The present work deals with the rule of the imperial colas over the regions of ancient southern Karnataka comprising the modern districts of Mysore, Kolar, Coorg, Bangalore and parts of Tumkur districts from A. D. 985 to A. D. 1120. They do not deal with the political history but covers the administrative, military Judicial, socio-economic and religio-cultural conditions. They may be said to significantly represent the impact of Tamil administration and culture in the Kannada regions. They are amply testified by the trilingual epigraphs which goes to speak of the integration policy adopted by the Colas in the erstwhile South India. Rulers like RaJaraja I, his son Rajendra Chola I and the latter’s great grandson Kulottunga I have contributed much to the growth and development of some important urban and rural centres m Southern Karnataka during their sway. Apart from engaging themselves in constructive activities, they were religiously tolerant which is seen from the equal number of Shiva and Vishnu temples being erected. They also patronised Jainism and Buddhism which is again well corroborated by literature andlithic records. Further it is unique to note the raising of erivirapattanam i.e., commercial-cum-militia towns which is purely an innovation of the Imperial colas over the Kannada territories. Altogether it is a pioneer attempt consisting primarily in its descriptive aspect.
There are no reviews yet.