Parantaka Chola II (957 – 973 CE) ruled for approximately twelve years. Parantaka II was also known as Sundara Chola. He was the son of Arinjaya Chola. His mother's name was Kalyani, and she was a Vaidumbas princess. Despite the fact that Uttama Chola, the son of Gandaraditya (Arinjaya's elder brother), was alive and had equal, if not greater, claim to the Chola throne, Parantaka II ascended the Chola throne. In this article, we will discuss the Ruler of Chola Dynasty Parantaka II/ Sundara Chola (957 - 973 CE) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Parantaka II - Background

• Parantaka Chola II was a Chola emperor. He was also known as Sundara Chola because he was considered the pinnacle of male beauty.
• He was the son of Arinjaya Chola and Kalyani, a princess from the Vaidumba clan, an Andhra dynasty based in Kurnool and Kadapa districts.
• Parantaka II ascended the Chola throne despite the fact that his cousin Uttama Chola, the son of Gandaraditya (the elder brother of Arinjaya), was still alive and had equal, if not greater, claim to the Chola throne.
• The Chola kingdom had shrunk to the size of a small principality when Parantaka II became king. The Pandyas in the south had resurrected their fortunes, defeating Chola armies and retaking their ancestral lands.
• During Parantaka II's reign, the groundwork was laid for the Chola Empire's success a generation later. A few northern territories were reclaimed.
• Vira Pandya, the Pandyan ruler, was defeated, and Madurai was captured. An expedition was launched in an attempt to seize control of Sri Lanka, but it was unsuccessful.

Battle of Chevur

• The "Battle of Chevur" refers to the conflict between the Cholas and the Pandyas in Chevur. Vira Pandya was the ruler of the Pandyan empire when Parantaka Chola II became king.
• Gandaraditya was defeated by Vira Pandya, a pandya king, when he attempted to invade Pandyan territory.
• After ascending to the throne, Parantaka Chola II set his sights on the Pandyan empire, which was gradually expanding its power in the south.
• Parantaka II desired to invade Pandyan territory. Aditya Karikalan was his son (Aditya II). Parantaka II meticulously planned an invasion of the Pandyan empire.
• He gave his son Aditya II command of an army battalion. The armies of the Chola and Pandyans met at Chevur.
• According to the Leyden copper plate inscription, Parantaka II caused rivers of blood to flow during that battle. This war between the Cholas and the Pandyas is also mentioned in several other inscriptions.
• Vira Pandyan was brutally defeated by Parantaka Chola II and his son Aditya II. Aditya II is said to have killed Vira Pandyan in that battle.
• In an inscription about Aditya II, the epithet "Vira Pandyan Thalai Konda Adithha Karikalan" means Aditya Karikalan who took Vira Pandyan's head.
• Following this war, Parantaka II invaded and annexed more parts of the Pandyan empire. At the time, Sri Lankan King Mahinda IV was a Pandyan empire ally.
• As a result, Parantaka II also invaded the Lankan empire, with unknown consequences. Although Parantaka II attempted to capture the entire Pandyan empire, he was unsuccessful.

Revenge on Rashtrakutas

• Parantaka Chola I, grandfather of Parantaka Chola II, was defeated by Rashtrakuta King Krishna III. Now, Parantaka II has decided to exact vengeance on the Rashtrakuta empire.
• A civil war erupted between the Cholas and the Rashtrakutas. Rashtrakuta was a Deccan dynasty that was consolidating its power in Deccan areas of India.
• During that war, Parantaka II defeated the Rashtrakutas and took control of the majority of the Rashtrakuta empire.
• Some inscriptions mention a Chola commander for his fighting skills displayed in the battle against Rashtrakutas.
• It was said that he alone killed large battalions of armies, resulting in Rashtrakutas' defeat.

Sri Lanka Expedition

• Sundara Chola Parantaka also waged war against the Sinhala ruler of Sri Lanka.
• The expedition was led by his general and relative, Irukkuvel chief Parantaka Siriyavelar.
• This expedition, however, did not end well for the Cholas, as both Siriyavelar and the Chola King's brother-in-law, the Bana chief, were killed in battle.

Assasination of Aditya II (Parantak II’s Son)

• During Parantaka Chola II's final days, he witnessed a tragedy in which his son Aditya II was brutally murdered. According to some theories, he was murdered by Pandyas in order to avenge the death of Vira Pandyan.
• As previously stated, Aditya II killed Vira Pandyan in the battle of Chevur by cutting off his head. As a result, the Pandyan empire decided to assassinate Aditya II in order to avenge the death of Vira Pandyan. However, there was no clear proof for this theory.
• After Aditya II died, Uttama Chola forced Parantaka II to declare him as his heir-apparent because Aditya II was no longer alive.
• Arulmozhivarman, also known as Rajaraja I, was the younger son of Parantaka II. He did not object to Uttama Chola's demand because he wished to avoid civil war.
• Parantaka Chola II agreed to Uttama Chola's demand on one condition. The condition was that after Uttama Chola died, Arulmozhivarman had to be his successor, not Uttama Chola's children. Uttama Chola accepted his condition.
• Parantaka II was heartbroken and eventually died as a result of his son Aditya II's murder.
• He was succeeded by Uttama Chola. According to Parantaka II's wishes, Uttama Chola designated Arulmozhivarman as his heir-apparent.

Conclusion

Following Aditya II's assassination, Uttama forced Parantaka II to make him heir-apparent. According to the Thiruvalangadu copperplate inscription, Madhurantaka Uttama Chola appointed Arulmoli as heir-apparent. Parantaka II died in Kanchipuram at his golden palace, his heart broken by a personal tragedy. He was later known as "Pon maligai thunjina thevar" – "the king who died in the golden palace."