Rajaraja began his first campaign in the eighth year of his reign. The Pandyas, Cheras and the Sinhalas allied against the Cholas. In 994 AD, Rajaraja destroyed the fleet of the Chera king Bhaskara Ravi Varman Thiruvadi (c. 978–1036 AD) in the Kandalur War. Rajaraja defeated the Pandya king Amarabhujanga and captured the port of Virinam. To commemorate these conquests, Rajaraja assumed the title Mummudi Chola, a title used by Tamil kings who ruled the three kingdoms of Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras. In 1008 AD, Rajaraja captured Udagai from Cheras and Rajendra Chola I led the Chola army in this battle.