Parantaka II

Parantaka II
Rajakesari Varman, Maduraikonda Rajakesari Varman, Pon Maaligai Thunjiya Thevar
Chola Emperor
Reign958 CE – 973 CE
Predecessor Gandaraditya Chola
SuccessorUttama Chola
Co-Regent of the Chola Empire
Reign957 CE (few months)
EmperorArinjaya Chola
Predecessor Gandaraditya Chola
Reign955 CE – 958 CE
Emperor Gandaraditya Chola
SuccessorAditya II
BornThanjavur, Chola Empire (modern day Tamil Nadu, India)
Died980 CE
Kanchipuram, Chola Empire (Modern day Tamil Nadu, India)
EmpressVanavan Madevi
IssueAditya II
Kundavai
Rajaraja I
DynastyChola
FatherArinjaya
MotherKalyani (princess of Vaidumba family)[1]
ReligionHinduism
Chola kings and emperors
Early Cholas
Ellalan205 BCE– c. 161 BCE
Kulakkottan
Ilamchetchenni
Karikala
Nedunkilli
Nalankilli
Killivalavan
Kopperuncholan
Kochchenganan
Perunarkilli
Interregnum (c. 200 – c. 848 CE)
Medieval Cholas
Vijayalaya 848–871?
Aditya I 871–907
Parantaka I 907–955
Rajaditya Chola 935–949
Gandaraditya 949–962
Arinjaya 955–956
Parantaka II (Sundara) 950–980
Aditya II (Karikala) 966–971
Uttama 971–987
Rajaraja I 985–1014
Rajendra I 1012–1044
Rajadhiraja 1018–1054
Rajendra II 1051–1063
Rajamahendra 1060–1063
Virarajendra 1063–1070
Athirajendra 1067–1070
Later Cholas
Kulothunga I 1070–1120
Vikrama 1118–1135
Kulothunga II 1133–1150
Rajaraja II 1146–1173
Rajadhiraja II 1166–1178
Kulothunga III 1178–1218
Rajaraja III 1216–1256
Rajendra III 1246–1279
Related
Related dynasties
Telugu Chodas of Andhra
Chodagangas of Kalinga
Nidugal Cholas of Karnataka
Rajahnate of Cebu
Rajahnate of Sanmalan
Chola society

Parantaka II (r. 958 – 973 CE) was a Chola emperor. He is also known as Sundara Chola[clarification needed] as he was considered an epitome of male beauty.[2][3][4] He was the son of Arinjaya Chola and queen Kalyani, a princess of Vaidumba family.[5][6][7] Parantaka II ascended the Chola throne despite the fact that his cousin Madurantaka Uttama Chola, the son of Gandaraditya Chola (the elder brother of Arinjaya Chola) was alive and he had equal if not more claim to the Chola throne.[8] During his reign, Parantaka Sundara Chola defeated the Pandyas and Ceylon[citation needed] and then recaptured the Tondaimandalam from Rashtrakutas.

When Parantaka II became king, the Chola kingdom had shrunk to the size of a small principality. The Pandyas in the south had revived their fortunes and had defeated the Chola armies and occupied their ancestral lands.

During Parantaka II's reign, the foundations were laid for the success of the Chola Empire a generation later. A few territories in the north were recovered. The Pandyan ruler Vira Pandya was defeated and Madurai was taken. An expedition was made to gain control of Sri Lanka but it was not successful.[9] Parantaka II waged war against Rashtrakutas and successfully regained Tondaimandalam.

  1. ^ N. Subrahmanian (1993). Social and Cultural History of Tamilnad: To A.D. 1336. Ennes. p. 130.
  2. ^ Early Chola temples:Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985
  3. ^ Journal of Indian museums, Volumes 14-16, page 35
  4. ^ A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States: Nilgiris District, Pudukkottai District, Ramanathapuram District, Salem District, page 41
  5. ^ N. Subrahmanian (1993). Social and Cultural History of Tamilnad: To A.D. 1336. Ennes. p. 130.
  6. ^ "The Vaidumbas were an Andhra dynasty who ruled in the ninth century AD". 19 September 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  7. ^ International Association of Tamil Research, International Institute of Tamil Studies (1976). Journal of Tamil Studies, Issues 9-10. International Institute of Tamil Studies. p. 78.
  8. ^ Xavier Pinto, E.G. Myall. Glimpses of History. Frank Brothers. p. 91.
  9. ^ kamlesh kapur. Portraits of a Nation: History of Ancient India: History. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 592.