The Cholas
- During the Sangam period, the Chola kingdom stretched from contemporary Tiruchi district to southern Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was formerly located in Uraiyur before being relocated to Puhar. Karikala was a well-known Sangam Chola king. Pattinappalai depicts his childhood and military conquests. He vanquished the powerful confederacy of the Cheras, Pandyas, and eleven smaller chieftains at the Battle of Venni. Many Sangam poems describe this occurrence.
- Vahaipparandalai was another significant fight in which he defeated nine enemy chieftains. Karikala’s military achievements elevated him to the position of overlord of the entire Tamil kingdom. During his rule, trade and commerce prospered.
The Pandyas
- The Pandyas ruled from Madurai. Korkai was their main port, located near the confluence of Thampraparani with the Bay of Bengal. It was famous for pearl fishery and chank diving. Korkai is referred to in the Periplus as Kolkoi. Fish was the emblem of the Pandyas. Their coins have elephant on one side and a stylised image of fish on the other. They invaded Southern Kerala and controlled the port of Nelkynda, near Kottayam. According to tradition, they patronized the Tamil Sangams and facilitated the compilation of the Sangam poems. The Mangulam Tamil-Brahmi Inscription mentions a Pandya king by name Nedunchezhiyan of the second century BCE.
- Sangam poems help us understand the social formation of the time. According to the thinai concept, Tamilagam was divided into five landscapes or eco-regions, Ainthinai namely Kurinji, Mullai, Marutam, Neythal and Palai. Each region had distinct characteristics – a presiding deity, people and cultural life according to the environmental conditions, as follows:
Q. A lot of details, regarding the village administration under the Cholas is provided by the Inscriptions at
(a) Thanjavur
(b) Uraiyur
(c) Kanchipuram A* AAA67
(d) Uttaramerur
Answer: D
