Parantaka I
Topic: Southern Dynasties: Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 2 "Bhakti-Sufi Traditions"
Meaning
Parantaka I was a Chola king who ruled c. 907–955. He built on the power set up by Vijayalaya and Aditya I. His reign matters for two things. Village self-government is recorded in his famous Uttaramerur inscriptions. He is also a key example of Chola kings supporting bhakti (loving devotion to a god).
Example
The Uttaramerur inscriptions (10th century, Vaikuntha Perumal temple, Kanchipuram district, in Tamil) describe the kudavolai ("ballot-pot") election. Names of candidates were written on palm leaves and put in a pot. A young child drew them out at a public gathering. Separately, an inscription of c. 945 says Parantaka I set up metal images of Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar in a Shiva temple. These three Shaiva saints were carried in processions at their festivals.
Don't confuse with
- Parantaka II: a later Chola king, the father of Rajaraja Chola. The Uttaramerur inscriptions belong to Parantaka I.