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Cholas were one of the three major ruling dynasties of the Tamil Country during the Sangam period (between the 3rd century B.C. and 3rd century A.D.). They ruled over an area known as Tondaimandalam or Cholamandalam. The most celebrated ruler of the Sangam Cholas was Karikalan who made a grand anicut at Kaveri and laid the foundation of the capital of Kaveripattinam, also known as Puhar. Kaveripattinam, now a non-descript fishing village silted up by the river mud, had an artificial harbour which was built by prisoners of war who were obtained by him following his successful raid on Sri Lanka. Before Kaveripattinam, Uraiyur was the capital of the Chola kingdom.
Karikalan' father was the son of Ilanjetcenni who was a valiant and brave ruler.
Karikalan, which means man with a charred leg, was so named because his leg was caught in flames when the prison, in which he was incarcerated after being kidnapped by his enemies, was set on fire. He, however, managed to escape alive.
He defeated a confederacy of the Chera, Pandya and eleven kings in the Battle of Venni (modern Kovilvenni, 15 miles (24 km) to the east of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu). The Chera king received a wound in the back and expiated the disgrace by starving himself to death on the battlefield with his sword in hand. Karikalan was an able ruler and great general. The Battle of Venni which took place in 190 AD, is referred to in many poems by different Tamil authors.
In another battle fought at Vahaipparandalai, ‘the field of vahai trees’, Karikalan defeated nine minor enemy chieftains.
Equipped with a powerful army, he made Chola a naval power very early in the historical period as gauged from his victory on the Sri Lankan kingdom. He is said to have founded Kaveripattinam or Puhar, the chief port of the ancient Chola kingdom.
Poets were rewarded profusely by Karikala who is said to have given the author of Pattinappalai 1,600,000 gold pieces.