Vikrama Chola விக்கிரம சோழன்
KoParakesarivarman, Tyagasamudra
Chola Territories c. 1126 CE
Chola Emperor
Reign	1122 – 1135
Predecessor	Kulothunga Chola I
Successor	Kulothunga Chola II
Co-regent of theChola Empire
Reign	29 June 1118 – 1122
Died	1135
Empress	Mukkōkilānadigal Tyagapataka
Issue	Kulothunga Chola II
House	Chalukya Cholas
Dynasty	Chola
Father	Kulothunga Chola I
Mother	Madhurandhagi

Vikrama Chola, known asKō Parakēsari Varman, was a 12th-century ruler (r. c. 1118–1135 CE^[1]) of theChola Empire in southern India. He succeeded his fatherKulothunga I (r. c. 1070–1120 CE) to the throne.^[2] Vikrama Chola was crowned as the heir-apparent by his father early in his life. He was appointed as viceroy of theVengi province in 1089 C.E., succeeding his brother Rajaraja Chodaganga. Vikrama during his tenure successfully managed to check the ambitions of the Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI on theVengi kingdom.Vikrama Chola inherited the territories which includedTamil Nadu and some parts of Andhra Pradesh.

In 1118 C.E., the aging Kulothunga recalled Vikrama Chola from Vengi to the south to appoint him as his co-regent. He assumed many of the titles of his father including Rajakesari when he was a co-regent. He subsequently switched to Parakesari when he ascended the throne.^[3][1] This took place on 29 June 1118 C.E.^[1] Vikrama continued to rule joinltly with his father until the latter's death in 1122 C.E. However the Western Chalukyas, utilising the opportunity of proper leadership in Vengi, invaded and captured the Eastern Chalukyan provinces.

Vikrama Chola was the fourth son ofKulothunga I. He was a younger brother of Vira Chola who was the third son of Kulothunga I. TheTamil inscriptions of Vikrama Chola confirm that he left the north for the south (of the Chola kingdom) before he was crowned king.^[4]

.Vikrama Chola was crowned as the heir-apparent by his father early in his life. He was appointed as viceroy of the Vengi province in 1089 C.E., succeeding his brother Rajaraja Chodaganga. Vikrama during his tenure successfully managed to check the ambitions of the Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI on the Vengi kingdom.

In 1118 C.E., the aging Kulothunga recalled Vikrama Chola fromVengi to the south to appoint him as his co-regent. He assumed many of the titles of his father includingRajakesari when he was a co-regent. He subsequently switched toParakesari when he ascended the throne.^[3][1] This took place on 29 June 1118 C.E.^[1] Vikrama continued to rule joinltly with his father until the latter's death in 1122 C.E. However the Western Chalukyas, utilising the opportunity of proper leadership in Vengi, invaded and captured the Eastern Chalukyan provinces.

While he was still a crown prince, Vikrama led an expedition to theKalinga country on behalf of his father (1110 C.E.). The Kalinga war is also referred to in the inscriptions and in the epicVikkiramacholan Ula. Here is an excerpt of his inscription (Grantha andTamil) fromChintamani,Karnataka mentioning the decimation of Kalinga while he was still a co-regent of his father. The same inscription also mentions the conquest of Kadal Malai, the seaport at the very edge of Mahabalipuram. Generally his inscription begin with-svasti sri Pū-mādu Punara Puvi-mādu valara Nā-mādu vilanga..:

In the 5th of the reign of Kōv-Irajakesarivarman alias the emperor Sri-Vikkirama Sola Deva, who while the goddess of fortune wedded him; while the goddess of the earth increased[in size]; while the goddess of speech became conspicuous; while the goddess of victory moved abroad; while kings placed on their head his sacred lotus-feet; while Kalingam was destroyed;..while his sceptre went and swayed over every region; and while the cruel Kali having disappeared-true virtue flourished..and was graciously seated on the throne of heroes.^[5]

He seems to have ascended the throne sometime prior to his 10th year for we have a similarTamil inscription of his fromSrinivaspur,Karnataka that gives him the titleParakesari. The title of his chief queen Mukkōkilānadigal (Queen of the Three Worlds) is also mentioned. We also have theSaka date 1049:

In the 10th year of the reign of Kōpparakēsarivanmar alias the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Vikkirama Sola Deva, who was graciously seated along with his queen Mukkōkilānadigal-.^[6]

Vikrama Chola was crowned as the heir-apparent by his father early in his life. He was appointed as viceroy of the Vengi province in 1089 C.E., succeeding his brother Rajaraja Chodaganga. Vikrama during his tenure successfully managed to check the ambitions of the Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI on the Vengi kingdom.

In 1118 C.E., the aging Kulothunga recalled Vikrama Chola fromVengi to the south to appoint him as his co-regent. He assumed many of the titles of his father includingRajakesari when he was a co-regent. He subsequently switched toParakesari when he ascended the throne.^[3][1] This took place on 29 June 1118 C.E.^[1] Vikrama continued to rule jointly with his father until the latter's death in 1122 C.E. However the Western Chalukyas, utilising the opportunity of proper leadership in Vengi, invaded and captured the Eastern Chalukyan provinces.^{[citation needed]}

Corrections byM. G. S. Narayanan (1972) onK. A. Nilakanta Sastri (1955, revised ed.) are employed.

Vikrama Chola also oversaw the Chola recovery of the medievalChera kingdom (in present-dayKerala) between c. 1102 and c. 1118 AD.^[7] It seems that Jatavarman Parakrama, the Pandya, carried out the Kerala campaigns for his Chola overlord.^[7] The Cholas captured theAy country andVenadu (the Kupaka), and defeated and levied tribute from the Chera king.^[7] The last Chera ruler of Kerala,Rama Kulashekhara, is fondly remembered by a Chera princess in a record dated in the regnal years of Vikrama Chola from theThiruvalanjuli temple (1122 AD).^[7]

Vikrama Chola was a great devotee ofSiva and greatly patronised the temple atChidambaram. In 1128 C.E. he signalled his devotion by allocating the entire revenue of the year to the upgrade and extension of the temple. He had the mainVimana of the temple and the roofs of the passages around the main deity covered with gold. He had a palace built near the temple and spent much of his time there. We have many important people making donations to various temples during his reign. The most characteristic title of Vikrama Chola wasTyagasamudra – the ocean of sacrifice, which is found in his inscriptions and inVikramacholan Ula. We know the titles of three of his queens: Mukkōkilānadigal, Tyagapataka and Neriyan Madeviyar. Of his sons we only know ofKulothunga Chola II who succeeded him on the throne.

Vikrama Chola built a Siva temple at Ulagalanda Chola Mangalam (now renamed as Kalavai in Vellore district). This temple sivan is suyambu. A nataraja statue was made by pancha-loha, similar to Chithambaram Nataraja statue. Kovil's outer wall was constructed using green stones (patchai kal).^[8]

GeneralNaralokaviran alias Ponnambalakuttan continued to serve Vikrama Chola after Kulottunga I.^[9] One of the vassals in the Andhra country was Madhurantaka Pottapi Chola, the son of Siddharasa. The officer claimed descent from the legendaryKarikala Chola who raised the banks of Kaveri in epigraphs (Carana saroruha etc.).^[10]

A Tamil inscription of the king fromSidlaghatta district, dated in the second year of his reign and beginning withPumagal Punara, states that Udayamartanda Brahmamarayan, an officer of the king with his residence in Arulmolideva Chaturvedimangalam, and who was well versed in Tamil, built the temple of Somesvarar in the village of Sugattur in Kaivara nadu. Vikrama Chola is called PulivendanKoliyar kula Pati alias Rajayyar Vikrama Choladeva.^[11]

• Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1935).The Cōḷas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).
• Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955).A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
• The History and Culture of the Indian People: The Struggle for Empire By Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, Bhāratīya Itihāsa Samiti
• Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume 10, Part 1 by Benjamin Lewis Rice, Mysore (India: State). Archaeological Dept, Mysore Archaeological Survey
• Epigraphy By Archaeological Survey of India. Southern Circle
• History of Indian Administration: Volume 2 by Baij Nath Puri

• 12th-century Indian monarchs
• 12th-century regents
• Chola emperors
• 1135 deaths

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