Social and Cultural History of Tamil Nadu From

Social and Cultural History of Tamil Nadu From 9 th C. AD to 13 th C. AD

Society Under the Imperial Cholas • During the Chola period, society was in a flux, and was organized based on Varnasrama model. • KA. N. Sastri observes that the general atmosphere was one of social harmony and contentment with the existing order. • Another epigraph testifies that the Chola ruler granted the privileges of the blowing of two conches, the beating of drums and so on, at domestic occurrences, good or bad; the use of sandals when people went out of their homes and the plastering of the walls of their residences with lime plaster.

Cont… • We also notice proliferation of subcastes like – Kaikkola, – Chetti, – Kammalar, – and Rathakara besides the regular four Varnas. • Another feature to be noted is the further division of the subcaste into – Valangai or the right hand – Idangai or left hand castes. • This division appears to be based on the social position of the subcastes in the society.

Cont… • The Chola kings were Saivites and constructed a number of Siva temples. • The Vaishnava faith was also prevalent during this period. • Because of the growth of temple-based Bhakti movement, the temple became the centre of all activities in each village. • K. A. N. Sastri observes that the temple became a landlord, an employer, a consumer of goods and services, a hospital, and a theatre, in short, a nucleus, which gathered round itself all that was the best in the art of civilized existence and regulated the people with the humanness born of the spirit of Dharma. • The medieval Indian temple had few parallels in human society.

Literary works • Owing to the growth of devotion based temple worship of icons of Siva and Vishnu, the saints propagated their faith in the vernacular language of Tamil. • Of this category, the most important one was that of Sekkiliar’s Periapuranam or Tim Hondapurana. This work is venerated as the sixth Veda. • The other important devotional literary works are Tiruvalaiyadal Puranam of Nandi and Ramanuja-Nurrandai of Amundanor. • Among secular literary works, the most important are Sivakasindamani of Tirukkadevar, Kamban’s Ramayana and Jayagondar’s Kalingattupparani. • Vikramachola Kulottuga II and Rajaraja II patronized Ottakuttan as a court poet.

Cont… • Ottakuttan wrote an Ula on each of his patrons. • He also appears to have written Parani recording of Vikrama Chola’s Kalinga War and Pillaittamil on Kulottuga II. • Grammatical works like Virasoliyam of Budhamitra and Nannul by Pavanandi are very important works. • Sanskrit literature was also encouraged by the Chola rulers. • Vaishnava religious works were composed in Sanskrit.

Cont… • It was naturally marked by the widespread practice and patronage of literature. • The Prabandha form became dominant and the systematic treatment of Saiva ‘siddhanta’ in philosophical treatises began. • A quantum of Vaishnava devotional literature and commentaries on the canon also came into existence. • Interestingly, Jaina and Buddhist authors also flourished in this period.

Art and Architecture under the Imperial Cholas

Art and Architecture • The Chola kings built many temples throughout their kingdoms. The temples of early Cholas are found in large number in the Tanjore region and the former Pudukottai region. • These Chola temples reveal the gradual evolution of the Chola art and architecture. • The Chola kings earlier built brick temples. Later they built stone temples. • The first Chola ruler Vijayalaya Chola built temple at Narttamalai. This is a stone temple. It is one of the finest examples of the early Chola temple architecture.

Narttamalai, Pudukottai dt.

Cont… • Balasubramaniya temple of Kannanur in Pudukottai region and Thirukkatalai temple were built during the period of Aditya-I. • Nageswarar temple at Kumbakonam is famous for sculptural work. King Parantaka I built Koranganatha temple at Srinivasanallur (Trichy District), Muvarkoil of Kodumbalur. • They are good examples of the later Chola architecture and sculpture.

Koranganathar Temple

Cont… • Besides all these temples of the Chola period, the greatest landmark in the history of south Indian architecture is Brhadeeswarar temple at Tanjore. • This is also called as big temple. • It has many architectural significance. • It was built by Rajaraja I. • This is one of the largest and tallest temples in Tamil nadu. • Rajendra Chola built a temple at Gangai Konda Cholapuram which is also equally famous. • King Rajendra Chola added credit to the Chola art and architecture. • King Kulothunga I built a temple for Sun God at Kumbakonam. This temple is first of its kind in the south Indian architecture. • Rajaraja II built Airavatheeswarar temple at Dharasuram.

Brhadeeswarar temple at Tanjore

Gangai Konda Cholapuram

Airavatheeswarar temple at Dharasuram

Special features of Chola Architecture • • • The Cholas followed the Pallava style of architecture. Sanctum of the Chola temples are both circular and square in size. Inner side of the external walls and the sanctum were beautified. On the upper side of the sanctum special vimanas are built. Dome shaped sikhara and kalasa were also there on the top of Gopurams. Chola temples are noted for the sculptures and ornamental works. Gopurams of these temples were meaningful. Many temples are having pillared mandapams namely arthamandapa, mahamandapa and nandi mandpa. Sculptures and inscriptions are also fixed on the walls of these temples.

Sculpture • Stone and metal sculptures are found in plenty in Chola temples. They depict the socio religious ideas of the Chola period. • The Nataraja sculpture is world famous not only for its beauty but also for its spiritual meaning. • Vishnu idol is placed in Vaishnava temples. A spiritual calmness is depicted in sculptural representations of Alwars. • The Cholas made use of sculptures to decorate the walls, pillars and roofs. • The value of sculpture is very much felt on Chola works. The decorative sculptures are still there. Realism dominated sculpture of the Chola period. • Scenes from Ramayanam, Mahabharatam, Puranas and lives of the 63 Nayanmars are sculptured in narrative panels on the walls of temples.

Natarajar

Bronze idols

Siva and Parvati

Sculpture in the Temple Gopuram

Portraits • The Cholas excelled the Pallavas in the art of portrait making. • The best specimens of portraits are found on the walls of Koranganatha temple and Nageswarasamy temple. • The portraits of Cholamadevi and Kulothunga-III are there in Kalahasti temple. They are good examples of Chola art of portrait making.

Rajaraja I and his Guru

Dancing girls

A dog

Paintings • The art of paintings flourished, Figures were painted with realism. • The proficiency of the Chola painters are seen on their paintings. • Paintings in Big temple are good examples. • Scenes of Periyapuranam are beautifully depicted Kailasanathar temple at Kanchipuram, Vishnu temple at Malaiyadipatti contain fine specimen of the Chola paintings. • Rajaraja-I and Rajendra contributed more for the development of the art of painting during the Chola period.

Chola Paintings

Tanjore

Music • During the Chola period the art of music was developed. Twenty three panns were used in music. • The seven music alphabets sa. ri, ga, ma, pa, da, ni were used. • The hymns of Alwars and Nayanmars were sung in every temple. • Nambiandar nambi and Nathamuni contributed much for the development of music. Books were written on music. • Several musicians were appointed in Brahadeeswarar temple. • Drums, udukkai, veena, flute were famous music instruments and Sagadakkottigal formed a group of musicians. • Endowments were made to promote music. Musicians were honored by the kings. • Temples and mutts imparted training in vocal and instrumental music.

Music composing

Dance • The Chola kings patronized the art of dance. • Bharatha natyam and kathakali were two types of dances performed during the Chola period. • Lord Siva was represented as the exponent of Karana dance. • Natarajar temple at Chidamparam and Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam have dancing poses of Lord Nataraja. • Rajaraja I appointed 400 dancing girls in the big temple at Tanjore. • There were two dance directors to coordinate these dancing girls. Dance dramas were also performed on stages at festival times. • Chola kings made endowments to promote the art of dancing.

A posture

Drama • The Cholas promoted the art of drama. • and dance were affiliated to drama. Many types of theatres and stages were there to perform dramas. • Rajarajeswara natakam and Rajarajavijayam were the dramas enacted during festival times. • Drama actors received honors from the Chola kings. • Koothu is one type of drama. Inscriptions refer about Ariyakoothu, Chakki koothu and Santhi koothu.