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The battle of Kandalur salai (c. 988 CE), also spelled Kanthaloor salai, was a naval engagement of the Cholas under Rajaraja I (985—1014 CE) against the "salai" at Kandalur in Trivandrum Kerala.[1][3] The exact location of Kandalur—somewhere south Kerala—is a subject of scholarly debate.[1][3][4] The above (988 CE) event is sometimes assumed to be identical with the "conquest of Vizhinjam by a general of Rajaraja [I]", before the burning of Lanka, given in the Tiruvalangadu Grant/Plates.[1]
Battle of Kandalur salai Capture of Kandalur salai | |||||||||
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Inscription of Chola emperor Rajaraja from Suchindram, Kanyakumari (15th regnal year) | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Chola Empire |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Units involved | |||||||||
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Strength | |||||||||
1 Fleet | 1 Fleet | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Unknown | Destruction of Chera navy, ports |
The phrase "Kandalur salai kalamarutta" is again used as a title with distinction of three other Chola emperors also (Rajendra, Rajadhiraja and Kulottunga).[5]
"Salais" were considered prized possessions as they are claimed to have been sacked by many kings of South India.[1] The character of the salais were re-examined in the 1970 paper 'Kantalur Salai-New Light on Brahmin Expansion in South India' by historian M. G. S. Narayanan.[6]
It is now clear that the salai (or ghatika or kalakam or kalam) was a peculiar institution... A multipurpose training centre for celibate arms-bearing Brahmins (Chathar/Chathirar) in material and spiritual fields (including military training to equip them to serve the chieftain or the king and vedic and sastraic studies)...
— M. G. S. Narayanan (1970)
Different views were expressed by early scholars regarding the character of "salai" (such as naval base - military training centre - cantonment - ammunition depot).[4]
The exact location of Kandalur is a subject of scholarly debate. It is possible the original Kandalur salai was located near the Ay headquarters Vizhinjam and the deity was later shifted to Trivandrum (after the Chola raids of the 10th-11th centuries).[1]
As per historian K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, the capture was the first military achievement of Emperor Rajaraja's reign. The success was summed up in the famous phrase "Kandalur salai kalamarutta", which precedes Rajaraja's name in several of his inscriptions from the 4th regnal year (988 CE) onwards.[1][7]
Corrections by M. G. S. Narayanan on K. A. Nilakanta Sastri are employed.
"...confined the undaunted king of Venatu [back] to Che[ra]natu [from the Ay country].... and put on a fresh garland of Vanchi after capturing Kantalur Salai while the strong Villavan [the Chera king] hid himself in terror inside the jungle..."
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