Parantaka Chola II (957–970 CE) ruled for about twelve years.

Parantaka II is also known by the name Madhurantakan Sundara Chola.

He is the son of Arinjaya Chola.

His mother’s name is Kalyani, a princes from the clan of Vaidumbas.

Parantaka II ascends the Chola throne despite the fact that Uttama Chola, the son of Gandaraditya, (the elder brother of Arinjaya) is alive and has equal if not more claim to the Chola throne.

When Parantaka II becomes king, the Chola kingdom has shrunk to the size of a small principality.

The Pandyas in the south have revived their fortunes and have defeated the Chola armies and occupied their ancestral lands.

During Parantaka II's reign, foundations are laid for the Chola Empire that in its height will stretch from the island of Sri Lanka in the south to the Pala Empire of Bengal in the north, to the Sri Vijaya empire in the east.