Can anyone furnish info on relationships between Rajaraja & Rajendra Chola with Kanchi Sankaracharyas (during that period) and also with Ramanjuar (probably with Rajendra Chola ?
In case of Sri Ramanuja, he had a very bad relationship with the cholas. When he was in prominence as the acharya of the Sri Vaishnavas at Srirangam, he faced the wrath of Chola King (Kulothunga I), since the king was a saivate.
Sri Ramanuja was forced to leave Srirangam and reached Melkote and established a temple there. He returned back to Srirangam only after the death of Kulothunga Chola 1.
But the later chola kings had no issues of that sort, so that Sri Vaishnavam flourished with the base as Srirangam. I hope you all know Kambar did Ramayanam arangatram at Srirangam only, cholas were not actually his patron for that work. IMHO, the Cholas are great patrons of arts, great in every aspect, but they were more inclined towards the Saivism.
I have no idea about Kanchi Sankarachrayas relations with cholas, but I believe that they were not in that much prominence. Nambiandar Nambi, was instrumental in finding the Saiva Thirumurais with the help of Rajaraja Cholan. As you all know the Periya Puranam was composed as per the wish of the Kulothunga Chola.
The Saiva scholars following the footsteps of the Nayanmars were the prominent persons. Chidambaram was the prime place for Saivism. I dont think it is in any way related to Kanchi Sankarachrayas (I may be completely wrong). They would have been known more to the Advaita-vedanta following temples or religious schools.
Actually Sri Ramanuja was taught Advaita philosophy, but since he was not convinced with it, he started following the philosophy of Alwars. He is not the starter of visistadvaita, but the important Archarya among a great succession of followers of Sri Vaishnavam.
The next King in the Chola Clan after Abaya Kulothunga, was Vikrama Cholan.
Vaishnavism, witnessed lots of developement in his period and he was also cocerned about the developement of Srirangam temple. And it continued for rest of Chola Generations.
chola kings were shaivites.A bit ironic,since they called themselves as descendents of ragu clan of Lord Rama.Many added vaishnavite names even though they were shaivites Eg:Aditha kothandarama cholan.
Shankaracharya's were advaithis.Advaitha is a different philosophy from shaivism and vaishnavism.Many vaishnavites mistake advaithis to be shaivites,but they arent.As far as I know chola kings werent related to advaitha.Kulothunga chola prosecuted Ramanuja and plucked the eyes of koorathalvan and periyavachan pillai.Vaishnavites still call him 'kirumi kanda cholan' for that.
We dont know whether it was kulothunga I or II who did that.But strong possibilities are there for that king being kulothunga I.
On the foreword for Moovarula by Ottakuthar, U.Ve.Sa highlights, that Ainthaal Mathil, Rama temple and few other constructions in Thiruvarangam, were by Vikrama Cholan. I am yet to find, the exact lines for this.
Another good source to look into would be Kovil Ozhugu, which chronicles the activities of the Sriranga temple, its traditions and conventions.
I believe the Kirumi Kanda Chozhan of Vaishnavities was Kulottunga II, tradition holds that he threw the Govindaraja Swami of Chidambaram temple into the see, which was restored later by the vaishnavaities.
There is a current trend to hype about the tolerance and secularism of Indian kings. But history as much as it reveals our ancient glories also reveals our failings and flaws.
Kulottunga II was one such case. Saivite literature praises Nedumaran who turned to saivisim converted by THiruJyanasambandar, but Buddhist/Jain sources talk of Koon Pandiyan who impaled hundreds of monks after he turned apostate.
What of Mahendra Pallava who tortured THirunavukkarasar before converting to Saivam. We too have cases of such religious intolerance.
RamJanmaBhoomi/Babri Masjid is just history repeating itself. Lot of temples built during Chozha times were built by destroying buddhist/Jain monastries/temples. Of course it is also possible that those stupas were in first place built over hindu temples.
Just goes on to prove that History repeats itself too often and only be studying history, could we avoid repeating the mistakes.