Ālvār Sri Parāntakan Sri Kundavai Pirāttiyār also Parāntakan Kundavai Ālvār or more popularly referred to as Kundavai Pirāttiyār was one of the most powerful queens of the Chola empire. She was the daughter of Ponmaligai-tunjiya-devar (the king who died at the golden palace), the elder sister of Rajaraja Chola I

Rajaraja Chola I

Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...

 and the aunt of Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...

.. Kundavai was very pious and was the second most generous donor after Rajaraja Chola I

Rajaraja Chola I

Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...

 at the Brihadeeswarar temple. She also built various temples for Siva

Shiva

Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

(Iravikulamanikka-Iswara), Vishnu

Vishnu

Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

 (Kundavai-Vinnagar-Alvar) and Jaina (Kundavai Jinalaya).

Vallavaraiyar Vandiyadeva-tam-Pirattiyar Ālvār Sri Parāntakan Sri Kundavai Pirāttiyār – This is how one of the most powerful ladies of the ancient chola kingdom gets her introduction in the famous Thanjavur temple inscriptions.

Prominent role in Chola architecture

She is well known for her philanthropic activities and was one of the generous contributors of art and architecture. She regularly features in many of the important Chola inscriptions. She commissioned many temples and her contributions show that she was very secular:
Kundavai Jinnalaya

She built at least two Jain temples, one at Rajarajeswaram later known as Dadapuram and the other at Tirumalai. The former has disappeared into the sands of time while the latter still stands at the foot of the hill. Extensive renovations and repairs over time have masked the original architectural style of the temple. However the interior mandapa and the idol of Neminatha still bear the fine workmanship of Chola architecture.

Kundavai-Vinnagar-Alvar

This was one among the many temples built by princess Kundavai. One of the related inscriptions at the temple is as follows:
Idols set up by Kundavai

When Parantaka Chola II

Parantaka Chola II

Parantaka Chola II ruled for approximately twelve years. Parantaka II was also known by the name Madhurantakan Sundara Chola. He was the son of Arinjaya Chola. His mother’s name was Kalyani, a princes from the clan of Vaidumbas...

 died after a distinguished reign, his queen Vanavan Mahadevi took her own life by the rite of sati. Kundavai, had such great regard and love for her parents that when Rajaraja Chola I

Rajaraja Chola I

Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...

 built the Brihadeeswarar temple at Tanjore, she set up images of her parents and made ample endowments for worship. Some of the images or idols set up by princess Kundavai include:

• Ponmaligai Tunjiya Devar also known as Sundara Chola
  Parantaka Chola II
  Parantaka Chola II ruled for approximately twelve years. Parantaka II was also known by the name Madhurantakan Sundara Chola. He was the son of Arinjaya Chola. His mother’s name was Kalyani, a princes from the clan of Vaidumbas...
  
  
• Vanavan Mahadevi (Tam-ammai)
• Uma Parameswari, consort of Dakshina Meru Vitankar
• Uma Parameswari, consort of Tanjai Vitankar

Sundara Chola Vinnagar – Hospital

She also built a free hospital after her father; Sundara Chola Vinnagar atula salai at Thanjavur and donated extensive lands for its maintenance.

Endowments

She made some of the most lavish donations to the Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur during the reign of her younger brother, Rajaraja Chola I

Rajaraja Chola I

Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...

 and her nephew Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...

.

Here is an excerpt from the 29th year of Rajaraja that lists some of her gifts to Brihadeeswarar temple:
She was very pious and continued to make endowments well into the reign of her nephew Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...

. Here is an excerpt, once again from the Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur:

Last days

Kundavai spent the last days of her life with her nephew Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...

 at the palace in Palaiyārai.

Honored and revered

She was one of the most revered women of the Chola empire. The day of avittam in every month is very special for the family as it is the natal star of Alvar Kundavai, the beloved elder sister of Rajaraja Chola I

Rajaraja Chola I

Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...

. An honorary festival and food offerings has been regularly arranged.

• excerpt of related inscription: