Vision Academy EducareVision Academy Educare
Question 31 of 94 · Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms
Questioneasy
This question was previously asked in

Police

The royal emblem of the Chola dynasty was the:

Answer View answer ▾

Answer: Option C — Tiger

Detailed Solution

The royal emblem of the Chola dynasty was the tiger.

About the Chola emblem:

  • The tiger appeared on the Chola flag (the "tiger flag") and on their coins and seals.
  • For example, the seal of the Tiruvalangadu copper plates of Rajendra I shows a seated tiger, with other symbols.
  • Chola coins often show a seated tiger.
  • The tiger symbolised the power and courage of the Chola kings.
  • According to tradition, the Chola kings engraved the tiger emblem on the Himalayas to mark their victories.

The three ancient Tamil kingdoms:

The Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas were the three great ruling families of ancient Tamil Nadu and Kerala, mentioned in Sangam literature.

Each had its own emblem:

  • Cholas: tiger.
  • Pandyas: fish (a pair of fish, "carp").
  • A third kingdom had a weapon as its emblem.

Emblems of other dynasties:

  • Chalukyas of Badami: boar (Varaha), associated with Vishnu.
  • Hoysalas: a figure of a man (Sala) fighting a lion (or tiger).
  • Vijayanagara empire: boar (Varaha).
  • Kadambas: lion.

The Cholas in history:

  • Early Cholas: mentioned in Sangam literature; the famous king Karikala built a dam (the Kallanai or Grand Anicut) on the Kaveri river; their ancient port was Puhar (Kaveripattinam).
  • Medieval Cholas (9th-13th centuries): revived by a chief who captured Thanjavur in the mid-9th century; greatest rulers Rajaraja I and Rajendra I.
  • Their capitals were Uraiyur (early), Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram.

Tiger in India today:

  • The tiger is the national animal of India.
  • Project Tiger was launched in 1973.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The fish was the emblem of the Pandyas.
  • ✗The bow and arrow was the emblem of another Tamil kingdom.
  • ✗The boar was the emblem of the Chalukyas and of Vijayanagara.

Quick tip

Remember: Chola emblem = tiger; Pandya emblem = fish; Chalukya and Vijayanagara = boar; Karikala Chola = Kallanai (Grand Anicut) on the Kaveri.

💬 Discussions on this question

Ask a doubt ›

Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.

Ask a doubt

More Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms Questions

View all ›
  1. Q1.The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was founded by:
  2. Q2.Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a contemporary of which Chola ruler?
  3. Q3.Who was the court poet of Harshavardhana and the author of the 'Harshacharita'?
  4. Q4.In the battle on the banks of the Narmada, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II defeated:
  5. Q5.The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram was built during the reign of:

More General Knowledge Questions

  1. Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
  2. Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
  3. Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
  4. Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
  5. Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms

Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

‹ All Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms questionsBrowse all topics ›