THE CHÕLAS IN KARNATAKA

                                                           by

                                         Dr S. Srikanta Sastri

                              (Published in 'Karnataka through the ages", 1968)

The Chõlas held sway over a great portion of South India, south of the Tungabhadra, after the decline of the Pallavas. Their conflicts with the Rãshtrakutas and the Kalyãna Chãlukyas for over three centuries from about 900 A.D. provide the highlights of the political history of South India during this period. The defeat of Aparajita, the last Pallava King in 897 A.D., at the hands of Chõla Ãditya 1 (871 - 907A.D.) marked the end of Pallava rule. This made the Ganga Prithvipâti II acknowledge Ãditya I as his suzerain. Ãditya married one of the daughters of Rãshtrakuta King Krishna II (880-915 A.D.) and had a son Kannaradëva by her. Krishna II was interested in seeing this son ascend the throne instead of Parãntaka, who actually succeeded in 907 A.D., on the death of Ãditya. The Cholas were growing in power and pressing on the Bãnas (who ruled over portions of the present Anantapur and Chittoor districts) and the Vaidumbas (who ruled over portions of Andhra, east and north of the present Chittoor Districts).

The Rãshtrakutas, therefore, found the Banās and the Vaidumbas their willing allies: but the battle fought at Tiruvallam (North Arcot District) sometime before 916 A.D. went against the Rãshtrakütas. Parãntaka with the help of Prithvipati II gained a decisive victory. As a result, the Banās accepted the over lordship of the Gangas. Parãntaka lost a powerful feudatory with the death of Prithvipâti in 940 A.D. The Bãnas and Vaidumbas were already on the side of the Rãshtrakutas; the Ganga Bütuga II, who married the sister of Rãshtrakutas Krishna III, strengthened the Rãshtrakütas further. The Chõla Monarch had, to therefore, to take special precautions to protect his northern and north-western borders. So Parãntaka sent his son Rajaditya to garrison Tondaimandalam.