Rajaditya Chola

Rajaditya Chola was an army general and son of the Chola king Parantaka Chola I.[1]

Death

The Rashtrakutas under Krishna III mounted multiple invasions into the Chola territories between 940 and 950 A.D. In order to ward of the attacks, Rajaditya stationed himself at Takkōlam along with his troops during the latter part of his reign.[2] Takkōlam is a town in Arakkonam taluk of the Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. It is 14 km southeast of Arakonam junction.[3] In 949-950 A.D., Krishna III would once again mount an attack and Rajaditya would meet him at Takkōlam. Krishna III was aided by his Western Ganga feudatory Butuga II in this battle. The Atagur inscriptions of Krishna III and Butuga II reveal the details of how Rajaditya was treacherously murdered. Atakur or Atagur is a village about 24 km northeast by east from Mandya, the headquarters of the Mandya taluk in Mysore district.[4] The Canarese inscription is in two parts; the principal portion belonging to Krishna III mentions the Saka date 872 (949-950 A.D) while the subsidiary belongs to Butuga II. Here is an excerpt:

“
Hail! While the samvatsara named Saumya, the eight hundred and seventy second (in) the centuries of years that have gone by from the time of the Saka king, was current:-
Hail! When Krishnaraja (III) having attacked the Mūvadi Chōla Rajāditya, and having fought and killed him in Takkōla.[5]
 ”

Mūvadi Chōla means thrice powerful - similar to Irumudi Chola (twice powerful) and Nūrmadi Chola (one hundred times more powerful). The subsidiary engraved on the same slab and belonging to Butuga II throws some more light on the incident:

“
Hail! While Butuga (II), having fought and killed Rachamalla, the son of the illustrious Ereyapa, was governing the ninety six thousand:-
..Butuga(II) while embracing Rajaditya, treacherously stabbed him with a dagger.[6]
 ”

the historian, John Faithfull Fleet of the Archaeological Survey of India (1894–1900), decisively says that pretended overtures of peace were made and that Rajaditya was stabbed at a meeting between him and Butuga.[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ American Journal of Archaeology, volume 7, page 112
  2. ↑ Antiquities of India: an account of the history and culture of ancient Hindustan, page 69: "Rashtrakuta Krishna III..was worsted at Takkolam by Rajaditya Chola"
  3. ↑ History of ancient India, page 461
    - Epigraphia Indica and record of the Archæological Survey of India, volume 6, page 53
  4. ↑ Epigraphia Indica and record of the Archæological Survey of Indi, volume 6, page 52
  5. ↑ Epigraphia Indica and record of the Archæological Survey of India, volume 6, page 55
  6. 1 2 Epigraphia Indica and record of the Archæological Survey of India, volume 6, page 57

References

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