ICSE Grade IX Chapter8. South India & The Cholas

1. South India &
The Cholas
a. Chapter 8

2. Sources
Archaeological

3. Archaeological
Sources
Inscriptions
Brihadeswara
Temple

4. a. Inscriptions
 A large number of Tamil & Sanskrit
inscriptions were found during the Chola
period which gives us a lot of information
about it.
 Inscriptions were written on Pillars, Copper
plates and stones.
 The significance of these inscriptions is as
follows:
1. Gives information about the information of
King’s kingdom & conquests/wars.

5. 2. Brihadeshwar temple inscriptions gives us information
about the lands gifted to temples. A few copper plate
inscriptions preserved in the Museum of Leyden,
Netherlands gives information about the lands gifted to by
Chola King to Parantaka. These gifts were called as
‘Leyden Grant.’
It also describes the ornaments (gold/gem) worn by
deities.
3. It also gives information about religious & cultural history
of this period.
4. It also tells us about Chola administration. Uttaramerur
Inscription describes that King did a survey and
classification of all types of land and took land
revenue/taxes which was his chief source of income.

6. b. Brihadeswara Temple
 It is also known as Rajarajeshwara temple.
 It was built by Rajaraja- I in the 10th century at
Thanjavur.
 Its a shiv temple with huge tower/Shikhara
(height:180 feet, weight: 80 tons).
 Shiva Lingam is 9 meters high.
 Two huge dwarapalas are seen at the outer
gateway.
 There are many other sculptures of other deities
seen.

7.  It also has a Nandi in front of the temple.
 It is built in Dravidian style of Architecture in its
vastness, design, sculptures & allied arts.
 Maha-mandapa of this temple was originally three
storeyed.
 Many Tamil & Sanskrit inscriptions are also seen
here.
 There is also Amman temple seen here which is
dedicated to Brihannayaki (wife of Brihadeswara)
 The temple has been declared as a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO.

8. Political History &
Administration
(Rajaraja-I & Rajendra-I)

9. A) Political History
(Rajaraja-I)
 Rajaraja-I defeated Cheras & Pandyas & then
continued with his other conquests.
 His conquests: he captured present Tamil Nadu,
parts of Karnataka and neighbouring regions, Sri
Lanka & Maldives.
 He was a good administrator (expanded rural self-
governing institutions), loved arts and literature and
great builder (built Brihadeswara Temple and other
Vishnu temples)
 He worshipped Shiva but was tolerant of other
religions.

10. B) Political History
(Rajendra-I)
 Rajendra-I was son & successor of Rajaraja-I.
 He captured entire Sri Lanka.
 He captured part of Eastern Bengal & Odisha.
 His armies reached till Ganga valley in north and
hence got the title Gangaikonda.
 He built a new capital called as Gangaikonda-
Cholapuram.
 His navy then headed to attack King Shailendra’s
territories of Java & Sumatra.
 He built an artificial lake (25km wide bank). It got
water from Kolerun & Vellar rivers.
 He also built a huge shiva temple at Gangaikonda-
Cholapuram.

11. C) Administration of Cholas.
 King was the administrative head of the kingdom.
 He had many officers who assisted and adviced the
king. There were two types of officials: Perundanams
(higher rank) & Sirudanams (lower ranks). These
posts were hereditary.
 Kingdom was divided into Mandalams (provinces)
headed by prince/viceroy/royal family member.
Mandalams were further divided into Kottams
(divisions). Other units included Nadus (districts)
Kurrams(Groups of Villages) & Gramam(Village).

12.  Rural administration was exceptional. They enjoyed all
powers to manage local affairs like justice, water supply,
collection of taxes, managing schools/temples,
maintaining accounts.
 Land revenue was chief source of income. 1/6th of the
total produce was decided as the fixed land-revenue.
 Other sources included trade, mines, water, handlooms,
tax on imported goods etc.
 He had to spend on army, navy, schools, temples,
irrigation, construction of towns, roads, tanks etc.
 Chola rulers had huge army & navy. Army included foot
soldiers, archers, war elephants & horsemen. Soldiers
lived in cantonments called as Kadagams in different
parts of the country.