Kundavai seems to have built 4 temples - one saivaite katrali, one vinnagaram (sundara chozha vinnagaram I think), one jainap perumpalli (on thirumalai vaiyavoor if I am not wrong) and one baudhdha perumpalli
I don't have accurate inscriptional information to support above - but I remember that this is what she constructed. Members can support with what they have read
This immediately calls for our attention.
First : Kundavai wanted to position herself as a person neutral to all religious sects. He was not like sembiyan mahadevi or lokamadevi who had no hesitation in showing their saivaite inclinations. There was some definite need for her to position herself this way.
Second : Link it with what exactly she was doing during rajaraja's reign. She commands supreme respect from emperor, gives great nivanthams to big temple (means she had considetable financial strength) - but WHAT WAS SHE DOING ON DAY TO DAY BASIS ? Was she a kind of political consultant to Rajaraja ? Did she sit in important meetings ? Did rajaraja consult her on important decisions ? Inscriptions say she was maintaining adhuula saala (hospital) that's all - but certainly she was doing more than this. Combine her role in politics with her neutral stand on religions - be it large group or small.
Conclusion is evident. While rajaraja positioned himself as a great devotee of lord shiva with soft corners to other religions, there was a need for someone in the "top" who could position themselves as a neutral body whom other religious groups will trust. In an empire as big as chola's during rajaraja's time, religious disturbance is the last thing emperor would have preferred. So, the solution ? Kundavai positions herself like this so that every other religious group comes to her with all their problems
We can safely state that the big aanaimangalam grants were bestowed at the influence of kundavai or atleast she should have had a role in it.
Kundavai donated Uma Bhattaragiyar to big temple and also established the images of Parantaka chola and vaanavan mahadevi - her parents - in periyakoil. She leaves nivanthams to support this worship.
Our beloved rashtrakuta hero vandhiyathevan had little to do with this lady who played complex political games and should have resorted to peaceful life probably with other wives(!).
So far we have not found a pallipadai for kundavai. That seems to be strange. And nobody seems to donate her idol for worship in periyakoil though she herself donates the images of her father and mother. Not much donations to periyakoil after rajaraja's time - that is a different topic altogether...
Was it lost over a period of time ? Is it still lying in one of the unpublished inscriptions of mysore ? Or...
Did she live to see the death of rajaraja ? was there nobody after rajaraja who could built a pallipadai for her ?
Or did she not take the siva deeksha which would have enabled the heirs to build a temple around her remains ?
Kundhavai's day-to-day activities are hard to guess. She would have definitely had her say in many matters. But, I don't think she would have attended important meetings. It would have been asking for too much in those days.
True, there were 'adhikarichis' in those days. Women vested with certain powers. But their roles would have been limited to local/palatial administration.
Am sure RRC would have consulted her on almost all issues small and big. She would have certainly influenced the emperor and his decisions. Also, the polity would have been aware of this. Petty kings, ministers and officials would have definitely clamoured for her support.
Have you ever wondered what the President's wife or the Governor's wife or an Ambassador's wife does daily? For that matter what is on the agenda for the better half of any chairman or head of some corporate or institution?
These ladies host people and throw parties! In other words, they keep interacting all the time and that too with the top brass. It is said, more deals are cut on dinner tables than inside conference rooms.
The royal ladies of yore would have also done these. Numerous dignitaries would be visiting the king regularly. There would be important tradesmen, travellers, literates, artisans, musicians and of course godmen!
The women were supposed to entertain these people. Though many of them met the royals to pay their respects and give gifts, there should have been other things happening.
It was here, Kundhavai should have been highly useful to RRC. A tradesman knows that when he wants to convey something to the king, he can might as well convey it to Kundhavai and it will reach the king.
Similarly, when the king wants to put across a message and doesn't want to do that in person, Kundhavai can easily call the people concerned and talk to them. When the words are from her mouth, the people also would have known it has the king's approval.
I don't think she would have openly participated in day-to-day affairs of the country.