- Feb 6, 2017
- 7 min read

The titles used by the Cholas; An Examination (Part-I)

While researching for the three articles that I wrote (1, 2, and 3 respectively), I came across the interesting titles the Chola Kings used – which to an extent, serves as witness to their achievements- military & otherwise. Another problem I encountered is with Western Historiography – the use of the “Royal Noble and chivalric titles” as used by Western Scholars cannot be equated to the titles used during medieval/late antiquity periods in European History. What title can you give to, for example, the Zamorin or the Perumal? Are they “Kings?” or “Petty Kings”? Or are they something else entirely? (More on the Problem of Western Historiography in a later article)

So what I’m attempting to do here is not only to provide a window to Chola History, but also [attempt] to provide a ready reckoner for the Chola Emperors ( I’m only examining the titles used by the Medevial Cholas, as even this seems to be a gargantuan task for me. See Note 1 as well)

Below is the list of the Chola Emperors & their titles, till Rajaraja Chola the Great.

Vijayalaya Chola (848 C.E. to 871 C.E.)

After the fall of the ancient Chola Kingdom, it is not known what happened in the interregnum; from almost 200 C.E. to 848 C.E., it is a dark time for the Cholas, thus, historians have used the accounts of the Pandyas and Pallavas, and it is supposed that they ruled the Kaveri heartland as tributaries/feudatories of the the Pandyas/Pallavas.

Vijayala Chola conquered Thanjavur from Elango Mutharaiyar who was the final ruler of Mutharaiyar dynasty. It is said that in the year 852 CE Vijayalaya Chola waged war with the Muttaraiyar king Sattan Paliyilli (826–852 CE) in the neighbouring east, and captured his territory of Thanjavur. While Vijayalaya Chola was a Pallava feudatory, the Muttaraiyan chief was a Pandya feudatory. Making use of the opportunity during a war between Pandyas and Pallavas, Vijayalaya rose out of obscurity and captured Thanjavur.

He used the title Parakesarivarman, a title meant in part to honour his ancestor, Parakesari. Inscriptions under his son exclusively refer him by this name.

Aditya Chola I (871 C.E. to 907 C.E.)

It was under him that the Cholas overthrew the Pallava yoke and achieved independence. He used the title Rajakesari as his primary title, In Inscriptions, he is also called “Tondainadu pavina Rajakesarivarman”, “The Rajakesarivarman who overran Tondainadu” Tondainadu, as those ardent fans of Crusader Kings 2 would note, Is the North-Eastern region of Tamil Nadu (see note 2)

The inscirption of his successor, his son, notes him as Thondaimaanaruur thunjina udaiyaar (The King who died at Tondaimanarrur), Tondaimanarrur being the Capital of Tondai nadu. It is thought to be near Sriklahasti, in Chittor, Andhra Pradesh.

Parantaka Chola I (907 C.E. to 955 C.E.)

As his Grandfather, Parantaka Chola I held the title “Parakesari”. As early as his Third Regnal year, he is beleived to have invaded and occupied the Capital of the Pandyas, having been given the title “Maduraikondan”,and later is described as “Madhurantaka”,the destroyer of Madurai – This is after he conducted a successful raid on the Pandya Capital.

After defeating an alliance of the Pandya & Ceylon kings, and after further conducting raid on Lanka, he is described as ” Maduraiyum Elamum Konda Parakesarivarman” – Parakesarivarman who conquered Madurai and Sri Lanka. He utilized his war loot to cover the roof of the celebrated Shiva Temple at Chidambaram to be covered with Gold, for this he is described as “Thillaiyambalathhukku pon koorai veiyntha thevan”. See Note 3 as well.

Gandaraditya

The reccords of the next 30 years of the Cholas are scant; and thus what we know of it is rather skewed ( Reasons noted in Note 4). However, we can reasonably conclude that Gandaraditya used the title : “Rajakesari” as well as “Merkey elundarulina devar” – “the king/lord who was pleased to go west”- for He apparently went to Kerala.

Arinjaya

It is not known for a certainty whether Arinjaya, the third son of Parantaka Chola I ruled, historians assume that he ruled for a short period, in all probability, as an intermediary between his nephew, Uttama Chola I. Arinjaya is described as “Alvar Arikulakesarideva” Rajaraja Chola I, his Grandson. For the Purposes of Clearly understanding the succession of Kings, see Note 5.

Sundara Chola (Parantaka Chola II)

He is credited with laying the foundations of the success his younger son Rajaraja Chola I- he defeated the Pandyas, and assumed the title of Maduraikonatan, as his Grandfather, Parantaka Chola did. He and his son, Aditya Chola II, defeated and routed the Rashtraukatas from Tondainadu. His heir and Co-regent, Aditya Chola II Karikalan was assassinated, (which remains an unsolved mystery), and Sundara Chola is remarked to have died of a broken heart – given the title “Pon maligai thunjina thevar” – “the king who died in the golden palace”.

Aditya Chola II

Aditya Chola was co-regent and firstborn son of Sundara Chola, and was co-regent as well. He is remarked to have fought valiantly at Chevur, having, at the age of 12, “played with Veera Pandyan”, the title given to him is”Vira Pandyan Thalai Konda Adithha Karikalan” – “The Adithya Karikalan who took the head of Vira Pandayan”: Historians state that this does not literally mean he cut the king to size, but rather that he humiliated the King at the battlefield. He is also described as a “Vira Abhimanyu”: A brave Abhimanyu, the famous warrior son of Arjun of Mahabharta. (The calligrapher uses a tecchnique which is rather ingenious: Abhimanyu, of course, was a ferocious warrior, who died as he could not escape the Chakravyuha; and he died. Here, Aditya Chola was a ferocious warrior, but his death came in the fame of the Chakravyuaha that was his assassination.)

Uttama Chola

Uttama Chola, the son of Gandaraditya, succeeded Sundara Chola upon his death. Sundara Chola’s second son, Rajaraja Chola, was installed as his heir as compensation for being passed over. Uttama is described as Parakesari. He also assumed to have the title “Vikrama”.

Rajaraja Chola I “The Great”

Rajarja as I noted here, is one of the greatest Emperors of Indian History. His name is recorded at birth as “Arulmozhi Varman”. He is said to have been elected by a democratic process, having served as heir-presumptive as “Yuva-raja” . He first attacked the Cheras at Kanathaur Salai, having used the title “Kandalur -salaik-kalamautta”, and “having beheaded the Malai Alargal”, Malai Alargal being the Chera Warriors who must have defended Kandalur from the Chola attack ( For a more detailed understanding of the Kandalur War, see Note 6) . He also uses the title “Mummadi Chola-deva” which is thought to be “The Chola who had strength thrice over”. He of course, took the title “Rajakesari”as his predecessors had.

After conquering/subjugating the Pandyas and the Cheras, he is called the “Mummudi Cholan” literally, the Suzerain of the 3 kingdoms: Chola, Chera and Pandya.

Rajaraja, by virtue of his tremendous success, is called a variety of titles in inscriptions.

He is also called “Keralantaka” for having subjugated the Cheras, and this Gopura is the Keralanthaka Gopura Constructed in front of the Brihadeeswarar temple:

the Keralantka Gopura

The other titles used by him are listed and its translations are listed in Table 1.

Note 1: Medevial Cholas, as Historians puts it from the reign of Vijayalaya Chola (848 C.E. to 871 C.E., the King who reestablished the Ancient Chola Kingdom) to Athirajendra Chola (1067C.E. – 1070 C.E., who was assassinated)

Note 2:

Tondainadu

Note 3: While Wikipedia notes that Parantaka bore other titles, I find this quite contentious, for my research did not turn up these titles; Chakravartin seems particularly tenuous. Wikipedia States: “Parantaka I bore numerous epithets: Viranarayana, Virakirti, Vira-Chola, Vikrama-Chola, Irumadi-Sola (Chola with two crowns alluding to the Chola and the Pandya kingdoms), Devendran (lord of the gods), Chakravartin (the emperor), Panditavatsalan (fond of learned men), Kunjaramallan (the wrestler with elephants) and Surachulamani (the crest jewel of the heroes).” It seems mmany of these titles are likely to have been used by Parantaka – Nilakanta Shastri notes the same.

Note 4: The Rashtrukatas had occupied Tondainadu, and Chola power was constrained to the Kaveri river region, and inscriptions by the Cholas in these years were erased by Uttama Chola, who renovated temples using granite from their brick-and-mortar forms.

Note 5:

The Succession of Chola Kings: Aditya II is the Elder Brother of Rajaraja Chola I

Order of Succession: Gandaraditya-Arinjaya-Sundara (Parantaka II)/Aditya II(co-regent)-Uttama-Rajaraja I.

Note 6: A controversy rage over what exactly happened at Kandalur: Did he burn the Chera Fleets as K.A. Nilakanta Sastri suggests (see Addedndum, Item 3) or did he attempt to bring the Vedic school there under his control (as suggested by “Kavimani” Desika Vinayagam Pillai )? The Hero stone that was unearthed in 2009 gives us an answer: Rajarja Chola is supposed to have killed he Warriors at Kandalur, as well as burnt the fleet of the Cheras (report here).

Table 1

TitleMeaningCholendrasimha Chola – Indra – Shima (Indra refers to the King of devatas) – Shima refers to Lion In Chola dynasty he is like IndraSivapadasekhara He who has Feet of Shiva as his crownKshathriyashikamani Kshathriya – generally any King Clan is refered as; shikamani – refers to Best of the bestSingalantaka Could be refering to his winning of Srilanka ; he is one south indian king ruled Srilankan island ;Mahadas of the north used Chola’s as friendly kings to control south east asiaJananatha Jana – Public ; Natha – SaviourNigarill-sola (tamil) – uncomparable – Cholzan ; No one could even be considered for any comparisonRajendrasimha Raja – Indra – shimaNityavinoda New and Fresh looking everydayRajamartanda Raja – Marthanda – Referes toPandayakulasini The onw who crushed Pandayas clanRavikulamanikya In Ravikula – he is the emaralad (manikya)Rajasrayaequivalant to king of kinds – Title is in Kannada / TeleguTelingakulakala Not sure – could be destroyer of the kula mentioned in the title

Parantaka Chola’s son, Rajaditya (who was appointed Co-Regent in 948 C,E.) died in field of battle against the Rashtrakutas, supposedly treacherously killed by Buttuga II, stabbing him while embracing him. This is as noted in Atakur Inscription of the Rashtrukuta Emperor, Krishna III, Known as Kannaradeva:Addendum

Item 1: