The Later Chola Empire, which ruled the whole of Tamil Nadu with Tanjore as its capital, was founded by Vijayalaya Chola in 850 AD. The Chola Empire, which was later ruled by many Chola kings like Adita Chola, Parantaka Chola, Arinjaya Chola, faced a huge problem during the Sundara Chola period.
Also read: Aditha Karikalan’s murder that shook history! A mysterious knot that has not been untied for a thousand years
The mysterious murder of Adittha Karikalan, who had been crowned as the next king, shook the Chola Empire. Later, when there was a serious problem in the king’s taking charge, later it was corrected with time and the Chola empire took a walk towards its golden age during the reign of Rajarajan and Rajendran.
In this case, Athirajendra Chola, who succeeded Veerrajendra Chola in 1070 AD, died mysteriously within a year of his accession, so the Chola Empire became an empire without direct male heirs. How did King Athirajendra Chola die? What are the shocking facts that historians tell us? Who became the next Chola king? Many historical facts including that can be seen in this collection.
Murder due to civil strife?
The vernacular poet Pilhanar, who wrote the history of the Upper Chalukya king Vikramathan VI, mentions that the death of the Chola king Athirajendra was due to civil strife. “Athirasendran was killed in a food riot in Sonata” he mentioned in his lyrics and mentioned that his brother-in-law Vikramaditan VI suppressed many internal riots in the Chola country when Athirasendran’s coronation ceremony took place. KK Pillai, who is considered to be one of the most important people who recorded the mythological history of Tamils, has recorded Arirasendran’s death as murder in his book “History of Tamils, People and Culture”. (source below)
But no evidence of civil revolts against Athirasendran in Tamil has been found so far. Historical records suggest that Athirajendra Chola was given the princely title in AD 1067 during the reign of Veerarajendra and was given the responsibility of taking care of Thondai Mandal and Pandya Mandal. Many historians reject the fact that Athirajendra was killed due to a civil rebellion, as the authors have found many hymns written in praise of him as “Vodiyar Sri Athirasendra Devar, who raised Gopparakesari Varmara with Manu of Veeramund Thyagam Aramena Puinadu Mapugal Manu” and “Thirumatanda and Sayamatanda are blessed in Tirupupiyam”.
Did the disease take your life?
In an inscription found at Koogur in Tanjore district, it is reported that Athirajendran was suffering from illness and for his health, the Lord Thirumunnar was reciting Devar Bhatikas twice a day in the temple in that town. While a Vaishnava text also mentions this information, most historians accept and suggest that Athirasendra must have fallen ill and died.
(Source – Later Chola History – Satasiva Bandaratha)
Is it because of Saiva-Vaishnava conflict?
During the period when Athirasendra lived, there was a conflict between Saivas and Vaishnavisms. Noting that the Vaishnavites were harassed during Athirajendra’s accession, some historians speculate that these riots may have been the cause of the king’s murder. However, many historians point out that the Vainava-Saiva conflict was not the reason for the king’s murder, pointing to the fact that the Varadarasa Perumal Temple inside the Tiruvakarai Chandramouli Suvarar Temple in South Arcot region was built as a black stone temple during the time of Athirasendra.
The Chola Empire was left with no male heirs:
By the time of Atirasendra’s death, he had no siblings or sons, the Chola Empire became an empire without direct male heirs. This sudden crisis led to a major change in the legacy of the Chola state established by Vijayalaya Chola.
The Chalukya-Chola Empire emerged:
Anabaya Chalukyan took over as the next king of the Chola Empire as a prince born to Ammanga Devi, the daughter of Rajendra I and the Lower Chalukyan King Rajaraja Narendra. His father, Rajaraja Narendran, was born to Kundavai, the daughter of Rajaraja Chola and the Chalukya king Vimaladithan. Thus this Chalukya descendant, who had Chola blood on both his mother and father, effectively ruled the Chola Empire for more than 50 years. The first Kulothunga Chola who is celebrated in history as the Chola who avoided customs and wiped out the misery of the people by removing other taxes avoided by the landlord is none other than him. This Anabaya Chalukyan..!
