Rajendra Chola 1, the son of Raja Raja Chola 1, is considered to be one of the greatest emperors ever of the Chola dynasty. Under his reign, the Chola Empire extended all the way up to Ganga in the North, and became a true naval superpower going all the way up to South East Asia.
He ascended the throne in 1014 AD, during the final years of his father’s reign.
As a co-regent along with his father in 1012, he led a campaign to Iditurai-Nadu, basically the Krishna and Tungabhadra doab, conquering it, giving them fertile agricultural land and also as a buffer against the Western Chalukyas. He also conquered the city of Banavasi, pressing the Cholas into the Western Deccan competing with the Hoysalas.
In 1013 he captured Kolipakai now in Telangana, known for it’s Jain temples and a stronghold of the Western Chalukyas, as the Cholas consolidated their hold in the Deccan. He invaded and conquered the Pandya, Chera Perumal kingdoms
The campaigns in Northern Karnataka, Southern Maharashtra saw Rajendra Chola, come into his own, breaking away from the shadow of his father, as he struck deep into Western Chalukyan territory, sacking and destroying Manyakheda, their capital, dealing a huge blow to their long time rivals.
When his father passed away in 1014, Rajendra now had the responsibility of expanding the kingdom further. He first sent a Naval expedition to Sri Lanka in 1016 against the Ruhuna kingdom, defeating them, and bringing the island under his control.
In 1017, the Chola forces pushed into Kerala capturing Kudamalai Nadu, gaining control over the lucrative spice trade, as well as access to ports and trade routes along the Malabar coast. The very next year he launched an expedition into the Indian Ocean, capturing the islands of Maldives, Lakshadweep, which were strategic for trade with Arabia. The Cholas by now had complete control over the sea routes in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.
Rajendra again launched another strike against the Western Chalukyas in 1019, who had regrouped after the loss of Manyakheta, and had a new capital at Kalyan( Maharashtra). While the Cholas did lose Kalyan, they again recaptured it after the Battle of Maski. Inspite of the rather intense rivalry with the Western Chalukyas, that kept going back and forth, Rajendra Chola already had control over Sri Lanka, Kerala, the Maldives, and Lakshadweep.
And it was then he began to prepare for his most ambitious military campaign ever, into North and Western India, as he transitioned from being just a regional overlord to an emperor of the sub continent itself.
And this marked the start of the legendary Gangaikonda Chola campaign, that would define his legacy for centuries to come.
It began with the capture of Sakkarakkoattam( Southern Chattisgarh), which he used as his base to advance into Central India, and also split his campaign into two wings, one marching towards the Gangetic belt, another towards Western India that was controlled by the Parmaras and Kalachuris. At the same time he stationed himself at Sakkarakkoattam, coordinating both the campaigns.
Odisha fell as the regions of Odda Vishayam and Thandabuththi , were captured, which would soon become the Empire’s eastern frontier, securing access to the Eastern coast. With the capture of Kosala Nadu( Western Odisha, North Chattisgarh), Rajendra consolidated his hold over Central India.
Thakkana Laadam and Uttara Laadam in Jharkhand were subdued, gaining access to the mineral rich regions in the East. As the army pressed eastwards into Bengal, the Pala ruler was defeated, as the Chola army reached the Ganga. It’s believed he bought back pots of water from Ganga to consecrate his new capital Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
And in 1022 CE, his forces returne back after their triumph in the North, the details of which have been recorded in the Meikeerthi inscriptions of 1023 CE. The Gangaikonda Cholaeswarer temple was built in commemoration of the victory, consecrated by the Rajaguru, Isaana Pandithar. Rajendra in turn claimed the honorific Gangaikondaan, while his younger brother Araiyan Rajarajan, who led the Gangetic expedition, was given the title Gangaikonda Cholan.
Rajendra commenced construction of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, envisioned as a rival to his father’s capital at Thanjavur, that had the massive temple, as well as the Chola Gangam Tank,a massive water reservoir, where the holy water from Ganga was ritually mixed. As per the Essalam Copper Plates, -the construction of the city, temple, and tank was somewhere in the Udaiyar Palaiyam region of Ariyalur district.
The Gangaikonda Cholaeswarer temple houses a form of Shiva known as Peruvudaiyar, with a huge lingam of 13 feet, and circumference of 20 feet.
He then began his overseas expedition between 1023–24 CE, as the Srivijaya Empire controlling the maritime trade over Straits of Malacca was attacked. The Chola fleet first attacked the Sri Vijaya capital at Palembang, the very heart of their maritime trade. And soon they seized Malaiyur consolidating their hold over southern Sumatra. Soon Mevilbangham on Bangha island fell as the Cholas took over the entire archipelago.
Vallaipandur (Northeast Malaysia) and Kadarem (Northwest Malaysia, modern Kedah) were taken, as the Malayan Peninsula too came under Chola control. The fleet pressed further capturing Ilankasokam ( SE Thailand), Mathamalingam( Eastern Thailand) and Thalaitakkolam( Western Thailand) as the Cholas by now lorded over most of mainland South East Asia.
On the way back, the Chola fleet captured Manakkavaarem (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and Magpapaalam ( Southern Myanmar), returning triumphantly to their homeland.
The massive Vijayamkonda Cholaeswarem Siva temple was built at Erumbur( Cuddalore dt) to commemorate this victory, now this temple is called the Kadambavanesvara temple. Rajendra assumed the title of Kadaremkondaan to signify his conquest of Kadaram( modern day Kedah, Malaysia) and one of his grandsons who led this expedition was given the title Kadremkonda Cholan.
The magnificient temples at Gangaikondacholapuram, to commemorate his victory over the Pala are a standing reminder of his legacy. He also developed the Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, as well as the Pathirakali Amman Temple. He developed an efficient water management system that helped in irrigation and water supply.
