Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c9.55

c9.55

We do not know any specific cause for the hostility between the Cholas and the Śailendras, and probably the ambition of controlling the East-West trade was really at the bottom of it. The monopoly of the Śailendras over this trade was threatened by the growing naval power of the Cholas, and the latter also probably encouraged by the decline in the power of the Śailendras to make a bold bid to take their place. In such circumstances, pretexts would not be wanting for the opening of hostilities by one side or the other.