The Chola period, particularly from the ninth to the thirteenth century CE, occupies an important place in the political history of South India. The Cholas developed a powerful and well-organized state that combined a strong monarchy, an efficient administrative system, military strength, revenue organization and significant forms of local self-government. The political structure of the Chola state was not merely centralized; it also incorporated various territorial and village institutions that enabled administration to reach the local level. At the apex of the Chola political structure was the king. The Chola monarchy was hereditary and the ruler was regarded as the supreme authority in matters of administration, justice, taxation, military affairs and foreign relations. Kings such as Rajaraja I and Rajendra I considerably expanded the political power of the dynasty. The king was presented through inscriptions and temple records as a powerful protector of the kingdom and guardian of social and religious order. Royal authority was supported by elaborate ceremonies, titles and religious patronage, which strengthened the legitimacy of the monarchy. Although the king possessed extensive powers, the Chola state was not administered by the monarch alone. A number of officials and administrative bodies assisted the ruler. Ministers, military commanders, revenue officials and other functionaries carried out different responsibilities. The central government maintained records of land, taxation, grants and administrative decisions. Inscriptions provide valuable evidence of the systematic nature of Chola administration. Royal orders were communicated to subordinate authorities and implemented at different administrative levels. The Chola kingdom was divided into several territorial units for administrative purposes. The largest units were generally known as mandalams. These were further divided into valanadus, nadus and smaller local divisions. This hierarchical arrangement enabled the state to exercise authority over a large territory. The nadu was an important intermediate administrative unit and consisted of a group of villages. Local assemblies operating within these territorial units played an important role in managing revenue, irrigation, agriculture and other public affairs. One of the most distinctive features of Chola political organization was the development of village institutions. The village was an important unit of administration, and considerable responsibilities were entrusted to local assemblies. Two important forms of village assemblies were the sabha