Ponniyin Selvan Varalaatru Peravai

A BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY
ON THE RELATIONS OF THE CHOLAS OF TAMILNADU
WITH THE SINHALAS OF SRI LANKA
DURING THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD
{A.D.849 - A.D 1122}


(1) The Re-Emergence of the Chola Kingdom

gradually re-emerged as a powerful ruling dynasty of Tamilnadu, after
a long spell of nearly six centuries both in political obscurity and
as feudatory of the Kalabra, Pallava and Pandiya dynasties of South
India.

(2) Vijayaalaya Chola reigns from his capital Palaiyaarai in Tamilnadu

In the line of these Cholas sprung king Vijayaalaya Chola (A.D.849-
881) ruling a small central region of the present Tamilnadu state
with his capital at Palaiyaarai, and as a feudatory of the Pallava
king Nandivarman - 3 (A.D.826-850).

(3) Vijayaalaya Chola builds his new capital at Thanjaavur

In the year A.D.852 Vijayaalaya Chola waged war with the Muttaraiyar
king Sattan Paliyilli (A.D.826-852) in the neighbouring east, and
captured his territory of Thanjaavur.

Vijayalaya Chola built his new capital at Thanjaavur with all
facilities of a city commencing with the construction of a temple to
the Goddess Kaali named as Nisumbasudani. The Chola country of this
period covered the central and the eastern regions of the present
Tamilnadu state.

(4) King of Sri Lanka awaits to avenge the invasion of his country by
Pandiya

During this period the Sri Lankan king Sena-2 (A.D.851-885) was
awaiting an opportune moment to avenge the devastation and disgrace
caused to Sri Lanka by an earlier invasion of the Pandiya king
Srimara Sri Vallaba (A.D.835-862) which took place during the rule of
Sena-1(A.D.831-851).

(5) Rebellious son of Pandiya seeks help from Sri Lanka

Towards this time a son of Srimara Sri Vallaba by one of his other
queens, named Maya Pandiya claimed rights to succession against
Varaguna Pandiya-2 the legitimate heir to the throne by the chief
queen of Srimara Sri Vallaba. This son with dissension with his
father over same resolved to take over the Pandiya kingdom to himself
and went to Sri Lanka to seek the assistance of the king Sena-2.

(6) Sri Lankan forces invades and captures the Pandiya country

Taking opportunity of the prevailing conditions, the king of Sri
Lanka the Sena-2 sent a large army under his general named Kutthaka,
who crossed seas from the port of Mahatittha the present Mantota and
invaded the Pandiya country in the year A.D.862, killed Srimara Sri
Vallaba laid waste the region, and captured the capitol city of the
Pandiya the Madurai. However Varaguna Pandiya – 2 escaped capture and
went into hiding.

(7) The Sri Lankan forces crown the rebellious son on the Pandiya
throne

The Sri Lankan forces thereafter anointed as the king the rebellious
son of Srimara Sri Vallaba the Maya Pandiya who seeked their
assistance to gain the throne, and returned to Sri Lanka with much of
the earlier lost treasures of the Sinhala country.

(8) Pallava king Nirupatunga assists Varaguna to regain throne

Varaguna Pandiya-2 requested the assistance of the Pallava king
Nirupatunga (A.D.850-882) to retrieve his throne. The Pallava king
along with Vijayaalaya Chola and his allies invaded and defeated the
rebellious son of Pandiya and drove away the remaining Sinhala forces
and reinstated Varaguna Pandiya - 2 (A.D.862-880) on throne at
Madurai in the year A.D.862.

(9) Aathiththa Chola ascends the Chola throne

Vijayaalaya Chola appointed his son Aathiththa Chola (A.D.871-907) as
his co-regent in the year A.D.871. He succeeded on the Chola throne
at Thanjavur in the year A.D.881 with the demise of Vijayaalaya
Chola.

(10) Aathiththa Chola recovers the regions of the Chola country

During his period in the year A.D.880 Varaguna Pandiya - 2 waged war
with the Pallava king Nirupathunga successor to Nandivarman, with
whom he had friendly relations earlier. The Aathitha Chola assited
the Pallavas against Pandiya in this war at Thiruppurambiam. The
Pallavas won the battle and Aathiththa Chola too was benefitted by
being able to recover the entire Chola country. In the year A.D. 890
he invaded and captured the Thondainadu and put an end to the Pallava
dynasty with Aparajitha (A.D.882-890) the son of Nirupathunga.

(11) Paranthaha Chola captures the Pandiya kingdom

Athiththa died while in Thondainadu, and was suceeded by his son king
Paranthaha Chola (A.D.907-954) at Thanjavur, who in the year A.D.910
captured the Pandiya country the southern region of the present Tamil
Nadu state. The Pandiya king Rajasimhan-3 (A.D.905-921) few years
after his defeat, escaped from his hiding to Sri Lanka and requested
the Sinhala king Kasyappa-5 (A.D.913-923) to assist him in regaining
his kingdom.

(12) Pandiya King's second battle with Paranthaha Chola

In the year A.D.919 king Kasyappa sent a large Sinhala force under
his general Saka Senapathi to assist Rajasimhan to recapture his
kingdom. However Paranthaha's forces along with the forces of his
ally the Kannada king Piruthivi-2, defeated the combined forces of
Pandiya and the Sinhala forces, in a deadly battle at Vellur.

(13) Pandiya King escapes to Sri Lanka with Regalia

However the Pandiya king Rajasimhan escaped capture by Cholas, and
went to Sri Lanka with his crown and the other royal insignia and
took shelter in the Sinhala kingdom. He seeked further assistance
from the new Sinhala king Dappula-4 (A.D.923-934) in regaining his
kingdom. He on not receiving favourable response from Dappula-4 due
to heavy repraisels from his nobles against same, left back his crown
and insignia with him, and took asylum in the Chera country the
present south Kerala state.

(14) Paranthaha Chola wages war with Sri Lanka.

Paranthaha Chola now requested the next successor to the Sri Lanka
throne the Udaya-3 (A.D.934-937) to return the Pandiya crown and
insignia, and on the latter's refusal Paranthaha in the year A.D.944
crossed seas to Sri Lanka, and defeated the king Udaya-3 who
retreated from his capital Anuradhapura to Rohana in south Sri Lanka
with the Pandiyan treasure.

(15) Paranthaha Chola fails in his mission

Paranthaha finding difficult to penetrate into Rohana returned to
Chola country with much booty and treasures from Lanka, but failing
in his mission to retrieve the Pandiyan crown and royal insignia from
king Udaya-3. However Paranthaha with the defeat of the Sinhala king
assumed the new title the Singhalanthahan.

(16) Gandarathiththa Chola looses Pandiya Country

Paranthaha-1 was suceeeded on the Chola throne at Thanjavur by his
second son Gandarathiththa Chola (A.D.950-95