Ministry of Culture is celebrating the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Rajendra Chola I’s maritime expedition to Southeast Asia.
- The festival also honours Tamil Shaiva Bhakti traditions, especially the 63 Nayanmars, saint-poets supported by the Chola dynasty.
About Rajendra Chola I (1014 to 1044 CE)
- He was son of the Rajaraja I the most powerful Chola ruler who became a King in 985.
- He conquered the Ganga valley earning the title Gangaikonda Cholan (“The Chola who conquered the Ganges”).
- To commemorate this victory, he founded a new capital named Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and also built a temple of same name.
- He led successful naval expeditions against Sri Lanka and the powerful Srivijaya Empire in Southeast Asia (refer the map).
- The name Sri Vijaya Puram for the A&N Islands’ capital is inspired by this victory.
- Srivijaya was a dominant maritime power in Southeast Asia by the 7th century.
About Chola Empire
|
