THE REGIONAL KINGDOMS OF EARLY MEDIEVAL INDIApart of a deliberate policy to establish a monopoly of trade which was
obstructed by a similar policy followed by the Shrivijaya empire which had
the strategic advantage of controlling the Malacca and Sunda Straits
through which Eastern trade had to pass? The South Indian historian
K.A.Nilakanta Sastri has emphasised this latter point. But perhaps all these
motives may have influenced their actions. The transfer of the Ganges
water fits in very well with the first theory. The long list of jewels and gold
which the Chola kings and generals donated to the imperial temples at
Thanjavur (Tanjore) and at Gangaikondacholapuram provide evidence for
the second theory. As far as their maritime interests were concerned,
Nilakanta Sastri is certainly right. Moreover, these Chola maritime
expeditions were by no means the first South Indian endeavours to
intervene in the affairs of Southeast Asia. In the reign of the Pallava king
Nandivarman III (c. 844–866), a Pallava officer left an inscription at
Takuapa on the Isthmus of Siam recording that he had a tank constructed
there which he then entrusted to a guild of South Indian merchants who
were living in a military camp at this place. Probably these merchants and
their troops were already at that time engaged in an endeavour to break
the stranglehold of Shrivijaya with Pallava aid by diverting the trade route
via the Isthmus of Siam so as to avoid the Straits.
The Cholas tried to enhance their maritime strength also by gaining
control over all strategically important coastlines. They captured the
southwest coast of India and almost the entire Indian east coast up to the
mouth of the Ganges; they also seized the Maldives, Sri Lanka and
perhaps the Andamans. In keeping with this line of policy, they finally
took on Shrivijaya. But this must also be seen in the context of increasing
diplomatic activities at that time. The Chinese had sent embassies to the
‘Countries of the South’ in the late tenth century indicating their interest
in an increase of trade. Shrivijaya had responded by sending six
delegations to the Emperor of China in the brief period from 1003 to
- In 1015 and 1033 the Cholas had also sent embassies to China and
the Chinese emperor recognised the Chola kingdom as one of the great
tributary states, which was a mark of distinction in Chinese eyes. The
Southeast Asian states were as eager to have good relations with the
Cholas as with the Emperor of China. Around 1005, the Shailendra king
of Shrivijaya endowed a Buddhist monastery at Nagapatam for which
Rajaraja provided some land grants. When Rajendra inherited his
father’s throne he immediately confirmed the grant made to that
monastery. In 1015, after the Chola diplomatic mission had stopped over
in Shrivijaya on their way to China, and again in 1019 the ruler of
Shrivijaya sent rich presents for this monastery which Rajendra
acknowledged in his inscriptions.
Cambodia also established diplomatic relations with the Cholas in - King Suryavarman I, who expanded the kingdom of Angkor so as to