Ponniyin Selvan Varalaatru Peravai

Hi, A nice compilation but somes questions

1)
>
> The "Vimanam" of the big temple goes to a height of 216 ft, being the
> tallest building of India at that time, and the construction of the
> temple was completed and Kumba-abishekam done in the year A.D.1011.This
> is confirmed by one of Rajaraja Chola's own inscription
> atRajarajaeswaram Temple dated the 26th year of his reign -
> inA.D.1011(985 + 26), which states "....(at) Thanjavur in
> ThanjavurKootram the 'sacred granite-stone temple' (Thiru-Kat-trali) I
> got iterected, the Sri Rajarajeeswaram Udaiyar....."
>
The reference to the year of completiton comes from a singular
inscription that talks of the donation of Gold by RRc to the top
filial and its not worded as above:

reposting the same from earlier discussions;

RRC donating gold for coating the top filial - on the 275 th day of
the 25th Year of RRC. 985+ 25 - 1010 as date for completion of the big
temple

Thus it appears that the construction of the temple began in the 19th
year and that a considerable portion of it was completed by the 23rd
year. On the 275th day of the 25th year the king presented a
copper-pot to be placed on the pinnacle of the central shrine. We may
conclude from this time; for, so far as the central shrine was
concerned, the fixing of the copper-pot on the pinnacle would have
been the last thing to be done.

more information:

http://www.whatisin dia.com/inscript ions/south_ indian_inscripti
ons/volume_ 2/introduction. html


2)
>
> With the victorius expedition of Rajendra Cholan - 1 to Ganges in
> A.D.1023, he claimed a new title as "Gangaikondaan" and gave the title
> "Gangaikonda Cholan" (the Chola who captured Gangai) to his younger
> brother who lead the Gangetic expedition. .
>

Not sure what you mean by younger brother - the only male heir of RRC
was Rajendra. We know from inscriptions that RJC went up to the banks
of the Godhavari and the expedition was actually by his generals ( i
think this was the plot of sandilyans mannan magal)

3)
> His overseas war expedition went up to Kadarem and Sri Vijaya - the
> present Kedah and Perak regions of Malaysia, and the present Palembang
> region of Sumatra in Indonesia,being the foremost regions of their
> interest 'among others' in theirSouth-East Asian war expedition. With
> his triumps over these regionsRajendra Chola - 1 assumed another new
> title as "Kadaremkondaan", and one of his grandson who lead the Kadarem
> expedition was given the title "Kadaremkonda Cholan", (the Chola who who
> captured Kadarem), and a region of the present Narasingapuram in Tamil
> Nadu was named as the "Kadaremkonda Cholapuram".
>
This is interesting - we dont see any references to the kadaram
campaign outside of India and am yet to see any specific references
of who led the campaign. pl furnish supportings so that we can all
appreciate this.

4)
> The "Vimanam" of this big temple goes to a height of 176 ft falling
> short in height to the Rajarajaeswarem temple of Rajaraja Chola-1, and
> the construction of this temple was completed and the Kumba-abishekam
> done, possibly around A.D.1028.

I seem to have missed this reference - as to how the date of
completion of the GKC temple comes up, pl share with us


5)
> Notes:
> The Siva and Vishnu temples of the Chola period had tall "Vimanams"
> (tower over - Karuvarai i.e. Sanctum Sanctorium of the temples). This
> could be seen in the temples namely Rajarajaeswarem (Birahatheeswarem)
> at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem at Udaiyar Paalayam (in
> Kumbakonam), Rajarajaeswarem (Airaavatheswarem) at Darasuram
> (Palaiyaarai) built by Rajaraja Cholan - 2 (A.D.1146-1163),
> Thiribhuvanaeswarem (Kampaheswarem) at Thiribhuvanam built by Kulothunga
> Cholan - 3 (A.D.1178-1218), and others.

All the temples you list above are shiva temples. namely tanjore, gkc,
darasuram, and tribuvanam - can you share info on vishnu temples which
were built by cholas and which had vimanams taller than the gopuram.
from my understanding again ( i could be wrong) only tanjore and gkc
vimanams were designed to be built taller than the gopurams - to
signify their 'maha meru' concepts.

hi,

Sorry, but more questions:

1)
>
> This is why the 26th year Inscription in A.D.1011(985 + 26) of RRC in
> the same place in this temple mentions "....(at) Thanjavur in
> Thanjavur Kootram the 'sacred granite-stone temple' (Thiru-Kat-trali)
> I got it erected, the Sri Rajarajeeswaram Udaiyar....."
>

Can you give us the text of this inscription or the serial number /
sii or ei ref.

2)

> Reply to query No - 2
>
> Historically we know RRC had a lawful Queen Vaanavan Maadevi and 10 -
> other
> Theviayar. Rajendra Chola - 1 was the lawful heir to the throne by
> Vanavan Maadevi. The sons of other Theviyar of Rajaraja Chola - 1 too
> are considered as brothers (more precisely step brothers) of Rajendra
> Chola – 1 who took part in active roles - as Chola commanders
> (generals) on various war expeditions, and also as chieftains of
> various regions of the Chola empire under the ruling Chola kings. They
> were given titles bearing the name of the regions they successfully
> captured on behalf of the respective Chola kings.
>
> who went on war expedition to Ganges River successfully, was his
> "….Siriya Thaathai meaning Siriya Thanthai or Father's younger
> brother…." who has been given the title by the father of Rajendra
> Chola - 2 being the Rajendra Chola - 1 as "Gangaikonda Cholan".
> Rajendra Chola - 1 hence assumed the title "Gangaikondaan" for himself.
>
> Likewise from the same Mikeerthi we note one of the sons (Kathalar) of
> Rajendra Chola - 2, being the grandson of Rajendra Chola -1, on behalf
> of him went on the Kadarem expedition which he successfully captured
> and was given the title as Kadaramkonda Cholan. Hence Rajendra Chola –
> 1 himself assumed the title the Kadarem Kondaan.

I am sorry, but i do not accept to your views. First of all what do
you mean by lawful queen. Any vanavanmadevi was not the patta mahishi
- she could be the first wedded wife and mother of Rajendra, but the
ceremonial queen was danti shakti vitanki - Olagamadevi.

Secondly, of the title taken by rajendra - of the 25 names ( which we
listed earlier) ) Gangai Konda Chozan,Kadaram konda cholan, Poorva
Desamum Gangaiyum Kadaramum Konda Ayyan - are all his titles.

again sorry, cannot see the definite statements which talk of the
other siblings of RJC - Can you give us the correct reference from the
meikeerthi - from which you infer about the other chola princes


>
> Reply to query No - 3
>
> Separate research paper is being prepared by me o be published soon
> under the title " The medieval Chola Empire and its relations with
> Malaysia and Indonesia", which will give you much informations on
> same. Await same.


OK, eager await.

> Reply to query No - 4
>
> GKC finished his Gangetic expedition in A.D.1023 for sure. Immediately
> after his return to Chola country he started the construction of his
> new capital city Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the Siva temple Gaingaikonda
> Cholaeswarem and the Chola Gangam.
> It took seven years for Rajaraja Chola to construct the Rajarajeswarem
> temple. But we have positive dates from nthe inscriptions. But in
> respect of Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem we have no such positive evidence.
> But being an Engineer myself I could approximately studying the extent
> of both complexes estimate the time frame for construction of
> Gangalkonda Cholaeswarem as five years. Hence Ib arrived at an
> approximate date of completion of construction of Gangaikonda
> Cholaeswarem as A.D.1028 (1023 + 5).
>

Feel we should do more study for this. like when are the first
inscriptions in the GKC temple. 1025 is taken as appx time for
functioning of gkc town as capital of the cholas, but would work on
the temple run parallel - am sure we can find it from the inscriptions.

> Reply to query No - 5
>
> Thanks for querying on same but will reply soon.
>

awaiting