Ancient South India Initial Historical timeline in perspective with Sangam Literature

Sangam Literature description

Geographical Location of South India
- Surrounded by sea shores, Creating triangular peninsula,
- One side western ghats, other side eastern ghats
- Godawari, Krishana, Tung Bhadra, Kaveri Important due to sacredness and live
giving point of view
- Nilgiri Plateau, Pal ghat,
- Entrance to south India
- Between Karnataka and Malbar - Coimbetore Plain
- Near Godawari -Trimbak Ghati,
- Sopara Kalyan Primp Ghati,
- Between Junnar and Konkan Nana Ghat
- Between Ratnagiri and Kolhapur Aaramboli Ghat
- Sea shores developed as Ports, used for International trades
- Eastern Ghats have low altitudes comparatively so southern rivers flow towards east
which used for local and connected transport
Sangam Literature-
- Its Group/Mandal/Sangham/School of thoughts of Tamil Poets
- No exact time and date formation of this literature is mentioned or proved or matched
with other counter and prevailing literature in other parts of country, hence not much
useful for Political situation at broader perspective
- Created in large quantity but currently available is very small parts 2200+
- Mainly Integrated Poems Narinai, Kurundohai, Aengerunur,Patupattu, Paditupattu,
Paripadal, Kalitohai, Ahnanur, Purnanur
- Grammer - Tolkapiyam
- Male + Female Poets
- At end of the poems- Criticism, situation of creations and name of Poets available
- Criticism are doubtful due to Exaggeration about related kings
- Madura 3 Sangam- Ireynar Aagpporul -8 AD doubtful due to Exaggerated
- Exaggeration No other proof from other literature ,
- Timelimes of Dynasty not proved
- Life of these 3 Sangams is 9990 years which is exaggeration
- Criticism is useful for identifying the dynasty
- As per most historian- generation of 4-5 or 150 years
- Mostly written abour Cher dynasty
- Evolution of Tamil started, Existence of Sanskrit language
- Sangam provide medial to flourish Tamil
- Creation of Sangam 100 AD to 250 AD
Initial history of South Indian and connection between Sangam Literature
- Megalithic civilisation
- Proof as Red and Black clay Potteries and Iron age utensils collected from Burial
Center and Residential area from Karnatak, Andhra and Tamilnadu
- Same type of Burial center and other pottery and utensils described in Sangam texts
like Purnanur, Narinai, Patidutpattu
- As per historian like Whiler, Hemenford, Ramsharan Sharma sangam text describes
history of Megalithic age 300 BC to 2 AD
- Life of Megalithic age Residence at Slope of hills, irrigation from rivers started,
then start living at deltas
- Worship of Murugan and Kartikey as per Sangam Text
- Effect of Northern Vaidik tradition on megalithic civilisation
Political View from description from Sangam Text :
- Pandy, Chol, Cher - Dynasties
Cher
- Territory of Krishna river
- 100 BC all 3 existed - Pandy, Chol, Cher
- Called as Tramir desh sangatam
- Kharvel of Kaling defeated all 3
- Udiyanjeral the Cher king- 130 AC, Exaggeration He arrange foods for all
Kurukshetra Worrior
- Exaggeration of accolades because Kings provided shelter to poets
- Son of Udiyanjerul Nedunjerul brothers Kuttuvan and Shenguttuvan,
Madaramjeral Iramporai
- All these king are dextrous in war strategy, naval exercise and administration
- Great King of Chers was Perunjeral Iramporai defeated both Pandy and Chol
- All were having Title of Adhiraj
- Other contemporary rulers were Aay, Paari,
- Exaggeration of accolades because Kings provided shelter to poets which creates
confusion of ruling territory, timeline and administration
Chol
- King of Chol Karikal 190 AD description available in Pattinpaley,
Shilpaddikaram and Pattupatu
- He cut the forest for farming, irrigation available, business trade flourish
- Done Vaidik yagnas
- Ususally fighting Karikal v/s Nalngilli v/s Nendujelian
Pandy
- King Nendujelian 290 AD won the war of Taleyalanganam
- Poets like Kilar, Nakkirar, Bhanguddi in Poems like Pattupatu, Maduraikanji -
exaggeratly accolade his territorial expansion and winning
- Bhangudi created Pattupatu described 3 Pandy kings Nediyon, Palshalai
Mudukudumi, Nendujelian
- Spectacle View :
- Admin. Wastage of money on Poetry and cultural activity was very high
- Existing of Kul-Sangh means Family Union in rulling
- Male Head of family member ruled together
- Continues hereditary dynasty did not exist, ruled altogether
- Internal wars for ruling the state
- Ethical behaviour, non-discrimination, parity, presence in Manranam (Daily General
Meeting), Help Brahmin and provide shelter to poets and other Cultural activist is
expected
- Agriculture was main source of revenue
- Trade and business flourish
- Foreign trade was prevailed very well
- Professional army was necessary and available easly, Head of army called as Anadi,
Exist of Female Security guard was available
- Marwa tribes was specialised for royal army and perform Vetchi ( Stealing of Cow )
as per Purunarur poem
Social Description by Sangam Literature :
- Sangam text emphasised on social phenomena
- At that time many caste and classis were rise in South India
- Vaidik Yagna by Kings prevailed, usage of too much money for yagna and made
Brahmin happy
- Brahmin were placed at acme position in administration
- Brahmin were eat non-vage and drink Tadi which might not consider demerit at that
time
- Velir, Arshu and Kavidi class of people were known as good warrior
- Velir were landlords of Velaver class and others were small farmworker who had not
enough land
- Pulleyan, Shepherds and Aniyar are some of caste of social system
- Forest tribes were in great misery
- Royal army or admin. People were very rich
- Economic disparity , discrimination and exploitation prevailed in system
- Pattini Puja means worship of Wife/one women as ideologically and honestly were
exist which indicate maternal or female dominated thinking of contemporary people
- But overall situation for women were not in good, rich women stayed home poor were
work on farm
- As per Sangam age grammar encyclopaedia Tolkapiyyam, marriage was formed as
one of the tradition/sanskar by Aryans in south with help of vedas,
- There were 8 type of marriages like Panch Tinney, Kaikiddey, Pairundinney etc.
- For Justic and disputes people used to go to Manram or meeting
- There was quick justice system available and prisons were exist as per poem Kurul
- Every village have their own Manram
- Self-rule were granted for village by rulers, which was seeding as element of
Gramsabha in today world
Economic Life described by Sangam Literature
- Farming is main economical activity, barter system
- Agriculture/ farm revenue was main source of income for state
- All employee, Army and admin spending depend upon this revenue
- Land of South Indian was compatible for Agriculture
- Meat, Fish, Grain, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Fruits vegetable, cotton, silk, hand made
articles, Ivory, Malmal
- As per ancient quotation In the space of Elephant is laying on ground , as much as 7
men can feed if farming on this land occurs
- Kaveri water for irrigation
- Farming of sugarcane started, after processing
- Port for foreign trade : Puhar
- Puhar- Very rich city due to foreign trade, Multi storey buildings and luxuries
residence seen every where
- Ships were anchored at port in luminous numbers with different types of flags which
indicated their respected good like cotton, silk , etc
- Other ports like Shaliyur, Bandar
- Tondi, Mushir, Puhar Ports, flooded with Greek, Roman, Persian, Mishr, Chinese,
Arabi sailors and traders
- Periplace of the Arithian Sea book- is having proof of this trades which
conglomerated with sangam literature
Name : Maulik Joshi