Education And Literature: Chola Dynasty

 

Tamil culture saw a golden age during the Imperial Chola period, which was characterised by the value of literature. The Rajarajesvara Natakam, Viranukkaviyam, and Kannivana Puranam are just a few of the works that are recorded in Chola records. The growth of literature, art, and architecture throughout the Chola period increased the cultural significance of Chola rule. In several domains, the Cholas made important breakthroughs. The growth of Chola literature, art, and architecture had a profound influence on the cultural development of the Tamil nation. 

 

•    One of the southern Indian region's longest-reigning dynasties was the Chola.

 

•    Inscriptions left by Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire in the third century BCE (Ashoka Major Rock Edict No. 13) include the earliest datable references to this Tamil Dynasty.

 

•    Up to the 13th century CE, the dynasty presided over a variety of areas as one of Tamilakam's Three Crowned Kings.

 

•    The lush valley of the Kaveri River served as the Cholas' homeland, although they had control over a considerably wider area when they were at their most powerful between the second half of the ninth century and the first half of the thirteenth century.

 

•    The entire region south of the Tungabhadra was united and ruled as a single state for at least two centuries.

 

•    The Maldives islands in the south to the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh in the north made up the Chola territories during the years 1010–1153.

 

•    Rajaraja Chola ruled over the Maldives islands as well as peninsular South India. He also captured what is now Sri Lanka.

 

•    After successfully crossing the Ganges and overthrowing Mahipala, the Pala king of Pataliputra, Rajendra Chola mounted an expedition to northern India. Additionally, he effectively overran Srivijaya in Malaysia and Indonesia.

 

•    The Chola dynasty started to fall around the beginning of the 13th century with the advent of the Pandyan Dynasty, which ultimately led to their demise.

 

•    The Chola rulers were enthusiastic builders who viewed the temples in their lands as both centers of worship and commerce.

 

•    They pioneered a centralized form of government and developed a well-organized bureaucracy. Southeast Asian architecture and visual arts were influenced by the Chola style of art, which later spread there.

 

•    Tamil literature history experienced a turning point during the Chola dynasty. The Chola rulers provided various favors and patronage to Tamil academics and writers.

 

•    Many notable Tamil poets, including Kalladanar, Kambar, Pugalandhi, Ottakoothar, Sekkilar, Avvaiyar, and Thirutakkadevar, lived during the Chola era.

 

•    Epics, parani, kovai, ula, kalambakam, pillaitamil, and new works on grammar were popular literary genres at the period.

 

•    Meikkirthis writing, historical retelling, and religious hero songs were all fresh literary fads at the time. To worship Lord Siva, Kalladanar created Kalladam.

 

•    Seevagasinthamani was written by Thiruttakkadevar to introduce Jainism to Tamils. This piece is cherished and recognised as a mahakaviyam in Tamil.

 

•    Jayamkondan penned Kalingathuparani under the rule of Kulottunga I. Despite the Chola emperor's support for Sanskrit, no noteworthy original works were created during this time. The majority of Sanskrit literature consisted of commentary on earlier works.

 

•    Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada languages having dravidian roots started to borrow from Sanskrit and advanced.

 

•    In Tamil, where Kambana started to further develop after translating the Ramayana from Sanskrit, a great deal of effort was done.

 

•    Three Chola rulers, most notably Vikrama Chola, employed Ottakoothar as a court poet.

 

•    He wrote poetry in homage to Rajarajan Ula, Vikrama Cholan Ula, and Kulothunga Cholan Ula.

 

•    Additionally, Ottakoothar penned Saraswathy Andhadhi in celebration of Saraswathi, the Goddess of wisdom, and Kulothungan Pillai Tamil in honor of Chola monarch Kulothunga II.

 

•    Kambar wrote the book Kambar Kambaramayanam. Kambar was presented Kambanadu by King Kulothunga-III.

 

•    The king also gave Kambar the title Kavichakkravarthi. Kambar also wrote the Sadagopar and hadhi.

 

•    Periya puranam was written by Sekkilar under Kulothunga II. Pugalendhi was the author of Nalavenba.

 

•    Avvaiyar wrote Aathichudi and Kondrai vendam. Thirugnasambandar is the author of Thevaram.

 

•    Both Thanjaivanan Kovai and Kulothungan Kovai are well-known pieces of Tamil literature during the era.

 

•    Great epics from this era include Valayapathi, Kundalakesi, Viracholivam, and Nannool.

 

•    Literature from this era includes Thevaram, Nandikalambagam, Bharatha Venba, and Sivgnanabodam, among others.

 

•    The cultural qualities of Chola society were strengthened through Chola literature.

 

•    The Chola rulers were outstanding supporters of education.

 

•    The outstanding literary works Kamba Ramayanam and Periya puranam serve as representations of this age.

 

•    Rajendra I established a Vedic college in Ennayiram (South Arcot district). 340 students were housed in this Vaishnava center where they were being taught by 14 teachers about the Vedas, grammar, and Vedanta.

 

•    His successors eventually followed his lead, leading to the founding of two further institutions of this type: one at Tirumukudal, Chengalpattu district, in 1067, and the other in Tribuvani, close to Pondicherry, in 1048.

 

•    The subjects taught in Sanskrit centers included the Vedas, Sanskrit grammar, religion, and philosophies.

 

•    Land was given to teachers as payment for their work as a reward.

 

•    Numerous educational institutions grew alongside temples and mathas as educational centers since education was prized.

 

•    The colleges that used to be located in Ennayiram, Thirumukkudal, and Thirubhuvanai are described in the inscriptions found there.

 

•    These institutes not only taught the Vedas and Epics, but also mathematics and medicine. A land endowment was formed in order to manage these organizations.

 

•    Over 10,000 inscriptions inscribed on copper and stone serve as the major resource for the study of Chola history. The inscriptions mainly list the endowments and contributions made to temples by monarchs and other people.

 

•    Significant parts of their substance include land transactions and taxes (both collections and exemptions).

 

•    Later inscriptions refer to social differentiation, describing castes and subcastes and so revealing the social structure.

 

•  Royal orders are written on copper plates in addition to stone inscriptions. They also contain details on ancestry, battles, conquests, administrative divisions, local government, land rights, and different taxes. Under the Cholas, literature also flourished.

 

•    One of the most significant religious texts written in Tamil is the codification of the Saivite and Vaishnavite canons.

 

•    They produced the quasi-historical literary works Kalingattupparani and Kulotungancholan Pillai Tamizh during their rule. The magnificent epic Kamba Ramayanam and Muvarula are examples of this era.

 

•    Known grammatical works include Neminatam, Viracholiyam, and Nannul. During this time, important literary masterpieces like Takkayagapparani and Pandikkovai were also written.

 

The Cholas left a lasting impression. Great works of Tamil literature and architecture were produced as a result of their support for Tamil literature and their fervor for building temples. The era, which the monarchs supported, was particularly important for the growth of Telugu literature. The renowned Telugu poets Tikkana, Ketana, Marana, and Somana contributed to the literature during this time period.