Urayur
Encyclopedia
Urayur located near the city of Tiruchirapalli
in Tamil Nadu
, India
, was the capital of the early Cholas
, who were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country
. Sometimes spelled as Uraiyur, this location is also known as Thirukkozhi, Nikalaapuri, Uranthai, and Kozhiyur. It has a history dating back to before 2 BCE. There is definite mention of the Cholas and their capital in Asokan inscriptions in Orissa
pushing back the antiquity of the Cholas as well as Uraiyur to 272–232 BC, which was the period of Ashoka
(ca. 304–232 BC) who was ruler of the Maurya Dynasty of Pataliputra (modern Patna
). Inscriptions and rock edicts of Ashoka and the Satavahanas describe Urayur as "the citadel and centre of the Cholas".
Uraiyur is also mentioned as the capital of the ancient great Chola King Karikalan
before the 1st century CE until the dynasty was revived by Vijayalaya Chola
c. 850 CE. The Cholas were one of the four great Tamil dynasties; (Pallavas, Cheras
and Pandyas are the other three) who ruled over the Tamil country
in South India
, the Konkan coast, Deccan Plateau and during the peak reached beyond the Narmada up to the Ganga-Damodar delta from early antiquity.
The word Urayur in Tamil
literally means "the residence". Urayur was an ancient Chola city with a fortress and city wall on the southern banks of the river Kaveri. The Imperial Cholas of the 9th century CE and later made Tanjavur their capital, and Urayur slowly lost its place in the Chola administration.
The reason why it is also known as Kozhiyur is due to the legend of a cock attacking the elephant of the king. He was taken aback for a moment but then decided to build his empire around that place after he realized the cause for the boldness was the soil.
Several notable temples are situated here:
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, was the capital of the early Cholas
Early Cholas
The Early Cholas of the pre and post Sangam period were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country. Their early capitals were Urayur and Kaveripattinam...
, who were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country
Ancient Tamil country
The Sangam period is the classical period in the history of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of South India, spanning about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE...
. Sometimes spelled as Uraiyur, this location is also known as Thirukkozhi, Nikalaapuri, Uranthai, and Kozhiyur. It has a history dating back to before 2 BCE. There is definite mention of the Cholas and their capital in Asokan inscriptions in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
pushing back the antiquity of the Cholas as well as Uraiyur to 272–232 BC, which was the period of Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
(ca. 304–232 BC) who was ruler of the Maurya Dynasty of Pataliputra (modern Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
). Inscriptions and rock edicts of Ashoka and the Satavahanas describe Urayur as "the citadel and centre of the Cholas".
Uraiyur is also mentioned as the capital of the ancient great Chola King Karikalan
Karikala Chola
Karikala Chola or Karikala Chozhan was one of the great Tamil kings of Early Chola during the Sangam period. He was the son of Ilamcetcenni and ruled around 270 BC....
before the 1st century CE until the dynasty was revived by Vijayalaya Chola
Vijayalaya Chola
Vijayalaya was the Chola king of South India Thanjavur during c. 848 C.E. and re-established the Chola dynastic rule.-Dark age of Cholas:The ancient Chola kingdom once famous in Tamil literature and in the writings of Greek merchants and geographers faded in to darkness after c 300 C.E. Cholas...
c. 850 CE. The Cholas were one of the four great Tamil dynasties; (Pallavas, Cheras
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
and Pandyas are the other three) who ruled over the Tamil country
Ancient Tamil country
The Sangam period is the classical period in the history of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of South India, spanning about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE...
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
, the Konkan coast, Deccan Plateau and during the peak reached beyond the Narmada up to the Ganga-Damodar delta from early antiquity.
The word Urayur in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
literally means "the residence". Urayur was an ancient Chola city with a fortress and city wall on the southern banks of the river Kaveri. The Imperial Cholas of the 9th century CE and later made Tanjavur their capital, and Urayur slowly lost its place in the Chola administration.
The reason why it is also known as Kozhiyur is due to the legend of a cock attacking the elephant of the king. He was taken aback for a moment but then decided to build his empire around that place after he realized the cause for the boldness was the soil.
Several notable temples are situated here:
- Naachiyaar Temple
- Panchavarneswara temple
- Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal TempleSri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal TempleSri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple is a Divya desam temple situated in Uraiyur inside Trichy in Tamil Nadu. Nearby is the Srirangam temple.- Legend :...
- Vekkaliamman temple