Several Telugu Chola grants feature extensive genealogical accounts of various Chola families. The Madras Epigraphical Report for 1900 A.D. (p. 16, part II) provides a comprehensive genealogical table of all Telugu Chola families. Two crucial observations emerge from this table:

The Telugu Cholas bear no direct connection to the celebrated dynasty founded by Vijayalaya.

A distinct break in the table divides it into two well-defined sections, occurring after Karikala II and Dasavarman, the respective founders of the two branches of the Telugu Chola family.

This naturally raises the question: Is the Andhra Chola genealogy accurate, and to what extent? The answer is straightforward: it is completely historical, and its authenticity can be verified. The existence of Chola princes, from Tenungu Bijjana on one side to Choda Ballaya Choda on the other, is unequivocally proven by the discovery of their inscriptions. Therefore, their historicity is beyond debate.

Let’s now focus on the other section of the genealogy, particularly examining two key documents.

Key Inscriptions and Their Revelations
One significant document is a grant from Mahamandalésvara Nanni Choda and his brothers, members of the Kotyadona branch of the Telugu Chola family. This grant details the early Cholas, beginning with Jata Choda, who, after conquering the Dravida-Panchaka, ruled from the renowned city of Uraiyur. His son, Karikala, whose fame spread worldwide through his victory pillars and who filled the earth and sky with his glory by building the flood-banks of the Kaveri, ruled all countries from Kanchi. To Mahimana of this Solar dynasty were born three sons: Karikala, Dasavarman, and Tondaman. Of these, Dasavarman conquered Pakarashtra, making it his capital.

This inscription provides the following early Chola kings:

Jata Chola

Karikala I

Mahimana Choda

Mahimana Choda had Karikala II, Dasavarman, Thondamaan

While this list is complete in a sense, it doesn’t clarify the relationship between Mahimana and Karikala I. However, another Telugu Chola inscription from approximately the same period resolves this. Oppilisiddhi II, the donor of this inscription and a contemporary of the Kakatiya king Ganapati, supplanted the Kotyadona Cholas with Ganapati’s help, becoming master of their territories. From his grant, we learn that the Solar dynasty became known as the dynasty of Karikala after his birth. To him was born a son named Mahimana Choda, who in turn had three fortunate sons: Karikala, Dasavarman, and Tondaman.

This inscription gives us the following list of kings:

Karikala → Mahimana-Choda
Karikala, Dasavarman, Tondaman.

The two lists are essentially identical, showing no significant differences. By combining them, we get a comprehensive list of Jata Choda’s descendants:

Jata Choda → Karikala I → Mahimana Choda
↓
Karikala II, Dasavarman, Tondaman.

One branch of the Telugu Cholas traces its origin from Karikala II, and another from Dasavarman. They appear to have initially held parts of the Cuddapah district before spreading in all directions.

Connecting with Tamil Chola Traditions
The Cholas of the Tamil country, from whom the Telugu Cholas claim descent, were an ancient royal family. Ancient Tamil literature, particularly the Sangam literature, contains eulogies of Karikala and his father. The epic Manimekalai mentions a Chola monarch believed to be Karikala’s son.

The following genealogy is reconstructed from references to Chola sovereigns in early Tamil classics:

Ilam-Jet-chenni
↓
Karikala
↓
Mavan or Nedumudi Killi
↓
UdhayaKumara, Tondaman Ilam thiraiyan

The words “Chenni” and “Killi” are synonyms for Chola. “Ilam-Jet-chenni” means “young Jata Chola,” which aligns with the Telugu Chola genealogy as Karikala’s father. Karikala’s son had several names, including Nedumudi Killi and Velvel Killi. One of his names, “Mavan Killi,” meaning “the great, the powerful, or the glorious Chola,” remarkably resembles “Mahiman” in meaning and form. While Tamil classics don’t explicitly state how Mavan or Nedumudi Killi was related to Karikala, Tamil scholars unanimously accept the ancient tradition that Mavan Killi was Karikala’s son.

Intertwined Genealogies: Tamil and Telugu Cholas
Mavan Killi had two sons: Udaiyakumara and Tondaman Ilam-Tiraiyan. Udaiyakumara, the lover of Manimekalai, was murdered by the jealous Vidyadhara, Kanchana. Tondaman Ilam-Tiraiyan was the son of King Killi (Mavan) and Pili Valai, daughter of the Naga chief Valai Vanan. Mavan Killi is said to have married a Bana princess, likely the mother of Tondaman Ilam-Tiraiyan. While some doubt may exist regarding this, Pili Valai’s identity as a Bana princess is certain, proven by her father’s name, ‘Valai Vanan.’ The surname ‘Vanan’ is identical to ‘Banan’ (in Tamil, ‘v’ and ‘b’ are interchangeable without altering meaning). The term ‘Vananayar’ is frequently used for ‘Banarayar’ in later Tamil inscriptions. Thus, ‘Vanan’ and ‘Banan’ are identical, confirming Valai Vanan, King Killi’s father-in-law in Manimekalai, as a Bana chief.

It’s plausible that ‘Valai’ is a corrupted form of ‘Bali,’ a name found in Bana genealogy. The Banas ruled in Vadugavali or Andhrapatha, which seems identical to Pakarashtra. Notably, Dasavarman, one of Mahimana Chola’s (Mavan Killi’s) sons, is said to have conquered this region. This suggests that during Mavan Killi’s time, the Cholas had close family ties with the Banas of Vadugavali or Andhrapatha. Here, the traditions of the Tamil and Telugu Cholas converge.

The Unifying Table of Early Chola Kings
These two genealogical tables are almost identical. The Chet or Jet Chenni of the Tamil classics is the same as Jata Choda of the Telugu Chola inscriptions. Mavan Killi is identical with Mahimana Choda. While Udaiyakumaran from the Tamil list doesn’t appear in the Telugu list, nor are Karikala II and Dasavarman mentioned in the Tamil list, Tondaman is common to both.

The following table of early Chola kings aligns perfectly with both Tamil classics and Telugu inscriptions:

Jata Choda → Karikala I → Mahimana Choda
↓
Karikala II, Dasavarman, Tondaman.

This genealogical table represents four successive generations of early Chola kings, supported by the unbroken tradition of both Tamils and Telugus. It unequivocally establishes the genuineness of the Telugu Chola genealogy, rendering unnecessary any doubt regarding the historical accuracy of the information provided by the Telugu Chola inscriptions.

Karikala and Trilochana: A Synchronism Confirmed
Most Andhra Chola inscriptions begin with a historical introduction that acknowledges Karikala and Trilochana as contemporaries. In light of the evidence presented, there is no room for reasonable doubt. The Telugu Chola inscriptions unanimously support this synchronism, and it is affirmed by both Tamil and Telugu literature. Ancient Tamil and Telugu writers describe Karikala’s conquest of India as far as the Himalayas. This strongly suggests the northward expansion of Chola power, which would have inevitably impacted the Pallava kingdom of Kanchi, situated between the Chola kingdom and the Deccan and Northern India.

Karikala’s Ascent and Conquests
Karikala is said to be the son of “Ilam jet chenni,” also called “Ilamjenni or Ilaiyon,” likely the heir-apparent to the Chola throne. He distinguished himself in wars undertaken by the reigning king, possibly his brother. We’ve identified Ilam jet chenni with Jata Choda of the Andhra Chola inscriptions, one of which states he immigrated to South India from Ayodhya. Several inscriptions corroborate this Chola migration to South India. Early Tamil literature portrays them as kings of the Solar dynasty, and since Ayodhya was the cradle of the Solar lineage, this evidence supports the Andhra Chola tradition.

The Dravida Panchaka and Karikala’s Early Rule
According to the Puranas, the Cholas and Pandyas were originally Kshatriyas who migrated from Northern India. There appears to be some truth to this, though the Chola immigration, if it occurred, must have happened much earlier than Jata Choda’s time, as ample evidence proves their presence in South India as early as the 4th century B.C.

Jata Choda was a great hero who achieved a “digvijaya,” conquering all quarters. He is said to have subdued the kingdoms comprising the Dravida Panchaka and ruled them from his capital, Uraiyur. While “Pancha Dravidas” can refer to Brahmins of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Gujarati regions (likely due to their residence in predominantly Dravidian areas), if this interpretation of Dravida Panchaka is accepted, it would imply Jata Choda conquered the entire Deccan and South India. However, it’s challenging to assert such a mighty conquest based on the slender evidence of a single inscription. It seems more probable that the Dravida Panchaka he conquered was confined to the Tamil country, for which Uraiyur’s central location would have been an ideal capital.

Karikala’s Consolidation and Clash with the Pallavas
While the Telugu Chola inscriptions are silent on Karikala’s potentially irregular accession and early struggles, they take for granted his natural succession from Jata Choda. They also vaguely assert his mastery over the land bounded by the four seas, an expression applicable to the whole of South India.

Despite being sparse on Karikala’s early history, the Andhra Chola records offer considerable information about his later conquests. After consolidating his kingdom by subduing the Pandyas, Cheras, and Sinhalese, he was free to embark on new expeditions. The formidable Pallava kingdom nearby presented a significant barrier to his northward expansion. Destroying the Pallava state was a necessary step towards realizing his ambition, aligning with the traditional policy of his predecessors. His personal ambition and family tradition spurred him to seek an early opportunity to declare war on the Pallavas.

The construction of the Kaveri flood-banks provided Karikala with an opportune moment to test Trilochana’s good faith. He needed a vast number of laborers for the embankments and resorted to the ancient practice of forced labor. He issued royal decrees, requiring each family to contribute its quota of laborers, with no exemptions or excuses. Even an old, forlorn lady unknowingly enlisted the services of Lord Shiva! The recruitment process was so demanding it required the king’s constant attention. He personally supervised the work, visiting subjects’ homes to identify delinquents, who were dealt with severely. His urgent need for labor even compelled him to force Sinhalese prisoners of war into common labor. Under these circumstances, it was natural for him to call upon his feudatory chiefs for assistance. Many princes toiled tirelessly to ensure the project’s success. Of the princes ordered to the Kaveri, Trilochana was likely the only one who defied him.

The Diplomatic Incident and Its Aftermath
The ‘Nava Chola Charitra’ elaborates on the visit of Karikala’s ambassadors to the Pallava court at Kalahasti, on the northern frontier of Tondaimandalam.

“Then came the envoys from the court of Karikala, the famous king of the Cholas, and said, ‘King Karikala, who is building the embankments of the holy Kaveri, requires you to proceed to the river and assist him in raising the banks.'”

Mukkanti (Trilochana) was incensed by what he deemed an unnatural demand. He retorted, “I am a king; I have three eyes, indicating my great power. Has that Chola king so far forgotten himself as to ask me to attend to his domestic work? Does he not know the prowess and ability of King Mukkanti? It is not fitting that I should grow angry with you, his envoys. Depart from this place at once.”

The envoys, expelled from the Pallava court, reported the incident to Karikala, who was then arranging for the rapid construction of the banks. Karikala’s wrath was thoroughly roused. He is said to have punished Trilochana by magically depriving him of his third eye. However, beyond the magical narrative, Karikala appears to have employed more concrete methods. He seems to have invaded the Telugu country, to which Trilochana’s territory was then confined. The memory of this invasion reportedly persists in the Ceded Districts.

The kaifiyat of Chittivale states that “Karikala Maharaja of Suryavamsa, soon after he ascended the throne, came conquering from the west, and annexed this country. Then, he destroyed the forests, and in the neighborhood of the Karigiri to the south of the hill, he planted a village called Pottapi and many others besides. As Pottapi was the most important village, the whole locality acquired in course of time the name of Pottapinadu.”

Several kaifiyats refer to events during Karikala’s reign. We also learn from an inscription fragment (likely 11th century A.D.) that Karikala allotted lands to immigrants from Northern India in the country at the foot of Sriparvata, which belonged to the Pallava king. The region around Sriparvata is specifically associated with Trilochana Pallava. This strongly indicates Karikala’s conquest of Pallava territory in the Telugu country. Furthermore, numerous ancient Chola inscriptions discovered in Renadu (modern Cuddapah and Kurnool districts) attest to the existence of a dynasty of Chola kings claiming descent from Karikala from the mid-7th century onwards. These considerations leave no room to doubt Karikala’s invasion and conquest of the Pallava kingdom.

The Decline of Trilochana’s Power
The evidence makes it clear that Karikala vanquished Trilochana in several battles. First, he wrested Tondaimandalam with its capital, Kanchi, from him. Then, he conquered and annexed a large portion of the Pallava dominions in the Telugu country, significantly reducing Trilochana’s power. Trilochana appears to have made Dharanikota on the Krishna his capital, where he seems to have primarily focused on suppressing the “heretical faiths” of Jainism and Buddhism.