A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c15.8

c15.8

Kulottunga III died soon after (1218) and Rājarāja III proved to be an incompetent ruler under whom confusion increased and the dissolution of the Chola kingdom was hastened. In some unknown way a company of Oḍḍa (Oriya) soldiers penetrated to the heart of the Chola country (c. 1223) and created disturbances in Śrīrangam until they were dislodged by Sundara Pāṇḍya (1225). In the north, Hoysala forces were present in Kāñchī, perhaps pursuing hostilities with the Telugu-Chodas of Nellore and their suzerains, the Kākatīyas. The Kādava chieftain Kōpperunjinga became more and more powerful and entered into an alliance with Sundara Pāṇḍya against the Cholas and their Hoysala protector. Little realizing the increasing difficulty of his position, Rājarāja III defied Sundara Pāṇḍya by withholding the annual tribute due to him and starting hostilities. Sundara Pāṇḍya repelled the feeble Chola invasion and took the offensive. Rājarāja was defeated with much loss of wealth and his chief queen was taken prisoner. Sundara Pāṇḍya performed a vijayābhisheka at Muḍikondaśōlapuram (Āyirattali). Rājarāja made an attempt to join his allies, the Hoysala forces of Narasimha II in the north, but he was intercepted and, after a battle at Teḷḷāru, was taken prisoner by the Kādava Kōpperunjinga and confined in the fortress at Śēndamangalam.