Mediyaan YuvaRaja raja Chola Controversy – A Ploy to Divide Hindus?
Legendary Author Kalki Krishnamoorthy’s opus magnum ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ based on Chola dynasty, has been made into a movie and is running successfully. Due to this interest regarding King Raja Raja Chola I and the Chola Empire has increased among people.
Who is Raja Raja chola ?
Raja Raja Chola I is one of the most powerful king of Chola dynasty which is one of the longest ruling dynasties in the world. The chola dynasty was established at 300s BCE and reigned till 1279 CE.
Raja Raja Chola I was born as Arulmozhi varman. He was born around 947 CE as the third child and second son of Parantaka Chola II alias Sundara Chola. He had one elder brother Adhithya Karikalan and elder sister Kundavai.
At his time of ascension the Chola dynasty was relatively very small. So he undertook many military invasions and successfully conquered the Rashtrakudas, Cheras and Pandyas. As a result Raja Raja Chola unified the entire South India under Chola dynasty.
Raja Raja Chola also established a powerful navy that invaded Srilanka and Maldives. Raja Raja chola invaded Srilanka during reign of king Mahinda V and successfully captured the northern Half of Srilanka.
This success of the Chola’s navy lead to the complete conquering of Srilanka during the reign of Raja Raja chola’s son Rajaendra Chola I during 1017. After this the Srilanka was under Chola dynasty till 1070.
Using the power of navy, Rajendra I carried out naval raids and conquered Srivijayam and Kadaram which are present day Indonasia and Malasia thus making Chola Dynasty the only Indian Kingdom to spread its influence over South east Asia.
Raja Raja chola is a follower of Lord Shiva (Saivism). He built the Peruvudaiyar or Periya kovil at Tanjavore for Lord Shiva which was his dream project. This temple is an architectural marvel and listed under UNESCO’s cultural heritage sites.
Even though Raja Raja chola followed Saivism he also dedicated several temples for Lord Vishnu. During his reign all religion sects flourished and coexisted peacefully.
Controversy over his religion
Recently a Tamil movie director called Vetrimaran, who participated in a program held last week on the occasion of political leader Thirumavalavan’s 60th birthday, said that, attempts are being made to portray Raja Raja Chola as a Hindu king.
His speech has raised a controversy and questions whether king Raja Raja chola I is really a hindu.
BJP leader H. Raja has condemned Vetrimaaran’s speech and questioned ‘‘Was Raja Raja Chola, who built the great Peruvudaiyar temple in Tanjavore for lord Shiva, is a Christian or a Muslim?’’
Actor Sarathkumar, who has played the role of Periya Pazhuvettaiyar in Ponniyin Selvan movie said that ‘‘Raja Raja Chola I is a Tamil king. His glory belong to all Indians. So discussing and researching whether he is a Hindu or not is unnecessary work. Instead of wasting our time we should concentrate on spreading his glory to the entire world’’
It’s true that according to our history the word ‘Hindu’ did not exist in India before 1000 years. Sanatana Dharma, which had many sects in Bharat, brought under 6 sects by the great sage Sankaracharya, which are Saivism (Worship of lord Siva), Vaishnavism (Worship of Lord Vishnu), Kaumaram (Worship of Lord Karthikeya), Saaktham (Worship of Goddess Sakthi), Ganapathiam ( Worship of Lord Ganesha), Sauram (Worship of Sun god). Then these 6 divisions were united by the single word ‘Hindu’.
So the idea is put forward that Raja Raja Chola was not a Hindu king. Actor Kamal Haasan also indirectly supported this idea in a press conference.
So how did the people in India who follow Sanatana Dharma get the name ‘Hindu’?
In ancient times the Persians and Greeks who came to our country to do business called the people living beyond the river ‘Sindhu’ as Hindus. Similarly, the Mughal kings also called this country where Hindus lived as Hindustan.
After that, the British who ruled India identified polytheists other than Christians and Muslims with the single word ‘Hindus’. Thus the Sanatana Dharma, which has many sects, was united under the single word ‘Hindu’ and people of India accepted this without raising any question.
But suddenly a new campaign has started against the term ‘Hindu’. This appears to be a ploy to further divide Hindus who are already divided by caste.
Just because the word Hindu did not exist a thousand years ago, does it mean that religions such as Saivism and Vaishnavism does not exist?
There are many sects in Christianity like Roman Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, CSI. But we call all sects as Christians.
Similarly in Islam there are many sects like Sunni, Shia, Sufi. But we call every one of them as Muslims.
So what is wrong in calling various sects following Sanatana Dharma as Hindus?
Why people like Kamal Haasan, Vetimaaran, Thirumavalavan, Seeman are questioning this. Perhaps they are showing their loyalties to the money received from the missionaries?
However, we must accept one thing. Controversies like this can easily distract people from the much bigger problems like the price hikes, tax hikes, substandard roads and corruption so they will stop pestering the Political leaders.