Vijayalaya Chola facts for kids

{{Infobox royalty | title = Parakesari | image = vijayalaya territories.png | caption = Vijayalaya's Territories c. 850 CE | reign = c. 847 – c. 871 CE

Vijayalaya Chola(in Tamil: விஜயாலய சோழன்) was a powerful king in South India. He lived from about 847 CE to 871 CE. Vijayalaya started the great Chola Empire. He ruled the land north of the Kaveri River. Vijayalaya Chola was a descendant of Karikala Chola. Karikala was a famous Chola king from a very old time called the Sangam age. After Vijayalaya, his son Aditya Chola Ibecame king. Aditya I helped make the Chola Empire even stronger.

Contents

• The Chola Kingdom's Quiet Time
• Cholas Under Other Rulers
• How Vijayalaya Chola Rose to Power
• Pandyan Attack on the Cholas
• What Inscriptions Tell Us About Vijayalaya
• Images for kids

The Chola Kingdom's Quiet Time

The ancient Chola kingdom was once very famous. People wrote about it in Tamil literature and in books by Greek traders and mapmakers. But around 300 CE, the Chola kingdom became less powerful. It almost disappeared from its homeland.

The Cholas seemed to hold onto their old capital city, Uraiyur. This quiet time in Tamil history ended when the Pandyas and Pallavas became strong. The Cholas had to wait about 300 years. Then, Vijayalaya came to power in the 800s. He helped the Chola dynasty rise again.

Cholas Under Other Rulers

We do not know much about the Cholas during this long period. But we do know that the Cholas became very weak. The Pandyas and Pallavas grew strong around them. The Chola dynasty had to find safety and support from these more powerful groups.

Even though the Cholas were not as mighty as before, they did not disappear completely. They still controlled a small area. This area included parts of modern Tamil Nadu, like Mayiladuturai, Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Trichy, and Pudukkottai.

How Vijayalaya Chola Rose to Power

There was a big war between the Pandyas and the Pallavas. Vijayalaya used this chance to become important. He captured the city of Thanjavur. Historians once found it hard to know where Vijayalaya Chola came from. He is seen as the founder of the Medieval Chola dynasty.

But recently, new information has been found. Copper plates from other kings and old writings suggest Vijayalaya Chola was indeed from the Chola family. This family traced its roots back to the ancient king Karikala Cholan.

During this time, the Pallavas and Pandyas were fighting for control of South India. Vijayalaya saw this as a good chance. He defeated the Pandyas. Then he became the ruler of Thanjavur and the lands around it. He also defeated the Pallavas.

Vijayalaya Chola took Thanjavur from Elango Mutharaiyar. Elango Mutharaiyar was the last ruler of the Mutharaiyar dynasty. It is said that in 852 CE, Vijayalaya Chola fought and defeated the Pandyas. He started the Chola kingdom in Thanjavur with help from a Muttaraiyar king named Sattan Paliyilli. Later, the Cholas became so strong that the Pallavas were also pushed out of the Thanjavur region.

Pandyan Attack on the Cholas

After Vijayalaya captured Thanjavur, the Pandyan king Varagunavarman II became a friend of the Pallava king Nandivarman III. Nandivarman wanted to stop the Chola power from growing under Vijayalaya. So, he asked Varagunavarman to help him.

Varaguna led his army into the Chola country. The Pandyan army reached the north bank of the Kaveri River near Thanjavur. For a short time, it looked like the Chola comeback would end quickly. Vijayalaya was old and sick by this time. He had fought in many battles.

Some records say that Vijayalaya lost his kingdom to the Pandyas. His son Aditya I was not strong enough yet. So, Vijayalaya became a king who paid taxes to the Pandyas. However, the Chola kings who came after him later conquered the Pandyan kingdom.

What Inscriptions Tell Us About Vijayalaya

The Tiruvalangadu plates are old writings on copper. They say that Vijayalaya captured Thanjavur and made it his capital city. He also built a temple there for the goddess Nisumbhasudani, who is a form of Durga. The Kanyakumari inscription says he made the city of Tanjore new again.

Vijayalaya took the special title of Parakesarivarman. Chola kings after him took turns using the titles Parakesari and Rajakesari. This was probably to honor their ancestors named Parakesari and Rajakesari.

There is a temple in Narttamalai, Pudukkottai, called the Solesvara temple. People believe Vijayalaya built this temple.

Images for kids

Vijayalaya's Territories c. 850 CE

Military career
Born	Uraiyur
Died	Around 884 CE Kalahasti
Service/branch	Chola army Pallava Governor

Flag of the Chola Kingdom