Monday 6 February 2017

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.


Saturday 4 February 2017

The Supreme, Alcohol and the Republic (and some kids)


The Headline and News story goes thus: An unlicensed (not that that mattered) beverages outlet (for the uninitiated, beverages sell alcohol) was shut down by the students of Holy Angels ISC, in Thiruvananthapuram/Trivandrum. Yay!!!! (News In Malayalam here)
But there are bad things in this feel good story.

So listen up, as I tell you a story of our Kritarchy [Rule of Judges] that is the Republic of India.
So the great and venerable Supreme Court in its most pious beliefs ordered (nay, commanded) that all liquor shops on National Highways and State highways be done away with, and no sign of Liquor shops displayed on them and that they keep a distance of more than 500 m from the NH or SH.
And other such like which the most blessed judges of the great court commanded in their great wisdom!
To the most preeminent court, the Right to Profession was no right available to those who sell these crude vapors, corrupting saintly men and women.
For it is but res extra commercium(1), no right to sell liquor, a divine aberration corrupting our souls. But forget that.
You might think that the court constrains itself to some directives that make sense to poor and common men like me!
But the Court is not you or me, the court is incorruptible and the source of all good in this most excellent Republic, with such wonders as the Emergency and The Enforced Patriotism. (Don't Forget Guha)
And  which has given orders that baffle my humble brain and indeed of many others.
But I Digress.
The liquor lobby, oh, but was unshaken by this most chivalrous display of righteousness by the most stately Supreme!
We'll move them of course, and people will still buy them. They said, Those who want their stuff get it. They always do.
Just ask Gujarat.
But let me come to the news at hand.
These young kids, O so beautiful! and O so lovely!
Protesting against an unlicensed liquor shop, which propped up there because the court think it ain't commerce.(to sell’em beverage liquor)
Bad indeed, and the children protested and got it closed down. No villains here, children against liquor.
But there is some bad. Not this particular case, but think about it.

Take into account the Five Star hotels & Alcohol in Kerala.

Only the rich can drink and that is how it should be!
The poor are but buffoons who can handle nothing but native white, German piss and divine blood.
Of course, of course, wine cannot be divine and an aberration at the same time.
Let me correct my earlier thought, Wine is not an alcohol.
Forgive me, divine one.
We must not allow such substances into our mind or body,
For it corrupts us from within, especially Young women!
What do you think will become of those babies you are destined to produce!
Oh the horror! oh the horror!
Do not be merry, do not drink!
Do not touch such stuff because too much is bad!
No need to control or regulate, just ban!
because some people are stupid.
Some people get addicted to it, so ban it!
Don't open de addiction centers or promote responsible drinking
Just ban them, outright.
Some men abuse it, so let all men beware
because some women use it and they get raped by men
Just ban it
Ban it outright.
because after you ban, the state, The state, so powerful and graceful will stop its flow.
No more of alcohol anywhere. No tragedies will be encountered. No spurious liquor or death no scam or such.
Just Ask Al Capone or Gujarat.
Let us not drink. Let us not be merry.
Let us not cheer. Let us be dead.

I pray for a day this malfeasance is dead, and no wrong plays the earth.
For that day I pray for.
O, But the Court! It is not to blame is it?
It is to court law, and law says res extra commercium, no right to sell liquor.
They are the Supreme! They are the divine!
But I tell the court: those who want to kill, will kill, those want to die will die, Those who want to drink will drink, and those who will drink and drive will still drink and drive.
Let us see, let us see, O, Supreme One, when thy grand order comes into full effect on April the first of Twenty-Seventeen whether no more drunk driving happens in NHs and SHs, but only in small bylanes and Panchayat Roads. Let us see, Let us see!


Note 1: Res Extra Commercium is a Legal Doctrine (Origin in the Roman Law) that sets out that some items cannot be subject to private rights, Alcohol is considered one such.