Kingdoms of Rivers

Unit 1

Kingdoms of Rivers

Learning Objectives

● To know about Tamil Kingdoms of Sangam age.

● To know about Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.

● To understand the administrative, economic and social conditions during Sangam period.

● To know about Kuru Nila Mannargal.

“The owner of a Scepter without bent is the Chera king!

The wealth of Rice bowl of Thanjavur is the Chola King!

The Pearl of breath taking Muthamizh is the Pandiya King!

The Chariot of cave temples is the Pallava King!

You are the gold of Tamil Nadu and Lions of Tamil Soil.”

Introduction

In the ancient period, people settled and started living along the river banks..

They produced agricultural crops. They reared cattle in the pasture lands. In this way the kingdoms of early Chera, Chola, Pandya and other kingdoms emerged along the rivers.

Kingdoms River Banks

Cheras-Poigai

Cholas-Cauvery

Pandyas-Vaigai

Pallavas-Palar

Cheras

Cheras were the forerunners of the ‘Moovendargal‛ who ruled on the banks of river Poigai and their capital city was Vanji.

The Chera country comprised of the present western districts of Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore and Nilgiris. Kerala was also a part of it. The Chera country was called Cheranadu.

The major part of the Cheranadu was surrounded by high mountains. The greatest rulers among the kings of Cheranadu were Imayavaramban Neduncheralathan and his son Senguttuvan.

The Chera King, Neduncheralathan conquered upto the Himalayas and hoisted the flag with the symbol of Bow and Arrow. Therefore he was hailed with the title "Imayavaramban Neduncheralathan".

The able ruler Cheran Senguttuvan, the son of Neduncheralathan erected the statue of Kannagi. This temple of Kannagi was built by the stones brought from the Himalayas after defeating king Kanaka Vijaya. It is also said that these stones were brought to Cheranadu on the heads of the captive soldiers.

This can be understood from the epic Silappathikaram written by Senguttuvan's brother Ilangovadigal. "Pathitru paththu" helps to know about the Chera kings during Sangam period.

Cheras :

1. River-Poigai

2. Capital-Vanji

3. Port-Thondi, Musiri

4. flag-Bow and Arrow

Try to answer

● Who were the greatest kings of early Cheras?

Imayavaramban Neduncheralathan and Cheran Senguttuvan were the greatest kings of early cholas.

● Name the epic wrote by Ilangovadigal

Silappathikaram.

Cholas

The early Cholas kept Uraiyur as their capital along the river Cauvery and ruled it. Uruthirangkannanar of Kadiyalur in his Pattinappalai describes that Cholanadu is famous for rice (Cholanadu Sorudaithu).

The Chola kingdom comprised the districts of Trichirapalli, Tanjavur, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Cuddalore.

The land of Cholas was fertile due to the river Cauvery. The kings ruled by providing justice to their subjects. The greatest ruler among the Cholas was Karikala Cholan who was also called 'Karikal Peruvalathan'.

Karikala Cholan took the responsibility of a king at a very early age and ruled efficiently. When he was very young, he was captured by his enemies and imprisoned. The room in which he was arrested was set on fire. In this fire accident, his feet burnt. Due to his charred leg, he was called as 'Karikalan'.

At a very young age he disguised as an old man and tactfully justified a case.

The Cheras and Pandyas together attacked Karikalan at Venni, Vahaipparanthalai. Finally Karikala Cholan defeated the two rulers there and was victorious. He invaded Srilanka and brought the captives from there, to build the dam Kallanai across the river Cauvery. The dam still stands erected even after 2000 years of its construction.

Cholas :

1.River-Cauvery

2.Capital -Uraiyur

3.Port-Cauvery poompattinam

4.Flag-Tiger

Let us Know

● Kallanai was constructed by the Chola king Karikalan in the 2nd century B.C.(B.C.E.). This is said to be the world's oldest dam still in use. Stones and Lime mortar were used to construct it.

Try to answer

● Who was the greatest Chola king of the ancient period?

Karikal Peruvalathan was the greatest Chola king of the ancient period.

● Name the capital and port of the Cholas.

Uraiyur was the capital of the Cholas and Cauvery Poompattinam was their port.

Pandyas

Pandyas established their rule on the bank of Vaigai with Madurai as their capital. The ancient Pandya country comprised of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Virudunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram districts.

Madurai remained as the most popular city of Sangam period. Pandiya country famous for pearls. Muthamizh sangams were held in madurai under the patronage of pandayas. The third Tamil Sangam was held in Madurai. Muthamizh flourished during the reign of Pandyas. The most famous kings were Thalaiyalanganathu Seruvendra Pandiya Nedunchezhian and Pandiya Nedunchezhian of Silapathikaram.

When Pandiya Nedunchezhian was a young boy, he fought a battle at Thalaiyalanganam against Cheras, Cholas and feudal lords (Kuru Nila Mannargal). He defeated the combined force. Therefore he got the title "Thalaiyalanganathu Seruvendra Pandiya Nedunchezhian".

Silappathikaram:

During the rule of Pandiya Nedunchezhian, he happened to prosecute Kovalan for theft and gave death sentence. Kovalan‛s wife Kannagi advocated to prove her husband‛s innocence.

When the king realized the truth,he said “Yano Arasan, Yanae kalvan”... "Kedugaven ayul"and died by falling down from his throne. Immediately his wife Kopperumdevi also sacrificed her life out of shock. The administrative system of the Pandyas was depicted by Mangudi Maruthanar of 'Madurai Kanchi'.

Pandyas:

1. River-Vaigai

2. Capital-Madurai

3. Port-Korkai

4. Flag-Fish

Try to answer

● Which Pandya mannan was mentioned in Silappathikaram?

Pandya Nedunchezhian was mentioned in Silappathikaram.

● Who wrote 'Madurai Kanchi'?

Mangudi Maruthanar wrote 'Madurai Kanchi'.

● What is inscribed on the flag of Pandyas?

Fish is inscribed on the flag of the Pandyas.

Let us Know

In ancient Madurai, there existed day time shops called Naalangadi and night time shops called Allangadi.

Ancient Tamil kingdoms (Moovendargal)

Activity 1

Fill in the blanks.

Activity 2

List out the territories of the Moovendargal in the present districts of Tamil Nadu.

Cheras : Western Districts of Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore and Nilgris.

Cholas : Trichirapalli, Tanjavur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Cuddalore.

Pandyas: Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram districts.

Pallavas

The early Pallavas ruled on the banks of river Palar with Kancheepuram as theircapital. The regions ruled by them was called Thondai mandalam. It is located in theNorth Eastern part of Tamil Nadu.

The kingdom of early Pallavas was founded by Sivaskanthavarma Pallavan. He integrated Thondaimandalam and ruled ove rthere.The greatest kings among the early Pallavas were Sivaskanthavarman and Vishnugopan.

The later Pallava period was started from the reign of Simhavishnu. The greatest kings of this period were Mahendravarman and Narasimhavarman. The greatest achievements of the Pallavas were Cave temples and Mondithic rathas.

Pallavas:

1. River-Palar

2. Capital-Kancheepuram

3. Port-Mahabalipuram

4. Flag-Nandi

Try to answer

● Which was the capital of Pallavas?

Kancheepuram was the capital of Pallavas.

● Where is Thondai mandalam in Tamil Nadu.

Thondai Mandalam is located in the North Eastern part of Tamil Nadu.

Feudal Lords (Kuru Nila Mannargal)

Apart from the Mooventhargal several Feudal lords or Kuru nila mannargal also ruled over smaller lands. The most important among them were Pehan, Pari, Nedumudi kari, Aai, Athiyaman, Nalli, Valvil Ori.

These kings were known for their generosity. Therefore they were popularly called as "Kadai ezhu vallalgal".

Try to answer

● Who offered gooseberry to the poetess Avvai?

Athiyaman offered gooseberry to the poetess Avvai

● Who put his shawl around the peacock?

Pehan put his shawl around the peacock.

Administrative Conditions

Arasan was specially called as Ko, Kon, Venthan, Kotravan, Irai by his people.

Each dynasty had their own flag, symbol, scepter, sword, drum and venkotrakudai.

The kings were not only efficient warriors but they were scholars too. Kingship became hereditary. The first son became the ruler. The kings greatly cared for the people of their country.

Hospitality (Virunthombal)

Hospitality occupied a significant place in Sangam period. Even though it is Amritam (Nectar) it was considered to be a sin, if the guest is kept outside home.

Kakkai Padiniyar, a poet got his name for praising a crow for informing the arrival of a guest. Pura Nanooru describes hospitality as one of the important duties of the Tamils.

Economic Conditions

Various arts and crafts flourished during the Sangam age. People lived happily due to the development in economy.

Paddy and Sugarcane were the most important crops cultivated. Besides these Varagu (Millets), Thinai (Millets) and Samai were also cultivated.

"Varappu uyara neer uyarum, "வரப்புயர நீர் உயரும்,

Neer uyara nel uyarum, நீர் உயர நெல் உயரும்,

Nel uyara kudi uyarum, நெல் உயரகுடி உயரும்,

kudi uyara kol uyarum, குடிஉயர கோல்உயரும்,

kol uyara kon uyarvan" கோல்உயர கோன் உயர்வான்"

- Avvaiyar- ஔவையார்

From the above, poetess Avvai tries to convey that the prosperity of the king lies in the development of agriculture.

Let us Know

Poetess Avvaiyar always blessed by saying “Varappuyara”...

This signifies the importance of agriculture in the Sangam Period.

Conditions of Women

Women were respected in the society. Monogamy was prevalent. Women were equal to men in bravery. It is said in 'Pura Nanooru' that in the first day of battle a woman lost her father, the second day she lost her husband, despite of these heavy loses she prepared and sent her son to the battle-field with great zeal.

It is also said, a woman in the Sangam age drove away a ferocious tiger with Muram (Winnow) in her hand.

Festivals

People of Sangam Age celebrated various festivals. Karthikai, Thiruvaadhirai and Harvest festivals were the most celebrated ones.

Uruthirankannanar of 'Pattinappalai' said that the most popular festival of Indira Vizha was celebrated in Puhar.

Try to answer

List out the festivals of Tamil people at present.

Pongal

Puthandu

Thaipusam

Karthigai Deepam