Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam

The Sangam Age

• The term sangam refers to a group of Tamil poets under the patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai.
• The songs composed by these poets are collectively known as “Sangam Literature”.
• The period in which Sangam Literature was composed is known as “Sangam Age”.

Epigraphic evidences

• Hathigumpha Inscription of King Karavela of Kalinga
• Pugalur (near Karur) Inscription
• Ashokan Edicts II and XIII
• Inscriptions found at Mangulam, Alagarmalai and Kilavalavu (all near Madurai)

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Copper Plate Sources

• Velvikudi copper plates
• Chinnamanur copper plates

Coin Sources

• Issued by the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas
• The chieftains of Sangam Age as well as the Roman coins

Megalithic Monuments

• Burials and Hero stones

Excavated Materials from

• Adichanallur
• Arikamedu
• Kodumanal
• Puhar
• Korkai
• Alagankulam
• Uraiyur

Literary Sources

• Tholkappiyam
• Ettuthogai (eight anthologies)
• Pathupattu (ten idylls)
• PathinanKeezhkanakku (a collection of eighteen poetic works)
• Pattinapalai
• Maduraikanji
• Epics Silapathikaram and Manimegalai.

Foreign Notices

• The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea
• Pliny’s Natural History
• Ptolemy’s Geography
• Megasthenes’s Indica
• Rajavali, Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa.

Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam

Time Span	3rd century BC (BCE) to c. 3rd century AD (CE)
Tamizhagam	Vengadam (Tirupathi hill) in the north, Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) in the south, Bounded by sea on the east and the west.
Age	Iron Age
Culture	Megalithic
Polity	Monarchy
Dynasties ruled	The Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas

Tamil is as old as Latin

• In which university did George L. Hart work as a professor of Tamil = University of California.
• Who said “Tamil Language is as old as Latin” = George L. Hart.
• George L Hart said Tamil language is as old as Latin.
• Who said that “Tamil language arose as an entirely independent tradition with no influence of other languages” = George L. Hart.

Cheras

• Which Sangam literature book tells about the Chera kings = Pathitrupathu.
• Chera King who invaded North India = Cheran Senguttuvan.
• He who brought stones from the Himalayas to make an idol for Kannagi, an Epic character from Silappathikaram = Cheran Senguttuvan.
• “Introducer of Patitini cult” = Cheran Senguttuvan.
• Cheran Senguttuvan’s younger brother = Ilango Adigal.
• Author of Silappathikaram = Ilango Adigal.
• Chera king who issued coins in his name = Cheral Irumporai.

The Titles Assumed by the Cheras

• Adhavan
• Kuttuvan
• Vanavan
• Irumporai

Cholas

• During the Sangam period the Chola kingdom extended up to Venkatam (Tirupathi).
• Area called “Chola Mandalam” = Kaveri delta region.
• Most famous of the Chola kings = Karikalvalavan (or) Karikal Chola.
• Karikal Chola who defeated the joint army of Chera, Pandya and 11 Velir Chieftans who opposed him.
• At which place Karikal Chola defeated the combined armies of Cheras, Pandyas and 11 Velir Chieftans who opposed him = “Venni” near Thanjavur.
• Who built “Kallanai” (a dam made of stones) = Karikal Cholan.
• Port of Cholas = Puhar.
• Pattinapaalai = a book which tells the elaborate information about trade activities during Karikalan’s reign.

Kallanai

• Who built “Kallanai” (a dam made of stones) = Karikal Cholan.
• It was a dyke, built with stones.
• It was constructed across the Kaveri to divert water throughout the delta region for irrigation.
• When it was built, Kallanai irrigated an area of about 69,000 acres.

The Titles Assumed by the Cholas

• Senni
• Sembiyan
• Killi
• Valavan

Pandyas

• Patrons of Tamil poets and scholars = Pandyas.
• Among the Sangam period Pandyas, the most famous warrior = Pandyan Nedunchezhiyan
• Pandya king who defeated the combined armies of Cheras, Cholas and five Velir Chieftans = Nedunchezhiyan.
• In which place Pandyan Nedunjezhiyan defeated the combined armies of Cheras, Cholas and five Velis = Talayalankanam.
• Who called as “Lord of Korkai” = Nedunchezhiyan.
• Country famous for Pearl Hunting = Pandyan country.
• Figures engraved on Pandyan coins = elephant, fish.
• Pandyan king who issued coins to commemorate his performance of many Vedic rituals.= Pandyan Mudukudumi Peruvaluthi.

The Titles Assumed by the Pandyas

• Maran
• Valuthi
• Sezhiyan
• Tennar​

Royal Insignia of the Kings

• Symbols of Royal Authority are,
  1. Sceptre
  2. Drum (murasu)
  3. White Umbrella (venkudai)

Garlands of Muvendars

• Garland of Cheras = Palmyra flower
• Garland of Cholas = Fig (Athi) lower
• Garland of Pandyas = Margosa (neem) flower

Ports of Muvendars

• Chera’s port = Muziri / Tondi
• Chola’s Port = Puhar
• Pandya’s port = Korkai

Capital city of Muvendars

• Capital City of Cheras = Vanchi / Karur.
• Capital City of Cholas = Uraiyur / Puhar.
• Capital City of Pandyas = Madurai.

Symbols of Muvendars

• Symbol of Cheras = bow, arrow
• Symbol of Cholas = Tiger.
• Symbol of Pandits = Two fishes.

Who are Velir

• The Velirs–Vellalars– constituted the ruling and land-owning class in the ancient Tami Nadu.
• These small land kings were called “Velirs”.

Ay

• The word “Ay” is derived from the word “Ayar”.
• Meaning of Ay = Shepherd.
• Prominent among the Ay kings of the Sanga period = Anthiran, Titiran, Nannan.

Seven patrons (KadaiyezhuVallalgal)

• The famous Velirs were the seven patrons (KadaiyezhuVallalgal).
• They were Pari, Kari, Ori, Pegan, Ay, Adiyaman and Nalli.
• They were popular for their generous patronage of Tamil poets.
• Kizhar was the village chief.

Sangam system of government

• The kingship was hereditary.
• Other names for the king = Vendan, Kon, Mannan, Kortavan, Iraivan.
• The coronation ceremony was known as arasukattilerudhal or mudisoottuvila.
• How the crown prince was called = Komagan.
• Land tax was the main source of revenue and it was called ‘Irai’.

Arasavai

• The king’s court was called Arasavai.
• How many duties did Sangam kings perform = five.
• Sangam kings performed five types of duties. They are,
  1. Encouraging learning
  2. Performing rituals
  3. Presenting gifts
  4. Protecting people and
  5. Punishing the criminals.
• Groups that assisted the king in administration = Aimperunguzhu (five-member committee) and Enberaayam (eight-member group).

Sangam Armies

• King’s armies = four (infantry, cavalry, elephants, chariot).
• The army was called as “Padai”.
• How the army chief was called = Thanaithalaivan.
• What is Tomaram = Tomaram (Launcher) means to throw it like a missile at the enemy from a short distance.
• How is the place where arms are kept called = Paddaikottil.
• “War Drum” = worshiped as God.

Sangam Law and Justice

• The King is the final court of appeal.
• In the capital the court was called “Avai”.
• In the villages, “Mandram” served as the place for dispensing justice.

Local Administration

• How the entire administrative area of the country was called = Mandalam.
• How Mandalams were sub divided = Nadu.
• How the Nadus were subdivided = Kurram.
• Smallest administrative structure in Sangam administrative system = Ur.
• Ur or village = Perur (big village), Sirur (small village), Mudur (old village).
• “Patinam” = coastal towns.
• Common term for harbour town = Puhar.
• Administrative divisions of ancient Tamil Nadu

1. 1. 1. In ascending order = Ur < Kurram < Nadu < Mandalam.
      2. In descending order = Mandalam > Nadu > Kurram > Ur.

Important towns in Sangam Age

• Puhar, Uraiyur, Korkai, Madurai, Muziri, Vanji or Karur and Kanchi.

Thinai (tract)-based Sangam Society

• The land form was divided into five thinais (eco-regions).

Eco-region (thinai)	Landscape	Occupation	People	Deity
Kurinji	Hilly region	Hunting /gathering	Kuravar/kurathiyar	Murugan
Mullai	Forest region	Herding	Aayar/aaichiyar	Maayon
Marutham	Riverine track (plains)	Agriculture	Uzhavan/uzhathiya	Indiran
Neithal	Coastal region	Fishing/saltmaking	Parathavar / nulathiyar	Varunan
Palai	Parched land	Heroic deeds	Maravar/Marathiyar	Kotravai

Status of women in the Sangam period

• Number of women poets in Sangam period = 40.
• Forty women poets have lived and given rare books.
• Marriage depended on women’s choice.
• Son and daughter had equal shares in parental property.

Women Poets of Sangam Age

• Avvaiyar, Velli Veethiyar, Kakkaipadiniyar, Aathi Manthiyar, Pon Mudiyar.

Religious beliefs and social divisions

• Primary God of Sangam people = Murugan (Seon).
• The Hero stone (natukkal) worship was in practice.
• There is no caste system in Tamil Nadu.
• Varuna system (occupation-based caste) came to the Dravidian south comparatively late.

Veerakkal/Natukkal

• The ancient Tamils had a great respect for the heroes who died in the battle field.
• The hero stones were erected to commemorate heroes who sacrificed their lives in war.

Sangam period Dress and Ornaments

• The rich people wore muslin, silk and fine cotton garments.
• The common people wore = two pieces of clothes made of cotton.
• Both men and women wore a variety of ornaments.
• The People were fond of using aromatic perfumes.

Sangam Age Arts

• The Chola king who had great knowledge of the seven notes of music = Karikalan (EzhisaiVallavan).
• How did the singing bards called = Panar, Viraliyar.
• Koothu (folk drama) was the most important cultural aspect among Sangam people.

Occupation of Sangam people

• Agriculture, cattle rearing, fishing and hunting.
• Other craftsmen like carpenter, blacksmith, goldsmith, potters.
• Weaving was the most common part-time occupation of the farmers and a regular full time job for many others.

Sangam Festivals

• Harvest festival (Pongal) and Karthikai Deepa festival were celebrated.
• Festival celebrated in capital = Indira vizha.

Sangam Age Trade

• 3 levels of business = local, overland, overseas business.
• Light towers called “Kalangarai Ilangusudar” were erected in major ports.
• Barter system was widespread.
• In Madurai there was a morning market called “Nalangadi” and a night market called “Allangadi”.

Ramses II of the Egypt

• When the Mummy of Ramses II of the Egypt was uncovered, archaeologists found black pepper corns stuffed into his nostrils and in his abdomen (as a part of embalming process practised in olden days).

Sangam Age Exports and Imports

Main Exports	Main Imports
Salt, pepper, pearls, ivory, silk, spices, diamonds, saffron, precious stones, muslin, sandal wood	Topaz, tin, glass, horses.

Indian Silk worth its weight in gold

• Silk supplied by Indian merchants to the Roman Empire was considered so important that the Roman emperor Aurelian declared it to be worth its weight in gold.

India’s First Emporium

• Author of “Natural History” = Pliny.
• The Roman writer Pliny the Elder writes of Muziris in his Natural History as the ‘first emporium (shopping complex) of India’.
• A temple of Augustus was built at Muziris, which had a Roman colony.

Papyrus document

• A papyrus document (now in Vienna museum) of 2nd century BC (BCE) records the agreement between two merchants’ shippers of Alexandria and Muziris.

Kalabhras

• Towards the end of the 3rd century AD (CE), the Sangam period slowly went into a decline.
• The literary sources for this period include Tamil Navalar Charithai, Yapernkalam and Periapuranam.
• Seevaka Chinthamani and Kundalakesi were also written during this period.
• Buddhism became prominent during this period.
• Introduction of Sanskrit and Prakrit languages had resulted in the development of a new script called Vattezhuththu.

Palm leaf manuscripts

• ArumugaNavalar (Jaffna), U.V.Swaminatha Iyer and Damodharam Pillai (Jaffna) strove hard and spent many years in retrieving and publishing the Tamil classics and the ancient Tamil texts, which were originally present as palm leaf manuscripts.

 

 

• FIRST TERM
  • • What is History
    • Human Evolution
    • Indus Civilisation
    • ANCIENT CITIES OF TAMILAGAM
• SECOND TERM
  • • VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
      • • MEGALITHIC CULTURE IN SOUTH INDIA
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
        • Society and Culture in Ancient Tamizhagam
    • GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITH
    • FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES