Like all other children who were in school during the 70’s and 80’s, I grew up believing the only great empire we had was the Mughal Empire. 🙄. Then we started living in Delhi NCR and every nook and corner is filled with Mughal monuments (built over temples ofcourse). Our views and perceptions started to change slowly over a period of time and we realised we have been fed on fake history, especially me. Krishnan still read about the Cholas, Pallavas, Pandyas etc.
Twitter, books and other social media platforms came to the rescue and suddenly it dawned on me that the Mughals ruled for a really short period of time and weren’t all that great :(.
Kalki Krishnamurthy, Chola Empire and Ponniyin Selvan
I can read and write Tamil correctly but painfully slowly … so I never managed to read the modern classics in Tamil literature. While browsing Kindle Unlimited, I chanced upon the English translation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Ponniyin Selvan Book 1, by Pavithra Srinivasan and immediately started reading it. This is a huge series of novels written as weekly magazine columns and later made into five volumes.
Its un-put-downable. Pavithra Srinivasan has done an outstanding job of the translation. While its a fictional account of the greatest Chola emperor, Raja Raja Chola (Arulmozhi Varmar)’s life, the historical events are factual. One such historical event is the battle between Pandiyas and Pallavas in the northern part of River Kollidam.
Ganga King Prithvipathi and Aditha Chozha fought along with Pallavas to defend their (then) tiny Kingdom from being taken over by the Pandiyas. The following is an excerpt of how the battle was won from the brink of a crushing loss. This is from Book 1 of Ponniyin Selvan.
“…. A hasty conference was held in Aparajitha Varman’s tent: the Pallava King, Prithvipathi of the Ganga kingdom and Aditha Chozha huddled together to discuss the next course of action. It was obvious that they could not hold out for long; a retreat to the northern banks of the River Kollidam stared them in the face.
And then—a miracle occurred.
Vijayalaya Chozha, scarred with endless wounds from battle, practically bed-ridden with infirmity and almost unable to stand on legs riddled with injuries—had somehow managed to arrive onto the battlefield. Should the Pallavas ever retreat to the north of the Kollidam, the Chozhas were doomed; it would be centuries before there would be any hope of regaining their lost glory.
Well aware of these circumstances, the old battle-hardened lion had arrived on the battlefield—and now, growled a ferocious oath that lent new life to the faltering Pallava warriors.
“An elephant—give me an elephant!” he pleaded. “They have been completely decimated; we have none left,” came the answer.
“A horse then—just one horse!” “There are none alive,” was the depressed reply.
“Does Chozha Nadu possess at least two true warriors?” cried Vijayalaya, desperate.
Two hundred answered his clarion call.
“Two—two of you, who possess a warrior’s heart and strength, may hoist me onto your shoulders and march into battle. The rest—follow us in twos,” commanded that warrior among warriors.
“Should the men who bear me fall, the ones behind them shall carry me, in turn!” Thus, two soldiers, each with the height and build of the famed Pandava wrestler Bheemasena, promptly stepped forward and hoisted Vijayalaya onto their shoulders.
“Now! Carry me to the battle, now!” roared the man.
Battle still raged furiously in a corner of the field; the marava warriors of the southern lands were engaged in beating back the eastern soldiers. Vijayalaya Chozha thus entered the battlefield, to almost certain defeat. He marched in on the shoulders of two men, bearing a gleaming sword in each hand, twirling it around like Thirumaal wielding his discus with supreme confidence.
He ploughed through enemy ranks, lopping of their heads without pause or hesitation; no one, it seemed, could stop him. And yes—his incredible courage had its effect: soldiers, who had hitherto withdrawn, fatigued with battled, now began to creep forward.
They stood still, gaping at Vijayalaya’s almost inhuman strength and valour. Slowly, they encouraged each other, patted each other’s backs—and began to enter the battlefield with renewed vim and vigour.
In an instant, Jayalakshmi, the Goddess of Victory, had turned her compassionate gaze towards the advancing warriors. The Pallava commanders gave up their decision to retreat towards the north of Kollidam. The three kings now joined together, along with their personal regiments and re-entered the battlefield with new strength.
Their concentrated attack had its effect: the Pandiya soldiers fell back in retreat, and turned their backs, stopping only until they reached the frontiers of their own kingdom.
It was in this battle that the Ganga king, Prithvipathi embraced death, having performed a great many valorous deeds. His men raised a memorial stone in his honour and later, a pallipadai as well.”
I don’t know about you, but I have goosebumps reading about Vijayalaya Chola !! How awe inspiring he is – snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat. This is the history that our children must read, not about drug addiction, harems and eunuchs that the sick Mughal rulers favoured.
Am already onto the second volume and am even more impressed with the Arulmozhi Varman’s thought process before he became Raja Raja Chola.
Vetri Vel Veera Vel.
Thanks for the detailed article about Vijayalaya Cholan. Came through your article when I did some research to write about the Chola Dynasty. Do you mind if I could refer your article in my writing, please?
Thanks. And please go ahead and refer to my article. I will be visiting some of the places where these incidents took place to gather more information. 🙏