Arinjaya
Encyclopedia
Arinjaya Chola succeeded Gandaraditya
Chola c. 956 C.E. Arinjaya was the third son of Parantaka I and the younger brother of Gandarditya. Arunjaya seems to have ruled for a very short time.
Gandaraditya probably made his younger brother co-regent very early in his rule. It is also very probable that Gandaraditya did not have any heir until very late in his life. As a result he must have made Arinjaya heir apparent and paved the way for Arinjaya’s heirs to the line of succession to the Chola crown.
in north Tamil Nadu
, we learn that Rajaraja Chola I
erected a Siva
temple called Arinjisvara as a tomb-shrine in memory of his grandfather Arinjaya who was also known as "Arrur tunjina devan". The exact location of this place is unknown.
Arinjaya was succeeded by his son Parantaka Chola II
(Sundara Chola). Two of his wives Viman Kundaviyar and Kodai Pirattiyar seem to have survived him and made gifts to temples in Arinjaya's name during Parantaka II's reign.
Gandaraditya
Gandaraditya Chola succeeded his father Parantaka I and became the Chola king c. 955 C.E.-Turbulent period:From the death of Parantaka I, to the accession of Rajaraja I in 985 C.E., Chola history is obscure. During this period of 30 years there were five princes who must have occupied the throne...
Chola c. 956 C.E. Arinjaya was the third son of Parantaka I and the younger brother of Gandarditya. Arunjaya seems to have ruled for a very short time.
Other names
Arinjaya is also referred to by the names Arikulakesari, Arikesari, or Arindama. His name is mentioned in some of Gandaraditya’s inscriptions as Alvar Arikulakesarideva.Paucity of Information
There is some confusion regarding whether Arinjaya actually succeeded Gandaraditya. Some historians doubt whether Arinjaya ruled on his own right. There is little epigraphic evidence available to give us any concrete information on Arinjaya’s rule. What we know now is partly speculative and partly informed extrapolations of known facts.Gandaraditya probably made his younger brother co-regent very early in his rule. It is also very probable that Gandaraditya did not have any heir until very late in his life. As a result he must have made Arinjaya heir apparent and paved the way for Arinjaya’s heirs to the line of succession to the Chola crown.
Death and Succession
Arinjaya died c.957 in a place called Arrur. From an inscription found near MelpadiMelpadi
Melpadi is a small town in Vellore district. it is on the western bank of Ponnai its near palar. it is located near Thiruvalam. And 7 km from Ponnai....
in north Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, we learn that Rajaraja Chola I
Rajaraja Chola I
Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...
erected a Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
temple called Arinjisvara as a tomb-shrine in memory of his grandfather Arinjaya who was also known as "Arrur tunjina devan". The exact location of this place is unknown.
Arinjaya was succeeded by his son Parantaka Chola II
Parantaka Chola II
Parantaka Chola II ruled for approximately twelve years. Parantaka II was also known by the name Madhurantakan Sundara Chola. He was the son of Arinjaya Chola. His mother’s name was Kalyani, a princes from the clan of Vaidumbas...
(Sundara Chola). Two of his wives Viman Kundaviyar and Kodai Pirattiyar seem to have survived him and made gifts to temples in Arinjaya's name during Parantaka II's reign.