Discovery of Rajaraja Chola Inscription
Published on 14 Oct 2025
A new inscription pertaining to Rajaraja Chola, which has been discovered recently atop Somagiri hills at Melavalavu near Melur in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.
The inscription is dated to around 1,000 CE.
The inscription begins with the honorific title - Raja Raja Mummudichola, a unique salutation found in this region, known as the Pandya country.
The inscription talks of Rajaraja Chola’s reign in the Pandya region and how a military commander called Viranarana Pallavarayan had captured the area and ruled here.
Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014 CE) was one of the greatest rulers of the Chola dynasty, known for expanding the empire across South India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives through military and naval power.
He commissioned the grand Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and promoted Shaivism while remaining tolerant of other faiths.
His titles included Rajakesari Varman, Peruvudaiyar, Mummudi Chola (meaning wearer of 3 crowns: Chola, Chera, and Pandya)
