Kulakkottan
Sculpture of Kulakkottan
Reignc. 5th Century CE
DynastyChola Dynasty
FatherVararamatevan[1]
ReligionHindu
Chola Kings and Emperors
Early Cholas
Ellalan205 BCE– c. 161 BCE
Kulakkottan
Ilamchetchenni
Karikala
Nedunkilli
Nalankilli
Killivalavan
Kopperuncholan
Kochchenganan
Perunarkilli
Interregnum (c. 200 – c. 848 CE)
Medieval Cholas
Vijayalaya 848–871?
Aditya I 871–907
Parantaka I 907–955
Rajaditya Chola 935–949
Gandaraditya 949–962
Arinjaya 955–956
Parantaka II (Sundara) 950–980
Aditya II (Karikala) 966–971
Uttama 971–987
Rajaraja I 985–1014
Rajendra I 1012–1044
Rajadhiraja 1018–1054
Rajendra II 1051–1063
Rajamahendra 1060–1063
Virarajendra 1063–1070
Athirajendra 1067–1070
Later Cholas
Kulothunga I 1070–1120
Vikrama 1118–1135
Kulothunga II 1133–1150
Rajaraja II 1146–1173
Rajadhiraja II 1166–1178
Kulothunga III 1178–1218
Rajaraja III 1216–1256
Rajendra III 1246–1279
Related
Related dynasties
Telugu Chodas of Andhra
Chodagangas of Kalinga
Nidugal Cholas of Karnataka
Rajahnate of Cebu
Rajahnate of Sanmalan
Chola society

Kulakkottan (Tamil: குளக்கோட்டன்) was an early Chola king and descendant of Manu Needhi Cholan who was mentioned in chronicles such as the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and stone inscriptions like Konesar Kalvettu. His name Kulakkottan means 'builder of tank and temple'.[2]

Kulakkottan was the son of Vararamatevan, said to have been ruler of Chola Nadu and Madurai.[1] The historian and author, Mudaliyar Rasanayagam states that Vararamatevan and Kulakkottan arrived in Trincomalee during the reign of King Pandu of Anuradhapura.[3] Vararamatevan found the Koneswaram temple destroyed by the Buddhist King Mahasena. He decided to restore it, a work which was later continued by his son.[4] Kulakkottan was credited with the restoration of the ruined Koneswaram temple and for building Kantale Dam at Trincomalee in 438 CE, and the Munneswaram temple of the west coast. He is known as the royal who settled ancient Vanniyars in the east of the island of Eelam.[5][2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Patmanātan̲, Ci (2006). Hindu temples of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Thirukketheeswaram Temple Restoration Society & Kumaran Book House. pp. 68−70. ISBN 9789559429913.
  2. ^ a b Schalk, Peter; Nākacāmi, Ira (Irāmaccantiran̲) (2002). Schalk, Peter; Vēluppiḷḷai, Āḷvāppiḷḷai (eds.). Buddhism among Tamils in pre-colonial Tamil̲akam and Īl̲am: Prologue − The Pre-Pallava and the Pallava period. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis; Historia religionum: 19−20. Vol. 1. Uppsala: Uppsala Universitet. pp. 159, 503. ISBN 9155453570. [Citing: Pillay, K. K. (1963). South India and Ceylon]. The Tamil stone inscription Konesar Kalvettu details King Kulakottan's involvement in the restoration of Koneswaram temple in 438 A.D.
  3. ^ Rasanayagam, Mudaliyar C. (1993) [First published 1926]. "VI. Sources and Synchronisms". Ancient Jaffna: Being a research into the history of Jaffna from very early times to the Portuguese period. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 227–271. ISBN 81-206-0210-2. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  4. ^ Vigneswaran, K. (2006). "Tirukkonesvaram". In Patmanātan̲, Ci (ed.). Hindu temples of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Thirukketheeswaram Temple Restoration Society & Kumaran Book House. ISBN 9789559429913.
  5. ^ Hellmann-Rajanayagam, Dagmar (1994). "Tamils and the meaning of history". Contemporary South Asia. 3 (1). Routledge: 3–23. doi:10.1080/09584939408719724.

Further reading

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