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{{Short description|10th century Indian princess}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Kundavai
| title = Princess of [[Tanjore]]
| image = Ilaiya Piratti Kundavai.png
| caption = Kundavai as portrayed in [[Kalki Krishnamurthy|Kalki's]] [[Ponniyin Selvan]].
| birth_name = Ālvār Sri Parāntakan Sri Kundavai Nachiyar
| birth_date = 945 CE
| birth_place = [[Tirukoilur]], [[Chola Empire]] (modern-day [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])
| death_date =
| death_place = [[Pazhayarai|Pazhaiyarai]], [[Chola Empire]] (modern-day [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])
| spouse = [[Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan]]
| dynasty = [[Chola]] (by birth) 
[[Bana kingdom|Bana]] (by marriage)
| father = [[Parantaka II]]
| mother = Vanavan Mahadevi
| religion = [[Hinduism]] ([[Shaivism]] sect)
}}

'''Kundavai Pirattiyar''', commonly known mononymously as '''Kundavai''', was a [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] Indian princess who lived in the tenth century in [[South India]].<ref name="Lalit kalā, Issue 15, page 34">''Lalit kalā, Issue 15, page 34''</ref> She was the daughter of [[Parantaka Chola II|Parantaka II]] and Vanavan Mahadevi.<ref name="Early Chola art, page 183">''Early Chola art, page 183''</ref><ref name="A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States: Thanjavur District, page 180">''A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States: Thanjavur District, page 180''</ref><ref name="Worshiping Śiva in medieval India: ritual in an oscillating universe, page 5">''Worshiping Śiva in medieval India: ritual in an oscillating universe, page 5''</ref> She was born in [[Tirukoilur]] and was the elder sister of Chola emperor [[Rajaraja I]]. She had title as ''Ilaiyapirātti Kundavai Nachiyar''.

However, when her husband [[Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan]] was crowned king in his hometown [[Bana kingdom]], she did not accept the offer to become queen of the kingdom and remained as the princess of [[Tanjore]].<ref name=":0" />

== Life ==
Kundavai (also transliterated as Kundhavai or Kunthavai) was born in 945 CE. She was the only daughter of the Chola king [[Parantaka II]] and queen Vanavan Mahadevi. She had an elder brother – [[Aditha Karikala Chola| Aditha Chola II]], and a younger brother – [[Rajaraja I|Raja Raja Chola I]].

Kundavai married [[Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan]], a member of the [[Bana dynasty]], a feudatory of the [[Chola|Cholas]] mentioned in the [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]] inscriptions.<ref name=":0" /> He was also the commander of the Chola infantry that fought in [[Sri Lanka]] in the days of [[Rajaraja I|Rajaraja l]]. The territory under his authority was known as 'Vallavaraiyanadu', and occasionally 'Brahmadesam'.

Along with her great-aunt [[Sembiyan Mahadevi]], Kundavai brought up her nephew, [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]], who was the son of [[Rajaraja Chola|Rajaraja I]] and ''Thiripuvana Madeviyar'', princess of [[Kodumbalur]]. Rajendra I spent most of his childhood in [[Pazhayarai|Pazhaiyarai]] with Kundavai and Sembiyan Mahadevi.

== Life and works ==
[[File:Kundavai Work.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The temple that Kundavai built in memorial of The Great [[Rajaraja I]] at Rajarajapuram (Dhadhapuram)]]

Kundavai commissioned many temples for [[Tirthankars]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva|Siva]]. She revered many Jain Monks and Vedantic seers .<ref name="Women in Indian life and society, page 49">''Women in Indian life and society, page 49''</ref><ref name=":0">South Indian Inscriptions – Vol II-Part 1 (Tanjore temple Inscriptions)</ref> She features in [[Chola]] inscriptions.<ref name="Śrīnidhiḥ:perspectives in Indian archaeology, art, and culture, page 364">''Śrīnidhiḥ: perspectives in Indian archaeology, art, and culture, page 364''</ref><ref name="Encyclopaedia of Jainism, page 1000">''Encyclopaedia of Jainism, page 1000''</ref>

[[File:Kundavai jinalaya.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Jain temple commissioned by Kundavai at [[Tirumalai (Jain complex)]] in [[Tiruvannamalai]].]]

{{Cquote|''..vessels and ornaments made of gold, silver and pearl and presented to the temples of Kundavai-Vinnagar-Alvar, Iravikulamanikka-Iswara and Kundavai Jinalaya, built by the princess Parantakan Kundavai Pirattiyar, daughter of Ponmaligaittunjiyadevar(Parantaka Sundara Chola).''<ref name="A topographical list of inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala states, Volume 2, page">''A topographical list of inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala states, Volume 2, page 206''</ref>
}}

She is believed to have built many Jain temples but at least two Jain temples have inscriptions that records to have been built by her, one at [[Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur|Rajarajeswaram]] later known as [[Darasuram]] and the other at [[Tirumalai (Tamil Nadu)|Tirumalai]].<ref name="Encyclopaedia of Jainism, page 1000"/> She built a hospital after her father named Vinnagar athura salai at [[Thanjavur]] and donated extensive lands for its maintenance.<ref name="Ancient system of oriental medicine, page 96">''Ancient system of oriental medicine, page 96''</ref><ref name="Great women of India, page 306"/> She made lavish donations to the [[Brihadeeswarar|Brihadeeswarar Temple]] at [[Thanjavur]] during the reign of her younger brother [[Rajaraja Chola I]] and her nephew [[Rajendra Chola I]].

One of the inscriptions reads:

{{Cquote|''Records gift of sheep for lamps to the temple of Kundavai-Vinnagar-Alvar by princess Pirantakan-Kundavai-Pirattiyar. Also mentioned is the senapati, Mummudi-Chola Brahmamarayar who was in charge of the management of the temple''<ref name="A topographical list of inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala states, Volume 2, page 206">''A topographical list of inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala states, Volume 2, page 207''</ref>}}<ref name="Portrait sculpture in south India, page 34">''Portrait sculpture in south India, page 34''</ref> Some of the images or idols set up by princess Kundavai include:<ref name="Middle Chola temples: Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (A.D. 985-1070), page 42">''Middle Chola temples:Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (A.D. 985–1070), page 42''</ref>

Here is an excerpt from the 29th year of Rajaraja that lists some of her gifts to [[Brihadeeswarar|Brihadeeswarar Temple]]:

{{Cquote|''Hail! Prosperity! Until the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of Ko-Rajakesarivarman alias Sri-Rajarajadeva who..- Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar, (who was) the venerable elder sister of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva and the great queen of Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar ..gave three thousand five hundred karanju of gold, which was a quarter superior in fineness to the (gold standard called) dandavani, and one thousand five hundred karanju of gold, which was one (degree) inferior in fineness to the dandavani, – altogether, five thousand karanju of gold.''<ref name="South Indian inscriptions: Volume 2, Parts 1-2">''South Indian inscriptions: Volume 2, Parts 1–2''</ref>
}}

{{Cquote|''Hail ! Prosperity! Until the third year (of the reign) of Ko-Parakesarivarman, alias the lord Sri-Rajendra-Soradeva,- Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar, (who was) the venerable elder sister of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva (and) the great queen of Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar gave- ..One sacred girdle (tiruppattigai), (containing) ninety-seven karanju and a half, four manjadi and nine-tenths of gold. Six hundred and sixty-seven large and small diamonds with smooth edges, set (into it), – including such as had spots, cracks, red dots, black dots, and marks as of burning, – weighed two karanju and a quarter and six-tenths (of a manjadi). Eighty-three large and small rubies, viz., twenty-two halahalam of superior quality, twenty halahalam, twenty smooth rubies, nine bluish rubies, two sattam and ten unpolished rubies, – including such as had cavities, cuts, holes, white specks, flaws, and such as still adhered to the ore, – weighed ten karanju and three-quarters, three manjadi and two-tenths. Two hundred and twelve pearls, strung or sewn on, – including round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam, ambumudu, (pearls) of brilliant water and of red water, such as had been polished while still adhering to the shall, (and pearls with) lines, stains, red dots, white specks and wrinkles, – weighed eighteen karanju and two manjadi. Altogether, (the girdle) weighed one hundred and twenty-nine karanju and seven-tenths (of a manadi), corresponding to a value of four thousand and five hundred kasu.. One ring for the foot of the goddess, (containing) seventy-one karanju and a half and two manjadi of gold. Four hundred and fifty-nine diamonds, set (into it), viz., four hundred and fifty diamonds with smooth edges, and nine small square diamonds with smooth edges, including such as had spots, cracks, red dots, black dots, and marks as of burning, – weighed (one) karanju and a half, three manjadi and nine-tenths. Thirty-nine large and small rubies, viz., ten halahalam of superior quality, eight halahalam, nine smooth rubies, three bluish rubies and nine unpolished rubies, – including such as had cavities, cuts, holes, white speeks, flaws, and such as still adhered to the ore, – weighed three karanju and three-quarters, three manjadi and six-tenths. Altogether, (the ring) weighed seventy-seventy-seven karanju, four manjadi and (one) kunri, corresponding to a value of a five hundred kasu.''<ref name="South Indian inscriptions: Volume 2, Parts 1-2"/>}}

Kundavai spent the last days of her life with her nephew [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra I]] at the palace in [[Pazhayarai|Pazhaiyarai]].<ref name="Great women of India, page 306">''Great women of India, page 306''</ref><ref name="Encyclopaedia of Status and Empowerment of Women in India: Status and position of women in ancient, medieval and modern India, page 176">''Encyclopaedia of Status and Empowerment of Women in India: Status and position of women in ancient, medieval and modern India, page 176''</ref><ref name="Middle Chola temples:
Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (A.D. 985-1070), page 381">''Middle Chola temples: Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (A.D. 985–1070), page 381''</ref>

{{Cquote|''..run-tiru-amudu sëd-arulavaum ăga nellu padin kalam-āga ōrādaikku nellu nūrru irubadin kalamum udaiyār sri-Rājarājadēvarkku mun pirand-arulina sri ālvār sri-Kundavai Pirāttiyār pirand-arulina avitta-tirunālāl tingal oru nāl tiru-vilā elund-arulavu.''<ref name="Śāṅkaram: recent researches on Indian culture, page 97">''Śāṅkaram: recent researches on Indian culture, page 97''</ref>}}

== Influence ==
Kundavai is celebrated as mentor to [[Rajaraja I]]. Her influence continued into the next generation as she helped rear [[Rajendra Chola I|Rajendra Chola]]. Uniquely for her era, where royal women were used to forge alliances, Kundavai's father allowed her to exercise her free will, whereupon the princess resolved to stay in the Chola kingdom all her life. Esteemed throughout the Chola realm for her taste and learning, Kundavai was requested to look after the daughters of other royal clans, tutoring them in art, music, and literature.

== In popular culture ==

* ''[[Ponniyin Selvan]] a 1955 historical fiction novel by [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]]'' revolves around the early days of [[Rajaraja I|Rajaraja]], the mysteries surrounding the assassination of [[Aditya Chola II|Aditha Karikalan]] and the subsequent accession of [[Uttama (Chola dynasty)|Uttama]] to the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] throne.
*[[S. Varalakshmi]] portrayed Kundavai Pirattiyar in the 1973 movie [[Rajaraja Cholan]] that had [[Sivaji Ganesan]] portray the role of [[Raja Raja Chola]].
*[[Trisha Krishnan]] portrayed Kundavai Pirattiyar in the movies [[Ponniyin Selvan: I]] and [[Ponniyin Selvan: II]].

== See also ==

* [[Ponniyin Selvan]]
* [[Raja Raja Cholan]]
* [[Ponniyin Selvan: I|Ponniyin Selvan I]]
* [[Ponniyin_Selvan:_II|Ponniyin Selvan II]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Great women of India By Madhavananda (Swami.), Ramesh Chandra Majumdar
* Lalit kalā, Issue 15, Lalit Kalā Akademi., 1972
* Middle Chola temples: Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I (A.D. 985–1070) By S. R. Balasubrahmanyam, Oriental Press, 1977
* Śrīnidhiḥ: perspectives in Indian archaeology, art, and culture By K. R. Srinivasan, K. V. Raman
* Encyclopaedia of Jainism, Volume 1 By Indo-European Jain Research Foundation
* Portrait sculpture in south India By [[T. G. Aravamuthan]]
* Ancient system of oriental medicine By S.P. Verma
* Worshiping Śiva in medieval India: ritual in an oscillating universe By Richard H. Davis
* Women in Indian life and society By Amitābha Mukhopādhyāẏa
* A Topographical List of Inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala States, Volume 7, T. V. Mahalingam, Indian Council of Historical Research, 1985
* Śāṅkaram: recent researches on Indian culture By S. Sankaranarayanan, S. S. Ramachandra Murthy, B. Rajendra Prasad, D. Kiran Kranth Choudary
* South Indian inscriptions: Volume 2, Parts 1–2 By Eugen Hultzsch, India. Archaeological Survey, India. Dept. of Archaeology
* Encyclopaedia of Status and Empowerment of Women in India: Status and position of women in ancient, medieval and modern India By Raj Pruthi, Rameshwari Devi, Romila Pruthi

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kundavai Pirattiyar}}
[[Category:Chola dynasty]]
[[Category:Indian queens consort]]
[[Category:Year of death missing]]
[[Category:10th-century Hindus]]
[[Category:10th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:10th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Chola princesses]]

Kundavai Pirāttiyār - Revision history

SBS Khumancha at 07:47, 13 March 2026