8. The Sangam Age

                     8.  The Sangam Age

Three Early Kingdoms

The Pandayas (Emblem - Fish)

-The Pandyas were first mentioned by Megasthanese who said that then kingdom was famous for pearls.

-The Pandyan territory included modern districts of Tirnelvelli. Ramanad and Madurai in Tami Nadu it had its capital at Madurai. Situated on the banks of Vaigai river.

-The Pandya king Profited from trade with Roman Empire and sent emissaries to Roman emperor Augustus and Trojan.

-The Pandyas find mention in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The earliest known Pandyan ruler was Mudukudumi, who ruled from Madurai. He accused Kovalan of theft. As a result, the city of Madurai was laid under a curse by Kannagi (Kovalan’s wife).

The Cholas (Emblem - Tiger)

-The Chola kingdom called as Cholamandulam was situated to the north-east of Pandya kingdom between Pennar and Vellar rivers.

-The Chola kingdom corresponded to modern Tanjore and Tiruchirapalli districts.

-Its inland capital was Uraiyaur a place famous for cotton trade. One of the main sources of wealth for Cholas was trade in cotton cloth.

-Puhar identical with Kaveripattanam was the main port of Cholas and served as alternative capital of Cholas.

-The earliest know Chola king was Elara who in 2nd century B C conquered Sri Lanka and ruled over it for nearly 53 years.

-Their greatest king was Karikala (man with charred leg) who founded Puhar and constructed 160 km of embankment along die Kaveri River.

-They maintained an efficient navy. The Cholas were wiped out in the attack of Pallavas from North.

The Cheras (Emblem - Bow)

-The Chera country occupied the portion of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu

-The capital of Cheras was Vanjji.

-It main ports were Muzris and Tondi.

-The Romans set up two regiment at Muzris (identical with Cranganore) in Chera country. The also built a temple of Augustus at Muzris.

-One of the earliest and better known among Chera rulers was Udiyangeral .It is said that he led both the armies of Kurukshetra war and so earned the title Udiyangeral.

-The greatest of Chera king however was Senguttuvan of Red Chera. It is said that he invaded north and even crossed the Ganga.

-He was also the founder of the famous Pattini cult related to worship of goddess of chastity - Kannagi.

Sangam Administration

-The king was the center of administration.

-He was called Ko, Mannam, Vendan Korravan or Iraivan.

-Avai was the court of crowned monarch.

Officials

AmaichharàMinisters

Purohitar àPurohits

Dutar à Envoys

Senapatiyar à Senapati

Orar  àSpies.

-The kingdom was divided into mandalam, nadu (province), ur (town), sirur (small village), perur (big village).

Revenue administration

Karai àLand Tax

Irai àTribute paid by feudatories and booty collected in war.

Ulgu àCustoms duties.

Iravn àExtra demand or forced gift.

Variyam àA well known unit of territory yielding tax.

Variyar àTax collector

Sangam Literature

-Sangam was a college or assembly of Tamil poets held probably under royal patronage of Pandyan kings in Madurai.

-According to tradition the assembly lasted for 9990 years and was attended by 8598 poets and 197 Pandyan kings.

-The first Sangam was attended by Gods and legendary sages and all its works have perished.

- Of the second Sangam the only surviving work is Tolkappiyam, an early work on Tamil

grammar written by Tolkapiyyar.

-The Sangam literature can roughly be divided into two groups narrative and didactic.

-The narrative texts are called Melkannaku or eighteen major works consisting of eight anthologies (Ettutogai) and ten idylls (Pattupattu).

-The didactic works are called Kilkannaku or eighteen minor works consisting of Tirukural and Naladiyar.

The Epics

-Silappadikaram (The Jewelled Anklet) - Written by Mango Adigal. It deals with the story of Kovalam and Madhavi of Kaveripattinam.

-Manimekalai - Written by Sattnar. Deals with the adventuresof Manimekalai-daughter born

of Kovalan and Madhavi.