several places in Ceylon, including Pulaiccēri and Mātōţţam, where Parākramabāhu was gathering his forces; it seized many elephants and burned down the considerable area extending over twenty kādams from east to west and seventy kādams from north to south, killing some of the Singalese chieftains of the locality and taking others captive. The booty captured in the course of the expedition was then duly presented to the Cōla king by Annan Pallavarāyan, who thus successfully counteracted all the machinations of the Ceylonese ruler.
According to K. A. Sastri Nilakanta, Parakramabahu made a volte-face by sending costly gifts such as jewels and gold to Kulasekhara convincing him to invade the Chola Kingdom. Kulasekhara invaded the Cholas but was defeated and driven out. Chola forces then successfully invaded the Pandya kingdom and reinstalled Prince Vira Pandya on the throne. However, S. K. Aiyangar notes that Kulasekhara died in the course of the war, and his son Vickrama Pandya kept rebelling against the occupying forces.