Abstract
Rajaraja Chola I was a powerful king of Chola between 895 BC and 1014 BC. He strengthened the military and economic foundations. Rajaraja’s expansionist ideology and military strength enabled him to subdue many other kingdoms which include Chera, Sri Lanka and Pandyas. During his reign, he centralized operations and divided the dominions under his rule into smaller units for ease administration. The King built the magnificent Brihadeeswarar Temple in Tamil Nadu which has remained one of the greatest architectural works of all time. This paper explores the degree to which such monumental masterpieces portrayed the personality and reign of the rulers. It concludes that such an investment in the temple was in line with Chola’s tradition. The kingdom cherishes architectural grandeur and magnificence which symbolize wealth and power. Brihadeeswarar Temple was built to reflect Chola’s ascension to throne and reinforce Rajaraja Chola I as the greatest king of the Chola.
Historical underpinning of Raja Raja Chola I
The centrality of dynasties in ancient India cannot be gainsaid. The most notable dynasty in the South of India was the Chola dynasty which ruled between 3rd century BCE and 13th century CE. The Cholas ruled in territories replete with fertile valleys, expanding their power to Southern Tungabhadra. For two hundred years, the Chola dynasty promoted unity and cohesion. The Chola dynasty witnessed significant transformation when King Rajaraja Chola I assumed office and took over reign of leadership of Chola. He ruled from 985 BC to 1014 BC (Kulke et al. 2009). The new king exhibited optimism and charisma which made him to be admired and revered by his subordinates across in the kingdom. Rajaraja Chola I recognized weaknesses in the kingdom’s military, cultural, and economic framework and sought to introduce massive changes. Rajaraja Chola I was a powerful King who fought and conquered other kingdoms, thereby stretching his territories farther to the South and northeast. The king fought and won Vengi while staging an invasion of Sri Lanka (Kulke et al 2009). However, the he met harsh resistance from kingdoms such as Pandyas and Chalukyas which had occupied the southern and northern parts respectively. The achievements of Rajaraja Chola I included the overhaul of the administrative system and creation of new districts to enable him rule effectively (Kulke et al. 2009). He carried out surveys of land and regulated revenue collection throughout his territory. Despite these achievements, King Rajaraja Chola I is credited for the construction of the historic Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur city, a monumental architecture which has, hitherto, enriched his legacy and cast him as the greatest King of the Chola Empire.