Arinjaya Chola

Arinjaya Chola அரிஞ்சய சோழன்
Parakesari
Reign	956–957 CE
Predecessor	Gandaraditya
Successor	Parantaka Chola II
Born	Unknown
Died	957 CE
Queen	Kalyani Viman Kundaviyar Kodai Pirattiyar
Issue	Parantaka Chola II (Sundara Chola)
Father	Parantaka I

List of Chola kings

Early Cholas

Interregnum (c. 200–848)

Medieval Cholas

Vijayalaya Chola	848–891(?)
Aditya Chola I	891–907
Parantaka Chola I	907–950
Gandaraditya Chola	950–957
Arinjaya Chola	956–957
Sundara Chola	957–970
Aditya Karikalan	970
Uttama Chola	970–985
Rajaraja Chola I	985–1014
Rajendra Chola I	1012–1044
Rajadhiraja Chola	1018–1054
Rajendra Chola II	1051–1063
Virarajendra Chola	1063–1070
Athirajendra Chola	1067–1070

Later Cholas

Kulothunga Chola I	1070–1120
Vikrama Chola	1118–1135
Kulothunga Chola II	1133–1150
Rajaraja Chola II	1146–1173
Rajadhiraja Chola II	1166–1178
Kulothunga Chola III	1178–1218
Rajaraja Chola III	1216–1256
Rajendra Chola III	1246–1279

Chola society

Arinjaya Chola succeeded Gandaraditya Chola c. 956 CE. 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 Melpadi 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.

References

Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1935). The CōĻas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).
Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).

Preceded by Gandaraditya	Chola 956–957 CE	Succeeded by Sundara Chola

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