A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c14.15

c14.15

In the Chola kingdom, the thirty years (955-85) that followed the close of Parāntaka's reign formed a period of weakness and confusion. His immediate successor was his son Gandarāditya, who with his queen Sembiyan-mahādevi claims a bigger place in the domain of religion than of politics. At his death in 957, the Chola kingdom had shrunk to the size of a small principality, and Krishna III still continued in occupation of Tondaimandalam. Gandarāditya's brother Arinjaya had a short reign (956-7) and was succeeded by his son Sundara Chola Parāntaka II (957-73). His young son Āditya II was made yuvarāja almost at the beginning of the reign. Sundara Chola turned his attention to the south, where Vira Pāndya claimed independence after defeating a Chola king, probably Gandarāditya. As usual, the Pāndya had Mahinda IV, ruler of Ceylon, as his ally. In the war that followed, Sundara Chola defeated Vira Pāndya in two battles; Āditya II killed Vira Pāndya on the second occasion. Sundara Chola's forces also invaded Ceylon (959). These wars in the south did not result in the re-establishment of the Chola power there, but better success seems to have attended Sundara's attempts in the north. He is said to have died in 973 in his golden palace at Kānchi while still engaged in directing campaigns in the north. His last years were clouded by a tragedy. Uttama Chola, son of Gandarāditya, conspired to murder the yuvarāja Āditya II (969), and then compelled the aggrieved father to recognize him as heir-apparent in preference to his own younger son Arumoli (afterwards Rājarāja I). Uttama Chola accordingly became king at Sundara's death (973). By then the bulk of Tondaimandalam had been recovered from the Rāshtrakūtas for the Chola empire. The Rāshtrakūtas had given place to Taila II Chālukya who claims a victory against Uttama Chola about 980.