Karikala
Chola was from valavan / Valaiyar fishing community and the valaiyars are a
subcaste of Tamil - Muthurajas at present in Tamilnadu. Chola Mutharaya
Research center published their paper claiming a common ancestry to both Cholas
and Mutharayars. This seems to be true from the fact that there are several
surnames among Muthuraja which indicate names of Chola clans of Tamilnadu. Some of such surnames indicating Chola
connection are as given below. Cholamutharayar,Cholan,Cholavalavan,Cholavallakamayar,Karikalarayar,Killirayar,Killivazhavan,Sennivalavar,SenniyarValavan,Valavar,Valavarkoman
Before we know about the famous Karikala Chola, it is useful to know the
relation that existed between Mutharayars, Chodas and Cholas. Killi, Valavan, Valavar,
Senni, chola, cholan were some of the common titles that were used by Chola
kings of Tamilnadu. Use of surnames having these titles and their combinations
indicate the common blood and ancestry between Cholas and Muthurajas. This
theory also gains its strength from the fact that these two clans were strongly
bonded through matrimonial alliances. They were also bonded strongly through
rivalry over establishing their supremacy of their ruling power over Tamil
lands. Tanjore city was ruled by both Cholas and mutharayars where they fought
with each other bitterly to claim their supremacy. Ultimately Cholas won the
city where they established their kingdom of later Cholas and spread all over
South including Andhra Pradesh. An interesting thing to be understood is that there
existed a rivalry between Cholas and Mutharayas and a similar rivalry existed
between kapus and Mudiraj. The following information high lights the fact that
Mutharayars, Cholas and Chodas (kapus) were all one and the same people.The
cholas who ruled over Telugu speaking lands came to be known as Chodas. These
Chodas also claimed descent from the famous Karikala Chola. They ruled over
their kingdom consisting of the Nellore, Kadapa, Chittur and Chengalput
districts with Vikramasimhapura (modern Nellore) as their capital. KAN Sastri
postulates that there was a live connection between the early Cholas and the
Renandu Cholas of the Andhra country. Many Telugu Chola kingdoms held sway over
regions to the south of the Krishna River in the period between the seventh and
the thirteenth century C.E. Some of them claimed descent from the legendary
Karikala Chola (c 100 C.E.). It is not known much about these families or their
origins. Their original home seems to be the region of Chola corresponding to
the modern Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts of Telangana. They may be
identified with the people referred by the Chinese traveller Yuan Chwng as
'Chuliya' in his annals. The chuliyas were the Cholas and they were non other
than kolis (Koliyas or kuliyas). Chuliya <=> Chula <=> Chola
<=> choda Kuliya => Koliya => kola => Cola => Chola Telugu
Chodas of Velanadu (Velanati Choda) were one of the Telugu Choda families which
claimed their descent from the illustrious Cholas of South India. Velanadu is
located in the modern Guntur district. The chieftains who ruled over Velanadu
came to be known as the Velanati Chodas. They belonged to the Durjaya family, a
Sudra clan. One of them, Rajendra Choda II had even assumed the title
Durjayakulaprakara. Their capital was Dhanadapura or Sanaduprolu, the modern
Chandolu in the Guntur district. It is said that kakatiyas belonged to Durjaya
family and they were also from solar race. Some historians say that they were
fishermen. If they fishermen, there exists a strong possibility that the
kakatiyas belonged to bhil-koli orgin. The Renadu Chodas were independent in
the beginning of their career. Later they recognized the suzerainty of the
Chalukyas of Badami. The Telugu Chola rulers of Renadu had the unique honour of
using the Telugu language in their official records. Those inscriptions
belonging to the 7th and 8th centuries C.E. were discovered at Jammulamadugu,
Prodduturu and other places. At this juncture it is to be noted that the kings
who made their inscriptions in Telugu for the first time were Mudiraj /
Mutthuraj. The chodas could be the same Telugu Mudiraj kings down the lane who
ruled Telugu lands and later they branched off as kapus with agriculture as
basic profession instead of fishing at common man level. There is an evidence
that a Mudiraja king by name ERIKAL
MUTTHURAJU ruled his kingdom which was perhaps spread over parts of Rayalaseema
and surrounding areas of Tamilnadu and Karnataka. Historians has recovered a
rock edict written in Telugu language from Chennakeshava temple complex located
at Erragudi Palem of Kamalapuram Taluk in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh.
This was the first rock edict available to historians which was written in
Telugu language and according to this rock edict, Erikal Mutthuraju ruled his
kingdom in 575 AD. It is noteworthy that even the second rock edict written in
telugu language, which was discovered by the historians, was installed by
Mutthuraju kings. This fact is clearly recorded at page no.106 in a book titled
" Mana Lipi- Puttupoorvottharaalu (Our Script-origins & history)".
Cuddapah district is an integral part of Rayalaseema / Vengadam hill range which was the native place
of original kings of Kalabhra race and who moved towards down South of South
India under external political pressure. This proves that the kolis, kolas,
cholas and chodas were all one and the same people belonging to solar race. We
all know that mudiraj people are the kolis of Andhra Pradesh. It is also said
that the chodas who ruled telegu lands were the ancestors to Kapus (Balijas).
We known that balijas are a variant or an allied warrior group belonging to
Mudiraj community and there exists a rivalry between kapus and mudiraj. There
are several surnames such as setty, talari, etc which are common to both kapu
and mudiraj communities. This rivalry might be an extension of the same rivalry
that existed between the two kings Vijayala Cholan and Muttharayan over the
Tanjore. It is said that chode surname among kapu indicates their descendancy
from chodas. People having Chodeboina surname belongs to Mudiraj and this confirms
the racial and professional connection between kapus and mudiraj. We have also
seen the surnames of Mutharayars that indicate their chola connection. The name
of one Choda Chari comes to mention by ballads while narrating the story of
Mudiraj warrior ancestors during Ankamma kolupu. It once again confirms that
Cholas, Chodas, Mudiraj and Kapus (balija) are one and the same people during
medieval times. Let us try to know about Karikala Cholan who is claimed to be
the ancestor by some in both Mutharayars of Tamilnadu and Kapus of Andhra
Pradesh. Karikala Cholan : Karikalachola maharaja is said to belong to Solar
Race and Kasyapa Gothram. Karikala Chola was the greatest and most powerful
among the Chola kings of the Sangam age in South India. Pattinappaalai
describes Karikala as an able and just king. The history says that Karikala was
also known as the worst and the most bad king. He was the son of Ilamcetcenni
and ruled around 120 C.E and is known by the epithet Karikala Peruvallattan and
Thirumavalavan. Illanjchetchenni, the father of Karikala chola had many
chariots and he was s an expert in riding them. The early Cholas reigned
between the 1st and 4th century AD and the first and most famous king of this
period was Karikalan. 'Karikala' means 'elephant legged' or 'charred leg',
which is assumed to be a reference to an accident by fire which befell the
prince early in his life. Pattinappaalai describes this accident and the
enterprising way in which the prince escaped and established himself in the Chola
throne. Pattinappalai is a long poem on the then Chola capital Kaveripattinam.
Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Rajaraja
Chola , Rajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I were the famous emperors of the
medieval Cholas.” It is said that the Pallavas were Mallas and were the
descendants of Cholas. Illandirayan, the grandson of Early Chola Karikala was
the originator of the Pallavas.”
Karikala's family:Tolkappiyam, states that
Karikala married a Velir girl from Nangur. He most certainly had more than one
queen. The Ganga ruler Durvinita, who ruled in the, later half of 6th cent A.D.,
had a Chola princess as his Chief Queen. She is called 'the daughter of the
family of Karikala Chola, an exemplary Kshatriya, and ruler of Uraiyur'. Sri
Vikrama, the grandson of Ganga Durvinita and who ruled in the 7th century A.D.,
also had a Chola Princess as his Queen who is called 'the daughter of the Chola
family of Karikala, who raised embankments on either side of the river
Kaveri'(2). These references do show that Karikala Chola's family, ruling from
Uraiyur, was still recognized as a dynasty powerful enough to be reckoned with.
Karikala was an able ruler & administrator:Karikala Chola emperor is famous
for having united the entire kingdoms of the south India and the first Chola
empire was established by Karikala who subdued the Cheras and the Pandyas.
Karikala ruled Thanjavur and it is believed from the Epics that many Chola
kings were ruling from Thanjavur even before Karikala Cholan. The Chola King,
Karikala Chola collected the whole of the Mudali tribe of Vellalars and settled
them in Tondaimandalam. The country was divided into territorial domains called
kootams, a reference to kurumbar policies. The specalization of the vellalas in
the villages of the Tondai country had begun long before the British arrived.
Mudaliar also Mudaliyar, Mudali and Moodley in Tamil language literally means a
person of first rank in a feudal society in south India. It is originally the
title and the surname of Tondaimandala Vellalars . Mudhiliyars and Muthariyars
are one and the same people. Mutharayars => Muthariyars => Muthaliyars
=> Mudhaliyars => Mudaliars Cholas :Cholas claimed their descent from Sun
and solar race kings ( Surya vamsis). Cholas worshipped Sun and built several
Sun Temples. Konark Sun Temple was built in Orissa by Chola prince who was
daughter of Rajaraja and wife of Vimaladitya. One Mudiraj ancestor Dharma Choda
chari was said to belong to solar race. Chola- Mutharayar research center concluded
that Cholas and Mutharayars belonged to one family tree. Some of the chola
surnames among the Mutharayars of Tamilnadu are as given below :Cholamutharayar,
Cholan, Cholavalavan, Cholavallakamayar, Killirayar,Killivazhavan,Karikalarayar,Valavan,Valavar.
The Cholas claimed their descendancy from Manu, Ikshvaku, Mandhata, Mucukunda
and Sibi. A prominent warrior race, cholas are central to many ancient tamil
literary works, which describe them as benevolent, courageous and just. They
were supposed to have descended from sun and thus were scions of the legendary
royal solar dynasty, heirs to a tradition begun centuries ago. Many Chola kings
took names and titles 'sibi' to probably acknowledge their descent from that
legendary king who is celebrated as a paragon of justice. Medieval chola kings
took titles like 'Parakesarin' and 'Rajakesarin' remembering their remote
ancestors of that same illustrious lineage who were supposed to have lived
centuries and even millenniums before them. The chola country is mentioned by
Greek chroniclers and merchants, a more detailed description is provided in
works of Ptolemy a Roman trader of 1st century A.D. The recent excavations
following tsunami of 2004 has helped throw more light into poompuhar,(Kaveryppattanam)
the capital city of early cholas. Evidently, poompuhar was an important port
city in the ancient world. It was a place from which traders set sail to far east.
Among the greatest of early chola kings was karikala, who according to various
tamil literary sources during first century A.D defeated all his southern
neighbors. He is also credited with building efficient irrigational systems and
canals. The fact that he was benevolent is brought out by a poem which was
written on his death. Kampan composed his poem (Tamil Kamba Ramayana) during
the reign of the largest and most powerful Tamil kingdom, the imperial Cholas.
Sholas might have supported this literature keeping in view of their
descendancy to solar race to which Srirama belonged. Under the umbrella of that
expanding empire, which claimed victories from the Ganga to Sumatra, Rama
shrines were built, extensive sets of Ramayana reliefs were carved along the
base of several temples, and temples supported recitations of the Rama story.
Chola monarchs also bore Rama's name in their imperial titles, and apparently
one raja perceived parallels between his conquest and Rama's when he erected
icons to the epic hero to celebrate a victory over the Sinhala kings of Lanka.
One temple inscription goes so far as to suggest the story of Rama as an origin
myth for the Cholas, which was a solar dynasty like Rama's. The Cholas belonged
to the Solar and the Chalukyas to the Lunar race. The former were generally
Saivas and the latter were Vaishnavas as they had the boar for their crest.
Besides, the Chalukyas were also patrons of the Jainas. Cholas connection to
solar race kings consolidated through Rangavimana : Manu's son Ikshwaku
cherished the desire of possessing the Ranga Vimanam for the benefit of the
people on earth. He consulted his family preceptor, Vasishtha (priest of the
Surya vamsha), who advised him to start penance uttering the sacred Ashtakshara
Mantra. Accordingly, Ikshwaku started a severe penance which puzzled even the
devas, foreboding evil days for them. They attempted to spoil the penance by
deputing Maninatha and the celestial nymphs to distract his attention. Indra
took the lead in this affair and did not even hesitate to send the Vajraayudha
(lightning weapon) to foil the penance. But all failed in their attempts. In
disappointment, they prayed to Brahma, to save them from the baffling
catastrophe. Brahma on his part approached Ranganatha for advice. Ranganatha
consoled Brahma by expressing his desire to go to Ayodhya where he would be
worshipped by the descendant of the Solar dynasty for four yugas, and at the
end of the fourth yuga he would go to the kingdom of the Cholas in the South,
on the banks of the Kaveri, where he would stay for 700 years. At the end, of
this period he would return to Brahmaloka. Brahma was directed to part with the
Ranga Vimanam to Ikshwaku. Cholas were Kolis : One Gandaraditya in one of the
hymns calls himself 'king of Kori' and 'lord of Tanjai'. This means that he
belonged to the Chola royal family as per historians. Koris and Kolis are one
and the same people. Mudiraj and Muthuraj people are said to be kolis of South
India. Koris <=> kolis => Kolas => Colas => CholasGangaikonda
Chola : According to the Kalingattu-Parani, Kulottunga's father belonged to the
lunar race, and his mother was the daughter of Gangaikonda-Chola (Rajendra
Cholan) of the solar race ( surya vanshi ) . It follows from the statements,
that the hero of the poem is identical with the Eastern Chalukya king Kulottunga-Chodadeva
I., who reigned from A.D. 1063 to 1112; that his unnamed father and mother were
the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja I and Ammangadevi; and that his maternal
grandfather was the Chola king Rajendra-Choladeva or Gangaikonda-Chola.
Rajendra chola's troops had marched right upto Bengal and brought the sacred
waters of the Ganga with them. This is why Rajendra Cholan is also known as
'Gangaikondacholan' — 'the Chola who brought the Ganga to the south'!.
Cholamutharayan was an army chief of Rajandracholan : The Tirumittakkode temple
epigraphs are one of the most important documents as far as the political and
cultural situation of Nila river valley is concerned. This epigraph is the only
evidence to prove the Chola supremacy in 10th Century AD in Kerala, which in
turn accelerated the fall of Kulasekharas of Cranganore. The epigraph says that
Cholamuttarayan with his army came over to Tirumittakkode (Tiruvittuvakkode - a
place where Vittuva or Vishnu is worshipped) and the Vaishnava temple was
brought to his custody. The 'Cholasenapati' was the army chief of Rajendra Chola
of the 10-11th Century AD. He came over to Tirumittakode, conquered the area
where Valluvanadu Utaiyavar had their 'original ancestral house at Arangot, a
neighboring village and the temple complex. The Chola muttarayan constructed a
temple of Siva in front of the Vittuva temple itself so that the front part of
the Vittuva temple is barred from visionof the devotees. The temple - (Siva in
the Sanctum Sanctorum in front of the Vishnu's Sanctum Sanctorum - a twin
'Sreekovil' system) is a unique architectural pattern of temple construction
seen at Tirumittacode. Incas of Peru : The Incas had their Temple of the Sun
God (Peru) much like the one in Konarak in Orissa built by the Cholas. The Chola
chieftains (Incas) of America styled themselves as "Raghuvamsa
Manickam". This shows that they belonged to the Raghuvamsa of Sri Rama
whose ancestor Sibi Chakravarthi was well described in ancient Tamil literature
as the Chola king Sembian. This takes us to a very relevant inference that the
ancestors of Dasaratha were as much the ancestors of the Tamil - cholas. One
other ancestor of Sri Rama, Musu Kunthan, was none other than the Musu Kuntha
Chola in ancient Tamil history. This Musu Kunthan's reighn was during the
second Tamil Sangam age 4800-2800 BC.
