My fond to acquire knowledge on ancient history of TamilNadu started with the reading of the famous novel “Vengayin Maindhan” by Akhilan. After that I have made myself to live among the ancient people of Chola, Pandya, Chera, Pallava dynasties through the novels like Kayalvizhi, Paarthiban Kanavu, Ponniyin Selvan, Sivagamiyin Sabadham, Vetri Thirunagar, Pandyan Bavani, Pandimaadevi, Yavana rani, Kadal pura, Udaiyar. All these are famous historical novels I have read through so far.
Of these novels, Ponniyin Selvan has very good fame among the Tamil novel readers. Though each of the novels has got a place in my heart, I always love to read Vengayin Maindhan. I don’t know the reason behind it; but reading this novel only, I started my journey to ancient centuries of TamilNadu.
Anyone born as a true Tamilian would accept and rejoice the reign of Chola kings; the temple works they have done, the wars they have fought, etc., Though my native place lies under the old Pandya kingdom, I have no difference in opinion with Chola kings and their war on Pandyas and other kings.
I wish to share the contents of the novels I have gone through and the actual facts about the kings and their rule I have traced out.
Vengayin Maindhan:
The novel was written by Akhilan which got him the well known Award of Sahitya Academy in the year 1963 for the Best Novelist. The novel portrays how TamilNadu reached the most extensive and respected position in the ancient history of India under the reign of Rajendra Chola I, the son and the successor of the ever living king RajaRaja Chola I.
The important characters imaged in this novel are:
Rajendra Chola I, the King of Chola dynasty (1012 AD - 1044 AD)
Rajadhi Raja Chola I, the son of Rajendra Chola I,
Arunmozhi, Ammangaiyar, the daughters of Rajendra Chola I,
Vandiyathevar, the husband of Raja Raja’s fond sister Kundavi,
Madhuraandhaga Velir, the ruler of Kodumbalur region of Chola,
Ilangovel, the hero of this novel and the son of Madhuraandhaga Velir,
Mahinda V, the King of Rohana region of Srilanka (Ellam),
Kassapa VI, the son and the successor of Mahinda V,
Rohini, the daughter of Mahinda V,
Kirthi, the minister of Mahinda V.
The important places that act as characters in this novel are:
Tanjore - the capital of Cholas. It is located at a distance of 55 km west of Trichy.
Pazhayarai - the ancient capital of Chola kingdom. It is located at a distance of 3 Km from Patteesvaram junction near Kumbakonam
Gangai konda cholapuram - the new capital of Rajendra Chola I, after his victory over kings of Ganges plain. It is located in Ariyalur district of TamilNadu in Udaiyarpalaiyam Taluk. It is 100 km away from Trichy via Jayamkondam.
Kodumbalur- the capital of Velir. It is located on Pudukottai-Kudumiyamalai-manapparai main road about 35 km west of Pudukottai and it lies 5 km away from Trichy-Madurai highway.
Nagapattinam – It was the prominent port of Cholas and Cholas used this port not only for trade but also as conquering gateway to the east. It is located at a distance of about 330 km from chennai.
Rohana – the Srilankan Kingdom. The regions around Rohana hills (at present Malaiyaradham hills found in the South east Srilanka) are ruled by Lambakanna monarchs between 777 AD and 1007 AD.
Having all the above said characters in mind, lets us share the important events pictured by Akhilan in this novel. Rajendra Chola holds the title Vengayin Maindhan (the son of Tiger) and he is the literal hero of the novel. He has been placed in the position of dignity and hence scenes of youthful acts and romance cannot be spun on him. So Akhilan has used Ilangovel as his young hero in such cases. Rajendra Chola walks in our mind as majestic ruler who carefully rules the kingdom given by his predecessors. It has been stated that Rajendra Chola took his throne after his father at the age of fifty in 1014 AD. The story happens after three years in 1017 AD.
The main historical events covered in the story are: the victory of chola over Sinhala kingdom and bringing back the pandya’s property to TamilNadu, the victory of Rajendra Chola over the kings of Gangetic plain and the establishment of new capital city Gangai konda cholapuram. It has been stated that Chola Empire has tried thrice already to get the insignia of Pandyan monarch, but the Sinhala King fled to the hills of Rohana. Accordingly the novel is split up into 3 parts.
The first part covers the victory of Rajendra Chola over Sinhalese with Ilangovel as the Knight of Chola army. The two reasons for the war between Chola and Rohana King Mahinda V are stated as; first and the main one, Chola wanted the crown and jewels of Pandyan monarch left by Rajasimha III (Son of Parantaka Viranarayana) in Srilanka and the other, Rohana king Mahinda V has involved with Pandya and Chera Kings to dissolve Chola Empire. Ilangovel with the help of Vandiyathevar and the soldiers captures the fort of Kappakkallaga. The King of Rohana, Mahinda V escapes, followed by his son Kassapa, leaving behind his wife and daughter in the fort. Mahinda V is a dummy ruler and his minister Kirthi actually rules the province of Rohana. Kirthi takes Kassapa with him. Ilango falls in love with Mahinda’s daughter Rohini at the first sight itself. It is Rohini who helps Ilango in finding the place where the royal jewels of Pandya King are hidden. Ilango with much difficulty reaches out the place and gets back the properties of Pandya King.
By this war, the feeling oneness in the hearts of Chola kings for Pandya and Chera, who are all Tamilians in basic, has been highlighted. The Manimudi (Crown) and Indira aaram (long necklace with gems) that belonged to Pandya rulers are left with the possession of Sinhala king by Rajasimha Pandya (the novel of Naa.Paarthasarathy, Pandimaadevi covers in detail the story of how Manimudi and Indira aaram are left by Rajasimha Pandya to Sinhalese).Sinhala kings didn’t give back those insignia to Pandyas. Rajendra Chola brings the properties of Pandyas and gives them back to Pandyas itself. Mahinda V is also taken as prisoner to TamilNadu with his wife and daughter.
In the second part, Rajendra Chola marches towards Himalayas, defeats all the kings who opposed him on the way, reaches the Ganges and brings Holy Ganga water to TamilNadu. To commemorate the victory of his northern campaign towards Ganges, he finds the new capital city named Gangai konda cholapuram. Meanwhile, Kassapa VI, the son of Mahinda V begins his protest against chola in Rohana. Ilangovel goes back to Rohana to bring Kassapa also to Chola Kingdom. But he comes back in vain.
In the final part, the inauguration of Gangai konda cholapuram takes place. By the time, the Singalese join hands with Pandyas and start protest in Pandya and Chola region. Kassapa involves in destroying the palace of Kodumbalur because of his vengeance for Ilango. But he is caught by the chola with the help of his own sister Rohini who did it out of her love for Ilango. Then Ilango voyages towards east, wins Kadaram, the capital of Srivijaya kingdom and comes back with all the wealths from there. He gets married to Rohini as well as Arunmozhi, the daughter of Rajendra Chola. Ammangai naachiyar gets married to the Vengi (Chalukya) prince Narendran.
Amarar Kalki Krishnamoorthy narrates in Paarthiban Kanavu that the Chola king Paarthiban dreams of a great Chola King marching towards north of Bharath (India), extending the chola dynasty till the foothills of Himalayas, hoists his flag in the peak of the mountain and also voyaging towards east, bringing back all the wealths from Kadaram and Swarnaboomi . King Paarthiban’s dream came true under the reign of Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I, thus raising the Chola kingdom to be inscribed into the golden plates of Indian history.
Rajendra Chola’s victory over Srilanka, Kadaram and his march to Himalayas are true facts, found from the inscriptions of Gangai konda cholapuram temple and the copper plates found by Archaeologists. Book of Mahavamsa has details of Singala kingdom, fall of Mahinda V, Kassapa succeeded him in the title of Vikkamabahu. With him, Lambakanna monarchy in Sinhala comes to an end.
Of these novels, Ponniyin Selvan has very good fame among the Tamil novel readers. Though each of the novels has got a place in my heart, I always love to read Vengayin Maindhan. I don’t know the reason behind it; but reading this novel only, I started my journey to ancient centuries of TamilNadu.
Anyone born as a true Tamilian would accept and rejoice the reign of Chola kings; the temple works they have done, the wars they have fought, etc., Though my native place lies under the old Pandya kingdom, I have no difference in opinion with Chola kings and their war on Pandyas and other kings.
I wish to share the contents of the novels I have gone through and the actual facts about the kings and their rule I have traced out.
Vengayin Maindhan:
The novel was written by Akhilan which got him the well known Award of Sahitya Academy in the year 1963 for the Best Novelist. The novel portrays how TamilNadu reached the most extensive and respected position in the ancient history of India under the reign of Rajendra Chola I, the son and the successor of the ever living king RajaRaja Chola I.
The important characters imaged in this novel are:
Rajendra Chola I, the King of Chola dynasty (1012 AD - 1044 AD)
Rajadhi Raja Chola I, the son of Rajendra Chola I,
Arunmozhi, Ammangaiyar, the daughters of Rajendra Chola I,
Vandiyathevar, the husband of Raja Raja’s fond sister Kundavi,
Madhuraandhaga Velir, the ruler of Kodumbalur region of Chola,
Ilangovel, the hero of this novel and the son of Madhuraandhaga Velir,
Mahinda V, the King of Rohana region of Srilanka (Ellam),
Kassapa VI, the son and the successor of Mahinda V,
Rohini, the daughter of Mahinda V,
Kirthi, the minister of Mahinda V.
The important places that act as characters in this novel are:
Tanjore - the capital of Cholas. It is located at a distance of 55 km west of Trichy.
Pazhayarai - the ancient capital of Chola kingdom. It is located at a distance of 3 Km from Patteesvaram junction near Kumbakonam
Gangai konda cholapuram - the new capital of Rajendra Chola I, after his victory over kings of Ganges plain. It is located in Ariyalur district of TamilNadu in Udaiyarpalaiyam Taluk. It is 100 km away from Trichy via Jayamkondam.
Kodumbalur- the capital of Velir. It is located on Pudukottai-Kudumiyamalai-manapparai main road about 35 km west of Pudukottai and it lies 5 km away from Trichy-Madurai highway.
Nagapattinam – It was the prominent port of Cholas and Cholas used this port not only for trade but also as conquering gateway to the east. It is located at a distance of about 330 km from chennai.
Rohana – the Srilankan Kingdom. The regions around Rohana hills (at present Malaiyaradham hills found in the South east Srilanka) are ruled by Lambakanna monarchs between 777 AD and 1007 AD.
Having all the above said characters in mind, lets us share the important events pictured by Akhilan in this novel. Rajendra Chola holds the title Vengayin Maindhan (the son of Tiger) and he is the literal hero of the novel. He has been placed in the position of dignity and hence scenes of youthful acts and romance cannot be spun on him. So Akhilan has used Ilangovel as his young hero in such cases. Rajendra Chola walks in our mind as majestic ruler who carefully rules the kingdom given by his predecessors. It has been stated that Rajendra Chola took his throne after his father at the age of fifty in 1014 AD. The story happens after three years in 1017 AD.
The main historical events covered in the story are: the victory of chola over Sinhala kingdom and bringing back the pandya’s property to TamilNadu, the victory of Rajendra Chola over the kings of Gangetic plain and the establishment of new capital city Gangai konda cholapuram. It has been stated that Chola Empire has tried thrice already to get the insignia of Pandyan monarch, but the Sinhala King fled to the hills of Rohana. Accordingly the novel is split up into 3 parts.
The first part covers the victory of Rajendra Chola over Sinhalese with Ilangovel as the Knight of Chola army. The two reasons for the war between Chola and Rohana King Mahinda V are stated as; first and the main one, Chola wanted the crown and jewels of Pandyan monarch left by Rajasimha III (Son of Parantaka Viranarayana) in Srilanka and the other, Rohana king Mahinda V has involved with Pandya and Chera Kings to dissolve Chola Empire. Ilangovel with the help of Vandiyathevar and the soldiers captures the fort of Kappakkallaga. The King of Rohana, Mahinda V escapes, followed by his son Kassapa, leaving behind his wife and daughter in the fort. Mahinda V is a dummy ruler and his minister Kirthi actually rules the province of Rohana. Kirthi takes Kassapa with him. Ilango falls in love with Mahinda’s daughter Rohini at the first sight itself. It is Rohini who helps Ilango in finding the place where the royal jewels of Pandya King are hidden. Ilango with much difficulty reaches out the place and gets back the properties of Pandya King.
By this war, the feeling oneness in the hearts of Chola kings for Pandya and Chera, who are all Tamilians in basic, has been highlighted. The Manimudi (Crown) and Indira aaram (long necklace with gems) that belonged to Pandya rulers are left with the possession of Sinhala king by Rajasimha Pandya (the novel of Naa.Paarthasarathy, Pandimaadevi covers in detail the story of how Manimudi and Indira aaram are left by Rajasimha Pandya to Sinhalese).Sinhala kings didn’t give back those insignia to Pandyas. Rajendra Chola brings the properties of Pandyas and gives them back to Pandyas itself. Mahinda V is also taken as prisoner to TamilNadu with his wife and daughter.
In the second part, Rajendra Chola marches towards Himalayas, defeats all the kings who opposed him on the way, reaches the Ganges and brings Holy Ganga water to TamilNadu. To commemorate the victory of his northern campaign towards Ganges, he finds the new capital city named Gangai konda cholapuram. Meanwhile, Kassapa VI, the son of Mahinda V begins his protest against chola in Rohana. Ilangovel goes back to Rohana to bring Kassapa also to Chola Kingdom. But he comes back in vain.
In the final part, the inauguration of Gangai konda cholapuram takes place. By the time, the Singalese join hands with Pandyas and start protest in Pandya and Chola region. Kassapa involves in destroying the palace of Kodumbalur because of his vengeance for Ilango. But he is caught by the chola with the help of his own sister Rohini who did it out of her love for Ilango. Then Ilango voyages towards east, wins Kadaram, the capital of Srivijaya kingdom and comes back with all the wealths from there. He gets married to Rohini as well as Arunmozhi, the daughter of Rajendra Chola. Ammangai naachiyar gets married to the Vengi (Chalukya) prince Narendran.
Amarar Kalki Krishnamoorthy narrates in Paarthiban Kanavu that the Chola king Paarthiban dreams of a great Chola King marching towards north of Bharath (India), extending the chola dynasty till the foothills of Himalayas, hoists his flag in the peak of the mountain and also voyaging towards east, bringing back all the wealths from Kadaram and Swarnaboomi . King Paarthiban’s dream came true under the reign of Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I, thus raising the Chola kingdom to be inscribed into the golden plates of Indian history.
Rajendra Chola’s victory over Srilanka, Kadaram and his march to Himalayas are true facts, found from the inscriptions of Gangai konda cholapuram temple and the copper plates found by Archaeologists. Book of Mahavamsa has details of Singala kingdom, fall of Mahinda V, Kassapa succeeded him in the title of Vikkamabahu. With him, Lambakanna monarchy in Sinhala comes to an end.
