Parantaka II

{{Chola history}}

{{Chola history}}

'''Parantaka II''' (r. 958–973) was the [[Chola Empire|Chola]] emperor from 958 to 973. He is also known as '''Sundara Chola''' (lit. 'Beautiful Chola') as he was considered an epitome of male beauty.''Early Chola temples:Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985''''Journal of Indian museums, Volumes 14-16, page 35''''A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States: Nilgiris District, Pudukkottai District, Ramanathapuram District, Salem District, page 41'' He was the son of [[Arinjaya|Arinjaya Chola]] and queen Kalyani, a princess of Vaidumba family.{{cite book|title=Social and Cultural History of Tamilnad: To A.D. 1336|author=N. Subrahmanian|publisher=Ennes|page=130|year=1993}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2011-09-19|title=The Vaidumbas were an Andhra dynasty who ruled in the ninth century AD|url=https://www.preservearticles.com/notes/the-vaidumbas-were-an-andhra-dynasty-who-ruled-in-the-ninth-century-ad/11839|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-09|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite book|title=Journal of Tamil Studies, Issues 9-10|author=International Association of Tamil Research, International Institute of Tamil Studies|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies|year=1976|page=78}} Parantaka II ascended the Chola throne despite the fact that his cousin [[Uttama (Chola dynasty)|Madurantaka Uttama Chola]], the son of [[Gandaraditya|Gandaraditya Chola]] (the elder brother of [[Arinjaya Chola]]) was alive and he had equal if not more claim to the Chola throne.{{cite book|title=Glimpses of History|author=Xavier Pinto, E.G. Myall|publisher=Frank Brothers|page=91}} During his reign, Parantaka Sundara Chola defeated the Pandyas, Ceylon{{Cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.16035 |title=History of South India |date=1958 |language=English}} and then recaptured the [[Tondaimandalam]] from [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakutas]].{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/CholasI |title=Cholas I}}{{Cite book |last=Aiyangar |first=S. Krishnasvami |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69991 |title=Ancient India And South Indian History And Culture Vol.1 (ancient India) |date=1941}}{{Cite book |last=B.R Gopal |url=http://archive.org/details/sgw.chalukyasofkalya0000brgo |title=The Chalukyas Of Kalyana And The Kalachuris |date=1981 |publisher=Karnataka University Dharwad |others=Servants of Knowledge |language=English}}

'''Parantaka II''' (r. 958–973) was the [[Chola Empire|Chola]] emperor from 958 to 973. He is also known as '''Sundara Chola''' (lit. 'Beautiful Chola') as he was considered an epitome of male beauty.''Early Chola temples:Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985''''Journal of Indian museums, Volumes 14-16, page 35''''A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States: Nilgiris District, Pudukkottai District, Ramanathapuram District, Salem District, page 41'' He was the son of [[Arinjaya|Arinjaya Chola]] and queen Kalyani, a princess of Vaidumba family.{{cite book|title=Social and Cultural History of Tamilnad: To A.D. 1336|author=N. Subrahmanian|publisher=Ennes|page=130|year=1993}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2011-09-19|title=The Vaidumbas were an Andhra dynasty who ruled in the ninth century AD|url=https://www.preservearticles.com/notes/the-vaidumbas-were-an-andhra-dynasty-who-ruled-in-the-ninth-century-ad/11839|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-09|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite book|title=Journal of Tamil Studies, Issues 9-10|author=International Association of Tamil Research, International Institute of Tamil Studies|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies|year=1976|page=78}} Parantaka II ascended the Chola throne despite the fact that his cousin [[Uttama (Chola dynasty)|Madurantaka Uttama Chola]], the son of [[Gandaraditya|Gandaraditya Chola]] (the elder brother of [[Arinjaya Chola]]) was alive and he had equal if not more claim to the Chola throne.{{cite book|title=Glimpses of History|author=Xavier Pinto, E.G. Myall|publisher=Frank Brothers|page=91}} During his reign, Parantaka Sundara Chola defeated the Pandyas, Ceylon{{Cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |url=http://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.16035 |title=History of South India |date=1958 |language=English}} and then recaptured the [[Tondaimandalam]] from [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakutas]].{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/CholasI |title=Cholas I}}{{Cite book |last=Aiyangar |first=S. Krishnasvami |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.69991 |title=Ancient India And South Indian History And Culture Vol.1 (ancient India) |date=1941}}{{Cite book |last=B.R Gopal |url=http://archive.org/details/sgw.chalukyasofkalya0000brgo |title=The Chalukyas Of Kalyana And The Kalachuris |date=1981 |publisher=Karnataka University Dharwad |others=Servants of Knowledge |language=English}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=_p5B-PUf-_sC&pg=PA43&dq=cholas+fought+bravery+takkolam&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjr6NiE4oiUAxUGe2wGHdCrNIkQ6AF6BAgREAM#v=onepage&q=Parantaka%20ll&f=false |title=Career's Indian History |publisher=Bright Publications |language=en}}

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

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