Rajendra Chola – King who built Gangai Konda Cholapuram Temple
Gangai Konda Cholan – Kadaram Kondan (Kadaram is present day Kedah in Malaysia) alias Rajendra Cholan. Who is Rajendra Cholan!?
A forgotten Chola king, the only son of the great Raja Raja Cholan who built the Tanjore Peru udayar temple commonly called the big temple or Shri Brihadeeshwara Temple.
No other ancient king of Bharat comes anywhere near this Gangai Konda Cholan. Certain historians especially from the northern part of the India deny the fact that this Gangai Konda Cholan victoriously marched up to Assam. Instead a false claim that with prior permission from the respective kings ruling territories on this path Gangaikondan travelled on a pilgrimage. Nothing can be more insulting to this great king.
King Rajendra Cholan ascended to the throne when he was in his middle-age, after the natural death of his father king raja raja. I use the word natural because this was the practice followed by our ancient Indian kings. Compare this with the Islamic wars for succession that we have read in our history books which only revealed a tip of the barbaric acts committed by the Islamic invaders not only in India but all over the world.
A tree without its roots and the human race which has forgotten its history cannot prosper nor survive.
King Rajendra Chola was born in the Tamil month Aadi on Tiruvadirai day. Aadi is from July 15 to august 15. His star birthday was on 19th July this year. The day passed with no pomp, not even the ringing of the bells of the gangaikonda cholapuram temple that he built on the other side of the bank of Cauvery. The Tanjore big temple is on the other side.
The torch bearers of the Dravidian and Tamilian pride and self-proclaimed Tamil activists i very much doubt if they are aware of this great day. This greatest king of bharat has been forgotten but his contribution to our Hindu cultural and architectural heritage, admirable and unmatched military cum naval accomplishments will stand for eternity.
He excelled his father the great raja raja in all fields.
Military accomplishments defeating the Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutaas, Kalingas upto Assam and Bengal was a no mean achievement given the rough terrain and the huge rivers & mountains he had to cross with his huge army. The glorious march was adorned with the defeated kings carrying the waters of the holy Ganges on their head for the consecration of the Gangai Konda Cholapuram temple that he built. This is why he earned the title “Gangai Konda Cholan”.
Across the seas he ventured to conquer the present day Malaysia, Indonesia, java, Sumatra, Cambodia and Vietnam. Sri Lanka was already under the Vijayalaya Cholas rule during his ancestors reign.
The Chola Empire under King Rajendra Chola was the biggest ever geographically by any emperor ever to have ruled our ancient Bharat. His efforts to save protect and preserve Hinduism amidst the rising Anti-Hindu sects was also noteworthy.
His capital city Gangaikonda Cholapuram was symbolically the capital of eastern Asia too. He called the shots for the entire region. Stone carvings, pictures and paintings to prove these points were numerous till the advent of the British into this part of India. The English in order to destroy our religion Hinduism took steps to burry our true history and accomplishments.
The British systematically planned and executed their agenda to the dot. The above mentioned proofs were destroyed, buried under the Cauvery and also used to strengthen the banks and walls of the Cauvery river basin. Literally they were trampling on King Rajendra Chola. A great crucial and significant part of king Rajendrachola’s achievements in the form of inscriptions etc., have been lost as steps in the Cauvery river banks. This is the most tragic part of our glorious history.
King Rajendra Chola should be revered and Put on a pedestal in our history. We need to celebrate this great king who gave the Hindus his best of everything. Aadi Ammavasai a sacred day for offering our prayers to our forefathers. Let’s do our bit for this great Hindu king who successfully came out of his father’shadow, the great king raja raja Chola, a no mean achievement.
Lastly let’s bow our heads to this great king’s gesture shown to his step-mother, Panchavanmaadevi. This great lady Panchavanmaadevi was a famous Anuki, which means a Devaradiyar, a servant of the lord as practiced in those days. An accomplished dancer and singer on whom King raja raja took fancy. She was only about 5 to 7 years older to Rajendra, then the crown prince.
Prince Rajendra Cholas’s mother was disturbed that panchavan maadevi would give birth to a son who in turn could be a rival to prince rajendrachola’s claim to the throne after king raja raja. Panchavanmaadevi who came to know of this deep insecurity and anguish underwent a medical procedure so that she would not conceive children at all. Unbelievable by the Islamic standards and practices which normally sees a blood bath on the way to the throne when fathers were killed, brothers killed, maimed or blinded and even infants not spared.
After a few years when Rajendra the crown prince came to know of this great sacrifice of Panchavanmaadevi, fell at her feet. He requested that she demand or ask for anything from him. Panchavanmaadevi’s request was that Rajendra Chola on her death should perform her last rites as her son. The crown prince Rajendra Cholan was moved to tears with this prayer. He promised Panchavan maadevi that he would oblige her whole heartedly.
He did keep up his word to Panchavanmaadevi. After some years when he was travelling on one of his military expeditions word reached him that Panchavanmaadevi was in her death bed. He cut short his journey travelled back to reach the side of ailing Panchavanmaadevi. He not only performed her last rites as a dutiful son but reciprocated in a glorious manner befitting his stature.
He built a Pallipadai temple for this noble lady Panchavanmaadevi was laid to rest by him. Even today this temple stands as a testimony to a noble gesture mutually extended by both the mother and the son. This temple is near the famous Patteswaram durga temple on the outskirts of the temple town of Kumbakonam.
Remember to include this temple as ” a must visit” in your list when you plan a trip to Kumbakonam.
King Rajendra Chola’s “Meikeerthi” gives a euphoric feeling always for me.
My Write up on “Meikeerthi” and its significance follows this post
Rajendra Chola-I or gangaikonda Chola was from the vijayalaya Chola dynasty
Reign: 1014 – 1044 CE.
Buried: Brahmadesam near Vellore.
Parents: Raja Raja – I & ThribuvanaMadeviyar.
Pic credits – Tamil Nadu Tourism and Itihasika, Outlook
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