The Cholas - Among worlds greatest dynasties

Why Cholas, are among the greatest dynasties, of the world?

We know the Mauryan and Moghul dynasties of India. There was a kingdom which ruled longer with a comparable area which many are not aware, including many Indians. We must learn and feel proud such a dynasty existed in India and contributed immensely to world leadership in arts science architecture engineering ship building mettalurgy, whose impact is STILL seen in Wootz steel used in Europe and China, democracy of self ruling villages, irrigation and dams, to Architecture of Angor Wat in Cambodia.

THE CHOLA KINGDOM, was of one of Indias most powerful Kingdoms. From length of rule, size of area under their influence to sophistication in science, arts, engineering they were much ahead of any one else in thier era.

I visited all the three great living Chola temples listed as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE monuments relevant to all of humanity. More on that later.

Cholas are among the longest ruling dynasties in the world, were in power for almost 1600 years from 300BC TO 1279AD. As a point of contrast the two other well known Indian dynasties, were Mauryan (300bc to 200ad ~500 years) and Moghul (1500ad to 1857ad ~300 years) ruled for lot lesser time. Where is 1600 years of power vs 400 years?

Cholas were one of the largest kingdoms in India, ruling from Bengal (pala) to Sri Lanka (Ezham), from Kerala to Kedah in Malaysia (Kadaram). At peak of thier power in 900 to 1100AD, even Sri Vijaya (Indonesia), Bali, Cambodia (Angor wat), Myanmar and some parts of Thailand were under Chola influence. You can see it in various Hindu and Buddhist temples from Borabudur to Bali. From Ramayana to Garuda. BTW Thai kings are still called King Rama. And Malaysian kings are called Raja Chulan (Raja Cholan) even today.

Contrast with Mogul and Maurya dynasties, Cholas had both powerful Army AND Navy. Infact Cholas Naval power helped merchant ships safely trade goods on sea from Eastern coasts of China to Arabia and Rome. Cholas were the biggest Naval power in the world for 300 years 900ad to 1200ad. Much before the Chinese Zheng He another great navy general used his navy to trade across Asia.

Both Maurayan maps and Mogul maps show, they could never conquer Tamil Nadu due to Muv vendars (three kings of Chera, Chola and Pandyas). See maps.

The biggest temple structure in the world in 1010 ad, was the Brihadeeswarar Temple, aka, BIG TEMPLE in Thanjavur, thier capital. It's 217 feet tall, almost 20 floors high (assuming 10 feet for a floor level). And on top of it, is a 80 tonne monolithic rock, which was transported using elephants and bullocks over a ramp, and the ramp started 6 kms away from temple  

It's onething to build Burj khalifa, Empire state building or Eiffel tower in modern era using steel, diesel engines, quarries, cranes and electricity. It's another thing to do it in an Era when none of this was there, using just animal power and basic hand tools. The only comparion in medieval period of such tall structure would be leaning tower of Pisa, 57m completed in 1372. The cholas built almost 4 times taller structure in 1010ad, 350 years back. And The big temple is standing tall and survived 8 major earthquakes in 1000 years and it did not lean like Pisa tower. And this temple had over 1000 sculptures!!

Do you know the Dam built by Karikala chola, Kallanai, or grand Anicut dam is 2000 years old and still being used. It's only one among the 4 oldest dams in the whole world still being used.

Do you know, Tamil Chola King Ellalan (Manu Needhi Cholan), statue is in Chennai high Court? Why? His son killed a calf accidentally with his chariot. The cow came and asked the king for justice. In return the king, killed his own son, with the same chariot, to render justice to his Subject, who was an animal (cow).

Magna Carta or Charter of Liberties, drafted by the British and published in 1215, is considered one of the most important documents in human history. It says that each and every individual is equal before the law. The document has become the basis of many democratic countries’ model of a republic. Cholas 500 years before that, laid written rules for democracy. The three major aspects of democracy found in the Chola administration were decentralisation of powers, people-friendly taxation and judicial system sans heinous punishments. These are all in stone inscriptions even today.

We talk of super empires like Roman empire (27BC to 400ad) to British empire to USA, pause and think there was one dynasty in South India who ruled for 1500 years a comparable land area, very efficiently and effectively using high culture, high engineering, justice and democracy. 

Cholas contribution to Indian and world civilisation include the following : Chola bronzes, rust proof steel (Wootz steel), mettalurgy, architecture, civil engineering, dams, water works, irrigation canals, self governance, women's empowerment, powerful queens, food production, agricultural innovation, Naval innovation, economic and trading innovations, jurisprudence and constitution.

If you watch, Mani Ratnams film, Ponniyin Selvan, a classic like Ben Hur and Last Emperor you will get a good visual idea of their era. See pic.

As an Indian, and also a world citizen, you must be proud, we had such an ancient and glorious civilization, contributing a lot to welfare of mankind across the globe. 

Brihadeeswarar Temple aka the BIG TEMPLE TANJORE. 271 feet, almost 20 stories high, built in 1010AD, without electricity cranes diesel engines stone cutters etc. Survived 8 earth quakes

Chola empire 

Maurya empire

Mughal empire 

Angor Wat in Cambodia, built centuries later, seems modeled after Big temple in 

1000 plus such Sculptures on temples

Ancient Tamil script

Paintings on Ceiling 

...

Was fortunate to visit all the three UNESCO heritage sites on a motorcycle. 

1. Brihadeeswarar Temple, Tanjore built by Raja Raja Chola. 

2. Brihadeeswarar Temple, at Gangai konda Cholapuram built by his son Rajendra Chola. 

3. Airavathesvara Temple, built by his grand son, Raja Raja Chola II. All these three are dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Brihadeeswarar Temple, Tanjore, 1st UNESCO Heritage site, built by Raja Raja Chola in 1010CE more than 1000 years back a 208 feet intricately sculptured structure which still stands strong without and lean, after surviving many earth quakes. 

The world perhaps knows better, Leaning tower of Pisa, completed 350 years later in 1372 CE at shorter at 183 feet. I'm glad it's a UNESCO heritage site now atlast.

Gangai konda Cholapuram (GKC), 2nd UNESCO Heritage site, built by Rajendra Chola in 1035CE. He had the largest empire among any Indian emperor then. Whole of South India + Orissa + Bengal + Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia. Chola influence on sculptures is seen in Angor Wat temple.

Rajendra chola imagined being crowned by Lord Shiva and Parvati at Gangai konda Cholapuram (GKC)

The hard rock is very difficult to carve especially on the ceiling.

The Brilliant Tamil movie PS1 & PS2 (Ponniyin Selvan 1 & 2) directed by Mani Ratnam will give you a visual idea of that era in a movie. It's a world cinema classic like Ben Hur, Last Emperor etc.

DARASURAM, near Kumbakonam, 3rd UNESCO Heritage site, built by Raja Raja Chola II (Son of Rajendra snd grand son of Raja Raja) in 1166CE.

If you have not seen, even one of the above temples, you have missed something important in life. I encourage you to visit atleast the BIG TEMPLE in Tanjore, like how Taj Mahal is a must see in India. 

The Cholas. Respect. Salute.

Nash Narasimhan Tupil 

JUNE 2024