Rajaraja Chola the first is considered the greatest of all Chola kings. During his reign the empire expanded to Sri Lanka in the south, and included the kingdoms of the Gangas and Kalinga in the north. He established the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur. While he was an ardent Saivite, he was also secular. He established detailed stone engravings which explain his victories and religious works.

Life

He was born to Paranthaha Chola-II and Vaanavan Maathevi. His birth name is Arunmozhi Varman. He styled himself as Rajaraja while taking the reign, which means king of kings.

He lost his parents at a young age and was brought up by his grand mother Chembian Maathevi and elder sister Kundavai Piratti. It is said that on his father's death, he sacrificed the throne to his uncle Uththama Chola.

Rajarajan inherited Chola and Kongu kingdoms and the Kanchi region, when he came to throne; the first comprising Thanjavur and Trichy regions, the second the Coimbatore region, the third country comprising of South & North Arcots and Chengalput regions.

Rajarajan began his career by the conquest of the Chera country. He defeated Chera King Bhaskara Ravivarman, whose fleet he destroyed in the port of Kandalur. He also seized Pandya Amara Bhujanga and captured the port of Vilinam. By his campaign against the Singhalees he annexed northern Ceylon, building a number of stone temple in the Ceylonese capital Polonnaruva, of which one now stands to Shiva. It was at about the 14th year of his reign (AD 998-999) that most of his triumphs were achieved. He conquered the Gangas of Mysore(capital at Talakad), the country of Nolambas (Bellary and Eastern Mysore), Tadigaipadi (the district of Mysore), vengi (southern part of Northern Circars), Coorg (kudamalainadu) and the Pandyas. The last were the natural enemies of Cholas. Having already overcome the Chera, Rajarajan assumed the title "Mummudi Cholan". The Western and the Eastern Chalukyas of the Deccan were conquered next. The Western Chalukyas remained for the long the stubborn enemies of the Cholas. During the next three years, Rajarajan subdued Quilon and the northern kingdom of Kalinga, through his son Rajendra Cholan. Chola also simultaneously directed his arms against Ceylon. Rajarajan moved the capital from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruva and built here in memory of his mother Vanavan Mahadevi the Siva Devalaya for Vanavan Mahadevi Isvaramudaiyar. With Rajarajan, the Chola culture and Saiva religion permeated the whole of Ceylon.

The original title of Arunmozhivarman (Rajaraja Cholan) was Rajakesari Varman or Mummudi-Sola-Deva. He was the second son of the Parantaka Cholan II alias Sundara Cholan and Vaanavan Maadevi. Rajarajan had an elder sister, Kundavaiyar and an elder brother, Aditya Karikalan. Rajarajan had a high regard for his sister, who spent her later life in Tanjore with her younger brother, his first daughter was named after her. Only one son and three daughters of the King are known namely; Rajendra Cholan I, Kundavai, who married the Eastern Chalukya King Vimaladitya, Mahadevadigal and another whose name is not traceable. Rajarajan had a number of queens. Lokamahadevi was probably the chief queen, who built the shrine of Sri Lokamahadesvarar, called Uttara Kailas in the Sri Panchanadisvara temple at Thiruvaiyaru.

Rajarajan having thus realised his cherished military glories, in or about 1003 AD has sheathed his sword, and turned his thoughts towards a life of peace. It was about this time, that the Chidambaram temple authorities bestowed on him the title of "Sri Rajarajan" and "Sivapadasekara".

Wars

Rajaraja won most of the wars that he undertook. His stone engravings contain a detailed list of his many victories, and the titles he added to himself after these victories.

• Vengi war to help his friendly Vengi king Thaanavarman
• Gangappaadi against Gangas in which he won and made Gangas his subordinate rulers.
• Vizhinam war against Pandyas, against Amarapuyankan(?).
• Kalinga
• Eelam
• Itamalai
• NuLampaadi
• Kanthaloor

Philanthropy

Most of his philanthropy was aimed towards Saivite temples, though he also donated to Vaishnavite temples and Buddha institutions. There isn't much evidence that he supported Tamil poets as is done by rulers of Sangam era.

Temple works

• Big Temple of Thanjavur
• Chudamani Buddha vikaram, Nagappatinnam

References in Contemporary Culture

• Rajaraja Cholan - Movie.
• Ponniyin Selvan - a novel by Kalki in which he is the lead character.