The Social Life of Cholas

 Social Condition

• Social condition underwent a drastic change during the reign of the Cholas. Caste system became so rigid that there were social differences between the communities. Society was based on caste.
• However, it is viewed by some scholars that there was cooperation among the various castes and sub-castes in social and religious life.

Caste system

• There were castes in the society. Varnashrama Dharma was observed. The Brahmins continued to enjoy influence privilege and dominance in the society.
• They lived in Agraharams and Chaturvedi mangalam which was exclusively Brahmin villages. They were provided with tax-free lands. They were learned and had knowledge in Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas. They even held high position such as ‘Rajagur’ in the Government.
• They narrated the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha to the public at the Mandapas. People donated lands as Irayili –Vedhavirudhi, Pattaviruthi and Puranaviruthi. The inscriptions confirm this. The Chetties, the business people was an important section in the society.
• There were other communities like Vellalas, Idayars, kaikolars, Rathakaras, Paraiyas etc.

Valangai and Idangai

• There were two classes existed in the society namely Idengai and Valangai. Each had 98 castes. Valangai class consisted of rich and those who enjoyed privilege of the government. Idangai consisted of workers and had no privileges of the government as that of Valangai. They paid taxes – land tax, house tax etc. Both Valangai and Idangai had separate temples to worship. Prof. K.A.N.Sastri says: “The ninety eight sub-sects of the Idangai are again mentioned in a later inscription from Aduturai, which records the hardships to which these sub-sects were exposed at the hands of the Vanniya tenants and the Brahmana and Vellala landlards, backed by government officials.”
• Nilakanda Sastri says: “The origin of this division is unknown. Legend ascribes it to the design of Karikala Chola and also, with more plausibility, to a famous occasion when the two section of the population laid their disputes before a Chola king, one party standing on the right hand side of the monarch, the other taking a position on the left. Several regiments of the army were counted as of the Valangai in the reign of Rajaraja I. During the rule of Kulotunga I a clash between the Right and Left hand castes resulted in the burning of the village (Rajamahendra Chaturvedi mangalam). Idangai people worshipped the Goddess Parvathi and Kali and Valangai people worshipped Lord Siva and Tirumal.”

Positiion of women

• Women were respected and enjoyed a privileged position in the society. They had property rights. The Inscription refers to women of upper classes owning property in their own property in their own right and disposing of it as they chose. They were engaged in the small works. It cannot be said that their position was much improved.
• Social freedom and prestige belonged to accomplished dancing girls of the higher grade who became famous by their philanthropic works. There were learned women. Devadasis were provided grants and donations which protected them economically. There are references that some were married and led their life. Members of royal family namely Sembian Mahadevi, Vanavanmadevi and Kundavai were religious and patronized for temple building.

Marriage

• Monogamy was common in the society. Polygamy was found among the rich and the kings. Marriages were held only in day time.
• Dowry was not a customary or compulsory. But it was given to the bridegrooms either in the form of land or house or cash. It was known as Sridhanam or Seethanam.
• Social organization was based on blood relations, professions, religious belief and environment.

Sati

• Sati is mentioned in the inscriptions. Since they are few it is understood that it can hardly be regarded as a common practice in the Tamil country under the Cholas.
• There were women who lived after their husbands. Sembian Madevi was an example and she did a remarkable service for religion. Some women conducted festivals in the Siva temple on behalf of their husbands who died.

Slave system

• Slavery was found in the society. Many kinds of slaves existed records mention in stances of free men becoming slaves in order to escape starvation . Some women dedicated to the temples.
• Generally slavery in Tamil Nadu was not like the slave system that prevailed in the Western countries. The slaves in Tamilnadu were treated better than the slaves in the west.

Food and Dress

• Rice was mainly used millet, grains, pulses, gingili, green grams were used. Curd rice, milk rice and Tamarind rice were the diet of the people. Ghee was used. The Jain saints took rice and roots and Banana. The Tamils wore simple dresses and they were made of cotton and silk.
• Men used two garments- A dhoti and a turban. Women used upper and lower garments. Upper dress was known as Kachchai. Women folded the saree and inserted the frills on the left side of the hip. Tailoring was known to them.
• Mirror was used. Cosmetics were used by them. People used umbrella. They wore variety of flowers and put kumkum on the forehead. The ornaments used by women were bangles, necklaces, armlets, waist belt and anklets.

Amusements

• The pastime activities of the people during the period of Cholas were cock-fighting, horse race, elephant race, hunting, wrestling, dance, music and drama.

Beliefs

• People had blind beliefs and superstitions. They believed is ghosts. They believed in ghosts. They believed Morgosa leaves would drive ghosts. They predicted on hearing the sounds raised by the birds.

Economic condition

Agriculture and Industry

• Agriculture was the pivot of economy. It was the major occupation of the people. The independent peasant proprietor was then, as now, the backbone of social life. More lands were brought into cultivation as the result of the efforts taken by the Chola ruler. Sathyanatha Iyer says that the proper utilization of the water of the Kaveri was supplemented by the construction of great tanks like the Vairamegha tatka at Uttaramerur. Canals were dug from the rivers for the purpose of irrigation providing tanks. The rivers and the tanks which were utilized during the time of Canals are as follows:
• Rivers:
  • The Mudikondan River
  • The Vira chola North River
  • The Madhurantaka North River
  • The Vikraman River
• The Tanks:
  • Kandaradhitha Big tank
  • Viranarayanan Tank
  • Madurantaka Big tank
  • Sundara Chola Big tank
• All these tanks were constructed by the Chola rulers.
• Most of the people engaged in agriculture. Land was possessed by individuals and communities. There were peasant proprietorship and other forms of land tenure. The poor agricultural coolly depended only on agriculture. Land was given freely or donated by the ruler to the Brahmins – Ehabhoga villages, and Devadanam land (Land given to temple). The cattle used for cultivation was also taken care of. Thus, every attempt was made for cultivation of more land by the rulers.
• There was the steady progress of reclamation of forest and waste lands that was being brought under the plough.

Taxation

• Tax was collected from people. Purav later known as Irai or Kadamai was a land tax. Tax free lands were known as Iraiyili. Kinds of taxes imposed by the Government were as follows:
  • Kudimai (Tax collected from those who cultivated lands)
  • Ankadipattam (Tax on those who used water from tank)
  • Nilanirpattam (Tax on those who used water from tank)
  • Kusakkanam (Potter)
  • Tharigurai (Weaver)
  • Ilamputchi (Toddy Drapers).
• Tax evaders were punished. Land tax and other taxes were collected by Village Sabhas. The taxes so collected were deposited into the Government treasury.

Weights and Measures

• For the purpose of selling and buying things, many kinds of weights and measures were used during the Chola period.
  • Grains were measured – pidi, alakku, ulakku, uri.
  • Cubic measures were: Ma, Kuruni, manjadi and Kalanju.
  • Linear measures were viral, jan and mulam.

Trade

Internal Trade and Foreign Trade

• Weavers engaged in weaving and they produced cloths. Blacksmiths produced iron articles while goldsmiths made golden and silver ornaments. Internal trade and external trade were flourishing. There were guilds (chamber of commerce) which protected the interest of the merchants.
• Nilakandasastri says: “The metal industries and the jewelers’ art had reached a high state of perfection.” Since the inscriptions refer to limited occupations we do not have much information about occupations of the people. There were salt pans at K Janyakumari, Variyur and Ayturai and they were the more important centres of salt manufacture.
• Regarding the transportation, there were roads maintained by the local authorities. The better class of roads was ‘Peru Vali. These trunk roads connected distant parts of the country. Some of those were Andhra road, (Vadugapperuvali), road to Kongu (Kongupperuvali) there were merchants’ guilds.
• The nanadesis then were a powerful autonomous corporation of merchants whose activities apparently took little or no account of political boundaries.
• The Chola country had brisk foreign trade. Ships from China and Arabia came to the Cholamandalam ports. The Cholas had trading contact with China, Indo-China, Ceylon, Sumadra and Java. The goods which were exported from Chola country were pearls, Ivory, cardamom, pepper, perfumes, cotton textiles and coral. Horses were imported to India from the Arabs. Those who purchased horses in India and sold to the native people were called kudirai Chetties. Nilakanda sastri says: “The extensive trade described by Marco polo and Wassaf in the beginning of the fourteenth century could not have sprung up suddenly, and its beginnings must be traced to Chola times if not to an earlier period.”
• The articles namely pearls, cardamom, pepper, sandal, cosmetics were exported to foreign countries. The Chola country had maritime contact with China, South East Asian countries and Arabia and Persia.
• Barter system was also in practice. Traders were also called Nagarathar and Manikiramattar. Bonds were used for getting loans.