Question

How did the cholas rise to power? Trace out the role of Rajaraja I in this rise.

Answer 1

Hint: The chola dynasty was one of the longest ruling dynasties in world history, it was a Tamil thalassocratic empire in Southern India.

Complete answer:
Cholas, worked as subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram and they primarily belonged to a minor chief family called Mutharaiyar that held authority in the Kaveri delta. In the eighth century, Vijayala, the founder of the Chola dynasty, took over the Tanjore kingdom by defeating the Pallavas. He captured the Kaveri delta from the subordinate of Pallava king, Samanta. Hence, Tanjore became the first capital of the Chola empire. He further conquered neighbouring regions, thus overthrowing Pallava and Pandaya kings and establishing Chola kingdom.

Rajaraja I, was a Chola emperor often described as Rajaraja the Great, he is chiefly attributed for ensuring the chola supremacy in south India. At the time of ascension, chola territory centered around the Tanjore region, he turned the empire into a well administered empire with a powerful navy and an army. He initiated a project of land survey which reorganized the empire into units called valanadus, under which the hereditary lords and princes were turned to dependent officials giving the Rajaraja I greater control over the empire.

Note: Rajaraja was a stringent follower of Shaivism, he had several temples constructed for Lord Vishnu as well but he was tolerant towards other religions as well. The Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur (then Tanjore) was built in 1010 CE by Rajaraja I.