Which Chola king patronised Buddhism despite himself following Shaivism?

Answer & Explanation

Answer: [A]

The Chola king who patronized Buddhism despite himself following Shaivism was Rajaraja Chola.

Rajaraja Chola I, also known as Rajaraja the Great, was a prominent ruler of the Chola dynasty who reigned from 985 CE to 1014 CE. He is renowned for his military conquests, administrative reforms, and architectural achievements.

While Rajaraja Chola himself followed the Shaivite tradition of Hinduism and made significant contributions to the construction of numerous Shaivite temples, including the famous Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, he also showed a degree of tolerance and patronage towards other religious faiths.

Rajaraja Chola's patronage extended to Buddhism as well. Despite being a Shaivite, he provided support to Buddhist monasteries and institutions, including granting land and endowments. This indicates a level of religious pluralism and inclusivity during his reign, with the king recognizing and supporting various religious traditions within his realm.

It is worth noting that while Rajaraja Chola patronized Buddhism to some extent, his primary religious affiliation remained Shaivism, which was the dominant religious tradition in the Chola kingdom.