HSM2012 POST MAURYAN INDIA 200 BC 300 AD
HSM-2012 POST MAURYAN INDIA (200 BC- 300 AD) M. A. II SEMESTER (History) UNIT-II
2. Pre-State to State in Early Tamilakam: Cheras, Pandyas and Cholas • Early historical period in South India is generally dated to the 3 rd • • • century BCE. Recent archaeological date from the site Kodumanal suggest the possibility of the beginning at least the 4 th Century BCE. Early Kingdoms of Tamilakam- the land between the Tirupati hills (Vengadam) and the Southernmost tip of peninsula-emerged in rice growing areas of rich agricultural potential. The principality of the Cholas-lower Kaveri Valley-corresponded roughly to modern Tanjore and Trichinopoly districts of Tamil Nadu and had its capital at Uraiyur. Kingdom of Pandyas in the valley of Tamraparni and Vaigaicorresponded to modern Tiruneledi, Madurai, Rammad districts and south Travancore and had its capital at Madurai. Cheras on the Kerala coast had their capital at its capital at Vanji.
• All these areas participated in the flourishing trade networks of time. • The premier Chola Port: Puhar (Kaveripattanam) • The major Pandya port: Korkai • Important ports of Cheras: Tondia nd Muchiri • Sources: • For political history- laudatory poems which often exaggerate the achievements and virtues of rulers. • Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions: corroborate the historicity and rough dates of some of the rulers mentioned in texts.
• The Chola, Chera and Pandya Kings were the Vendor (crowned Kings). • These great kings had their special insignia of royalty such as the staff, drum and umbrella. • Specific emblems of power: • Cholas: the tiger • Cheras: the Bow • Pandyas: the fish. • Apart from the vendor, there were a number of chieftains known as Velir. • Inheritance conflict was a feature of the politics of the time. • The kings and the chieftains also often fought against each other by forming alliances. • The lesser rulers no doubt had to pay tribute to their more powerful counterparts.
Cheras: • Earliset known Chera King: Udiyanjeral. He was succeded by his son Nedunjeral Adan. • Nedunjeral Adan: described as having defeated seven crowned kings and winning the exalted rank of Adhiraja. • Poetic exxageration credits him with extending his conquests upto the Himalaya mountains and carving the Chera emblem on them. • He defeated an enemy on the Malabar coast and captured several Yavana traders-later releasing them for ransom. • He fought a war against the Chola king, an encounter in which both the principal adversaries lost their lives.
• Kuttuvan, the younger brother of Nedunjeral Adan, is supposed to have conquered Kongu and extended the power of the Cheras up to the eastern and western oceans. • One of Nedunjeral Adan’s sons is described as an Adhiraja who wore a garland of Seven Crowns. • He achieved military success against Anji, a cheiftain of Tagodur and led an expedition agaisnt a rulernamed Nannan who held sway in the area to the North of Malabad. • Senguttuvan was another of Nedunjeral Adan’s son. • He won a war against the Mokur chieftain. • Silappadikaram, a post-Sangam work, mentions that he attacked Viyalur in the land of Nannan and took the Kodukur fortress in Kongu country.
• He backed one of the claimants of the Chola succession conflict, leading to the death of nine contenders. • He is also credited with fighting against an Arya chieftain in order to obtain stone for an image of Kannaki (the heroine of Silappadikaram) and bathing in the Ganga before bringing the stone back to his country. • Kudakka Ilanjeral is one of the last Chera Kings mentioned in the Sangam poems. • He is said to have fought victorious wars against the Cholas and Pandyas.
The Cholas: • The Chola King Karikala is associated with many heroic exploits. • A poem in the Pattupattu describes how he was deposed and • • • imprisoned early in his reign but succeded in escaping and reestablishing himself as King. Karikala is credited with having defeated a confederacy including Pandyas, Cheras and their allies at the battle of Venni. Karikala is credited with another major victory at Vahaipparandalai. Another important Chola ruler mentioned in the poem is Tondaiman Ilandiraiyan. He ruled from Kanchi, either as an independent ruler or as a subordinate of Karikala. He was a poet: four songs have survived. In later times, the Chola kingdom was sacked
The Pandyas: • The early Pandya kings included Nediyen, Palshalai Mudukudumi • • and Neanjeliyan. Nedanjeliyan was followed by another king of the same name. He is credited with many major military victories. He defeated a confederacy of Cholas, Cheras and five chieftains at a battle of Talaiyalanganam (Chera King was taken as a prisoner). He is also described as having conquered territory from othehr chieftains. Two early 2 nd Century BCE Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions from Mangulamm records gifts made to Jaina monks by a subordinate and a relative of Nedunjeliyan. The Sangam poets also eulogise various cheiftains such as Ay, Andiran and Pari for their bravery and generosity. Pari seems to have held sway in the Pandya country near the hill known as Kodungunram or Piranmalai.
• Inscriptions give glimpses into the administrative organization of the Pandyas. • In the Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions- found at several places in South India: • Kings are addressed as Ko and the chieftains as ko or Kon. • Princes have the suffixes ko or kon in their names. • The references in the Pugakur inscription to an investiture ceremony for the heir-apparent is significant. • The mention of a subordinate ruler or functionary of the Pandya King in a Mangulam inscription is also noteworthy. • A halatika (superintendent of pearls i. e an officer who supervised pearl fisheries) is mentioned in a 2 nd century BCE Mangulam inscription-this person was also a member of a merchant guild. • A 1 st Century BCE inscription from Alagarmalai refers to the Kanatikan (chief of scribes).
• The most important basis of legitimation of political power in early historical • • Soth was the eulogy of the poets. The relationship between poet and the patron in ancient Tamilakam was a reciprocal one. The poet was dependent on his patron for material support and well being. But the King was dependent on the poet. It was only the poet’s praise of his generosity and heroism that he could lead to his attaining lasting fame. Sangam poets also reflect the emergence of new bases of royal prestige and legitimacy. • The performances of Brahmanical sacrifices. • Establishing limks with northern epic tradition. • The worship and patronage of certain deities, and • The patronage of Jaina ascetics. • Several poems refers to the Kings performance of Vedic sacrifices.
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