Who was Raja Raja I?

• His reign marked a golden era for the Chola Empire through extensive military conquests, administrative reforms, and cultural patronage.
• Ponniyin Selvan (The Son of Ponni) is a Tamil language historical fiction novel with the story of the early days of Prince Raja Raja I (also called Arulmozhivarman).

Here are detailed facts and key events from the reign of Raja Raja I:

Background and Ascension to the Throne:

• Full Name: Arulmozhivarman, popularly known as Raja Raja Chola I.
• Reign:
  • He reigned from 985 AD to 1014 AD, taking the throne following the death of his father Sundara Chola.
  • He was succeeded by Rajendra I.

Military Conquests:

Raja Raja I embarked on several military campaigns that significantly expanded the Chola Empire.

• He conquered parts of what is now Tamil Nadu, northern parts of Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, consolidating the Chola influence across the region.
• His most notable military achievement was the conquest of the ancient Chera capital of Mahodayapuram and the invasion of Sri Lanka, where he captured the northern half of the island.
• Nagapattinam Port was his major naval base.
• His success allowed his son Rajendra Chola to lead the Chola invasion of Srivijaya (Sumatra) and Kadaram (Malaysia).

Administrative Reforms:

• He streamlined the administrative structure of the empire with precise revenue collection and management systems.
• He implemented a well-organized provincial administration with efficient governance, dividing his empire into various provinces under the control of local governors.

Cultural Contributions and Temple Building:

Raja Raja I was a great patron of the arts and architecture. Under his reign, Chola architecture and Tamil literature flourished.

• Construction of the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur (Dravidian style).
• Completed in 1010 AD
• He also supported the revival of Hinduism and promoted Shaivism, actively endowing temples and supporting the livelihood of the temple priests. He called himself ‘Shivapada Shekhara’.
• He also allowed for the flourishing of other religious practices for example Vaishnavism and Buddhism.

Trade and Diplomacy:

• His reign saw an increase in trade and diplomatic contacts with far-off kingdoms, including those in Southeast Asia.
• The Chola navy played a crucial role in protecting and enhancing trade routes in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
• To promote trade, Rajaraja sent the first Chola mission to China.

PYQ:

[2020] Consider the following events in the history of India:

1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja.
2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I.
3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka-I.
4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala.

What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

(a) 2 – 1 – 4 – 3

(b) 3 – 1 – 4 – 2

(c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3

(d) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2