The circumstances that led to the war…

The circumstances that led to the war with the Chalukya king Satyasraya, who had ascended the throne around 996, are not clear.

The conquest of Gangapadi and Nulambapadi must have brought the Cholas into direct contact with the Western Chalukyas.

Both the Cholas and the Western Chalukyas are powerful and must have been looking for an opportunity to measure their respective strength.

Under these circumstances any slight cause would have been enough to provoke a quarrel.

Also, the Chalukyas are being pressed from the north by the hostile Paramaras of Malwa and must be finding it difficult to sustain themselves against two powerful enemies attacking from two opposite directions. (This is the first known authentic record of war between the Cholas led by Raja Raja I and the Chalukyas under Satyashraya. There is mention among some historians of an earlier war between Chalukya king Tailapa-II, father of Satyashraya and Raja Raja I in 992, but there is no confirmation or authentic proof of this occurrence. This war apparently ended in heavy defeat for Tailapa-II, who had already been defeated sixteen times by the Paramara kings. Chola records however, speak of the first war fought by Raja Raja I as not being earlier than 994.)