Rajaraja I, born Arulmoli Varman, often described as Rajaraja the Great, was a Chola emperor (reigned c. 985–1014) chiefly remembered for reinstating the Chola power and ensuring its supremacy in south India and Indian Ocean. His extensive empire included the Pandya country (southern Tamil Nadu), the Chera country (central Kerala and western Tamil Nadu) and northern Sri Lanka. He also acquired the Lakshadweep and Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean. Campaigns against the Western Gangas (southern Karnataka) and Chalukyas extended the Chola influence as far as the Tungabhadra River. On the eastern coast he battled with the Chalukyas for the possession of Vengi (the Godavari districts).[6][7][8][9] Rajaraja, an able administrator, also built the great Brihadisvara Temple at the Chola capital Thanjavur.[10] The temple is regarded as the foremost of all temples in the medieval south Indian architectural style. During his reign, the texts of the Tamil poets Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar were collected and edited into one compilation called Thirumurai.[7][11] He initiated a massive project of land survey and assessment in 1000 CE which led to the reorganisation of the country into individual units known as valanadus.[12][13] Rajaraja died in 1014 CE and was succeeded by his son Rajendra Chola I.
Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan or Vandiyadevan Senai thalaivan was a feudatory of the Chola kings. He was one among the famous chieftains of the Chola emperors Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I and chief of the Samanthas of North Arcot and also the husband of Raja Raja I's elder sister Kunthavai Pirattiyar.[1] He is also the major for the Sri Lankan front foot troops of Raja raja l. Territory under his authority was known as Vallavaraiyanadu. He ruled Brahmadesam.[2] Vandiyathevan is idealized in Kalki Krishnamurthy's (Kalki) famous novel Ponniyin Selvan and also in many other novels like Vandiyadevan Vaal, Vandiyadevan Senai thalaivan. Vandhiyadevan is one of the key characters of the novel Ponniyin Selvan. The author Kalki Krishnamurthy depicts him as a brave, adventurous and sarcastic warrior/prince of Bana clan, who later becomes the Commander for Southern Troops under the reign of Uttama Chola. Although the second protagonist of the story other than Ponniyin Selvan himself, Vandiyadevan's exploits make the readers to think him as the main hero at multiple points in the novel. He was a bodyguard and close friend of Aditya Karikalan in Kanchi who sends him as a messenger to Sundara Chola in Thanjavur to invite him to the newly built golden palace in Kanchi and also as a trustful guard for Kundavai in Pazhayarai. His unplanned and hasteful acts put himself and others in danger but comes out of them by trickery and luck. He is the lover of Princess Kundavai.
Pazhuvoor Princess and wife of Periya Pazhuvettraraiyar whose birth and origin was doubtful in the beginning. The main antagonist of the story. She was born in Madurai and grew up in a priest family along with royal children in Pazhayarai till her youth. She hated Kundavai as she showed hatred towards her because of jealousy over her beauty. She and Prince Aditya Karikalan developed love interest in their childhood which nobody in the royalty liked. She was forced to flee Pazhaiyarai and live in Madurai. After Aditya beheaded the injured Veerapandiyan, she joined Pandya conspirators and vowed to take revenge on him by killing him and destroying the Chola dynasty. By marrying Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar who had fallen in lust with her and by using him, she helped the Pandya conspirators. She had a deep hatred towards the royalty for their ill-treatment and also had a desire for the throne. She had a terrible childhood that affected her badly and wanted to be with her mother Mandakini. Parthibendra Pallava and Kandanmaran fell for her beauty and she used them for her plot too.
A boat woman, she was born and raised in Kodikkarai. She was adventurous and fearless and had a hate towards other men and civilisation. She had a great affection for her aunt Mandakini Devi. She had a love interest towards Arulmozhivarman who also had the same before she married Senthan Amuthan. She was named "Samudrakumari" (Princess of the Ocean) by the Prince Arulmozhi himself. Poonguzhali was born in Ariyalur, a territory of the Chozha dynasty. Her father was a boat man and so she was. Her main occupation was to sail in the sea with her boat.Her adventures began when she met Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan. She rowed with him to Eelam to meet Arulmozhi varman. Later on the way back from Eelam she rescued Arulmozhi varman and Vallavarayan Vandhiyathevan from drowning in the Indian Ocean as their ship met with a storm.Poonguzhali married SenthanAmuthan, later known as Madhurandhaka Uthama Chozha. After the assassination of Aditya Karikalan or Aditya II, people wanted Arulmozhi varman to be king. But Arulmozhi varman pointed to Uththama Chola to be the king as it was moral. And so Poongzhali became Queen.
A Veera Vaishnavite spy who works for the Prime Minister and Chembiyan Maadevi. He is the foster-brother of Nandhini and also a close friend of Vandiyathevan. He works closely with him and saves him from many dangers. He was a loyal trustful servant for the Chola royal government. He often does many religious word battles with Veera Shaivites and Advaitis. He is in his late thirties or fourties during the storyline.. Kalki claims hes vaishnavaite but his cousin brother Esanasivapattar is Saivate... Sembiyan madhevi gives this family the young girl nandhini so he is young in his late teens and brings her up as his own sister....he does get impressed by her ability to sing andals songs and things shes andal herself.....and would offer the same impact on people like Andal...He is dissapointed when she leaves them to go with Pazhuvettarayar and Ravidaasan...He tries to bring her back...and make her realise that shes doing wrong...He doesnt have any carnal desires towards her ( nandhini once says to VD oh he wants me to marry him and raise kids to spread vaishnavism)