Chola coins on display at city museum

[1]

Rajendra Chola I was the son of Raja Raja Chola I and one of the greatest rulers of the Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor.

During his reign, he extended the influence of the already vast Chola empire up to the banks of the river Ganga in the north and across the ocean.

Rajendra’s territories extended to coastal Burma, Srivijaya (Sumatra, Java and Malay peninsula in southeast Asia) and Pegu islands. Burma and Indo-China were subordinate to the Cholas till Kulothunga I’s reign.

Rajendra defeated Mahipala, the Pala king of Bengal and Bihar, and to commemorate the victory, built a new capital called Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

He also built a Siva temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, similar to the Thanjavur Brihadisvara temple.

He assumed titles like Parakesari and issued gold, silver and copper coins in the denomination of kazhinju, madai and kasu.

He used Tamil Grantham and Devanagari legends on his coins. He also issued many commemorative coins with his titles Yuddhamalla, Uthama Chola, Maturantakan, Mudikonda Cholan, Rajendraka and Gangai Konda Cholan, on special occasions.

Since the Cholas ruled for more than 275 years, starting from Raja Raja I to Kulthonga III (985 CE – 1256 CE), almost all Chola kings issued coins.

As a part of Chennai museum’s special exhibit this week, coins on display were issued by Rajendran Chola I with the title Gangaikonda Chola.

In the coin, both sides are similar; on top of the coin there is a parasol flanked by two flywhisks, in the centre, a bow, a seated tiger and two fish flanked by two lamps, and at the bottom Nagari legend ‘Gangaikonda Chola’.

Since Rajendra Chola I ruled from TN–Orissa, Nagari, the common language of that period, was used in the coins. The symbol above the Nagari script is also available in the seals of the copper plates.

These symbols may be the royal symbols of the Cholas. Regrettably, so far, no Chola coin has been found with complete Tamil legend.

(Raman is a Chennai-based numismatist).