Karikala (Kalikala) Chola and the Ikshvakus: Tiruvalangadu Copper-Plates of Rajendra-Chola I

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Karikala Chola is famous for the dam he built across the Kaveri River, which was much admired by Sir Arthur Cotton.

From this translated sanskrit copper plate inscription we learn that he was a descendant of Chola, the son of Daushyanti Bharata, Sakuntala‘s son. We also learn the names of the Ikshvaku kings of the various Yugas.

(Popular versions of the Mahabharata take the line that Bharata had no “good sons” of his own and that Bharadwaja Maharshi reigned over his kingdom for a while, till a “better son” was born to him. Given that Chola was such a great king, and with such great descendants, this area needs more research. This inscription also gives the name of the Ikshvaku kings who participated in the Ksheera Sagara Mathanam.

Perhaps the wildest idea I have at this time is whether the great Karikala Chola was the cause of fear to Saunaka and other Rshis who left for Naimisaranya. This inscription places him very close to the beginning of Kaliyuga. A lot more research is needed.)

Source of the Inscription :

  1. From the Sun, by Manana (Contemplation), was born Manu. (This is a reference to Vaiwaswatha Manu, Krutha Yuga).
  2. Ikshvaku was the son of Manu and a scourge of the enemies of the Devas.
  3. His son was Vikukshi, who ruled the earth girdled by the oceans. (A reference to South India)
  4. Puranjaya, the famous conqueror of the enemies of the Devas., was his son.
  5. Kakuthstha, the famous conqueror the enemies of the Devas.,  was his son. (Great-great-grandfather of Sri Rama as per the Agni Purana)
  6. Kakshivat, whose fame was sung by the gandharvas, was his son. (A reference to dominating Afganisthan).
  7. The great Aryyama, who won Vijayalakshmi by conquering the Ocean of his enemies, was his son. (A reference to Ksheera Sagara Mathanam) (Aryama is the name of one of the devatas of the Veda Mantras).
  8. In his family, was born Analapratapa famed for his generosity and prowess.
  9. In his family, was born Vena
  10. His son was Pruthu (Pruthu was the 9th Avatar of Vishnu as per the Srimad Bhagavatham)
  11. In this family, was born Dhundhumara, the slayer of Dhundhu.
  12. In this family, was born Yuvanasva. (Another name for Yuvanasva is Mandhata. He was killed by Lavanasura, son of Madhu with Siva‘s Sula).
  13. His son was Mandhatri.
  14. His son was Muchukunda, who killed Kalayavana (The killing of Kalyavana was in the Dwapara Yuga, but Muchukunda was of the Krita Yuga).
  15. In this family, was born Valabha who founded the city of Valabhi.
  16. His son was Prithulaksha, who set “whirling the Mandara Mountain in the ocean for securing Amrta” at the request of the Devas and Asuras. (This has reference to the Ksheera Sagara Mathana – Kurma Avatara)
  17. To him was born a son (known as) Parthivachudamani, who was a mine of power and who, while Mukunda (Vishnu) was giving the gods a drink of nectar, destroyed the army of the demons (who were disturbing). (This has reference to the Ksheera Sagara Mathana – JaganMohini Avatara)
  18. Then Dirghabahu became the sovereign.
  19. Then king Chandrajit was the soveriegn.
  20. At the close of the Krita Yuga, His son Samkriti became the emperor.
  21. In this family, was born Panchapa.
  22. In this family, was born Satyavrata, who conquered the king of Kasi, defeated Rudra and acquired the name Rudrajit. (Is this a reference to Siva?)
  23. The generous Sibi, the son of Usinara and Marutta whose left-over gold was used by the Pandavas for the Rajasuya, were also Ikshvakus.
  24. Dushyanta was an Ikshvaku. (Dushyanta was the husband of Sakuntala, and the son-in-law of Viswamitra)
  25. Dushyanta’s son Daushyanti Bharata was an Ikshvaku.
  26. Bharata’s son was Chola, who was like Indra himself.
  27. Cholavarman’s son was Rajakesarivarman (‘the lion among kings’) who split asunder with (his) nails (viz., crooked knives),  the elephants (viz., his enemies) and (was) the cage (wherein resided the goddess) of prosperity. (The nails are a reference to Narasimha Avatar).
  28. His son was king Parakesarin
  29. Parakesarin’s son was king Chitraratha (The name of Kubera’s grove)
  30. His son (was) Chitrasva (The word Chitrasrava occurs in the Rg Veda)
  31. To him (was born) king Chitradhanvan. This king (also) desirous to fame brought her (i.e., Ganga) to his dominions under the name Kaverakanyaka (i.e., Kaveri)
  32. In this family, was born, Suraguru. This king having conquered by his glory the god of Death in his own territory acquired the name Mrityujit.
  33. In this family, was born, Chitrartha called Vyaghraketu, who wore as an ornament on his head the flowers of the dhataki (Grislea Tomentosa).
  34. The Treta-Yuga having come to a close, a son of this king known as Narendrapati became the ruler.
  35. “From him was produced the Siromani of the powerful Solar race, (king) Vasu, who was the cause of the destruction of the demons (and) who (known) by the significant surname of Uparichara moved in any direction he liked in a celestial car which was presented (to him) by the lord of gods (i.e., Indra).”  (This Uparichara Vasu is reputed to be the genetic father of Satyavati, the mother of Veda Vyasa).
  36. At the end of the Dvapara (-age) was born in the family of this head-jewel of kings a conqueror of all hostile kings named Visvajit.
  37. In his race was born Perunatkilli who was the receptacle of all sciences.
  38. In this (king’s) family was born he, the leader of all the lords of the earth, the foremost of the great on account of his virtues, the king who renovated (the town of) Kanchi with gold, who had established his glorious fame by constructing embankments of the Kaveri (river) and whom (people) called Kalikala (KariKala) because (he) was (the god of) death to the elephants (kari) (of his enemies) as also to the Kali (-age).
  39. In his race was born the emperor Kochchengannan who bore on his arm the earth (extending) as far as the Lokaloka mountain,
  40. “In his race was bornVijayalaya, who took possession of Tanjavur, Tanchapuri. Having next consecrated (there) (the image of) Nisumbhasudani whose lotus-feet are worshipped by gods and demons, (he) by the grace of that (goddess) bore just (as easily) as a garland (the weight of) the (whole) earth resplendent with (her) garment of the four oceans.”
  41. His wise son was king Adityavarman. Having conquered in battle the Pallava (king) Aparajita who possessed a brilliant army though (he was in name) aparajita (i.e., the unconquered) he (i.e., Aditya) took possession of his (i.e., Aparajita’s) beloved country and thus fulfilled the object (of his desire).
  42. His son was Parantaka.

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