Araiyan Rajarajan

Araiyan Raja Rajan
Erivali gangaikonda, jayasimha kula kaalan
Araiyan Rajarajan (aka) Vikrama chola

Araiyan Rajarajan^[1] (aka) Vikrama chola (Tamil:விக்ரம சோழ சோழியவரையனான அரையன் ராஜராஜன்). He was the younger son of Rajaraja I. Araiyan was the Dandanatha or commander-in-chief of the chola army during the reign of his brother Rajendra Chola l. And also he was the highest ranking general among other 43 commanders of Rajendra l.who led the Chola expedition to North India.

War with chalukyas[]

In 1019 CE, Western chalukyan king Jayasimha II made conflicts with eastern chalukyan politics. which was directly opposes Rajendra chola I. So, Rajendra chola sent his army forces under his younger brother and also a commander-in-chief of chola army Araiyan Rajarajan to the western chalukyan empire to defeat Jayasimha II. Araiyan Rajarajan led the chola army towards western chalukyan empire, the chola army met the chalukyan army at musangi (or) maski (modern day Raichur, Karnataka) where the battle happened. Numerous soldiers were killed in that brutal battle. However, the loss is greater for the Chalukya forces. So the Chalukya force Began to retreat. But, Araiyan Rajarajan took his forces further and drove the Chalukya forces to their capital and captured musangi (modern day Raichur and Bagalkot, Karnataka). So, The chola territory extended to today's Belgaum, Bagalkot, Raichur districts of Karnataka. The battle won by the cholas under Araiyan Rajarajan was grandly celebrated by Rajendra chola l. Rajendra gave a title "Jayasimha kula kaalan" to Araiyan Rajarajan and named a village "Jayasimha kula kaalapuram".

Bibliography[]

• Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (2000) [1935]. The Cōlas. Madras: University of Madras.

References[]