The existence of this king has not yet been scientifically confirmed and is only evident from religious literature such as Periyapuranam, semi-biographical poems of the later Chola period, and temple and cave inscriptions.

Description

Some of the poets were the resident companions and advisers of kings and chieftains, while others moved from one court to another in search of patronage. The lasting friendships between Kapilar and Pāri, between Piśir Āndaiyār and Kōpperunjōlan, and between Auvayār and Adigaimān Anji are among the best known instances of life-long attachment between poet and patron.

1

Another renowned Cōḷa king of the time was Kōpperunjōlan who also ruled from Uṟaiyūr. Himself a poet, he was intimate friend of two poets—Āndaiyār of (Irum) Piśir and Pottiyār.

Āndai (owl) sounds more like a nickname than a name proper; but the poet is not known by any other name. He was a native of the Pāṇḍya country and gave some good counsel to the king of that country, Aṟivuḍai Nambi. Pottiyār was a native of the Cōḷa country and resided at Uṟaiyūr. The intimate friendship between these and Kōpperunjōlan became a classic example in later literature like between that Damon and Pythias.

[ … ]

Here is another poem evincing the attachment felt by him to Kōpperunjōlan, in preference to the king of his native land:

A panegyric by Maṟōkkattu Nappaśalaiyār applauds in equal measure and with much art the generosity, justice and heroism of this king.

If you ask us ‘who is your king?’ Our king is he who
To the labourers gives strong palm-wine strained and [mellow,

And with the fat of the turtle satiates their desire,
And fills their mouths with lampreys’ rich roast flesh.
They leave short toil for feast; the feast prolong!
In that good fertile land the minstrels with their kin
Find our king the foe of want and hunger’s pangs.
He is the lord of Kōḷi, the mighty Cōḷa king.
He loves converse with Potti, whose friendship knows [no flaws.

All the day long he laughs with heart right glad!

2

Informations

Preamble: no preamble of the Chola ruler available

Title: no ruler title available

Year of birth: no date available

Place of birth: no location available

Year of death: no date available

Place of death: no location available

Reign: no information about his reign

Seat of government: Uraiyur

Predecessor: no name available

Successor: no name available

Father: no information about his father

Mother: no information about his mother

Wives: no information about his wives

Children: no information about his children

Era: Sangam period

Time period: Early Cholas

Pictures

no picture available

no picture available

  1. Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta, A History of South India – from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar, 1966, p. 136 ↩
  2. Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta, The Cōḷas, 1955, pp. 45-46 ↩