Arinjaya Chola was a ruler of theChola kingdom. He was the third son of Parantaka I and the younger brother ofGandaraditya Chola, whom he is thought to have succeeded in about 956.^[2] Arinjaya Chola was succeeded by his sonSundara Chola (Parantaka II) asMadurantaka Uttama Chola was not old enough to ascend the throne. Arinjaya seems to have ruled for a very short time.^[3]

Recent scholarship suggests that Arinjaya was the son of aChera princess (hence a half-brother to princeRajaditya).^[4] As per the Anbil plates ofSundara Chola, Arinjaya's mother was the daughter ofPaluvettaraiyar, therein described as aChera prince.^[5]

Arinjaya is also referred to by the names Arikulakesari, Arikesari, or Arindama. His name is mentioned in some of Gandaraditya's inscriptions asAlvar Arikulakesarideva.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.

We can gather a good deal information from the epigraphs left behind by his peers. He was married to a Vaidumba princess of Eastern Chalukyas called Kalyani, who bore him Sundara Chola.^[8] Yet another queen was Boothi Aditya Pidari, the daughter of TennavanIrukkuvelalias Maravan Boothi.^[9] She founded the Chandrasekara temple inTiruchendurai. This Tennavan Irukkuvelalias Boothi has been identified with none other thanBoothi Vikramakesari the builder of theMoovar Koil temple.^[10]

Arinjaya died c. 957 in a place called Arrur, which is possibly present-dayTiruvarur. From an inscription found nearMelpadi in northTamil Nadu, we learn thatRajaraja Chola I erected aSiva temple calledArinjisvara as a tomb-shrine in memory of his grandfather Arinjaya who was also known as "Arrur tunjina devan".^[3]

Arinjaya was succeeded by his sonParantaka Chola II (Sundara Chola). Two of his wivesViman Kundaviyar andKodai Pirattiyar seem to have survived him and made gifts to temples in Arinjaya's name during Parantaka II's reign.

Arinjaya figures in some of the inscriptions of his father Parantaka. Here is an excerpt,

..records a gift of 40 Ilakasu(equivalent of 20 Kalanju of gold) and 10 kalanju of gold by Parantakan Arikulakesari, the son of Cholaperumaanadigal for burning a perpetual lamp in the temple of Mahadeva in Tiruneyttanam^[11]

Yet another one from a temple inTiruvorriyur is as follows,

On the eleventh slab. Records in the 30th year of Maduraikonda Parakesarivarman(Parantaka) dated in his 30th year, gift of gold for a lamp by Arindigai-perumanar, son of Chola-Perumanadigal (i.e Parantaka), to the god Siva at Adhigrama.^[12]

• 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).

• Chola emperors
• 10th-century Indian monarchs
• 950s deaths

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