Virarajendra Chola was one of the most underrated Chola kings, mainly because a
major part of his life was spent as a subordinate of his two elder brothers
Rajadhiraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola II, who along with Virarajendra Chola
himself were the illustrious sons of their Chakravarti(Emperor) father,
Rajendra Chola I. While certainly it was not a practice among the Chola kings to
nominate the eldest son, but the most capable as the heir to the throne.
During his early reign he granted the maintenance of a school to study the
Vedas, Sastras and Grammar and a hostel was provided for the students. A
hospital named Virasolan was also provided by him for the sick people. The
famous grammatical work in Tamil, Virasoliyam was written by Buddhamitra
during his reign. Virarajendra’s reign falls in a period
of the medieval Cholas, when it was both trying to expand its boundaries and
preserve its existing territories, but had appeared to stutter in its attempts
because of death in his prime of eldest brother and king Rajadhiraja-I and the
short rule of Virarajendra's elder brother Rajendra-II. In all the three
brothers altogether ruled for between 16–20 years by succeeding one
another[*]. This rapid succession was seen as a golden opportunity by the
traditional enemies and subordinates of the Cholas, viz. the Singhalas, Western
Chalukya Empire, Pandyas and even the Cheras, with each adversary either
trying to become free or declaring a war on the Cholas. Ultimately, however,
Virarajendra proved to be a very capable and brave ruler, who was kind and
protective to his subjects, reimposed authority on Chola dominions and was
particularly ruthless to the old nemeses of the Cholas, both the Chalukyas and
the Pandyas. Viewed overall, especially in the context of the fact that his own
rule lasted for less than 10 years, yet, as borne out by his various inscriptions
in Karur, Virarajendra's was a lasting legacy in that in the short time he
ruled, he overwhelmed everyone of his adversaries, and succeeded not only in
preserving Chola territories, but also made overseas concquests in far-off
lands like Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nicobar, Sakkarakottam (around
Bastar district, Chhattisgarh - this was also a place governed by the next major
Chola monarch, Kulothunga-I or Rajendra Chalukya, son of Eastern Chalukya King
Rajaraja Narendra and thus grandson of Rajendra Chola I through his daughter
Ammanga[*]. Early life
While he was still very young he was appointed in Eelam(Sri Lanka). He was
posted as the Chola viceroy of Sri Lanka by his elder brother Rajadhiraja Chola
during the early part of the latter's reign. Next, during the reign of his
other elder brother Rajendra Chola II, he served as the Lord of Uraiyur.
Military Conflicts Virarajedndra fought many battles
against the Western Chalukya Empire, the main catalyst for these conflicts being
the Chola interest in the Vengi Chalukyas. He fought the Western
Chalukyas near Visaiyavadai and routed the Western Chalukyas on the banks of
the river Krishna and re-asserted Chola authority over the domains of the
Eastern Chalukyas[*]. He also invaded Singhala Naduand ruthlessly crushed
attempts of the Singhala kings to free their kingdom from Chola control[*].
= Early Battles = During the early period of his reign,
Virarajendra fought and killed the king of Pottapi in the Kerala country. He
also had to suppress a rebellion in the Pandya territories by the Pandya
princes[*]. While these battles were progressing, the Western Chalukya
Someshvara I invaded the Chola country, who probably was fooled into thinking
that with a new king at helm, the Chola country was there for his taking and he
thought he could overcome his earlier humiliation at the hands of
Virarajendra's predecessor, Rajendra-II. First, Someshvara-I sent his son
Vikkalan for plundering Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the capital of Virarajendra.
Virarajendra was returning after subduing the Pandyas, the Sinhalas and
the Chera kings and making them tribute paying subordinates[*]. He immediately
undertook the task of safeguarding the Chola capital and routed Vikramaditya VI
from the Chola capital. Next he chased the Chalukya princes Vikramaditya and
Singhanan at Gangapadi. He completely overwhelmed the Chalukya army led by
both princes and sons of Someshvara-I and proceeded to the Chalukyan capital.
There he routed for the first time Someshvara-I who fled the
battlefield[2]. The third war fought by Virarajendra against the Chalukyas was
when Someshvara-I sent his son Vikramaditya VI to occupy Vengi on the
presumption that due to the death of his old nemesis Rajendra-II, Vengi could be
made subordinate to Western Chalukya rule. Virarajendra's armies routed the
Western Chalukyas at Vengi, after which they surrounded Kalyanpura, the
Chalukyan capital and burnt the fortress at Kampili taking precious wealth, the
Chief queen of Someshvara-I, eliminated his generals and trusted feudatories and
took away his horses and prized elephants. Subsequently, Virarajendra
successfully quelled the rebellions at Ceylon, Madurai and the Chera Kingdom by
killing a Potappi Raja and converted the Western Chalukyas into tribute paying
subordinates[*]. = Continuing Chalukya Battles =
Virarajendra’s reign is marked by the numerous inscriptions detailing his
various victories with the Western Chalukyas. Virarajendra was involved in
the battles against the Western Chalukyas even before he became king.
Under the command of the then heir to the throne Rajamahendra, Virarajendra
fought the Chalukya forces in the battle of Mudakaru. During Virarajendra’s
reign, Someshvara, the loser of this battle sought to wipe the disgrace of
his defeat at Madukaru and called for battle with the Cholas. On each of the
confrontations with the Cholas, Someshvara-I not only disgracefully ran
away from the battlefields, but also allowed many of his generals or
Mahasamantas and Dandanayakas to become sitting ducks at the hands of the Chola
kings. In his inscriptions at Karur and Tindivanam, Virarajendra claims proudly
that Someshvara-I's sons Vikramaditya-VI and Jayasimha-III fled the battlefield
with disshevelled hair.[**] Virarajendra further claimed that he defeated
Someshvara-I's armies not less than five times. These battles were, at
amam,Gangaikondacholapuram,Karur,Kampili and at Vengi. On each occasion, the
generals of Someshvara-I like Chamundaraja were beheaded, Maduvana,
Vikramaditya VI fled the battlefield with 'disshevelled hair', Jayasimha-III,
Annala and finally Ahavamalla Someshvara-I too fled the battle shaming
themselves permanently. In another war, it was the time of Someshvara-I's second
son, Someshvara-II to be expelled from Kannara country itself. Each time
Someshvara-I tried to wipe out the previous disgrace, he was repeatedly
routed in war and shamed even more with him losing not just his kingdom but even
his wives, treasures, horses, elephants etc. ending up in possession of the
Chola King[++]. Each time Someshvara-I lost, he had to sue for peace and became
a tribute paying subordinate of Virarajendra. Someshvara-I took one
final chance and called Virarajendra for battle.
Someshvara I wrote the Chola king assigning a site in a place called Kudal
Sangamam for the battle, ironically near the site of the previous battle in which
the Chalukya forces were so utterly defeated. Receiving this message,
Virarajendra immediately set out for the battle and camped near Kandai for the
Chalukyan army to arrive. The exact date set for the battle, according to
Virarajendra’s inscription found at Manimangalam, was Monday, 10 September
1067 C.E.[*][++] The Chola army awaited the expected
battle for more than a month; the Chalukya king never met the appointment.
The Chola army then devastated the surrounding countryside, erected a
pillar of victory on the banks of the Tungabhadra River[*][++].
There is no verifiable and known reason for Someshvara’s inability to face the
Cholas at Kudala Sangama. There was a running succession feud between his
first son and chosen heir, Someshvara-II and Vikramaditya-VI. Apparently,
Vikramaditya-VI did not want to fight for his father. In fact as per the
inscription of Virarajendra at Perumber, after the expulsion of Someshvara-II
from Kannada country, it seems that the greedy Vikramaditya-VI fell at the feet
of Virarajendra and 'handed' him the entire 'seven and a half lakshas' of
Rattapadi. Virarajendra immediately nominated Vikramaditya-VI as the heir to
the Chalukya throne and also gave his daughter in marriage to him on
extracting the promise that his daughter's son will succeed
Vikramaditya-VI as the next Chalukya King.[++]
Surely, the above developments would have discouraged the already disgraced
Someshvara-I even further. Whatever may be the reason, Someshvara and he
committed suicide by drowning himself in March 1068 C.E. But Virarajendra's
records say that the Salukki hid himself in the western sea, which indicates the
probability of Someshvara-I having been drowned in the Arabian sea while running
away from the Cholan army. This was in sharp contrast to Virarajendra's
predecessor Rajadhiraja who lost his life in the battlefield while fighting
the enemy[1]. From Kudal Sangamam, the Chola army
proceeded to Vengi to re-establish their control on the Eastern Chalukyan
Kingdom. The raiders from Western Chalukya and a senior trusted General to
capture Vengi and install a puppet ruler subordinate to Someshvara-I. In a battle
on the banks of the Krishna River, near Visaiyavadai or modern Vijayawada ++,
Virarajendra crushed the Western Chalukya army led by Jananatha.
Virarajendra then proceeded to conquer the entire Eastern Chalukya kingdom,
defeated and re-captured Kalinga whose king had been in alliance with the
Western Chalukyas. Virarajendra installed Vijayaditya, the Eastern
Chalukya prince on the Vengi throne. = War in Lanka =
Vijayabahu, the Sinhala king, who had been ruling a tiny southern portion of
the island around the Rohana district, sought to extend his power and expel the
Chola occupier. Mahavamsa records that Virarajendra sent the Chola army
stationed in the island to attack the Rohana district. Vijayabahu then sent
for help from the king of Burma who sent ships and soldiers to assist Vijayabahu.
With this help Vijayabahu succeeded in creating revolt in the northern
provinces of Lanka. Although the Chola forces in the island and reinforcements
sent from the mainland could control these revolts, Vijayabahu continued to
create revolts and disturbances within the Chola occupied areas of the island
for the next few years. = Kadaram Campaign =
Virarajendra's records from his seventh year mention that he conquered Kadaram
on behalf of a king who had come to ask for help and protection and handed it
over to him. The possible date for this occurrence is 1068 C.E. There is not any
more information to be gleaned from this inscription. In 1045 Airlangga, who
ruled Srivijaya, divided the Kahuripan kingdom into two, Janggala and Kediri
and abdicated in favour of his two sons to live the life of an ascetic. During
Virajrajendra's invasion in 1068, one of these sons might have ruled in Kedah. As
yet we have no knowledge of the Srivijaya king who asked for help and
the details of this naval campaign. The Cholas continued a series of raids and
conquests throughout what is now Indonesia and Malaysia for the next 20
years. This first re-affirmed the hold of the Chola kingdom on the far east, it
also enabled freeing of any barriers put by some kingdoms in the Java-Malaya
peninsula on traders from Chola territories including from their
subordinate divisions in Sri Lanka. While Srivijaya, Kediri, Champa etc.
became independent later on, both during the time of Virarajendra till almost the
last days of the Chola kingdom, at least till 1215 CE, trade relations between
Tamizhagam and the Far East continued unhindered.
Alliance with Chalukya Vikramaditya At the death of Someshvara I, his son
Someshvara II came to the Chalukyan throne in April 1068 CE. Soon after a
dispute broke out between him and his younger brother Vikramaditya and a civil
war ensued in the Western Chalukya country. Vikramaditya VI fled to the
Chola court of Virarajendra Chola and pleaded help from Virarajendra to be
nominated heir to the Chalukya throne instead of Someshvara-II. Virarajendra
relented on the defeated prince and made him heir to the Chaukya throne and
arranged for payment of tributes by Vikramaditya-VI. Virarajendra Chola thus
took pity and aligned himself with Vikramaditya giving his daughter in
marriage to him. Personal life
He was a younger brother of Rajadhiraja Chola and Rajendra Chola II and
regularly figures in many of their inscriptions. From the inscription of
one of his successors viz., Kulothunga Chola I, in the Brihadeeswarar temple in
Thanjavur dated in the 15th year of his reign, we know that the name of
Virarajendra's queen was Arumolinangai. Virarajendra Chola's daughter
Rajasundari married an Eastern Ganga Dynasty prince, and her son Anantavarman
Chodaganga Deva became the progenitor of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
Officials Isvaran singamani alias Tondaiman
Solapperiyaraiyan was an officer of the king. He figures as early as the sixth
year of the king's reign in an inscription at Tindivanam. He made a
donation of twelve cows to the temple of Tiruttondisvara.
Death and succession From an inscription of his from
Tirunamanallur dated in the fourth year of his reign, we understand that
Virarajendra Chola held the titles Sakalabhuvanasraya, Srimedinivallabha,
Maharajadhiraja Cholakula-Sundara, Pandyakulantaka, Ahavamallakula-Kala,
Ahavamallanai-mummadi-ven-kanda Rajasraya, Vira-Chola, The Glory of the
Solar race, Karikala-Chola, Sri-Virarajendradeva, Rajakesarivarma
Perumanadigal and Konerinmaikondan. Tirunamanallur was also called as
Tirunavlur or Rajadittapuram, named after his great predecessor Rajaditya
Chola. The very indication of Virarajendra mobilizing his armies for
war made his adversaries especially the Salukkis, tremble with fear and every
time they tried to confront him, be the Salukkis, Pandiyas or other adversaries
of the Vengi territories, they met with nothing but defeat when they marched
against him. Virarajendra Chola died in early 1070 CE
after a short but extremely victorious rule. He probably was not very younger
to his elder brother Rajendra II or Rajadhiraja Chola and was probably into
his middle years when he ascended the throne. In fact, his can be termed as a
completely victorious life in that he initially helped his father Rajendra
Chola-I, then brothers Rajadhiraja-I and Rajendra-II in both administration and
war. Later, upon taking over as King, he himself had a highly successful reign in
terms of both internal administration and military conquests. In a way his
achievements are comparable to those of Rajendra Chola-I, who expanded his
empire inherited from the great Raja Raja Chola-I. Virarajendra was succeeded
by his son and heir apparent Athirajendra Chola.
Early in his reign Virarajendra appointed his son Madurantaka as viceroy
of Tondaimandalam with the title of Cholendra’. Another son Gangaikondachola
was made viceroy of the Pandya territories. We have no clear
information as to which of these two sons was Athirajendra.The most stand out
aspect of his rule is the fact that he is known to be the one who issued an
excessively large number of grants and edicts . The king was a devotee at the
feet of lord at Thillai(Sivan) at Chidambaram, to whom he presented a
necklace consisting of rubies of high quality. However, like all his
predecessors, he also patronized and cared for temples of all faiths
including those of Lord Vishnu## Notes
References South Indian Inscriptions: Miscellaneous
inscriptions in Tamil By Eugen Hultzsch, Hosakote Krishna Sastri, V. Venkayya,
Archaeological Survey of India Nilakanta Sastri, K.A.. The CōĻas,
University of Madras, Madras. Nilakanta Sastri, K.A.. A History of
South India, OUP, New Delhi. ## Nilakanta Sastri, K.A., A History of
South India - From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. * Nilakanta
Sastri, K.A.