South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c8.s2.9

c8.s2.9

The third was the territory to the north embracing within it North Arcot and Chingleput, with an extension perhaps even into the farther north. This was the territory which probably was the actual sphere of Rājēndra III, but in which we find both Rājēndra III and the Śambuvarāyans at considerable conflict of interests. About the time that the Hoysalas intervened on behalf of the Cholas, the Telugu chieftain Tikka of Nellore entered the Chola country from the north, ostensibly in the interests of the Cholas, and apparently against the Pāṇḍyas and the Pallava chieftain of South Arcot. But having come, he showed no more inclination to retire to his territory than his contemporary, the Hoysala monarch. Rājēndra III therefore had first of all to struggle against the Śambuvarāyans, during which struggle he obtained assistance from Tikka, but later on he had to war against Tikka and his son Manmasiddha, and carry the war into their own territory into the districts of Nellore and Cuddapah. In this enterprise Rājēndra was on the whole successful. It was this success that ultimately paved his way to the Chola throne, and that is perhaps what is meant when his inscriptions state that he helped the Chola Rājarāja III to wear the double crown, and killed him at last. What exactly were the actual circumstances that led to the killing, we are not able to see. It is probable that Rājarāja’s subserviency to the Hoysala was objectionable to Rājēndra III, and finding it impossible to persuade him into a more vigorous policy he managed to get rid of him and ascend the throne in his stead. This act of his naturally put him at once into hostility with Somēśvara. Rājēndra’s records claim that he defeated Somēśvara, and compelled him to put the anklet of heroes on the Chola’s feet. On the other hand, the records of the Hoysala claim that Somēśvara defeated Rājēndra and bestowed upon him the Chola kingdom when he submitted. These apparently contradictory versions mean the same ultimately, that Rājēndra III and Somēśvara, the Hoysala, first of all fought against each other and afterwards came to an understanding between themselves. The cause of his unexpected peace perhaps was the advance of Māravarman Sundara Pāṇḍya II through the Chola territory in the Pudukoṭṭa State on which about this time the Pāṇḍya had established his hold, and the likelihood of his proceeding further north in alliance with the Pallava chieftain Kopperunjinga of Śendamangalam. We must now go back to consider the position of the Pāṇḍyas to whom we have had to make so many references in the course of our study of the history of the Cholas.