trichy ( or atleast a part of it was uraiyur- koli- possibly one of the reasons the cholas were called so) the cholas-especially kandaradithar in thiruvisapa calls himself koli- vendan Uraiyur went under a rain of sand according to a legend. and the cholas had to shift capital. uraiyur has very ancient temples. panchavarneshwarar is the name of the shiva temple.
palaiyarai is in patteeswaram and its neighbourhoods. tanjore was most possibly snatched from the mutharaiyars by the growing cholas.
tanjore was abandoned as a capital soon after rrc's demise and activity shifted to gangai konda chola puram. some say rajendra evben functioned from chidambaram during the time gkc was built.
Hi what do we really have on the capitals of cholas was uraiyur more or less a symbolic capital that connected the later and early cholas an for example do we count chidambaram as one because rajendra ruled from there for 5 years or so
Often, in earlier times, the official capital might be X, but the king would spend half his days touring various other places to show the flag everywhere in his domains. I think this is more apparent in England, where the capital wasn't settled as a fact until probably Elizabeth I... Could the Chola emperor have been shuttling between Uraiyur, Tanjore, Pazhaiyarai, GKC and Chidambaram all his life?
There are lot references in our group discussion regarding Pazhayarai including some by our SPS. My personal view is it was as important as our KALKI viewed it.
I am quoting a few snippets from a book I have gone through recently on Pazhayarai by title “Varalatril Pazhayarai Managar” by Vidhwan Ve. Mahadevan. Some of you may have known him/ read this book/ probably met him. May be a member of our group also?
1. Pazzhayarai had limits starting from Pettai Nanayakara Theru of Kumbakonam to Mudikondan River and was a big city
2. Old Pazhayarai includes current day – Pazhayar, Patteeswaram, Thiruchathimutram, Arichandram, Parkulam, Muzhaiyur, Ramanathan Koil, Konapperumal koil, Ariyapadaiyur, Pambai Padaiyur, Puthupadayur, Manappadaiyur, Rajendran Pettai.
3. Pazhayarai has long history of habitation as identified from the excavation done at Nandhan medu and Cholan maligai. There were proof that till 12th and 13th century, these places were occupied. (My own interpretation of Nanthan medu- should it be Natham Medu? (Also, natham means cemetery? Tamil Pandits to correct me if I am wrong?)
4. There were temples here during the period of Mahendravarman and Narasimhavarman which was sung by Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnana sambandar and also by Sundarar (some of the temples may not be there today)
5. During Nandivarman II, this city gets into History records and got its another name Nandipuram.
6. Mangayarkarasi, wife of Pandiyan was believed to be the daughter of “Manimudichozhan” wsa believed to be operating from Pazhayarai. It was believed that Pazhayarai is the place where Cholas were resting before bursting into BIG
7. Various Inscription found show connections to Paranthaga chola, Sundara chola, Uthama Chola, Rajaraja, Rajendra and until Rajaraja III.
8. Maravarman Sundarapandiyan did Veerabhisheka at Pazhayarai. After this period, Pazhayarai should have slipped into obscurity
9. Vikrama Chola had a second capital at Pazhayarai
10. During Rajendra Chola period, this place is known by his one of the names- Mudi konda Cholapuram.
11. All the Chola kings have in one way or another had some of their operations from Pazhayarai- Kulothunga I has given official orders from Pazhayarai sitting from “ Vanadhirayan” seat.
12. He also sites interesting reason for “ Kudamookku” (Kumbakonam)name.
I have quoted as such the author’s info (but translated into English from Tamil). May be I am wrong somewhere. Please correct me.
Many of these may be already known to our group. It may be useful - for new readers like me- to go through the book fully. I expect such books from our group members.
PS: The only connection I have with Pazhayarai is our grandmother family had a long marital relation with Pambai Padayur!
Or rather, Kudanthai was located near Pazhaiyarai! A large proportion of the temples of Kumbhakonam are really Pazhaiyarai temples (Patteeswaram, Darasuram,...)
Shash
On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 3:59 AM, vancheeswaran gopal