28 Nov

Sangam Period in South India: An Overview

Content

• Introduction
• Sangam
• Sangam Literature: Major Source for Sangam Age
• Political History of Sangam Period
• Sangam Polity and Administration
• Sangam Society
• Economy of the Sangam Age
• FAQs

Introduction

• The period roughly between 3rd century B.C. and 3rd century A.D. in South India, covering the region south of the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, is known as the Sangam Period.
• It derives its name from the Sangam academies, gatherings of Tamil poets and scholars, which flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai.
• These academies acted as bodies of literary experts who assessed and refined poetic compositions. The literature produced in these assemblies forms the earliest known body of Dravidian literature, preserved as anthologies.

Sangam

According to Tamil tradition, three Sangams, collectively known as Muchchangam were held in ancient South India:

First Sangam

• Believed to have convened at Madurai, attended by gods and legendary sages.
• No literary works have survived from this Sangam.

Second Sangam

• Held at Kapadapuram.
• Only Tolkappiyam survives from this era.

Third Sangam

• Conducted again at Madurai under Pandya patronage.
• Several texts from this period have survived, serving as critical sources for reconstructing Sangam history.

Sangam Literature: Major Source for Sangam Age

The Sangam corpus consists of grammar, anthologies, ethical literature, and epics. Major components include:

Tolkappiyam

• Written by Tolkappiyar; considered the oldest Tamil literary work.
• Primarily a grammar text, but also provides valuable insights into political structures, social classes, and economic life of the period.

Ettutogai (Eight Anthologies)

• Includes works such as: Aingurunooru, Narrinai, Aganaooru, Purananooru, Kuruntogai, Kalittogai, Paripadal, Padirruppatu.
• These poems describe love, war, social norms, heroism, values, and daily life.

Pattuppattu (Ten Idylls)

• Contains long narrative poems such as:Thirumurugarruppadai, Porunararruppadai, Sirupanarruppadai, Perumpanarruppadai, Mullaippattu, Nedunalvadai, Maduraikkanji, Kurinjippattu, Pattinappalai, Malaipadukadam.
• These provide information on kings, trade routes, urban centers, and cultural life.

Pathinenkilkanakku

• A set of 18 moral and ethical works.
• The most significant is Tirukkural by Thiruvalluvar, emphasizing virtue, wealth, and love.

Epics

• Silappathikaram by Ilango Adigal and Manimegalai by Sittalai Sattanar.
• Offer deep insights into society, administration, gender norms, and religious practices.

Other Sources

• The Greek authors like Megasthenes, Strabo, Pliny and Ptolemy mentioning about commercial trade contacts between the West and South India.
• The Ashokan inscriptions mentioned about the Chera, Chola and Pandya rulers to the south of Mauryan empire.
• Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela of Kalinga also has mention of Tamil kingdoms.

Political History of Sangam Period

South India, during the Sangam Age, was ruled by three dynasties-the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. The main source of information about these kingdoms is traced from the literary references of Sangam Period.

Cheras

• The Cheras controlled the central and northern parts of Kerala and the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu.
• Vanji was their capital and the ports of the west coast, Musiri and Tondi, were under their control.
• The emblem of Cheras was “bow and arrow”.
• The Pugalur inscription of the 1st century AD has reference to three generations of Chera rulers.
• The Cheras owed its importance to trade with the Romans. They also built a temple of Augustus there.
• The greatest ruler of Cheras was Senguttuvan, the Red Chera or the Good Chera, who belonged to the 2nd century A.D.
• The epic Silapathikaram chronicles his military achievements and details his expedition to the Himalayas, where he defeated many North Indian rulers.
• Senguttuvan introduced the Pattini cult or the worship of Kannagi as the ideal wife in Tamil Nadu.

He was the first to send an embassy to China from South India.

Cholas

• The Cholas controlled the central and northern parts of Tamil Nadu.
• Their core area of rule was the Kaveri delta, later known as Cholamandalam.
• Their capital was Uraiyur (near Tiruchirapalli town) and Puhar or Kaviripattinam was an alternative royal residence and chief port town.
• Tiger was their emblem.
• The Cholas also maintained an efficient navy.
• King Karikala was a famous king of the Sangam Cholas.
• Pattinappalai portrays his life and military conquests.
• Many Sangam poems mention the Battle of Venni where he defeated the confederacy of Cheras, Pandyas and eleven minor chieftains.
• Karikala’s military achievements made him the overlord of the whole Tamil region of that time.
• Trade and commerce flourished during his reign.
• He founded the port city of Puhar (identical with Kaveripattinam) and constructed 160 km of embankment along the Kaveri River.

Pandyas

• The Pandyas ruled from Madurai.
• Korkai was their main port, located near the confluence of Thampraparani with the Bay of Bengal. It was famous for pearl fishery and chank diving.
• Their emblem was the “Fish”.
• They patronized the Tamil Sangams and facilitated the compilation of the Sangam poems.
• Rulers kept a regular army.
• Trade was prosperous and their pearls were famous.
• Sati, caste, idol worship were common. Society used to treat widows badly.
• They adopted the Vedic religion of sacrifice and patronized Brahmin priests.
• Their power declined with the invasion of a tribal group called the Kalabhras.
• After the Sangam Age, this dynasty lost its significance for more than a century, only to rise once again at the end of the 6th century.

Sangam Polity and Administration

• During the Sangam period hereditary monarchy was the form of government.
• Each of the dynasties of Sangam age had a royal emblem – tiger for the Cholas, carp/Fish for the Pandyas, and bow for the Cheras.
• A wide body of officials, categorised into five councils, used to assist the king.
• They were ministers (amaichar), priests (anthanar), envoys (thuthar), military commanders (senapathi), and spies (orrar).
• Here is the sentence in active voice:
• Each ruler maintained a regular army, and they organized the military administration efficiently.
• The chief source of state’s income was land revenue while a custom duty was also imposed on foreign trade.
• Major source of fulfilling the royal treasury was the booty captured in wars.
• Authorities maintained and guarded the roads and highways to prevent robbery and smuggling.

Sangam Society

• Tolkappiyam refers to the Five-fold division of lands – Kurinji (hilly tracks), Mullai (pastoral), Marudam (agricultural), Neydal (coastal) and Palai (desert).
• Tolkappiyam also refers to four castes namely arasar(Ruling Class), anthanar, vanigar(carried on trade and commerce) and vellalar(Agriculturists).
• Ancient early tribal groups like Thodas, Irulas, Nagas and Vedars lived in this period.

Position of Women during Sangam Age

• A lot of information is available in the Sangam literature to understand the position of women during the Sangam age.
• Women had respect and were allowed intellectual pursuits. There were women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar who flourished and contributed to Tamil literature.
• Families allowed women to choose their life partners. But life of widows was miserable.
• There is also a mention about the practice of Sati being prevalent in the higher strata of society.

Religion

• The primary deity of the Sangam period was Murugan, who is hailed as Tamil God.
• The worship of Murugan was having an ancient origin and the festivals relating to God Murugan was mentioned in the Sangam literature.
• Murugan was honoured with six abodes known as Arupadai Veedu.
• Other gods worshipped during the Sangam period were Mayon (Vishnu), Vendan (Indiran), Varunan and Korravai.
• People in the Sangam period erected the Hero Stone or Nadu Kal to honor the bravery shown by warriors in battle.

Economy of the Sangam Age

• Agriculture was the chief occupation where rice was the most common crop.
• The handicraft included weaving, metal works and carpentry, ship building and making of ornaments using beads, stones and ivory.
• Internal and external traders highly demanded these items during the peak of Sangam-period commerce.
• People attained high expertise in spinning and weaving cotton and silk clothes. These were in great demand in the western world especially for the cotton clothes woven at Uraiyur.
• The port city of Puhar became an important place of foreign trade, as big ships entered this port containing precious goods.
• Other significant ports of commercial activity were Tondi, Musiri, Korkai, Arikkamedu and Marakkanam.
• Many gold and silver coins that were issued by the Roman Emperors like Augustus, Tiberius and Nero have been found in all parts of Tamil Nadu indicating flourishing trade.
• Major exports of the Sangam age were cotton fabrics and spices like pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric along with ivory products, pearls and precious stones.
• Major imports for the traders were horses, gold, and sweet wine.

End of Sangam Age

The Sangam period slowly witnessed its decline towards the end of the 3rd century A.D. The Kalabhras occupied the Tamil country post-sangam period between 300 AD to 600 AD, whose period was called an interregnum or ‘dark age‘ by earlier historians.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Sangam Age?

A: The Sangam Age covers the period in South India, roughly between the 3rd century BCE and 3rd century CE, during which the Pandya kings of Madurai fostered the flourishing of Tamil literature, culture, and polity.

Q2. Why is it called the Sangam Period?

A: People call it the Sangam Period because scholars and poets gathered in the Sangam assemblies, academies supported by royal patronage, to compose and compile Tamil literature.

Q3. What were the main features of Sangam society?

A: Sangam society was hierarchical, with kings, chieftains, and a wide body of officials. It had a strong military organization, thriving agriculture, trade, and craft production, and allowed women some social freedoms, such as choosing life partners.

Q4. What were the economic activities during the Sangam Age?

A: Agriculture was the primary occupation, supplemented by cattle rearing, hunting, and extensive trade. People highly developed the spinning and weaving of cotton and silk, and traders flourished in internal and external trade.

Q5. How was the administration organized during the Sangam Age?

A: Officials, grouped into five councils, assisted the kings. Each ruler efficiently organized the military and maintained a regular army, while authorities maintained and guarded roads and highways to ensure safe trade and travel.

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