One of the localite of Thanjavoor, told me that Construction of Periya Koil, did not bring any good luck to Great Raja Raja, and it seems he had sacrificed hundreds of elephants for 'Shanti'.
But, agian there are no proofs for this and this is just a Oral History. And I am not also sure on what was the bad luck, he faced after construction of this temple.
This may be one of the reason for Rajendhra to have shifted his capital to Gangai Konda Chola Puram.
Dear Rajendra One of the localite of Thanjavoor, told me that Construction of Periya Koil, did not bring any good luck to Great Raja Raja, and it seems he had sacrificed hundreds of elephants for 'Shanti'. There is some local myth about the Nandi not bringing goodluck and hence they did the new nandhi...You can still see the old one opposite to the Amman temple.....But I am not so sure about this legend....
But the Thanjavoorians beleive the nandhi is very powerful....In times of very bad droughts they do Milagu Pepper Abishekam to Nandhi and It always rains cats and dogs but they do it very rarely....
While conquering Thanjai (from Mutharayas) Vijayalaya was stationed in Pazhayarai. He moved to Thanjai.
Parantaka I his son also occuped Thanjai. Created Veeranam. Created Udayarkudi.
We understand upto Sundara period atleast, Thanjai was the Political Capital and Pazhayarai was the Domestic Head Quarters. With Nandhipuram - near Thanjai - also gaining prominence (which was the Capital of Pallavas - present in Chozha heartland - prior to Thirupurambiyam war), there should have been 3 power centres.
After Sundara, Nandhipuram should have become less prominent politically - kind of old age home for the Elderly Royal family !
Thanjai should have been hushed with enormous Political activities.
Pazhayarai - Andappuram - relaxed atmosphere - well connected by Rajapattai (present Thanjai - Kudanthai Main Road), Sakadaperuvazhi (present Thirukkandiyur - Swamimalai route) and water ways (Cauvery - Arasalaaru etc) - should have housed Queens / Princess / Elite Royal / Close Aides.
Northern boundary - as described by Kalki - should have been present Sethiathope Checkpost (Thirumunaippadi Nadu - opening chapter of PS) - during Sundara period.
During RRC, it almost touched Andhra and RjC was stationed at Thiruvottiyur / North Madras.
RjC should have found it difficult to control such an expansive land from Thanjai. Moreover, there should have foreign (to Chozhas) visitors to see and appreciate Big temple - which should have been a replica of Kailasm. It appears Thanjai should have become a CULTURAL CAPITAL CHOZHAS than a Political Capital. Hence Rajendra should have located GKC - close to udayarkudi - Pazhayarai - Thanjai and accessible from Madras / Thrivurottiyur. Rajendra stayed in Chidambaram during the period of construction of GKC - which did exist - prior to Rajendra accord importance to this place. We have insciptional evidences to this effect.
Rajendra was fascinated with Paravai - born at Panayapuram (north of Panruti) and stationed in Thiruvarur. GKC is equi-distant between these two also.
FOR SEVERAL PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS, RAJENDRA SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN GKC AS HIS CAPITAL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT KULOTHUNGA HAS ENNAYIRAM (Near Tindivanam) AS HIS CAPITAL FOR SOME TIME.
PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER ANY THEORY THAT RAJARAJA - HIS CAPITAL - HIS TEMPLE - OR THE NANDHI - EVER BROUGHT ANY ILL-LUCK TO HIM / HIS FAMILY / OR HIS CITIZENS - PAST / PRESENT / OR FUTURE GENERATION.
He Worshipped Siva, Rama (Vishnu), Sakthi and paved way for construction of Buddha Vihar in Nagai. He ascended throne on Aadi Punarvasu - birth star of Rama - and described as an avatar of Vishnu in Thiruvalangadu copper plates!
I think the idea of a capital city was not well bought in those days. I read that even in Pandian kingdom, the prince used to live in a port city ( Kayal .)
If the kings had really bought that idea well, they could have really developed the capital city much...
Today there is no reminiscent of a palace in which our tamil kings lived.
So it was very common to change the power centers and name cities after victories in war.
For Rajendra, victory of ganges might have been his dream from childhood and he might have been moulded in that. So to celebrate that he might have thought of a new city.