Part 4 - The Genealogies (of the Kaveri Delta and the Cholas)

The genealogies with the gotra name or vamsa name like Suryavamsa or Candravamsa, or connections to worthy ancestors, as Romila Thapar suggests, often constitute an important tool for claiming the authority and effective use of the past.^[1] In accordance with the Sastra practice, later grants of land charters, the donor name came always with his ancestor’s name and achievements. This establishes the strength, deep rootedness and continuity of that dynasty by mentioning the past mythical heroes and their deeds. These in turn provide ideological and political validation of that rule on a particular landscape.

The Chola genealogy similarly represents their early heroes and their great deeds. They accepted and appreciated the use of genealogy as done by the other dynasties of the Deep South. They were also keen to not to highlight the unsuccessful episodes of their rule. The period between the end of Parantaka’s reign 955 A.D. and the beginning of Rajaraja I’s rule in 985 A.D., was not mentioned clearly.