Abstract: In 1025 CE, the Chola Emperor Rajendra I launched naval raids on Srivijaya in maritime Southeast Asia, Rajendra's overseas turbulent venture against Srivijaya was an unprecedented event in India's history and its otherwise peaceful relations with the states of Southeast Asia. Several places in present-day Indonesia and Malay Peninsula were attacked by Rajendra I of the Chola dynasty. The Chola invasion all the more led to the expansion of Tamil merchant associations such as the Manigramam, Ayyavole and Ainnurruvar into Southeast Asia. The Cholan attack led to the fall of the Sailendra Dynasty of Srivijaya and the Chola invasion was also at the same time when the return voyage of the great Buddhist scholar Atiśa took place from Sumatra to India and Tibet in 1025 CE. In this paper, the causes of this invasion and its repercussions for India-Southeast Asian countries have been explored.
Keywords:Southeast Asia, Maritime Trade, India’s Relations with Southeast Asian Countries, Hinduism, Buddhism, Cholas, Palas, Silk Trade Routes, SangamAge, TradeGuilds, Colonization
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