When we talk about great kings of the south the name that immediately springs to one`s mind when talking about the Cholas of Tanjavur is that of Rajaraja I, , who ruled from 985 to 1014 A.D. He was the second son of Parantaka II. He was referred to as Sundara Chola and his queen Vanavan Mahadevi ascended the imperial throne sometime between 25th June and 25th July 985 A.D. on the death of his uncle Madurantaka Uttama Chola.

Rajaraja Chola I rein not only witnessed a spurt in the might of the Cholas, but also exceptional achievements in the cultural fields for which this dynasty is remembered even today. His military accomplishments include a partial conquest of Sri Lanka, which he made into a province and named it Mummudi Cholamandalam after his title Mummudichola. For many of his expeditions Rajaraja was accompanied by his son and heir apparent Rajendra, who was a brilliant general and who later turned out to be as great a monarch as his father.

Rajaraja constructed the huge Siva temple at Tanjavur, originally named Rajarajeshwram after him, but now referred to as the Brihidishvara temple. This monument, one of the most beautiful structures in the whole of India, which was completed on the 275th day of the 25th year of this king, and rises to a height of approximately two hundred feet, is studded with very beautiful sculptures and innumerable inscriptions. These inscriptions throw light on Chola history and the numerous benefactions made by this king and many of his family members to this temple. Detailed facts about the temple-servants, including dancers and musicians who were attached to this temple are given in these records, as are the numerous officers who served the kingdom like the com-mander-in-chief, Senapati Sri Krishna Raman who constructed the enclosure of this temple and Senapati Kuravan Ulagalandan who was a revenue officer in charge of revenue survey.

Rajaraja built numerous other temples across his empire including some in Sri Lanka. In addition to this he donated expensive gifts to the temples and also arranged for the proper administration of these institutions. He also added mandapas and other structures to temples built before his time.

A very great devotee of Siva, Rajaraja`s favourite deity was Nataraja at Chidambaram and he bore the title cSiva-Pada-Shekhara} or `one whose head bears the feet of Siva`. One of the very beautiful murals in the Rajarajeshvaram temple portrays this ruler with three of his queens standing before Nataraja at Chidambaram. His policy of religious tolerance is seen from the fact that he permitted Sri Mara-vijayottunga Varman the ruler of Sri Vijaya (Malaysia) to build a Buddhist vihara at Nagapattinam and also endowed a village to this Buddhist institution for its upkeep.

Rajendra I, son of Rajaraja and his queen Vanavan Mahadevi, who succeeded him to the Chola throne ruled with his father for two full years from 1012-1014 A.D. and proved himself to be as great as his father when he become king.