Kadal Pura
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: கடல்புறா
Kadal Pura (Sea Pigeon) (1974) was a historical adventure novel by Sandilyan. The novel was set against the backdrop of Karunakara Thondaiman's victory over Kalinga, the protagonist of the short epic Kalingattuparani.
Publication
Kadal Pura was written as a series in Kumudham magazine in 1974 and was published as a book by Vanathi publication.
Data, Evidences
In the foreword to this story, for the proof, Sandilyan quoted the references of Bhojan's Yukti Kalpataru - a book on the wooden vessel structure, Professor Radhamukut Mukherjee’s Indian Shipping, Dr. Majumdar's Suvarnadweepam - a book on the history of Kadaram and the genealogy of the Shailendras and K. A. Neelakanta Sastry’s notes on the Kadaram war during the reign of Veerarajendra and the historical books from Dr. S. Krishnasamy Iyengar and Shri. P.T. Srinivasa Iyengar.
Anabaayan crowned as Kulottunga-I was engaged in resolving the conflict for the throne of Sri Vijaya empire and maintaining peace there from 1063 to 1070 C.E. In the year 1077, a delegation of Tamils led by Devakulo reached China. Sandilyan noted that Devakulo refers to Kulothunga and Kalingattuparani, which portrays the story of Kulothunga's chief commander Karunakara Thondaiman's conquest of Kalinga, was also a proof.
Historical Background
Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1122) was referred in the inscriptions as Anabaayan. According to Kalingattuparani, he was born in the Gangaikonda Cholapuram palace to Rajaraja Narendra, the eastern Chalukya king who ruled Venginadu and Chola princess, and was adopted by Rajendra Chola as his successor. But prince Anabaayan did not get the throne after the death of Rajendra Chola. Adhirajendran, another son of Rajendra Chola, assumed the power in 1070 C.E. under the name of Kulothunga Chola. Anabaayan might have been adopted because Adhirajendran was ill. Adhirajendran ruled the kingdom for very few years only.
During the reign of Kulothunga I, the boundaries of the Chola kingdom were vast. So there were battles with all the frontier countries. Internally, there were conflicts between the right hand caste and the left hand caste groups. But Kulothunga I is regarded as one of the greatest kings of Chola period. With powerful commanders like Prince Rajendra Chola, Arayan Kalingaraya, Senapati Irungovel, Arayan Sayanthan Karunakara Pallavan Udayan Adittan, Arulmozhi Rajadhiraja Vanathirayar, Azhagiya Manavala Nambi and Raja Raja Maduranthakan, Kulothunga I conquered Chalukyanadu, Cheranadu, Eelam and Vengi nadus in the battles and subjugated them.
Kulothunga fought two Kalinga battles. When the Kalingas tried to capture Vengi, which was close to the Chola kingdom, the Chola forces led by Prince Vikrama Chola with the consorts of Kalingaraya and Karunakara Thondaiman, defeated the Kalingas. The second Battle of Kalinga was fought under the leadership of Karunakara Pallavan, Arayan Kalingaraya and Arayan Rajanarayanan. Kalingattuparani composed by Jayankondar portrays at length about this battle. Kalinga was said to be completely destroyed in the battle. It is speculated that this battle happened in 33rd year of coronation of Kulothunga Chola (1102 C.E.).
Karunakara Thondaiman conquered the Kalinga king Ananthavarman Chodagangan (1077-1150). Ananthavarman ruled the eastern Ganganadu, one of the three Kalinga kingdoms. Ganga king was born to Rajaraja Devan and Rajasundari, daughter of Chola emperor Veerarajendra. The son-in-law of Kulothunga Chola’s (also referred to be grandson by some historians) Kalinga battle might have been the result of conflict within the family.
There is evidence that Kulothunga Chola intervened in the dispute of the Sri Vijaya Empire. He was associated with the Sri Vijaya and Khmer empires. According to K.A. Neelakanta Sastry, there is evidence that Kulothunga Chola sent ambassadors to China in 1077 C.E. Suryavarman, Khmer king who built Angkor Wat temple in 1114 C.E., gifted rare diamonds to Kulothunga Chola as per inscriptions. That Kulothunga Chola went to Sri Vijaya with his forces in 1063 C.E. and settled the throne dispute there is evidenced through the inscription carved by Veerarajendra in his seventh year of coronation (1063 C.E.) which states that the Chola armies conquered Kadaram and returned it to the king who bowed down. According to scholars, Kulothunga might have been in Sri Vijaya empire until 1067 C.E. Sri Vijaya empire enjoyed good relations with Kulothunga Chola. There is evidence that King Sri Vijaya funded the renovation of Nagai Chudamani Vihara built by Rajaraja Chola.
Synopsis
The protagonist of the story is Karunakara Thondaiman, the commander of the Chola army. For fighting against the tyranny of Jayavarman in Sri Vijaya kingdom, his younger brother Gunavarman seeks the help of Cholas. Gunavarman shifts along with his daughter Kanchana Devi to Kalinga's Palur Perundurai. Kalinga’s king is a friend of Sri Vijaya King Jayavarman. So, Jayavarman plans to kill Gunavarman with the help of Kalinga king. When this news reaches Chola king Veerarajendra, he directs Karunakara Pallava to Kalinga to rescue Gunavarman and his daughter Kanchana Devi. Veerarajendra also gives a peace note and orders him to deliver it to Bhima, king of South Kalinga.
