Chapter Test: New Kings and Kingdoms - 2 - CTET & State TET MCQ

Many of the new kings used titles which made them feel very powerful and influential. Some such titles were:
1. Maharaja-adhiraja meaning great king, overlord of kings
2.  Tribhuvana-chakravartin meaning lord of the three worlds
3. They often shared their power, in spite of such high-sounding titles. They shared their power with samantas and with associations of peasants, Brahmanas and traders.

The functionaries for collecting revenue were generally recruited from influential families, and positions were often hereditary. This was true about the army as well. In many cases, close relatives of the king held these positions.

Influential families, and positions were often hereditary. This was true about the army as well. In many cases, close relatives of the king held these positions.

Gwalior is in Madhya pradesh. 

Vetti is one of the taxes levied during the Chola period which implied peasants have to work free for a certain period for the kingdom. Chola Dynasty reign was from 300 BC to 1279 AD covering major parts of present Tamil Nadu and extended till Indonesia.

Kings often rewarded the Brahmanas by giving them grants of land. These grants were recorded on copper plates which were given to those who received the land.

Kalhana penned the book named Rajatarangini in 12th century CE. It is a metrical historical chronicle of north-western Indian subcontinent, particularly the kings of Kashmir, written in Sanskrit. Rajatarangini describe the misrule prevailing in Kashmir during the reign of King Kalash, son of King Ananta Deva of Kashmir.

The architectural and sculptural marvels of the period include the big temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram, built by Rajaraja and Rajendra. Settlements grew around the temples of the Chola period and hence these became the nuclei of settlements. The temples were endowed with land by rulers as well as by others. The specialists who worked at the temple and often lived near it included priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, dancers, etc. The produce of the land went for their sustenance. Besides being places of worship; temples were the hub of social, cultural and economic life as well.

The Correct Answer is Rajendra Chola I.

Key Points

• Rajendra Chola I (1014-44 AD):
  • He was considered one of the greatest rulers and military generals of south India.
  • He continued his father's policy of aggressive conquests and expansion.
  • Apart from reaching northwards to the river Ganga and moving overseas to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, he also invaded the Southeast Asian territories.
  • He conquered the whole of Ceylon or Sri Lanka.
  • He defeated the kings of Sumatra in a naval campaign and annexed a part of the Sumatra kingdom to his kingdom.
  • He defeated Jayasimha II of the western Chalukyas and consequently, the river Tungabhadra was recognized as the boundary between the Cholas ad Chalukyas.
  • He conquered several trans-Ganga Kingdoms and assumed the title of Gangaikonda Chola.
  • He founded the city Gangaikondacholapuram and constructed the famous Rameshwaram temple in the city.
  • He also excavated a large irrigation tank called Cholagangam on the western side of the city.
  • He assumed many titles, the most important ones being Mudikondan, Gangaikondan, Kadaram Kondan and Pandita Cholan.
  • He built a shiva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram. 

Hiranyagarbha literally means the golden womb. When this ritual was performed with the help of brahmanas ,it was thought to lead to the rebirth of the sacrifice as a kshatriya, even if he was not one by birth.