Members - please refer my earlier mail in the same topic. Thanks to Pavitra and Sridhar for their responses. After posting my earlier mail, I came across further evidences supporting the facts stated by Pavitra. It seems there existed a "Kadigai" probably a Sanskrit school and a Military academy in Kanthalur chalai during the time of Rajaraja. Interestingly, this area of Kerala was ruled by another group of Cheras called the "Aye" Kings (and not the Baskara Ravivarman group which is another clan altogether). Both these establishments should have been a severe threat to the Chola might for it might have supplied / trained cheras and pandiya warriors. So, Rajaraja thought this should be destroyed first before he could concentrate on other areas. And he did it. But even these facts do not detail the full meaning of the term "Kanthalur chalai Kalamaruth tharuli". It raises further doubts like - If what Rajaraja destroyed was a Military school, why talking about "Kalam" which must be a "ship"? Was there a powerful navel fleet defending the military school and Sanskrit kadigai? - The term "aruli" is still a mystery. Was it just a passing reference without deep meaning in it? - Or does it have something to do with Kadigai instead of Military academy? - It is quite reasonable to assume by writer Balakumaran that Ravidasan group belonged to this place but there are no specific evidences to support this. I'd like to read this Novel. - Considering Ravidasan and co were Brahmins, were they associated with Kadigai or Military school? - Instead of destroying Ravidasan group right away, why Rajaraja allowed them to escape all the way to chera country and then killed them? This seems to be writer's imagination based on other facts.
More interesting thing is that in spite of severe damage, this Military academy came to life again at a later stage and later chola kings had to invade Kanthalur chalai again to subdue the growth!