Hello Sruthi, Thanks for creating mail flow again .. I have been reading PS for the past 20 years - every alternative year - may be 10 times. Still do not remember event by event or all the characters. But we have been discussing whenever there is occasion.
Rajaraja (RR) is the Greatest of all times because : CHOLAS permitted DEMOCRACY in MONARCHY (People's Rule under King's Rule) which no-one - including the all-times Greats like Emperor Ashoka, Alexander or the Never-Sun-setting British Monarchy else had done! Uthiramerur inscriptions speak volumes of the restrictions on candidates - even more strict than present Election Commission - who contested for Panchayats - members of whom were selected by the KUDAVOLAI murai!
How Panchayats come to play a role when the King is ruling a State?
Because King has permitted people ro rule themselves at Panchayat levels. HE DID NOT NOMINATE HIS KITH & KIN TO RULE VARIOUS PLACES.
RR streamlined everything: In 1001 AD he surveyed his entire Kingdom to greatest accuracy! In 1004, he laid his armouries and laid foundation to construct Big Temple. He is seen going a beard afterwards. In 1006, Rajendra helped his sister- Kundavi's husband Vimaladithan to regain Chalukya Throne. He took 900000 (Nine Lakh) Warriors with him and conquered. Brought huge booty to Thanjai for Big Temple construction. In 1010 consecration of Big Temple took place. They permitted construction of Buddha Temple in Nagapatnam also. In 1012 Rajendra ascended to the Chozha Thorne. In 1013 RR & his Queen Danthisakthividangi @ Olagamadevi entered the Golden Cow (Hiranyakarbam) & performed Thulabaram (gave Gold coins for equivalent weight) to avoid rebirth in Thiruvisaloor. In 1014, RR passed away. In 1015, Rajendra performed the first Death anniversary rituals of RR at Thiruvalan-chuzhi (2 miles North of Pazhayarai) by entering a mount of Thilam. Olagamadevi lived for some more years. RR had eleven wives but Rajendra was his only son. No other contender to the Throne! Two daughters - Naduvirpenn @ Ammangadevi and Kundavi.
Rajendra married his aunt Kundavi + Vandhiyathevan's daughter.. Their daughter branch of family in the third generation was later known as Kulothungan (Telugu Chozhas!)who ascended to Chozha throne!
RR found Thevarams. Renovated & constructed several temples. Expanded his empire upto Krishna to Kumari & conquered Lanka. Very much devoted to Appar & Sundarar. Might have had the ambition of seeing Kailasam (like Cheraman Perumal Nayanar with the help of Sundarar). This concept is repeated in several portraits and statues.
There is no logical reason for him to have thought about suicide. Some where it was wrongly mentioned that he had black leprosy. This is also false. He became SIVAPADHASEKARAN.
Actually Kalki's description of Mahendra Pallavan as Sivanadiar in Sivakamiyin Sabadham is more on the lines of Rajaraja... RR + Rajendra AND Mahendra + Narasihma are formidable duos (father & son) in the South Indian History!
Dear SB that was a great wealth of info did Rajendra marry VD and Kunthavai's daughther....If so the great mind of Kundavai and heroic traits of VD with the genes of RR must have made a deadly combination but that really wsnt the case 2was it?
Second my understanding the Kulothunga linaeage is from the Vimalathithan nexus and east Chalukya lineage