One such rare opportunity arose for King Rajendran through his father.
In the year 1025, King Rajendran crossed the waves and went to Srivijayam (Indonesia), 2,000 kilometers away, fought a war there and arrested the king of that country.
In the last battle of Munneerpalandivu fought by King Rajarajan during his lifetime, Rajendran participated as a commander and brought a great victory to the Chola army.
It was the experience gained in that battle that formed the basis for his victory over the Srivijayam nation a few years later.
Historical pages do not provide detailed information about the battle of Munneerpalanthi. But the battle takes on significance as it serves as a demonstration of Rajendra’s mettle.
The island was called “Munneerpazantivu Panneerairam” during the Cholas period. 12 thousand is not the number of islands there.
The king of that island called himself ‘King of the fifteen thousand islands’, hence the name ‘Munneerpalandivu Panneerairam’.
The formation of the group of islands gave it a garland-like appearance, and the island later acquired the name ‘Malai Island’ and is now referred to as ‘Maldives’ in English.
Those islands in the middle sea could only be reached by ships at that time.
Tamils have been skilled in the art of ship building and seafaring since ancient times.
During the reign of the Satavahanas (166-193 AD), known as the ‘Hundred Gunners’, the use of ships was more prevalent.
Coins issued by the Satavahanas with ship motifs are proof of this.
After them ships were used to a greater extent during the Pallava period as well.
Subsequently, during the reign of King Rajarajan, a large fleet was created. The navy was originally established to provide protection to merchants traveling to foreign countries by ships.
During that period there was a good demand for Tamilnadu products in the downstream and western countries.
Nanadesi Vekti Ayahi Fifhunduvar, Manikramattar, Ayawolai, Anjuvannattar, Valanchiyar, etc., were merchants who operated with the countries of Arabia, Persia, Egypt and Greece in the west and Srivijaya (Indonesia), Kataram (Malaysia), Myanmar (Burma), China and Cambodia in the east. They had a business relationship.
At that time there was no horse breeding in India. Horses were mainly used for high-speed travel by merchants and civilians. All the kings had cavalry.
Horses for these were brought from Arabia. Horses arriving and disembarking at the ports in the western part of Tamil Nadu were sent to the downstream countries through the ports in the eastern part.
Due to such exports and imports, the ports of Musiri, Thondi, Kayalpatnam, Nagapattinam, Mamallapuram, Mylapore, Veeracholapatnam were operating as busy commercial markets.
Customs duties were collected on goods exported and imported goods from these ports. The funds thus accumulated played a major role in replenishing the state coffers.
Sea travel was considered rare in those days. Thus, on every sea voyage, merchants would ship as much of the priceless goods as they could.
Pirates sprang up to plunder the goods thus transported. Pirates were rampant in both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
To protect themselves and their goods from them, merchants in early times took armed soldiers with them.
As piracy increased, the government created a separate navy to protect sea-going merchants. The navy established during Rajarajan’s time provided protection to seafaring merchants and played an important role in many wars.
It is recorded in history that King Rajarajan fought wars using the navy three times during his reign.
The first naval battle took place in AD 988. The war waged by King Rajarajan on the Chera country is described as the Battle of Kandalurchal.
During that war, the ground force, a part of the army, marched overland from Tanjore through Pandiyanadu and reached Kandalurchal in the Chera country.
Another branch of the army, the navy, traveled by ships along the east coast around Kanyakumari to Kanthalurchal and took part in the battle. Kanthalurchal was looted in that battle.
After that, the second naval battle took place in 1001 AD during the conquest of Eelam. Rajaraja’s fleet played a full part in this war. Warriors in numerous ships crossed the sea to Sri Lanka in search of victory.
The third naval battle holds a special place in history. The reason is that this was the first war in Indian history that was fought over a long distance by sea.
About 1,000 kilometers south-west of Chera in the Mediterranean lies the archipelago of Munneerpalanthivu 12 Thousand (Maldives).
Commercial ships from the west coast ports of Tamil Nadu to Arabia, Egypt, Persia and Greece pass through these islands.
There was a lot of piracy in that area. The affected merchants complained to King Rajarajan about this.
Rajarajan sent his fleet there with the aim of eradicating pirates and because it would be profitable to bring under his control those islands which were important centers of trade with the West.
The Cholas fleet marched towards the Maldives, far away from Tamil Nadu. Prince Rajendran also participated in this invasion as a commander.
Munneerpapandivu groups are located in the middle of the Arabian sea at a distance of 1000 km from Tanjore, so it was unimaginable at that time to travel that distance in ships and fight.
King Rajarajan very bravely invaded Munneerpalandiv with a large number of ships and claimed victory.
The existing rulers were removed and new ones were installed. Rajarajan also eradicated the pirates in that area.
After that, merchants sailed to the West without any fear.
Rajakanda’s feat of sending a fleet of ships to a cluster of islands in the middle of the ocean was something that no one else could have accomplished, so the success of that island figured prominently in his reputation.
Rajendran, who was a prince, played an important role in these three sea wars.
Like the battle of Munneerpalandivu, the battle with Melayachalukya king Satyacharya brought great fame to Rajaraja.
Satyacharyan is the main character in the novel Sivakami’s Sapadham written by Amarar Kalki. Many will know about the cruel nature of that king.
That Satyacharya belonged to the Pallavar period. Another Satyacharya who came in his way ruled the country during the reign of King Rajarajan.
With that Satyacharya, the war between King Rajaraja and Prince Rajendran was fierce.