Why in News ?

A rare Renati Chola era inscription unearthed in a remote village of Kadapa district of Andra Pradesh. 

About the News Renati Chola era inscription unearthed ?

• Found engraved on a dolomite slab and shale, which are part of a fragmentary pillar.
• written in archaic Telugu which was readable in 25 lines the first line with 11 lines and the remaining on the other side.
• It was assigned to the 8th Century A.D., when the region was under the rule of the Chola Maharaja of Renadu.
• The last lines are indicative of the priority given to morality in those days.
  • It says the people who safeguard this inscription for future generations will acquire the status of conducting Aswamedha Yaga, and those destroying it will incur sin equivalent to causing a death in Varanasi.

Chola Dynasty

After the decline of the Sangam period, the Cholas became prominent in the ninth century and established an empire comprising the major portion of South India.

• Their capital was Tanjore. They also extended their sway in Sri Lanka and the Malay Peninsula.
• The founder of the Imperial Chola line was Vijayalaya.
• Renati Chola
  • Telugu Cholas of Renadu ruled over Renadu region present day Cuddapah district. 
  • The Telugu Chodas or Telugu Cholas ruled parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh between the sixth and the thirteenth century
  • The earliest of this family was Nandivarman (500 AD) who claimed descent from the family of Karikala
  • The inscriptions at Gandikota at Jammulamadugu and Proddatur are proof of using the Telugu language in their inscriptions.
• Art and Architecture
  • Architecture is the Siva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram built by Rajendra I.
  • The Airavathesvara temple at Darasuram in Tanjore District and the Kampaharesvara temple at Tribhuvanam are other notable temples.
  • Kumbhabhishekam ceremony was held at the Brihadisvara Temple was built by Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I (985-1014 AD). 
  • The bronze statues of Nataraja or dancing Siva are major attraction of Chola. 

Source : The Hindu

Topic 

Prelims : Inscriptions, Chola Dynasty, Telugu Cholas, Renati Chola

GS I : Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times

Current Affairs Compilation : 1 September 2020