South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c8.39

c8.39

The Chola Empire in the beginning of the thirteenth century.—At the beginning of the thirteenth century A.D. the Chola empire stood restored so far to its former ascendency in South India under this ‘Great Chola’ Kulottunga III that one would hardly have expected its fall to come in the course of the next half century. The causes that ultimately brought about this decadence were discernible even then. The Pāṇḍya country, reduced to subordination after such expenditure of blood and treasure by Kulottunga, could but have rendered a sullen obedience. This had been rendered all the more galling after what Kulottunga had done to make a demonstration of his power. Having finally defeated the rebel Vīra Pāṇḍya, Kulottunga entered Madura and had himself anointed both as a hero-warrior and victor-overlord of the Pāṇḍya. In order that this might be the better impressed upon his enemies and feudatories, he arranged that both his Pāṇḍya and Kēraḷa feudatories be seated, apparently without thrones, a little away from him on one side. Seating himself upon the throne with his queen he placed his feet upon ‘the crowned head of the vanquished Vīra Pāṇḍya’, which had been out off on the field of battle according to the inscription, as if to say that that was to be the fate of those who would not acknowledge his authority. After this he conferred special honours upon both the friendly Pāṇḍya and the Kēraḷa rulers, and even treated the latter to a banquet along with him to show the honours that awaited loyal allegiance.¹