Chola Period

Chola Period Inscriptions

• Numerous inscriptions provide details about the Chola Period.
• These inscriptions include copper-plate grants, stone inscriptions, and those on temple walls/pillars.
• Copper-plate grants like Anbil and Karandi, and Kanyakumari stone inscriptions list Chola rulers.
• Sanskrit and Tamil were used in some copper-plate inscriptions.
• Inscriptions record Chola administration, village governance, taxation, temple endowments, and deity images.
• They detail land revenue, resolutions, and legal judgements like theft and murder.
• Inscriptions also document land transfers, sales, and mortgages.

Significance of Chola Inscriptions

• Inscriptions provide insight into Chola administration, including details on the village.
• These records include grants and endowments to temples and Brahmins.
• Inscriptions detail temple construction and new deity installations.
• They also detail taxation and land revenue collected by the Cholas.
• Village assembly resolutions and legal judgements are also recorded on the inscriptions.
• Property rights and sales/mortgages were recorded in inscriptions on temple walls.

Brihadeshwara Temple

• Also known as the Rajarajeshwara Temple.
• Located in Tanjavur, built by Rajaraja I.
• Features a towering vimana (tower) that is 190 feet high.
• A monolithic Shiva Lingam, 8.87 meters high, is a significant part of the shrine.
• Weighing 80 tons, the dome sits atop the tower.
• The temple includes a Nandi Pavilion, pillared portico, and assembly halls.

Rajendra Chola's Achievements

• Conquered Sri Lanka, controlling it for 50 years.
• Expanded his armies eastward to the Ganga River, defeating the king of Bengal.
• Established a new capital city called Gangaikonda-Cholapuram for administrative purposes.
• Defeated the Srivijaya kingdom.
• Expanded Indian trade with Southeast Asia and Southern China.

Rajaraja I's Achievements

• Attacked the Pandyas, Cheras, and parts of Mysore.
• Defeated the ruler of Vengi.
• Conquered the northern part of Sri Lanka.
• Constructed the Rajarajeshwara Temple in Tanjavur.
• Expanded trade and established Chola's supremacy in southern India.

Chola Administration

Central Government

• The king had supreme authority.
• The king often traveled to oversee administration.
• Ministers advised the king in peace and war.
• The central government managed defense, maintaining peace, and overseeing prosperity.

Provincial Government

• The empire was divided into provinces (mandalams).
• Provinces were further divided into smaller units (valanadu and nadu).
• Princes of the royal family governed the provinces.

Revenue System

• Chola revenue came from land taxes, produce taxes, and trade taxes.
• Some revenue was for the king, while the rest funded public works (roads, tanks), official salaries, and the army.
• Village councils collected land taxes.

Chola Temples and Art (General)

• Chola temples were primarily built in the Dravidian style.
• Temples were significant centers of social activity and education.
• Local teachers who were priests taught at the temples.
• Students learned in two languages (Sanskrit and Tamil) at temple schools housed in courtyards.
• Chola artists excelled in sculpting images of gods and goddesses.
• The bronze statue of Nataraja (Lord of Dance) is a hallmark of Chola artistry.
• Important architectural elements like the gopuram (gateway), garbhagriha (shrine), mandapa (hall), and vimana (tower) were part of Chola temple design.

Explore the fascinating world of Chola Period inscriptions, including their various forms such as copper-plate grants and stone inscriptions. This quiz delves into their significance, revealing insights into Chola administration, taxation, and temple endowments. Understand how these records document the socio-economic landscape of ancient Tamil Nadu.