Efforts On To Bring Back Rajendra Chola’s Charter from the Netherlands

According to the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism steps are afoot to bring back to India an 11th century charter of Chola ruler Rajendra Chola from Universiteit Leiden (University of Leiden) in the Netherlands.

The charter inscribed on 21 copper plates and held together by a massive bronze ring fastened with the seal of Rajendra Chola found its way to the Netherlands in the 18th century.

The copper plates speak of the genealogy of Raja Raja Chola and his contribution for building a Buddhist vihara in Nagapattinam (in Tamil Nadu).

Known for his religious tolerance, Rajaraja gave a helping hand to the Sailendra ruler of the Srivijaya Empire, Mara Vijayottunggavarman in building a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam. The monastery was known Chudamani Vihara after Cudamanivarman, father of Mara Vijayottunggavarman. Srivijaya Empire was in what is now Indonesia and much of the Malay Archipelago.

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