Uththama Chola
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| Reign | 970 C.E. - 985 C.E. |
| Title | Parakesari |
| Capital | Thanjavur |
| Queen | Sorabbaiyar Tribhuvana-Mahadeviyar Kaduvettigal Nandippottairaiyar Siddhavadavan Suttiyar |
| Children | Madurantaka |
| Predecessor | Parantaka Chola II |
| Successor | Rajaraja Chola I |
| Father | Gandaraditya |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 985 C.E. |
| List of Chola kings | |
|---|---|
| Early Cholas | |
| Ilamcetcenni | Karikala Chola |
| Nedunkilli | Nalankilli |
| Killivalavan | Kopperuncholan |
| Kocengannan | Perunarkilli |
| Interregnum - c 200-848 CE | |
| Medieval Cholas | |
| Vijayalaya Chola | 848-871(?) CE |
| Aditya I | 871-907 CE |
| Parantaka Chola I | 907-950 CE |
| Gandaraditya | 950-957 CE |
| Arinjaya Chola | 956-957 CE |
| Sundara Chola | 957-970 CE |
| Uttama Chola | 970-985 CE |
| Rajaraja Chola I | 985-1014 CE |
| Rajendra Chola I | 1012-1044 CE |
| Rajadhiraja Chola | 1018-1054 CE |
| Rajendra Chola II | 1051-1063 CE |
| Virarajendra Chola | 1063-1070 CE |
| Athirajendra Chola | 1067-1070 CE |
| Chalukya Cholas | |
| Kulothunga Chola I | 1070-1120 CE |
| Vikrama Chola | 1118-1135 CE |
| Kulothunga Chola II | 1133-1150 CE |
| Rajaraja Chola II | 1146-1163 CE |
| Rajadhiraja Chola II | 1163-1178 CE |
| Kulothunga Chola III | 1178-1218 CE |
| Rajaraja Chola III | 1216-1256 CE |
| Rajendra Chola III | 1246-1279 CE |
| Chola Society | |
| Chola Government | Chola Military |
| Chola Art | Chola Literature |
| Poompuhar | Urayur |
| Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Thanjavur |
| Telugu Cholas | |
| [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit ] | |
Uttama Chola ascended the Chola throne c. 970 C.E. succeeding Parantaka Chola II. Uttama was the son of Gandaraditya and the cousin of Parantaka II.
Controversial ascension
The circumstances under which Uttama ascended the Chola throne is surrounded by controversy and mystery. Uttama was the son of Gandaraditya and his queen Sembiyan Mahadeviyar. At the time of Gandarditya’s death Uttama must have been a very young child. Due to his immaturity, his rights to the Chola throne were probably set aside and Gandaraditya’s younger brother Arinjaya was crowned king.
Arinjaya ruled for a very short time – possibly for less than a year and on his death, his son Parantaka II (Sundara Chola) succeeded him. By the time Uttama was old enough to claim the crown, Sundara Chola had two sons – Aditya II and Arunmoli Varman.
c.969 C.E. Aditya II was assassinated under mysterious circumstances. Sundara Chola, heartbroken due to this personal tragedy, seems to have complied to Uttama’s demands to make himself heir apparent. Arunmoli Varman (the future Raraja Chola I) did not oppose this perhaps in order to avoid a civil war. For, according to the Tiruvalangadu plates, after the death of Aditya II Karikala, the people wanted Arunmoli Varman - Aditya II Karikala's brother to be their king, but that noble prince refused to accept the offer saying that so long as his uncle Uttama-Chola was desirous of dominion, he would be satisfied with the heir-apparentship
Uttama’s Role in Aditya II’s Assassination
We learn from an inscription dated during Rajaraja’s time that some the properties of some persons were confiscated as they had been convicted for treason. It is also shown that these persons were involved in the conspiracy to kill Aditya II. We can safely gather that although Aditya II was killed in 969 C.E., no action had been taken by Uttama during his reign to bring justice to the perpetrators. Circumstantial evidence therefore points to Uttama’s culpability in the assassination.
Chola Army and Campaigns
Not much is known about the military conquests of Uttama. The Chola army seems to have been in continued battles with the Pandyas and their ally the Sinhalas in Sri Lanka. Several Chola coins of Uttama have been found in the Pandya country and in Sri Lanka as proof of Uttama’s activities there. A copper-plate inscription stores at the Government museum, Chennai calls him Madhurai Konda (conqueror of Madhurai)It is also known through inscriptions that at least from Uttama Chola's time, warriors were provided with waistcoats of armour.
Paluvettaraiyar Maravan Kandanar is noted as an important general during his reign- he also served under Sundara Chola. His son Kumaran Maravan also served Uttama Chola.
Yet another chief Ambalavan Paluvurnakkan alias Vikramasola-Maharajan of Kuvalalam features during Uttama Chola's rule and continues into Rajaraja I's reign.
Personal Life
Uttama Chola had numerous queens. The names of some of them were Sorabbaiyar Tribhuvana-Mahadeviyar, Kaduvettigal Nandippottairaiyar (probably a Pallava princess), and Siddhavadavan Suttiyar (related to Vikramasola-Miladudaiyar a prominent feudal king who ruled over Miladu part of present South Arcot District). An inscription notes that Sorabbaiyar Tribhuvana-Mahadeviyar contributed a gift for spiritual benefit of her servant Ilaichchiyan Malapadi.As with most ancient Indian kings, Uttama Chola was religiously tolerant. Although a Saivaite (worshipper of Siva), he also donated to temples dedicated for Vishnu especially to the Ullagaladar temple. He also granted large degrees of autonomy to his districts. He brought in best talent from other kingdoms. Kachipeedu (mordern Kanchipuram) is also mentioned as one of his prominent cities. He is known to have contributed money, cattle, sheep to temples in modern Kumbakonam, Thirunallam (modern Konnerirajapuram), Thiruvallarai, Thirupatturai, Thirunedugalam, Thiruvisalur, Thirunaraiyur, Thiruvalangadu, Thirukkodika, etc.
Uttama Chola's mother was the illustrious Sembiyan Mahadeviyar. She was the pioneer who started the process of kalpani-- converting brick, mortar, and wooden structures into granite. She survived this king and lived on for another 16 years into the reign of Rajaraja I.
Death and Succession
Uttama died c.985 C.E. Although he had at least one son (Madurantaka Gandaraditya), the line of succession passed back to Parantaka II family. Rajaraja Chola I succeeded as the Chola Emperor. Madurantaka served as an official in Rajaraja’s court.References
- Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1935). The CōĻas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).
- Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
- [South Indian Inscriptions]
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