Parāntaka II expanded the Chola Empire by defeating the Pāndyas and Ceylon forces. His son Rājrāj the Great further expanded the empire to include greater parts of South India and Sri Lanka. Rājrāj built the Brihadeshvar Temple in Thanjavur. Rājrāj's son Rājendra helped rule jointly with his father. After becoming king, Rājendra launched military campaigns across South India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, making the Chola Empire one of the largest Hindu empires. He established a new capital called Gangaikondacholapuram and built another Brihadeshvar Temple there.

1. Parāntaka II (Sundar Chola): 957-973 AD
• He was son and successor of Arinjaya. He gave a shattering blow to the
combined forces of the Pāndyas and the Ceylonese in the battle of Chebur.
Vira Pāndaya, the Pāndaya ruler, had to flee from the battle-field. He is said
to have invaded Simhala as well. His several ins. have been found in the
territories were lost to the Rāstrakutas in the past. The warrant the
conclusion that Tondamandalam, Arcot and Chingleput were reoccupied by
him from Krishna III

2. Rājrāj the Great (985 – 1015 AD)
• He was son and successor of Parāntaka II (Sundar Chola) and mother
name was Vānvan-Mahādevi. He had already gained a good deal of
administrative and military experience as Yuvarāja during the reign of
his father. He was known in the early year’s of his reign as ‘Rājakesari
Arumolivarman’ His chief queen was Lokamahādevi. He accended the
throne on 25th June 985 AD and on this occassion adopted new name
Rājrāj. He was the real founder of “the Great Chola Empire”

3. Political Achievement:
• Military campaign against Kerala, Pāndya and Ceylon
• Western Ganga
• War with Chalukya of Kalyani
• Interference in Vengi state
• Kalinga
• Maldives

4. Cont…..
• Rājrāj I received valuable support from his son Rājendra who had conducted
several military expedition. It was 1012 AD, that Rājrāj had formally made
him Yuvarāja (heir apparent)
• Rājrāj I distinguished himself as one of the most irresistible warriors of
ancient india. He turned his modest dynastic principality into an extensive
empire encompassing greater parts of Tamilnādu, karnātaka, Andhra
Pradesh, Sri Lankā and Māldives.
• Rājrāj I was Shaiva and Built a temple named Brihadesvar / Rājrājesvara
temple at tanjore.

5. Brihasdeshvar
temple at Tanjore

7. Rājendra I (Parākesari) (1014-1044)
 In the closing year of his reign Rājrāj I associated his son Rājendra with
himself in the official administration. This formal recognition of Rājendra as
heir apparent took place some time between the 1012 AD, Rājendra must
have been at least 25 year’s of age at the time.
 and we find clear evidence of joint rule in the third year of Rājendra. This
year is mentioned in Rājrāj’s tanjore ins. Of his twenty-ninth year. Rājrāj also
stated to have made a gift in the third year of his son’s rule.
Title : Parākesari Varman, Rājendra Chola deva,
 Rājendra inherited from his father an extensive empire cpmprising the whole
of the Tamilnādu, karnātaka, Andhra Pradesh, Sri Lankā and Māldives.
Organised administration, fairly powerful bureaucracy,
 Respected the liberties of “Feudal” and “Corporate”

8. Cont…..
• The army was strong (well able to defend the wide land frontier) and the
chola aaply the war policy - aggressive warfare.
• The hold on Ceylon and some other island like the Māldives was securely
maintained by a powerful Naval force. Which also served to protect the
considerable overseas trade of the empire with the island of East Indies
(South East Asia)and with China.
• During his reign, Rājendra turned these initial advantages to the best possible
use and succeeded in raising the Chola empire to the position of the most
extensive and most respected Hindu state of his time.
• The history of Rājendra reign is very largely the history of the extensive wars
and conquests, he undertook in the first half of his reign.
• Main Source : Tiruvalangādu copper plate ins.(military & Naval expedition of
his reign) and Mahāvansha, Karandai ins. Coins.

9. Cont……
• Rājādhirāj Yuvarāja : very early in Rājendra reign, he appointed his son
Rājādhirāj as Yuvar Rājādhirāja (heir apprent) to assist him in the work of the
state, this happen on some 1018 AD. For over 25 year’s from that date,
father and son, Parākesari and Rājkesari ruled together and shared the
burden of empire.
• Political Achievements :
 Early Conquest : as you people know that, Rājendra I, actively participated
in the several military expedition during the reign off his father Rājrāj I.
 Military Expedition after accession of throne:
 War with Ceylon
 War with kerala
 War with Pāndya

10. Cont…..
 Inteference in Vengi
 The Chola-Chālukya (western chālukya) Conflict
 War with Kalinga
 Ganges expedition
 South-East Asia expedition (Kadāram expedition)
 Rebels of Pāndya and Kerala
 Note : write in detailed about Rājendra I military Achievements.
(By student’s )

11. Route of Ganges Expedition

13. Cont…..
• Rājendra issued coins in Gold and Silver, some of which bear his title
Gangaikonda Chola and Yuddhamalla.
• He built a city called Gangaikondacholapuram and made it his capital. He
had also built a temple named “Brihadeshvara temple” at Gangaikonda.
• The Chola had friendly relations with China as attested by the dispatch of
mission to china by Rājrāj I in 1015 AD and Rājendra in 1033 AD
• Rājendra Chola promoted learning and scholarship. An inscription from
South Arcot tells us about his establishing a school for Vedic teaching for the
maintenance of which he had allotted land measuring 45 Veli. It had a staff
of 14 teacher’s and had 340 students on its rolls. The teachers were paid
their salary in cash in addition to a daily supply of rice to each one of them.
• Rājendra ruled upto 1044 AD.

14. Brihasdesvar temple at
Gangaikondacholapuram

15. Thank You