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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[OCTOBER, 1912.
After the death of Adhirajêndra, Vikramaditya VI as well as Rajendrachola II apparently wanted to occupy the vacant throne of the Cholas, but the latter quickly fulfilled his object. The other being disappointed wanted to fight with Rajendrachôla II, but the latter withstood him, finding an ally in Sômeávara II, elder brother of Vikramaditya VI and the then reigning king of the Western Chalakyas (A.D. 1069 to 1075). A battle was fonght between the contending parties, but Rajendrachôla II could not be dethroned though, as a result of the battle, Sômêávara II was overthrown by Vikramaditya VI.82 The latter ascended the Kuntala throne in A, D. 1076 whence started the Chalukya Vikramavarsha era.& Inscriptions of the fifth year of Rajendrachola II's reign refer to this battle, stating " (He) ungheathed (his) sword, showed the strength of this arm, and spurred (his) war steed, so that the king of Kondala (Kuntala), (whose spear had) a sharp point lost his wealth. Having established his fame, having put on the garland of (the victory over) the Northern region, and having stopped the prostitution of the goddess with the sweet and excellent lotus flower (i. e., Lakshmi) of the Southern region, and the lonelinese of the goddess of the good country whose garment is Ponni (Kaneri) he put on by right of inheritance) the pure royal crown of jewels, while the kings of old earth bore his two feet on their heads) as a large crown.''84
I have already stated that after his coronation as the ruler of the Cbôla country he bore the title Kulôttunga, which means " highest in his family," and which is fonnd only in his inscriptions subsequent to the fourth regnal year. This implies that the independent rule of the united empre of Vêngi and the Chola country was attained by him alone and not by his predecessors, and not before 1074-75, even by him. This title cannot mean that he was called a Chola after attaining supreme power, for he was already stylel a member of the Chola family in A, D. 1071-72, as stated by Prof. Hultzsch.85 Kalingattupparani says "As a young prince of the Lunar race, as an infant lord of the Solar race, he grew up the joy of the kings of both faces, like the fruit of the virtuous deeds of his ancestors."96. Vikramánkadévacharita styles our prince Rajendracbóla II as Chola Räjiga ' in one place (VI. 38) and Räjiga Vengin&tha' in another place (VI. 26). He was Ubhayakulóttama!! (the best of the two races), therefore, even before he was crowned as ruler of the eastern country.
According to Mr. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Adhirajêndra ascended the throne in A. D. 1070 and ruled only part of a year, for Rajendrachôla II also ascended the Chola throne in the same year; the capture of elephants at Vairugarvam and the capture of the fortress of Chakrakottam mentioned in his inscriptions as deeds of his heir-apparentship imply that he distinguished himself in the expedition sent out by Virarajendra in A. D. 1067; kulottunga's having uplifted the lotus goddess in the direction of the rising of the sun would only mean that Rajendra Kulottunga distinguished himself as a prince in the eastern exploits of his grandfather, either during Rajendra Chola's, or under Virarajendra when he re-conquered Kadaram.88 In my opinion the above statements are not well founded. If the above-quoted inscriptions of Rajarajachôdagangan and Virachôda 90 are taken into consideration we must conclude that the coronation of Rajendrachôla II with the title Kulôttunga as a ruler of the Chola country took place some time after his coronation as ruler of the eastern or Vêngi territory. The earlier Tamil inscriptions styling him Rajendrachôla refer to his coronation as ruler of the eastern country ; for they describe his crown as Kula
* Eid. VI., 27 to 90.
" Dr. Dhandarkar's Early History of Dekhan, 2nd edition, pp. 85 M South Ind, I., VOL III. p. 142
$5 Ibid. p. 182 # Ante, Vol. XIX, p. 332,
Kalingattupparani 1, 2, # Ancient India, pp. 49, 50, 129, 130, 131 and 283
* Ep. Ind. YOL VI, Pp. 384 to 347. * Aute, Vol. XIX, PP. 428 to 486
