Grandeur of the Cholas (Journey Through India's Heritage Book 2)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Ruchi Pritam has always had a fascination for Indian art, temples, culture and traditions that has led her to travel and write on the various architectural wonders of India and beyond. She has worked as a Bank-empanelled lawyer and has taught at several MBA institutions as a visiting faculty.

Ruchi has been educated at various places and has done her high schooling from DPS, R. K. Puram; Graduation in History (Hons) from Miranda House; Law from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University and MBA from Madras University. She lives in Chennai with her husband, Jayant. Her son, Aujasv is into project management and daughter, Tanvi is a software developer. Her roots are in Nalanda, Bihar.

The great Cholas' contributions to art and architecture along with their Bhakti Movement will last till the Sun and Moon last. The Cholas were very organized and they intelligently documented their history in the stone inscriptions and copper plates. They have indeed preserved the ages-old architectural science in their amazing architectural temple structures and perfected the art of sculpture.

A rare and important book by Ruchi Pritam Journey through India's beritage'- book 2 on 'Grandeur of The Cholas' is a great effort, fulfilling the need of the many aspirants to make available abundant information about Chola's grandeur. This diligent effort indicates the extensive travel and hard work invested by the author, Ruchi Pritam, to make the public aware about the grandeur of the Cholas. This book gives a comprehensive understanding of Cholas' great temples, copper plates, stone inscriptions, mural paintings, bronze icons and stone images, all at one place.

The extensive content provided by the author while discussing the Leiden, Thiruvalangadu, Karandai, Esalam, and Thiruvindalur copper plates are very impressive. The Chola copper plates are primary sources, holding great authenticity, through which the author details comprehensively the Cholas' history. The author has brought out many important historical aspects through these copper plate inscriptions such as: Parantaka's son Rajaditya's death in a war against the Rashtrakutas; Rajaraja I's help to Sailendra King for making a Buddhist Vihara; the army of Rajendra I reaching up to the river Ganga by defeating the Palas; and Rajendra I's rule beyond the oceans. The author says the grants of kings written on the copper plates are systematic and meticulous.

The Cholas were one of the greatest dynasties of India. I have lived in various districts of Tamil Nadu for over a quarter of a century and have got the opportunity to admire the Chola creations. Some chapters of my first book in this Journey series highlighted the Pallava architecture in all its glory. It was but natural for me to cover the achievements of the Cholas in the subsequent book.

This book offers a detailed illustrative account of the grandeur of the Cholas. The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas were the three dynasties that find a place in ancient literature and folklore in Tamil Nadu. Amongst the three dynasties, the Cholas made a name for themselves that resonated beyond borders.

The ancient Chola kingdom was one of the important southern kingdoms of the Indian Subcontinent. They have been mentioned as ruling dynasties even in the Mahabharata. The Kurukshetra war had pulled in the kingdoms from across the Indian Subcontinent and the Cholas took sides with the Pandavas. The written history mentions the early Cholas during the Sangam era (3rd century BCE -3rd century CE). The earliest records of the Cholas that can be dated with certainty are the Ashokan inscriptions (Rock edict number thirteen). The Maurya Emperor Ashoka (268-232 BCE), who ruled almost the entire Indian Subcontinent had friendly terms with the Cholas. The Sangam era literature, the Mahavamsa (History of Srilanka from its legendary beginnings), the works of the Nayanmars, tradition and folklore are the main sources for the understanding of the Ancient Cholas.

The Medieval Cholas, also termed as the Vijayalaya Cholas as they descended from the line of Vijayalaya Chola, ruled southern India from the 9th to the 13th centuries CE. The medieval Cholas were conquerors and temple builders.