https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kulothunga_IIKulothunga II - Revision history2026-07-29T13:42:46ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kulothunga_II&diff=511039&oldid=prevJamelSkidmore at 04:39, 11 March 20262026-03-11T04:39:12Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description| Chola Emperor from 1133 to 1150}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox royalty<br />
| name = Kulothunga II<br />
| title = Rajakesarivarman <br/> Tirunirru Chola<br />
| image = The stonescupture.jpg<br />
| alt = Kulthunga Chola II<br />
| caption = Sculpture of Kulothunga II at Airavatesvara Temple{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}<br />
| succession = [[Chola]] Emperor<br />
| reign = {{circa|1133 CE|1150 CE}}<br />
| predecessor = [[Vikrama Chola]]<br />
| successor = [[Rajaraja II]]<br />
| spouse = Tyaagavalli<br />Mukkokilan<br />
| spouse-type = Empress<br />
| issue = [[Rajaraja Chola II]]<br />
| house = [[Chalukya Cholas]]<br />
| father = [[Vikrama Chola]]<br />
| mother = Mukkōkilānadigal<br />
| dynasty = [[Chola]]<br />
| religion = [[Hinduism]]<br />
| birth_place = [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]], [[Chola Empire]] <br/> (modern day [[Jayankondam]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])<br />
| death_date = 1150 CE<br />
| death_place = [[Chidambaram]], [[Chola Empire]] <br/> (modern day [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])<br />
}}<br />
{{Chola history}}<br />
'''Kulothunga II''' (died 1150 CE) was a [[Chola Dynasty|Chola]] Emperor from 1133 CE to 1150 CE. He succeeded [[Vikrama Chola]] to the throne in 1135 CE. Vikrama Chola made Kulothunga his [[heir apparent]] and [[coregent]] in 1133 CE, so the inscriptions of Kulothunga II count his reign from 1133 CE.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sri Varadarajaswami Temple, Kanchi: A Study of Its History, Art and Architecture|author=K.V. Raman|publisher=Abhinav Publications, 2003 - 206 pages|page=15}}</ref> According to historians [[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|Nilakanta Sastri]] and T.N Subramanian, Kulottunga Chola II was not the son of Vikrama Chola and they have suggested that there was a break in the line of succession.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Tyagaraja Cult in Tamilnadu: A Study in Conflict and Accommodation|author=Rajeshwari Ghose|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited|year=1996|pages=323–324}}</ref><br />
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==Personal life and family==<br />
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Kulothunga II preferred to live in [[Chidambaram]] rather than the royal capital at [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]]. Of the various titles he had, Anapaaya was perhaps his favourite. It is found in his inscriptions as well in the poetic tribute ''Kulothunga Cholan Ula''.<ref name=anapaya/> He was also called ''Tirunirruchola''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Slaves of the Lord: The Path of the Tamil Saints|author=Vidya Dehejia|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal, 1988 - Art - 206 pages|page=19}}</ref><br />
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Kulothunga II was succeeded by [[Rajaraja Chola II]] in 1150 CE.<br />
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== Extent of Empire ==<br />
[[File:Kulo2 territories.png|thumb|Chola territories c. 1150 CE]]<br />
The extent of empire as inherited from his predecessor [[Vikrama Chola]] was well maintained. The [[Western Chalukya Empire|Western Chalukya]] kingdom was overthrown by the Yadava chiefs of Devagiri and [[Hoysalas]] of Dwarasamudra during this period. Kulottunga II took advantage of the internal skirmishes and rebellions in the Kannada and Chalukya country to establish his hold over Vengi and Eastern Chalukya territories. Gonka II of the Velanadu Choda family who ruled over northern part of Vengi acknowledged his supremacy. Similarly the Kadapa-Nellore chief, Madurantaka Pottapi Choda, son of Betta I and Buddhavarman III of the Kondavidu branch and his son Mandaya II also acknowledged the king's authority in the Andhra country.<ref>{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Nellore District: Brought Upto 1938|author=Government Of Madras Staff, Government of Madras|publisher=Asian Educational Services, 1942 - Nellore (India : District) - 378 pages|page=43}}</ref><br />
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==Patron of Chidambaram==<br />
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[[Chidambaram]] is one of those five places where Chola princes were invested with the crown. Kulothunga was a great devotee of the [[Chidambaram Temple]] to Lord [[Shiva]] in that city, and he celebrated his coronation there. An inscription of the emperor from Tirumanikuli hails this event and states that the emperor celebrated his coronation so as to add lustre to the city of ''Tillai'' ([[Chidambaram]]).<ref>{{cite book|title=Later Chola Temples: Kulottunga I to Rajendra III (A.D. 1070-1280), Parts 1070-1280|author1=S. R. Balasubrahmanyam|author2=B. Natarajan|author3=Balasubrahmanyan Ramachandran|publisher=Mudgala Trust, 1979 - Architecture - 470 pages|page=102}}</ref><br />
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He also financed an elaborate renovation of the temple as described in the poem ''Kulothunga Cholan Ula''. It is possible that this renovation work was a continuation of work started by Vikrama Chola. Kulottunga II is credited with gilding the ''Perambalam'' of the [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram]] with gold. He is also said to have constructed its gopurams and the Thousand Pillared Hall.<ref>{{cite book|title=Epigraphia Indica, Volume 27, Volumes 13-14 of [Reports]: New imperial series, India Archaeological Survey|author=Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology|publisher=Manager of Publications, 1985|page=96}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Madras District Gazetteers, Volume 1|author=Madras (India : State)|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press, 1962|page=55}}</ref><br />
[[Image:14Chidambaram.jpg|left|thumb|200 px|Chidambaram Temple as seen in 1913.]]<br />
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== Literature ==<br />
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Kulottunga Chola II's reign was marked by literary activity as evidenced by the works of [[Sekkizhar]] and [[Ottakoothar]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization|author=Sailendra Nath Sen|publisher=New Age International, 1999 - India - 668 pages|page=486}}</ref> Sekkizhar composed the [[Periyapuranam]], a religious treatise on [[Shaivism]] during his reign.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Embodiment of Bhakti|author=Karen Pechilis Prentiss|publisher=Oxford University Press, 06-Jan-2000 - Religion - 288 pages|page=117}}</ref> The ''Kulottunga Cholan Ula'' and the ''Kulottunga Cholan Pillai Tamil'', a work dealing with the emperor's childhood were authored by Ottakoothar in honor of the emperor.<ref>{{cite book|title=South India heritage: an introduction|author1=Prema Kasturi|author2=Chithra Madhavan|publisher=East West Books (Madras), 2007 - History - 616 pages|page=294}}</ref><br />
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== Persecution of Vaishnavas ==<br />
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Some scholars identify Kulothunga II with Krimikanta Chola or worm-necked Chola so called as he is said to have suffered from cancer of the throat or neck. The latter finds mention in the [[vaishnavite|Vaishnava]] Guruparampara and is said to have been a strong opponent of the Vaishnavas. The work ''Parpannamritam'' (17th century) refers to the Chola king called Krimikanta who is said to have removed the Govindaraja idol from the Chidambaram [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Nataraja temple]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Tillai and Nataraja|author1=B. Natarajan|author2=Balasubrahmanyan Ramachandran|publisher=Mudgala Trust, 1994 - Chidambaram (India) - 632 pages|page=108}}</ref> The ''Kulothunga Cholan Ula'' states that during the reign of Kulottunga II, God Vishnu was sent back to his original abode, that is the sea (i.e the Govindaraja idol was thrown into the sea).<ref>{{cite book|title=Three great Acharyas: Sankara, Ramanuja, and Madhwa: critical sketches of their life and times: an exposition of their philosophical systems|publisher=G. A. Natesan, 1947|page=126}}</ref> However, according to "Koil Olugu" (temple records) of the [[Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Srirangam]] temple, Kulottunga Chola was the son of Krimikanta Chola. The former, unlike his father, is said to have been a repentant son who supported Vaishnavism.<ref>{{cite book|title=Kōil Ol̤ugu: The Chronicle of the Srirangam Temple with Historical Notes|author=V. N. Hari Rao|publisher=Rochouse, 1961|page=87}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A Survey of the Sources for the History of Tamil Literature|author=Mu Kōvintacāmi|publisher=Annamalai University, 1977|page=161}}</ref><br />
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== Inscriptions ==<br />
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The Tyagarajaswami temple in Tiruvarur contains an inscription of the emperor in which he styles himself as Anapaaya and a bee at the lotus feet of [[Nataraja|Natesa]] at [[Chidambaram]].<ref name=anapaya>{{cite book|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|publisher=Asian Educational Services, 1982 - Hindu shrines - 638 pages|page=216}}</ref> As per the ''Muchukundasahasranamam'', ''Anapaaya Mahipaala'' is another name of the deity [[Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur|Thyagaraja]] of [[Thiruvarur]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Tyagaraja Cult in Tamilnadu: A Study in Conflict and Accommodation|author=Rajeshwari Ghose|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited|year=1996|page=331}}</ref><br />
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== In popular culture ==<br />
In the film [[Dasavathaaram]] (2008), actor [[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]] plays the role of Kulothunga Chola II.<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1935). The CōĻas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).<br />
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).<br />
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{{S-start}}<br />
{{Succession box|title=[[Chola]]|before=[[Vikrama Chola]]|after=[[Rajaraja Chola II]] |years=1133–1150 CE}}<br />
{{s-end}}<br />
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[[Category:12th-century Indian monarchs]]<br />
[[Category:Chola emperors]]</div>JamelSkidmore