I had posted an article that the Tamil Chola Kings were the descendents of Lord Rama’s Ikshvahu Dynasty and posted the list of Kings.
I have come across information on the origin of the term ‘Chola’ and the founder of Chola Dynasty.
There seems to have been three distinct Cholas.
King Rajaraja Chola
1.The Pre Sangam Cholas belonging to Ikshvahu Dynasty.
2.The later Cholas, of whom the Great Rajaraja Chola was one.He built the Thanjavur Brahadeswara temple and established an Empire extending from the Godavari Basin in the north to Sri Lanka,then called Elam.( Fifth century BC to Third Century AD),
3.Rettapadi Cholas, who ruled in and from what is now called Andhra Pradesh.
The word Chola, according to Col.Gerini, is from the Sanskrit word Kaala, or Kola meaning black, indicating that the ancestors of the Cholas were pre historic Dravidians who were black.The word Kola became Chola, avers Gerini.
But Tamil Grammar does not lend to this view.
Another view is that the word Chola came from the word ,’Choozh,சூழ்’, meaning ‘surround.
The earlier group of the Cholas were possibly Nomads ,traveling widely in around Tamil Nadu and later when they formed a Kingdom, the term became Chola.
Scholars think, rightly so, that this explanation is quite labored.
There is yet another explanation.
The name Chola is the name of the Dynasty by itself,
The first King named, according to Kanyakumari epigraph ,, founChola Varman founded the Chola Dynasty.
Chola Varman started chasing Raksasa Rajanijaran, who assumed the shape of a Deer .
He chased the Deer and killed it.
Then he took bath in the River Cauvery.
On not being able to find a Brahmin anywhere nearby, he brought Brahmins from the north, provided them with lands and cows and ensured that they performed the Yagnyas.
The land became prosperous, the Tamil word for this is ‘ செழித்தது’
This word became Cholas .
Chola Varman’s successors stated using this term ever since.
Chola Varman is from the Surya Vamsa, Solar Dynasty( to which Lord Rama belonged).
He is the descendant of Manu.
He was from the Kashyapa Gotra.
This information is from the Kanakumari Epigraphs.
Many Tamil Scholars do not agree to this stating that one need accept information contained in the epigraph or Copperplates to be true because they are found there.
Second objection is that the narration of one turning into a deer is not possible.
The same scholars quote the same Kanyakumari epigraph to validate information on the other Cholas .
They also accept the Anbil, Uthiramerut epigraphy.
But when one finds a reference to Sanatana Dharma, they immediately find curious arguments to deny the facts.
The theory that Cholavarman founded the Chola dynasty seems to tally with my theory that Vaivastha Manu left from Dravida Desa to North because of a Tsunami to found Ikshvahu Dynasty.
I shall be writing another version from Thiruvaalkaadu Plates.
And that seems to be more credible and backed by cross reference to Purana list of Ikshvaku,Puri Dynaties.
Please read my post Rama’s ancestors Dravida.
Citation.
First Rajaraja Chola by K.D. Thirunavukkarasu, published by Ananda Vikatan Press.
The term Pandya means ‘very Old'(பண்டைய) as against Cholas who were classified as new.
The Pandyas were in close liaison with the Pandavas of the Mahabharata.
Pandyan Kings took part in the Mahabharata War .(Karna Parav 20.25)
Arjuna and Krishna married Pandyan princesses and had children through them.
During the period of Ramayana, Sugriva advises his monkeys to search for Sita in the Kingdoms of Chera, Chola and Pandyas.
‘
And, O Yudhishthira, in the country of the Pandyas are the tirthas named Agastya and Varuna! And, O bull among men, there, amongst the Pandavas, is the tirtha called the Kumaris. Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that asylum the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of obtaining salvation. In that region also is the lake of Gokarna which is celebrated over the three worlds, hath an abundance of cool waters, and is sacred, auspicious, and capable, O child, of producing great merit. That lake is extremely difficult of access to men of unpurified souls. Mahabharatha 3:88[28]
And similarly, Pandya, who dwelt on the coast-land near the sea, came accompanied by troops of various kinds to Yudhishthira, the king of kings. Mahabharatha 5:19
Steeds that were all of the hue of the Atrusa flower bore a hundred and forty thousand principle car-warriors that followed that Sarangadhwaja, the king of the Pandyas. Mahabharatha 7.23.
References abound in Tamil Classics about the relationship between Sanatana Dharma and the Tamil Kings.
First reference of the Pandyas is the Parantaka Pandya who fought with Karikal Chola.
The Forty Kings mentioned before Karikala are not found to be recorded.
Yet references are found in the Ithihasa and Puranas about the Pandyas.
My inference is that Pandya Kingdom at Then Madurai then, was swallowed by a Tsunami and records might have been lost.
One surviving record is that Ravana signed a Peace Treaty with a Pandya King.
Please read my Post on this.
So, both the Chola and Pandya Dynasties date back to Ramayana period, if not earlier, for there are refernces in the Vedas about Tamil Nadu spices.
Probably Cholas and Pandyas belong to the same Family Tree of Manu, albeit descended from Cousins.
If there is one One culture ,One advanced civilization that matches the Sanatana Dharma, it is the Tamil Culture, Literature .
It has been in existence for such a long period that the Vedas and Puranas quote Tamil language,Culture,Spices,Pearls,Elephant Tusks, Tamil Scholars.
Chola Dyansty Time Line.
Valmiki has written a Tamil Classic,Vanmikar Arupthu,Vlmiki’s Sixty, a work dealing with practical life and Philosophy.
Ramayana describes the princes from Tail Kingdom being present in Sita’s Swamvar.
Mahabharata speaks similarly on Draupadi’s Swayamvar.
Chera King Udiyan Chralathan fed both the Panadava and kaurava Armies during the Mahabharata War.
The Pandya King fought along with the Pandavas as the Pandya Princess was married to Arjuna.
Krishna married a Pandyan Princess,Pandyah, Megasthanes says and had a daughter through her.
Arjuna married a Pandya Princess and had a son Babruvahana, who was the only person who killed Arjuna,that Arjuna was revived is another matter.
In its turn Tamil quotes extensively the Vedas.
A King Sibi was the ancestor of Rama.
There are numerous references that speak of the close relationship of the South Dravida with the Sanatana Dharma.
I have posted extensively on this in posts where it is warranted(Under Hinduism/Tamils)
I have posted an article, based on archeological, geographical evidence that Lord Rama’s ancestor Vaivaswatha Manu migrated from the South to Ayodhya to found his kingdom.
Shiva with his son Ganesha left by the Arabian sea towards the middle east.
Now let us consider the following .
Tamil People settlement dates back to Palaeolithic Age.
That is Prehistoric Age, 1,510,000 BCE until around 3000 BCE.
A discovery of a rare fossilized baby brain in Viluppuram district, by a team of archeologists was reported in April 2003, It is estimated to be about 187,000 years – 200,000 years or older.
Then came the Neolithic and Iron Ages.
Considering the fact that Sibi and manu Needi were Cholas and are quoted by extensively by Puranas and Tamil Literature, there is definitely a possibility that the Cholas descended from the Solar Dynasty.
Cross checking with the Thirvalangadu Copperplate, the Dynasty of the Tamil Kings are traced back to Solar Dynasty.
El Mei Agguvan a.k.a. Keezh nedu mannan C. 2680 BCE
Mudiko Mei Kaalaiyam Thagaiyan C. 2650 BCE
Ilangok keezh kaalaiyan thagaiyan a.k.a. Ilangeezh nannan C. 2645 BCE -start of Kadamba lineage by his brother Aai Keezh Nannan
Kaalaiyan gudingyan C. 2630 BCE
Nedun gaalayan dhagayan C. 2615 BCE
Vaengai nedu vael varaiyan C.2614 BCE
Vaet kaal kudingyan C. 2600 BCE
Maei Ila vael varaiyan C. 2590 BCE
Sibi Vendhi C. 2580 BCE
Paru nonji chaamazhingyan C. 2535 BCE
Vaeqratrtri chembiya chozhan C. 2525 BCE
Saamazhi chozhiya vaelaan C. 2515 BCE
Uthi ven gaalai thagan C. 2495 BCE
Nannan that kaalai thagan C. 2475 BCE
Vel vaen mindi C. 2445 BCE
Nedun jembiyan C. 2415 BCE
Nedu nonji Vendhi C. 2375 BCE
Maei Vael paqratrtri C. 2330 BCE
Aai Perun thoan nonji C. 2315 BCE
Kudiko pungi C. 2275 BCE
Perun goep poguvan C. 2250 BCE
Koeth thatrtri C. 2195 BCE
Vadi sembiyan C. 2160 BCE
Aalam poguvan C. 2110 BCE
Nedun jembiyan C. 2085 BCE
Perum paeyar poguvan C. 2056 BCE
Kadun jembiyan C. 2033 BCE
Nedun kathan C. 2015 BCE
Paru nakkan C. 1960 BCE
Vani sembiyan C. 1927 BCE
Udha chira mondhuvan C. 1902 BCE
Perun kaththan C. 1875 BCE
Kadun kandhalan C. 1860 BCE
Nakka monjuvan C. 1799 BCE
Maarko vael Maandhuvan Aaththikko C. 1786 BCE
Musukunthan Vaendhi C. 1753 BCE
Peru nakkan Thatrtri C. 1723 BCE
Vaer kaththan C. 1703 BCE
Ambalaththu Irumundruvan C. 1682 BCE
Kaari mondhuvan C. 1640 BCE
Vennakkan Thatrtri C. 1615 BCE
Maarko chunthuvan C. 1565 BCE
Vaer parunthoan mundruvan C. 1520 BCE
Udhan kaththan C. 1455 BCE
Kaariko sunthuvan C. 1440 BCE
Vendri nungunan C. 1396 BCE
Mondhuvan Vendhi C. 1376 BCE
Kaandhaman C. 1359 BCE
Mundruvan Vendhi C. 1337 BCE
Kaandhaman C. 1297 BCE
Monjuvan Vendhi C. 1276 BCE
Ani sembiyan C. 1259 BCE
Nungunan Vendhi C. 1245 BCE
Maarkop perum Cenni C. 1229 BCE
Monjuvan Nanvendhi C. 1180 BCE
Kop perunar chenni C. 1170 BCE
Monthuvan jembiyan C. 1145 BCE
Narchenni C. 1105 BCE
Caet chembiyan C. 1095 BCE
Nakkar chenni C. 1060 BCE
Parun jembiyan C.1045 BCE
Venjenni C. 998 BCE
Musugunthan C. 989 BCE
Maarkop perun jembiyan C. 960 BCE
Nedunjenni C.935 BCE
Thatchembiyan C. 915 BCE
Ambalaththu iruvaer chembiyan C. 895 BCE
Kaariko chenni C. 865 BCE
Venvaer chenni C. 830 BCE
Kaandhaman, C. 788 BCE
Kaandhalan C. 721 BCE
Caetchenni C. 698 BCE
Vani nungunan C. 680 BCE
Mudhu sembiyan Vendhi C. 640 BCE
Peelan jembiyach chozhiyan C. 615 BCE
Maeyan gadungo C. 590 BCE
Thiththan C. 570 BCE
Perunar killi Porvaiko C. 515 BCE
Kadu mundruvan C. 496 BCE
Kopperunjozhan C. 495 BCE
Narkilli Mudiththalai C. 480 BCE
Thevvan go chozhan C. 465 BCE
Naran jembiyan C. 455 BCE
Nakkam peela valavan C. 440 BCE
Iniyan thevvan jenni C. 410 BCE
Varcembiyan C. 395BCE
Nedun jembiyan C. 386 BCE
Nakkan aran jozhan C. 345 BCE
Ambalathu irungoch chenni C. 330 BCE
Perunar killi C. 316 BCE
Kochaet Cenni C. 286 BCE
Cerupazhi Erinda Ilanjaetcenni, C. 275 BCE
Nedungop perunkilli C. 220 BCE
Cenni Ellagan C. 205 BCE
Perun gilli C. 165 BCE
Kopperun jozhiyav ilanjaetcenni C. 140 BCE
Perunar killi Mudiththalai ko C. 120 BCE
PerumpootCenni C. 100 BCE
Ilam perunjenni C. 100 BCE
Perungilli Vendhi aka Karikaalan I C. 70 BCE
Nedumudi Killi C. 35 BCE
Ilavanthigaipalli Thunjiya Maei Nalangilli Caet Cenni, C. 20 BCE
Aai Vaenalangilli C. 15 BCE
Uruvapakraer Ilanjaetcenni, C. 10 – 16 CE
16 CE – 30 CE Kingdom ruled by a series of Uraiyur chieftains
Karikaalan II Peruvalaththaan, C. 31 CE
Vaer paqradakkai Perunar killi, C. 99 CE
Perun thiru mavalavan, Kuraapalli Thunjiya C. 99 CE
Nalangilli C. 111 CE
Perunarkilli, Kula mutrtraththu Thunjiya C. 120 CE
Perunarkilli, Irasasuya vaetta C. 143 CE
Vael kadunkilli C. 192 CE
Kochenganaan C. 220 CE
Nalluruththiran C. 245 CE
Many scholars dispute this despite evidence from from the Puranas and Chola Inscriptions.
Purana evidence is disputed despite the fact the geographical features mentioned in them, Kings reign tally with other verified facts and accredited by archeology.
Chola inscription are also not due credence because it happens to be excavated mostly by Indians and it does not agree with the concocted story of Aryan Invasion Theory.
What a scholarship!
The fact that Ramas’ ancestor was from the South, the Floods mentioned in the Tamil Classics tally with this event, I am of the opinion that the Cholas descended from te common parentage of Lord Rama.
One group migrated to North, another towards the Middle-east and yet another survived and stayed back in the south.
* I will be tracing the Pandya and Chra Dynasty as well.
The more one reads Sanskrit Literature,Tamil ,Puranas , Ramayana and Mahabharata, one finds a connection between the Sanatana Dharma and their Dravidian roots.
I have posted a few articles on this subject.
Trincomalee Temple.
Of Lord Rama’s ancestor having lived in the south and migrated to Ayodhya to establish the Kingdom.
Of a Chera King having participated in the Mahabharata War,of his having performed Tharpana for those killed in the Mahabharata war.
Of Arjuna marrying a Pandya Princess.
There is more,
Of King Sibi and Manu Needhi Chola.
King Sibi cut his own flesh to for a hawk to save a dove.
Many Needhi Cholan ran his son over for rendering Justice to a Cow.
Cholas carry the name Chembian, Tamil version of Sibi.
Sibi is dated between c 100 C.E. to c. 1250 C.E.
Manu Needhi Cholan was also called Ellala’,one who ruled the Boundary’
He is reported to have expanded the Koneswaram Temple in Sr Lanka.
Developed from 205 BC, the original kovil combined key features to form its basic Dravidian temple plan, such as its thousand pillared hall – “Aayiram Kaal Mandapam” – and the Jagati expanded by King ElaraManu Needhi Cholan. Regarded as the greatest building of its age for its architecture, elaborate sculptural bas-relief ornamentation adorned a black granite megalith while its multiple gold plated gopuram towers were expanded in the medieval period.(wiki)
Ellalan got the title Manu Needhi Cholan because he has executed his own son to provide justice to a Cow. Legend has it that the king hung a giant bell in front of his courtroom for anyone needing justice to ring. One day, he came out on hearing the ringing of the bell by a Cow. On enquiry he found that the Calf of that Cow was killed under the wheels of his chariot. In order to provide justice to the cow, he killed his own son Veedhividangan under the chariot as a punishment to himself i.e. make himself suffer as much as the cow.[5] Impressed by the justice of the king, Lord Shiva blessed him and brought back the calf and his son alive. He has been mentioned in theSilappatikaram and Periya Puranam.[6]His name has since then been used as a metaphor for fairness and justice in Tamil literature. His capital was Thiruvarur.
Chronicles such as the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and stone inscriptions like Konesar Kalvettu recount that Kulakkottan, an early Chola king and descendant of Manu Needhi Cholan, was the restorer of the ruined Koneswaram temple and tank at Trincomalee in 438 A.D., theMunneswaram temple of the west coast, and as the royal who settled ancient Vanniyars in the east of the island Eelam(wiki)
I received a well-informed comment for my blog ‘ Arunagiri,The Back round of Madurai Adheenam from MrS.Gomathi Sankar on the relationship of Pandyan Nedumaran, Mangayayakarasiyaar,Raja Raja Cholan .
His information is correct.
Kulachchirai and Mamalla were friends and Mangayarkkarasi was married to Kulachchirai,who was Nedumaran’s Minister.
My mistake was to say it was Raja Raja instead of Mamalla.
I am sorry to post a wrong information and I will be happy to receive corrections of my blogs from informed readers.
Thank you Gomathi Sankar.
I am providing the following information to confirm Mr,Gomathi Sankar’s information.
“Sambandar, also called Thirugana Sambandar, Tirugnana Sambanthar, Campantar, Champantar, Jnanasambandar, Gnanasambandar) was a youngSaiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived around the 7th century CE.[1]
“The key dates of Raja Raja are difficult to come by, scholar N Sethuraman, concludes that he was born in circa 947 ACE, was crowned on 18 July 985 and died in 1014 in the Tamil month of Maka.[3]
Sorry make some of the corrections in your blog olease make note of it sir
mangayarkarasi was the Queen of Madurai and Wife of “Nindra Seer Nedumaran” Pandya King,and kulacheraiyar an close friend of Pandya King nedumaran .Kulacherayar was also the Prime Minister of Pandya Kingdom…
And they Belongs to 7th century…… Raja Raja Chola is not born at that period…..
that time is the black era of Cholas whereas Pallavas capture the cholas place where Mamalla Pallavan Who Built Mamallapuram temple was Nedumaran’s relative…
that is Mamallan’s wife and nedumaran belongs to pandya kingdom they were brother and sister…
whereas “Mangayarkarasi” belongs to Chola Kingdom…..
Please Rectify Those Errors
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