Historical Sources in Chola Empire
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History of any society or kingdom can be written only with the help of available relevant source materials. Lot of inscriptions, archaeological and literary sources are available for the study of the history of the Cholas. Great literature like Mahavamsam talks about the early Cholas. Foreign visitors like Megasthenes, give useful information about the early Cholas. The inscriptions of Ashoka and many contemporary sources talk about the early Chola kings and also about the early Chola rule. Inscriptions: Inscriptions are the main sources of information for the history of the Chola period. Inscriptions talk about the life of the rulers, administration, political, economic, religious, social and cultural conditions during the Chola period. Inscriptions were placed on the walls of the temples and pillars. This is amply illustrated in the Brahadeeswarar temple at Tanjore known as “Big temple”. Many important inscriptions are found in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Trichy, Tanjore, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam and Nagapattinam. |
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The stone inscription gives us useful
information about the administration of the Chola rulers. Thiruvandhipuram
inscriptions speak about the reign of Rajendra III. The Uttaramerur inscriptions
give information’s about the kudavolai system, village administration,
taxation and land revenue. Meikirthis are also found in inscriptions Anbil
plates, the Kanyakumari stone inscription, Karanthai plates and Thiruvalangadu
copper plates give useful information’s about the Cholas. The Tanjore
Peruvudaiyar temple inscriptions talk about the existence of saivism.
The inscriptions of contemporary rulers like Cheras, Pandyas, Rashtrakutas
and Gangas speak about the Cholas.
Monuments: Monuments are important sources for the history of the Cholas,
Monuments arc part of the temples. The Brahadeeswarar temple of Tanjore,
the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, Airavateesvarar temple of Dharasuram
and the Kambagareswarar temple in Thirupuvanam are some of the important
monuments of the Cholas.
Numismatic Sources
The Chola kings issued gold, silver
and copper coins. Specimen of gold coins is extremely rare. Silver and
copper coins are found in plenty.
Figure of tiger was engraved as the Chola emblem on every Chola coin issued
during that period. Names of the Chola Kings are also engraved on chola
coins. King Rajaraja issued new Ceylon type of coins Chola Coins is useful
to fix the chronology of the Chola rulers. Coins are also useful to study
the social and economic condition of the Chola period.
Literature
Literature sources are very useful for the study of both Sangam Cholas and later Cholas. Sekkilar’ s Periyapuranam deals with the life of Saiva devotees. Sekkilar was a contemporary of Kulothunga II Kalingathuparani of Jayamkondan, three Ulas and the Kulothungan pillai tamil of Ottakoothar give useful information’s about the Cholas. Other literary works like Veerasoliyam. Sthalapuranam. Navachola charitham and Cholavamsa charitham speak about the early Cholas.
Foreign sources
Mahavamsam the Ceylon literature talks
about the relationship between the early Chola country and Ceylon kingdom.
It also speaks about the Chola rule in Ceylon. European traveler Marcopolo
and foreign writer Megasthanese give interesting information’s about
the Cholas. Al-beruni a Muslim historian writes about the Cholas.
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