In muvendar's most important family who ruled Tamil Nadu was Cholas. The only thing that can add so much pride to a king or a race is the victory of the war and conquering new kingdoms. Their dynasty is one that has ruled for a long time. The Cholas were very special in that they conquered not only Tamil Nadu but also many places like present-day Malasiya, Bangla, Singapore at that time. They had a very large army and conquered a large area in a very short period of time. This heroic dynasty also ruled over our Tirunelveli Seemai.
Origin
There is no accurate information in history about the Origin of the Cholas. But there is a reference to the Cholas in a Pillars of the kingdom of King Ashoka who lived in the 3rd century AD from which it is believed that the Cholas have been living since the 3rd century AD. Apart from this, it is said that there were Cholas in the Sangams in Tamil's ancient texts.
A Buddhist book written in the 5th century AD contains a reference to the conflicts between the Cholas and the people of Ceylon in the 1st century AD. Historians have found information from ancient temples and texts that the Cholas may have lived in the 7th century. Thus the information about the origin of the Cholas is not exactly in history.
History
We can divide the Cholas history into early Cholas, medieval Cholas, and late Cholas. Information about the early Cholas is not great, although some Tamil texts state that they formed the Sangam during the Sangam period and that they existed before the birth of Jesus Christ. The medieval Chola period is considered the Golden Age.
Medieval Cholas
The Cholas began to rise from the 9th century AD(850). The ninth-century was the period when the Pandyas and Pallavas ruled Tamil Nadu. The Pandyas were deeply entrenched in Tamil Nadu. The rule of the medieval Cholas was origin by King Vijayalaya. During the war between the Pandyas and the Pallavas in the 9th century AD, the Chola king Vijayalaya used it as an opportunity to conquer the Pandyan kingdom of Thanjavur from the Muttaraiyar king.
Since then, Thanjavur had been the capital of the Cholas. Aditya 1st Chola who came after him captured Madurai in 885 from Pandya and Pallava. He then conquered a large part of Karnataka. Paranthaka Chola, the son of the Chola king Aditya 1, conquered present-day Sri Lanka. They are followed by Rajaraja Chola 1 and Rajendra Chola 1, who are considered to be the best kings of the Chola kingdom.
After the arrival of Rajaraja Chola, the boundaries of the Chola kingdom expanded and the Chola kingdom expanded not only in Sri Lanka but also in the north. The great temple of Thanjavur, one of the wonders of the world, was built during his time(1010). The temple stands majestically for over a thousand years.
Rajendra Chola sent his army north and captured Odisha and northern India there. He then captured the Ganges, which is considered a sacred river. He then created a new capital, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, with the holy water taken from the Ganges, after which he successfully invaded the kingdom of Srivijaya.
Late Cholas
Later Cholas period started with Kulothuga Chola 1. The late Chola kings failed to capture as many territories as the medieval Chola kings. The last Chola dynasty was ruled by the Sons and Sons-in-law of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola, two of the greatest Chola kings. During the period of Raja Raja Chola II, Rajendra Chola II, and Kulothuga Chola III conquered the Kaling, Ilam, and Katcha.
It was during this period that the Chalukya kings began to invade the Chola country. In the year 1118 AD the Chola kings lost Gangavadi and Hoysala to the Chalukya kings. This was the first major victory of the Chalukyas kings against the Cholas.
Fall of Cholas
At the end of the 12th century AD, the rule of the Chola kings began to weaken. It was during this period that the Chalukya kings began to wage war on more and more Cholas. And the Cholas stumbled because the rule of Rajaraja Chola 3 and Rajendra Chola was not so efficient. The rise of the Pandya kings began in the 13th century AD and the Cholas were not united during this period which was the main reason for their downfall.
The reign of the Chola kings ends in 1279 AD. The Pandyas first conquered the whole of Tamil Nadu and then Sri Lanka and then the Chola kingdom. Rajendra Chola III was the last of the Chola kings.
Architecture
The Cholas were as famous for their architecture and art as they were for their heroism. The Cholas built temples using Dravidian architecture. Architect James Ferguson described their architectural prowess as "Chola artists finished like jewelers". Their deeply sculpted statues became very popular. The best example of this is the carved forms and idols of every profession in the great temple of Tanjore. Apart from this, the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Airavatesvara temple is one of the best examples.
Cultural and Literature
The Cholas followed Hinduism. They built Shiva temples and let the people worship. Apart from this, public hospitals were set up during the reign of the Chola kings. There are also opinions that new castes appeared during their rule. Land tax and customs were the most important revenue of the state but with this revenue, the comrades have done many things for the benefit of the people.
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