Sangam Age Flashcards
Sangam literature speaks of three kingdoms
Chola, Pandya, and Chera
Sangam Era found in which Sources
Ashokan Inscriptions, Sangam Literature, Megasthenese Accounts
Three Kingdoms of Sangam age known as
Tamilakam
Sangam Period
300 BCE to 300 CE
Tamil Classic Collection
Tolkappiyam - Tamil Grammar
Ettuttokai anthology - Eight Collections
Pattuppattu anthology - Ten Songs
Padenenkilkanakku - Eightten Minor works
Earliest works:
Agattiyam - (a work on grammar of letters and life) by Rishi Agastya.
Pannirupadalam (a grammatical work on puram literature) by 12 disciples of Agastya
Kakkipadiniyam (a work on prosody)
Poems - 2381
composed by 473 poets
16 Poets account for 50% account
The most prolific poet - Kaliper - composed 10%
About Love (akam) and War (puram)
Paaripaatal poem - praise of Vishnu and Murugan
It also Includes Buddhist and Jainist epics
Sangam Literature written Style
literature was compiled in AD 300-600
It is in Narrative and Didactic
heroic poetry - heroes are glorified and perpetual wars and cattle raids frequently mentioned
didactic texts cover the early centuries of
the Christian era
The Capital Of Kingdom Cholas
Uraiyur, late Puhar at Kaveripattanam (Emblem - Tiger)
Started from Kavery delta to the adjoining region of Modern Tanjore and Trichinopoly
A Early King Kingdom Chola
Karikala (AD 190)
He credited victories over the neighbouring Kingdoms Pandya and Chera
He even extentend over “Ceylon” (Sri Lanka)
Why the Power of Chola decline
Rise of Pallavas
Continuous wars wages by Pandya and Chera Kingdoms
The Capital of Pandya
Madurai
Emblem - Carp
Famous port - Korkai, Saliyur
Extended over modern districts Madura, Ramnad, Tinnevelly
Pandya kingdom sources found in
Mahabharata,
Jatakas (Buddhist book)
Indica.
The Capital of Chera (Keralaputra) Kingdom
Vanji or Karur (located in the western most Taluq of the Trichinopoly
Emblem - Bow
Famous Fort - Muzris, Tondi, Bandar
It Consists modern Districts - Malabar, Cochin and Northern Travancore
The Commerce of Chera Kingdom
Sea-faring People
maintained relationship with Egypt and Roman Empire
Well Known Trade Centres:
Tondi, Musiri, Kaveripattanam and Korkai
Sangam Polity
Herediatary Monarchy
Kings were called “Vendar”
Cheiftains were called “Mannar”
Wise men diveded into two groups:
1.Aimperukku
2.Enperayam
The Sangam Officials of Aimperukku
Purohita - Priest
Senapatiyar - Army Cheif
Amaichhar - Minister
Dutar - Ambassador
Orrar - Spy
Enadi - Captain of the Army
Umanchatha - Collector of merchandise from different regions
Makamattor - Members of a guild
Veellalar - Rich Peasants
The Sangam Officials of Enperayam
Karanattiyalavar – Accountant
Karumakarar – Executive officials
Kanasassurram – Treasury Officials
Kdaikappalar – Palace guards
Nagaramandar – Leading men among the king’s subjects
Padaittalaivar – Chiefs of the infantry
Yanai Virar – Chiefs of elephantry
Ivuli – Chiefs of cavalry
The Law and Justice of Sangam Age
Avai - Town court
Manrams - Village court (might have panchayats
Distributed across Mandalam (kingdom), in Nadu (Districts) and Ur (Town)
The Society of Sangam Division
- Vyarntoc (high born people),
- Ilipirappalar (low born people)
Tholkappiyam mentions, about four categories of castes–
(i) Andanar (Brahmanas) (ii) Arasar (kings)
(iii) Vaisiyar (Traders) (iv) Velalar (Farmers)
“Parciyas” experienced untouchability among higher classes.
Sangam Economy done comprehensive trade with foreign countries mainly
Rome
(Roman coins of Augustus Caesar’s period were found)
What are the Sangam Economic groups
Group Work
(i) Kuravar – Practicing shifting agriculture
(ii) Idaiyar – rearing and keeping cattles
(iii) Vetar – hunting and gathering foods
(iv) Ulavar – ploughing land for crops
(v) Kallar – plundering i.e., cattle lifting
(vi) Panar – wandering bards
(vii) Paratavar – fishing
(viii) Umnar – salt-manufacturing
What are the Sangam Religion
Sangam religious worship is classified into three categories–
(i) Worship of indigenous Gods,
(ii) Worship of exotic Hindu Gods
(iii) Worship or faith in the exotic non-Hindu rituals
Murugan, Tirumal, Balram and Indra in the temple known as Nagar, Koil, Kottam, Purai or Devalayam.
Vedic practice of Yagna (Velvi) Sraddha and
Panda
Temples of the Sangam Age
Kailash Temple at Ellora,
Hoysala Temple at Belur,
Halebid, Chennakesava Temple at Belur,
Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid, Ratha,
Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram,
Brihadeshwara Temple at Tanjavur,
Vithala Temple at Hampi,
Meenakshi Temple at Madurai
What is the Sangam age Grammar
Tolkappiyam (a treatise on grammar and
poetry) written by Tolkappiar.
It is divided into Three sections:
Ezhuttu(letter), Col (word) and Porul (subject matter).
(each consisting of nine sub chapters and has a total of 1,612 sutras)
Three Epics of Sangam Age
Silappadikaram, Mianimekalai and
Sivaga Sidamanai.
Silappadikaram - deals with a love story in which a dignitary called Kovalan prefers a courtesan called Madhavi of Kaveripattanam to his noble wedded wife Kannagi.
Mianimekalai - deals with the adventures of the daughter born of the union of Kovalan and Madhavi though this epic is of more religious than literary interest.
Which Tamil texts deals with philosophy and wise maxims
Tirukkural
Some of the Tamil Terms are
Enadi – Captain of army
Vallalas – Rich peasants
Arasar – Ruling class
Orrar – Spies
Avai – Small village assembly
Irai/Karai – Land tax
Ulgu/sungam – Tolls and custom duties
Nagar – Temple
Perundaram – Higher officials
Sirutaram – Lower officials
Avanam – Market place
Panar – Birds
Vedars – Hunters
Marakkhdi – Warrior class
Kuravar – Hill tribes
Varalis – Dancing girls
Lamaram – Missile
Kalavu – Sacred marriage
Umanar – Salt maker
Korravai – Goddess of victory
Kadurai – Diety of forest
Eripatti – Tank
