Rajaraja Narendra

Rajaraja Narendra
kavi Poshaka
Statue of king Rajaraja Narendra founder of Rajahmahendravaram city
Eastern Chalukya Emperor
Reign	16 August 1022[1]–1061
Predecessor	Vimalathithan
Successor	Rajendra Chalukyudu
Died	1061
Spouses	Amangai Devi
Issue	Rajendra Chalukyudu
Dynasty	Eastern Chalukyas
Father	Vimalathithan
Mother	Kundavai
Religion	Hinduism

Rajaraja Narendra (r. 16 August 1022 – 1061 CE)^[2] was an Eastern Chalukya king of the Vengi kingdom in present-day Andhra Pradesh. He founded the city of Rajahmahendravaram (Rajahmundry), and his reign is noted for its significant contributions to social and cultural heritage. Narendra requested his teacher, advisor, and court poet Nannayya to translate the Mahabharata into Telugu as Andhra Mahabharatam.

Early life

Rajaraja Narendra belonged to the Eastern Chalukya dynasty.

On the maternal side, he is the grandson of Rajaraja I. Amangai Devi, daughter of Rajendra I, married Rajaraja Narendra, the son of Vimalathitha Chalukya. The feudal relationship between the Cholas and Chalukyas continued for three centuries from Arinjaya Chola onwards.

Descendants

Rajaraja Narendra's son, was Rajendra Chalukya, also known as Kulottunga Chola I, raided Kedah (Malaysia) for his maternal uncle. He became the king of the Chola empire in Gangaikondacholapuram when a political vacuum occurred and merged the Chola and Chalukya dynasties.

The Aravidu dynasty of Vijayanagara Empire claimed descent from Rajaraja Narendra. However, unlike their claimed ancestor, who belonged to the Manavya gotra, they belonged to the Atreya gotra.^[3][4]

Literary patronage

The Eastern Chalukya dynasty supported Shaivism and Jainism. Rajaraja Narendra himself was a Shaivite. He respected religious priests and promoted the Telugu, and Sanskrit languages and religions. Rajaraja Narendra requested his teacher, advisor, and court poet Nannayya Bhattaraka to translate the Mahabharata into Telugu Andhra Mahabharatam. However, Nannayya was only able to translate two and a half parvas of the epic.

See also

• Eastern Chalukyas
• Chalukyas
• Cholas
• Rajamahendravaram
• Sarangadhara

References

1. Vēṅkaṭakr̥ṣṇarāvu, B. (1973). History of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, 610-1210 A.D. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
2. G. V., Subrahmanyam (1997). Paniker, Ayyappa (ed.). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 537. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
3. M. S. Nagaraja Rao (1983). The Chālukyas of Kalyāṇ̄a: seminar papers. Mythic Society (Bangalore). p. 63.
4. A. Murali. Rattan Lal Hangloo, A. Murali (ed.). New themes in Indian history: art, politics, gender, environment, and culture. Black & White, 2007. p. 24.