King Karkala Cholan

 Karikala Chola was from valavan / Valaiyar fishing community and the valaiyars are a subcaste of Tamil - Muthurajas at present in Tamilnadu. Chola Mutharaya Research center published their paper claiming a common ancestry to both Cholas and Mutharayars. This seems to be true from the fact that there are several surnames among Muthuraja which indicate names of Chola clans of Tamilnadu. Some of such surnames indicating Chola connection are as given below. Cholamutharayar,Cholan,Cholavalavan,Cholavallakamayar,Karikalarayar,Killirayar,Killivazhavan,Sennivalavar,SenniyarValavan,Valavar,Valavarkoman Before we know about the famous Karikala Chola, it is useful to know the relation that existed between Mutharayars,  Chodas and Cholas. Killi, Valavan, Valavar, Senni, chola, cholan were some of the common titles that were used by Chola kings of Tamilnadu. Use of surnames having these titles and their combinations indicate the common blood and ancestry between Cholas and Muthurajas. This theory also gains its strength from the fact that these two clans were strongly bonded through matrimonial alliances. They were also bonded strongly through rivalry over establishing their supremacy of their ruling power over Tamil lands. Tanjore city was ruled by both Cholas and mutharayars where they fought with each other bitterly to claim their supremacy. Ultimately Cholas won the city where they established their kingdom of later Cholas and spread all over South including Andhra Pradesh. An interesting thing to be understood is that there existed a rivalry between Cholas and Mutharayas and a similar rivalry existed between kapus and Mudiraj. The following information high lights the fact that Mutharayars, Cholas and Chodas (kapus) were all one and the same people.The cholas who ruled over Telugu speaking lands came to be known as Chodas. These Chodas also claimed descent from the famous Karikala Chola. They ruled over their kingdom consisting of the Nellore, Kadapa, Chittur and Chengalput districts with Vikramasimhapura (modern Nellore) as their capital. KAN Sastri postulates that there was a live connection between the early Cholas and the Renandu Cholas of the Andhra country. Many Telugu Chola kingdoms held sway over regions to the south of the Krishna River in the period between the seventh and the thirteenth century C.E. Some of them claimed descent from the legendary Karikala Chola (c 100 C.E.). It is not known much about these families or their origins. Their original home seems to be the region of Chola corresponding to the modern Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts of Telangana. They may be identified with the people referred by the Chinese traveller Yuan Chwng as 'Chuliya' in his annals. The chuliyas were the Cholas and they were non other than kolis (Koliyas or kuliyas). Chuliya <=> Chula <=> Chola <=> choda Kuliya => Koliya => kola => Cola => Chola Telugu Chodas of Velanadu (Velanati Choda) were one of the Telugu Choda families which claimed their descent from the illustrious Cholas of South India. Velanadu is located in the modern Guntur district. The chieftains who ruled over Velanadu came to be known as the Velanati Chodas. They belonged to the Durjaya family, a Sudra clan. One of them, Rajendra Choda II had even assumed the title Durjayakulaprakara. Their capital was Dhanadapura or Sanaduprolu, the modern Chandolu in the Guntur district. It is said that kakatiyas belonged to Durjaya family and they were also from solar race. Some historians say that they were fishermen. If they fishermen, there exists a strong possibility that the kakatiyas belonged to bhil-koli orgin. The Renadu Chodas were independent in the beginning of their career. Later they recognized the suzerainty of the Chalukyas of Badami. The Telugu Chola rulers of Renadu had the unique honour of using the Telugu language in their official records. Those inscriptions belonging to the 7th and 8th centuries C.E. were discovered at Jammulamadugu, Prodduturu and other places. At this juncture it is to be noted that the kings who made their inscriptions in Telugu for the first time were Mudiraj / Mutthuraj. The chodas could be the same Telugu Mudiraj kings down the lane who ruled Telugu lands and later they branched off as kapus with agriculture as basic profession instead of fishing at common man level. There is an evidence that a Mudiraja king by  name ERIKAL MUTTHURAJU ruled his kingdom which was perhaps spread over parts of Rayalaseema and surrounding areas of Tamilnadu and Karnataka. Historians has recovered a rock edict written in Telugu language from Chennakeshava temple complex located at Erragudi Palem of Kamalapuram Taluk in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh. This was the first rock edict available to historians which was written in Telugu language and according to this rock edict, Erikal Mutthuraju ruled his kingdom in 575 AD. It is noteworthy that even the second rock edict written in telugu language, which was discovered by the historians, was installed by Mutthuraju kings. This fact is clearly recorded at page no.106 in a book titled " Mana Lipi- Puttupoorvottharaalu (Our Script-origins & history)". Cuddapah district is an integral part of Rayalaseema / Vengadam hill range which was the native place of original kings of Kalabhra race and who moved towards down South of South India under external political pressure. This proves that the kolis, kolas, cholas and chodas were all one and the same people belonging to solar race. We all know that mudiraj people are the kolis of Andhra Pradesh. It is also said that the chodas who ruled telegu lands were the ancestors to Kapus (Balijas). We known that balijas are a variant or an allied warrior group belonging to Mudiraj community and there exists a rivalry between kapus and mudiraj. There are several surnames such as setty, talari, etc which are common to both kapu and mudiraj communities. This rivalry might be an extension of the same rivalry that existed between the two kings Vijayala Cholan and Muttharayan over the Tanjore. It is said that chode surname among kapu indicates their descendancy from chodas. People having Chodeboina surname belongs to Mudiraj and this confirms the racial and professional connection between kapus and mudiraj. We have also seen the surnames of Mutharayars that indicate their chola connection. The name of one Choda Chari comes to mention by ballads while narrating the story of Mudiraj warrior ancestors during Ankamma kolupu. It once again confirms that Cholas, Chodas, Mudiraj and Kapus (balija) are one and the same people during medieval times. Let us try to know about Karikala Cholan who is claimed to be the ancestor by some in both Mutharayars of Tamilnadu and Kapus of Andhra Pradesh. Karikala Cholan : Karikalachola maharaja is said to belong to Solar Race and Kasyapa Gothram. Karikala Chola was the greatest and most powerful among the Chola kings of the Sangam age in South India. Pattinappaalai describes Karikala as an able and just king. The history says that Karikala was also known as the worst and the most bad king. He was the son of Ilamcetcenni and ruled around 120 C.E and is known by the epithet Karikala Peruvallattan and Thirumavalavan. Illanjchetchenni, the father of Karikala chola had many chariots and he was s an expert in riding them. The early Cholas reigned between the 1st and 4th century AD and the first and most famous king of this period was Karikalan. 'Karikala' means 'elephant legged' or 'charred leg', which is assumed to be a reference to an accident by fire which befell the prince early in his life. Pattinappaalai describes this accident and the enterprising way in which the prince escaped and established himself in the Chola throne. Pattinappalai is a long poem on the then Chola capital Kaveripattinam. Karikala Chola was the most famous among the early Chola kings, while Rajaraja Chola , Rajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I were the famous emperors of the medieval Cholas.” It is said that the Pallavas were Mallas and were the descendants of Cholas. Illandirayan, the grandson of Early Chola Karikala was the originator of the Pallavas.”  Karikala's family:Tolkappiyam, states that Karikala married a Velir girl from Nangur. He most certainly had more than one queen. The Ganga ruler Durvinita, who ruled in the, later half of 6th cent A.D., had a Chola princess as his Chief Queen. She is called 'the daughter of the family of Karikala Chola, an exemplary Kshatriya, and ruler of Uraiyur'. Sri Vikrama, the grandson of Ganga Durvinita and who ruled in the 7th century A.D., also had a Chola Princess as his Queen who is called 'the daughter of the Chola family of Karikala, who raised embankments on either side of the river Kaveri'(2). These references do show that Karikala Chola's family, ruling from Uraiyur, was still recognized as a dynasty powerful enough to be reckoned with. Karikala was an able ruler & administrator:Karikala Chola emperor is famous for having united the entire kingdoms of the south India and the first Chola empire was established by Karikala who subdued the Cheras and the Pandyas. Karikala ruled Thanjavur and it is believed from the Epics that many Chola kings were ruling from Thanjavur even before Karikala Cholan. The Chola King, Karikala Chola collected the whole of the Mudali tribe of Vellalars and settled them in Tondaimandalam. The country was divided into territorial domains called kootams, a reference to kurumbar policies. The specalization of the vellalas in the villages of the Tondai country had begun long before the British arrived. Mudaliar also Mudaliyar, Mudali and Moodley in Tamil language literally means a person of first rank in a feudal society in south India. It is originally the title and the surname of Tondaimandala Vellalars . Mudhiliyars and Muthariyars are one and the same people. Mutharayars => Muthariyars => Muthaliyars => Mudhaliyars => Mudaliars Cholas :Cholas claimed their descent from Sun and solar race kings ( Surya vamsis). Cholas worshipped Sun and built several Sun Temples. Konark Sun Temple was built in Orissa by Chola prince who was daughter of Rajaraja and wife of Vimaladitya. One Mudiraj ancestor Dharma Choda chari was said to belong to solar race. Chola- Mutharayar research center concluded that Cholas and Mutharayars belonged to one family tree. Some of the chola surnames among the Mutharayars of Tamilnadu are as given below :Cholamutharayar, Cholan, Cholavalavan, Cholavallakamayar, Killirayar,Killivazhavan,Karikalarayar,Valavan,Valavar. The Cholas claimed their descendancy from Manu, Ikshvaku, Mandhata, Mucukunda and Sibi. A prominent warrior race, cholas are central to many ancient tamil literary works, which describe them as benevolent, courageous and just. They were supposed to have descended from sun and thus were scions of the legendary royal solar dynasty, heirs to a tradition begun centuries ago. Many Chola kings took names and titles 'sibi' to probably acknowledge their descent from that legendary king who is celebrated as a paragon of justice. Medieval chola kings took titles like 'Parakesarin' and 'Rajakesarin' remembering their remote ancestors of that same illustrious lineage who were supposed to have lived centuries and even millenniums before them. The chola country is mentioned by Greek chroniclers and merchants, a more detailed description is provided in works of Ptolemy a Roman trader of 1st century A.D. The recent excavations following tsunami of 2004 has helped throw more light into poompuhar,(Kaveryppattanam) the capital city of early cholas. Evidently, poompuhar was an important port city in the ancient world. It was a place from which traders set sail to far east. Among the greatest of early chola kings was karikala, who according to various tamil literary sources during first century A.D defeated all his southern neighbors. He is also credited with building efficient irrigational systems and canals. The fact that he was benevolent is brought out by a poem which was written on his death. Kampan composed his poem (Tamil Kamba Ramayana) during the reign of the largest and most powerful Tamil kingdom, the imperial Cholas. Sholas might have supported this literature keeping in view of their descendancy to solar race to which Srirama belonged. Under the umbrella of that expanding empire, which claimed victories from the Ganga to Sumatra, Rama shrines were built, extensive sets of Ramayana reliefs were carved along the base of several temples, and temples supported recitations of the Rama story. Chola monarchs also bore Rama's name in their imperial titles, and apparently one raja perceived parallels between his conquest and Rama's when he erected icons to the epic hero to celebrate a victory over the Sinhala kings of Lanka. One temple inscription goes so far as to suggest the story of Rama as an origin myth for the Cholas, which was a solar dynasty like Rama's. The Cholas belonged to the Solar and the Chalukyas to the Lunar race. The former were generally Saivas and the latter were Vaishnavas as they had the boar for their crest. Besides, the Chalukyas were also patrons of the Jainas. Cholas connection to solar race kings consolidated through Rangavimana : Manu's son Ikshwaku cherished the desire of possessing the Ranga Vimanam for the benefit of the people on earth. He consulted his family preceptor, Vasishtha (priest of the Surya vamsha), who advised him to start penance uttering the sacred Ashtakshara Mantra. Accordingly, Ikshwaku started a severe penance which puzzled even the devas, foreboding evil days for them. They attempted to spoil the penance by deputing Maninatha and the celestial nymphs to distract his attention. Indra took the lead in this affair and did not even hesitate to send the Vajraayudha (lightning weapon) to foil the penance. But all failed in their attempts. In disappointment, they prayed to Brahma, to save them from the baffling catastrophe. Brahma on his part approached Ranganatha for advice. Ranganatha consoled Brahma by expressing his desire to go to Ayodhya where he would be worshipped by the descendant of the Solar dynasty for four yugas, and at the end of the fourth yuga he would go to the kingdom of the Cholas in the South, on the banks of the Kaveri, where he would stay for 700 years. At the end, of this period he would return to Brahmaloka. Brahma was directed to part with the Ranga Vimanam to Ikshwaku. Cholas were Kolis : One Gandaraditya in one of the hymns calls himself 'king of Kori' and 'lord of Tanjai'. This means that he belonged to the Chola royal family as per historians. Koris and Kolis are one and the same people. Mudiraj and Muthuraj people are said to be kolis of South India. Koris <=> kolis => Kolas => Colas => CholasGangaikonda Chola : According to the Kalingattu-Parani, Kulottunga's father belonged to the lunar race, and his mother was the daughter of Gangaikonda-Chola (Rajendra Cholan) of the solar race ( surya vanshi ) . It follows from the statements, that the hero of the poem is identical with the Eastern Chalukya king Kulottunga-Chodadeva I., who reigned from A.D. 1063 to 1112; that his unnamed father and mother were the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja I and Ammangadevi; and that his maternal grandfather was the Chola king Rajendra-Choladeva or Gangaikonda-Chola. Rajendra chola's troops had marched right upto Bengal and brought the sacred waters of the Ganga with them. This is why Rajendra Cholan is also known as 'Gangaikondacholan' — 'the Chola who brought the Ganga to the south'!. Cholamutharayan was an army chief of Rajandracholan : The Tirumittakkode temple epigraphs are one of the most important documents as far as the political and cultural situation of Nila river valley is concerned. This epigraph is the only evidence to prove the Chola supremacy in 10th Century AD in Kerala, which in turn accelerated the fall of Kulasekharas of Cranganore. The epigraph says that Cholamuttarayan with his army came over to Tirumittakkode (Tiruvittuvakkode - a place where Vittuva or Vishnu is worshipped) and the Vaishnava temple was brought to his custody. The 'Cholasenapati' was the army chief of Rajendra Chola of the 10-11th Century AD. He came over to Tirumittakode, conquered the area where Valluvanadu Utaiyavar had their 'original ancestral house at Arangot, a neighboring village and the temple complex. The Chola muttarayan constructed a temple of Siva in front of the Vittuva temple itself so that the front part of the Vittuva temple is barred from visionof the devotees. The temple - (Siva in the Sanctum Sanctorum in front of the Vishnu's Sanctum Sanctorum - a twin 'Sreekovil' system) is a unique architectural pattern of temple construction seen at Tirumittacode. Incas of Peru : The Incas had their Temple of the Sun God (Peru) much like the one in Konarak in Orissa built by the Cholas. The Chola chieftains (Incas) of America styled themselves as "Raghuvamsa Manickam". This shows that they belonged to the Raghuvamsa of Sri Rama whose ancestor Sibi Chakravarthi was well described in ancient Tamil literature as the Chola king Sembian. This takes us to a very relevant inference that the ancestors of Dasaratha were as much the ancestors of the Tamil - cholas. One other ancestor of Sri Rama, Musu Kunthan, was none other than the Musu Kuntha Chola in ancient Tamil history. This Musu Kunthan's reighn was during the second  Tamil Sangam age 4800-2800 BC.