Rajendra Chola I - Chola Dynasty | Anuradhapura Chola - (1018 - 1044) - Sri Lankan History - Kings - Governors - Prisidents

Rajendra Chola I

Chola Dynasty | Anuradhapura Chola - (1018 - 1044)

King Mahinda V, who was taken to the Chola country as a captive in 1017, passed away there in 1029. From that time until King Vijayabahu subdued Chola power and restored the Sinhala throne in 1070, the entire period was one of anarchy for the Sinhalese of the Rajarata. The earlier part of this period has already been explained with reference to several rulers who acted to preserve the independence of a portion of the Rohana country. The Sinhalese never accepted an invading ruler as their king. They recognized as their supreme ruler only a leader whom they could regard as their own, even if he held power over only a small part of the country. Therefore, it is correct to refer to all the rulers of Rohana as kings until Vijayabahu obtained the title of Adipada in Rohana. Since Rajarata was then in the hands of the Cholas, it is necessary to make at least a brief inquiry into their system of administration and their activities. When the short accounts given earlier about these rulers are examined, two facts become clear. First, the Cholas were constantly engaged in efforts to prevent the unification of the Sinhalese. Second, there was no unity among the leaders in Rohana, nor had a legitimate heir to the throne yet emerged. Because of this situation, various powerful figures attempted to become rulers of Rohana, but none was able to subdue the Cholas. They also failed to gain sufficient support from the Sinhalese. The Cholas acted with the intention of maintaining their power without allowing any Sinhala force to arise. This policy appears to have continued up to the reign of the Chola ruler Kulottunga. With these two factors in mind, the Chola administration must be examined. In general, the administrative system followed by the Cholas in this country appears to have largely continued the system that existed earlier. Apart from the annual payment of tribute to the Chola king and the execution of orders received from the Chola ruler, the existing Sinhala administrative structure seems to have remained largely unchanged. This was a policy commonly followed by Indian empires: governing conquered territories according to their established systems. No records have been found regarding Chola officials who governed Lanka or about specific laws they enforced. A short inscription found on a stone brought from Mannar to build the Dutch fort at Hammenhiel near Urathota (Kayts) in Jaffna records the name of the Chola general who invaded Lanka. According to this inscription, his name was Muvendavelar. It also states that the wealth of King Mahinda V and his queen was sent to the Chola king. Another inscription found there mentions a royal servant named Kayankusarattu Amudan Chattan. There is no doubt that immense destruction occurred in this island due to the conquest and the wars fought with Rohana during the Chola administration. Loss of life was significant, and it is also beyond doubt that the wealth of this country was carried off to the Chola land. Rajaraja I built a Shiva temple in Polonnaruwa, which was named after his chief queen, Vanavanmahadevi. A temple built in Mannar by one of his provincial officials was named Rajarajeshvaram. It appears that another temple was also constructed at Padhavi. However, prior to the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505, no invader who conquered this country attempted to destroy Buddhism and propagate his own religion or forcibly convert the population. Likewise, there is no evidence that the Cholas attempted to establish Shaivism here by building temples, nor is there evidence that their devadasi system existed here. Nevertheless, it is clear that Chola influence contributed to the infiltration of deities into Buddhism and to the emergence of caste divisions among the Sinhala people. It also appears that villages in Lanka paid taxes for the maintenance of certain temples in India. Coins of both Rajaraja I and Rajendra II have been found in Lanka. Engaging in constant warfare with Rohana, Chola rule appears to have remained here until approximately 1029–1070 CE. Although Chola inscriptions claim that Lanka was entirely a subject territory of the Chola Empire, this is incorrect. It is clear that their effective power extended only over the northern part of the island. It is also important to record a few words about the Chola policy toward Buddhism. Sinhala chronicles describe the Cholas as fierce enemies of Buddhism. Although they did not attempt to forcibly impose their religion on the people, it is clear that they caused extensive destruction to monasteries and temples. While their administration displayed some moderate characteristics, they acted with extreme brutality during conflicts with Rohana. It is evident that there were Buddhists among the Cholas and also patrons of Buddhism. Among the Tamil inscriptions at the Velgam Vihara in the Trincomalee region are inscriptions dating to the reign of Rajendra I. This monastery was named Rajaraja-perumpalli by Tamil Buddhists, after King Rajaraja I, although it was not founded by them. It was a Buddhist monastery that originated in the pre-Christian era. The Tamil inscriptions indicate that Tamil Buddhists made various donations there. One inscription states: “In the fifteenth regnal year of King Rajendra, thirty-five cows were donated to the Buddha at the Rajaraja Maha Palli, known as Velgam Vihara, at Manamattu village in the Parakesari country.” Another inscription includes high praise for the Chola king in connection with the conveyance of the queens and royal regalia of the king of this country. There is no doubt that the Cholas devastated this country during their conquest. They destroyed monasteries and temples and broke dams and irrigation works—the lifeblood of the Rajarata civilization—thereby suppressing the spirit of the Sinhalese. Constantly vigilant to destroy any unity among the Sinhalese, the Cholas crushed Sinhala power whenever such unity arose. However, they were unable to suppress the Sinhalese struggle for liberation, which repeatedly revived despite setbacks. Gradually, their empire declined and weakened. The Chola rulers became entangled in fierce wars with the Western Chalukyas, leading to the gradual decline of the Chola Empire. Veera Rajendra, who ascended the throne in 1063, was compelled to focus intensely on warfare with the Western Chalukyas. He prioritized defending his homeland over maintaining control of a distant island. Moreover, during this period, Chola–Chalukya marriage alliances and related factors gave rise to internal disputes over royal succession. As a result, the Cholas could no longer operate as effectively as their predecessors. Internal rebellions over succession further weakened them, causing their attention to drift away from this island. At this juncture, the Sinhalese realized that the time had come to achieve their liberation. Under Prince Kirti, Rohana grew stronger, and the liberation struggle was initiated as a result. After the Cholas captured King Mahinda V through deception and took him away as a captive, Chola rule in Lanka lasted for seventy-seven years. The Pujavaliya and the Nikaya Sangrahaya state that it lasted eighty years. This period includes the reigns of six regional rulers from King Kassapa VI, who ruled Rohana, to Lokeshvara, as well as the early period of King Vijayabahu I.