There is a deep Chola connection to
Thondaimandalam that has endured for over 1100 years. It is the Veeranarayanan
Lake, popularly known as the Veeranam Eri that also provides drinking water
to Chennai today.
This lake that has supported millions of
lives over the centuries with water for agriculture, was created by Rajaditya
Chola, son of Parantaka Chola I after whom the lake has been named. Prince
Rajaditya and his soldiers, while training to participate in the battle at Thakkolam
near Arakkonam, have spared no effort in this mission of creating history
through this lake.
There were many more huge lakes of the Chola
Era.
கண்டராதித்த
சோழன் created a lake
known as செம்பியன்
மாதேவி பேரேரி in Ariyalur District.
உத்தம சோழன்
created the மதுராந்தகம் ஏரி, the largest lake of the Chengalpattu district
and the second largest in the state.
சுந்தர சோழன் ( Parantaka II ), father of Rajaraja II created a lake
on the route from Cuddalore to Chidambaram now known as பெருமாள்
ஏரி.
குந்தவை
பிராட்டியார் created a lake in விழுப்புரம் district,
near திருவெண்ணைநல்லூர் in the குளத்தூர் village.
The lake without much maintenance is now known as பிரட்டேரி!!
Rajendra Chola I to
commemorate his victory created சோழகங்கம் lake now known as பொன்னேரி at கங்கைகொண்ட
சோழபுரம்.
Maintenance of the
lakes were given utmost importance. Every resident had to pay a tax called ஏரிவரி\ உள்வரி for the maintenance. In addition to that they had
to contribute physical labour too.
Depending on the
features of the area, the cleaning and desilting of the lake was done annually or even every
month in some instances.
The Kaveri belt gave
them more scope with its beautiful rivers, so they created many canals and
irrigation channels from the rivers themselves.
Parantaka I expanded his territory from the
Kaveri region on defeating the Pandya
and Rashtrakuta kings. The fierce battle was fought at Thakkolam near Arakkonam and his son
Rajadityan was killed.
It
was during the reign of Parantaka I that
the famous Inscriptions on internal administration at Utthiramerur were done. Chola rulers continued the finer traditions of
the Pallavas in administration, water management, temple building etc.
Vijayalaya Chola was the progenitor of the
mighty the empire of the Imperial Cholas, that was to rule a good part of
Bharat and beyond the seas.
His
son Aditya I ( 871-907 CE ) by rendering military assistance to Aparajita Pallava in his battle with the Pandyas, received a
small territory for his services and became a Chieftain. He later defeated
Aparajita Pallava and captured Thondaimandalam and he was called தொண்டைநாடு பாவின சோழன் in the inscriptions at தில்லைதானம்.
Chola
presence was consolidated by Raja Raja Chola I and his son Rajendra Chola I.
Both of them before their coronation as kings were in charge of defending the
northern territories.
Raja Raja Chola built a temple Arinjaya
Choleeswaram at Melpadi in memory of his Grandfather.
Rajendra Chola, the mighty emperor who conquered Orissa, Bengal and countries beyond the sea in the far East built his Capital city Gangai Konda Cholapuram on a grand scale to commemorate his victories.
He retained his fondness for the Thondaimandalam and had a special connection to Thiruvotriyur
temple.
An
official of his administration has built a temple, Rajendra Choleeswaram at
Kaavanthandalam, 20kms from Kanchi and his Guru Isaana Siva Pandithar has built
GangaiKonda Choleeswaram at Koozhampandal, 18 kms from Kanchi.
Numerous temples built of bricks were
rebuilt with stones in their rule spanning several centuries.
The close association had only increased, and we find many
Inscriptions of the Chola times from Parantaka I to Rajendra
III the last Chola King in 1279 CE in many
temples around us.
1. Agaram - Maanaampathy
2. Kalattur
3. Karumbur
4. Karayampedu
5. Kaayaaru
6. Mambakkam
7. Oragadam
8. Paalur
9. Padur
10.Thirumukkudal
11. Payyanur
12.Perumaanur
13.Perunthandalam
14. Sastrambakkam
15.Sirudavur
16.Thirukkachur
17. Thiruvadisoolam
18.Madampakkam
19.Thiruvidanthai
20. Kilambakkam
21.Singapperumal Kovil
No comments:
Post a Comment