Raja Raja Chola's Midnight Tears: Why the Victorious Emperor Broke Down After Conquering Sri Lanka
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Raja Raja Chola's Midnight Tears: Why the Conqueror Cried After Sri Lanka Victory
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News18•09-03-2026, 14:08
Raja Raja Chola's Midnight Tears: Why the Conqueror Cried After Sri Lanka Victory
•In 993 AD, after conquering Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, Emperor Raja Raja Chola I was found crying in a temple at midnight.
•The Chola army launched a surprise attack, leading to Sinhala king Mahinda V fleeing and Anuradhapura falling.
•Raja Raja Chola was deeply shaken by the widespread destruction, looting, and burning of Buddhist viharas and temples in the conquered city.
•He realized the true cost of war, witnessing a great center of knowledge and faith reduced to ashes by his own soldiers.
•Historical accounts confirm his profound shock, leading to later efforts to protect religious sites and shift the administrative center to Polonnaruwa.