Sangam Age

Sangam Age Important Facts:

• The land South of Krishna River was divided into three kingdoms – Cheras, Cholas & Pandyas.
• There was continuous warfare between the three.

Sangam Age Kingdom:

Cheras:

• Emblem – Bow & Arrow.
• Capital – Vanji or Karur (modern Kerala).
• Port – Muzris (most famous), Tondi, Bandar.
• The cheras dynasty was known as “Keralaputras” in the Ashoka’s inscription.
• Senguttavan, the ‘Red Chera‘ or ‘Good Chera‘ was the greatest chera king according to the Chera poets.
• He started the ‘Pattini Cult‘, which is the worship of Kannagi & built a temple for her, the Goddess of Chastity.
• Silapadikaram, authored by his brother Ilango Adigal, describe his heroics.
• Under Kudakko Inlanjeral Iranporai (210 A.D.), Chera kingdom was captured by Pandyas.

Pandyas:

• Emblem – Fish or Carp.
• Capital – Madurai.
• Port – Korkai, Saliyur.
• They were first mentioned by Megasthenes who referred to it as being ruled by a warman.
• Nedunjhelian was the most popular king. He defeated the Cheras & Cholas in the battle of Talaiyalagnam (210 A.D.).
• According to Silapadikaram, in a fit of passion, he ordered the execution of Kovalan, the husband of Kannagi & later died broken-hearted.

Cholas:

• Emblem – Tiger or Bagh.
• Capital – Uraiyur, later Puhar.
• Port – Puhar or Kaveripattanam.
• Chola dominion was known as Tondai Mandalam or Cholamandalam.
• Uraiyur – famous for Cotton trade.
• A firmer history of Cholas begin in the 2nd century A.D. with their famous king Karikala, founding the port city of Puhar.
• He also got 160 km of embankment constructed along the Cauvery River.
• Senganan popular for his devotion to Shiva, got built 70 fine temple for Shiva.

Sangam Age Literature:

• The word Sangam is associated with South Indian history where a College or Assembly of Tamil Scholars & poets flourished under the patronage of the Pandyan kings at Madurai, between 300 B.C. & 300 A.D.
•  First Sangam – in Madurai; presided by Agastya; none work is survived.
• Second Sangam – in Kaptapuram; presided by Tolkapiyar;  work – Tolkappiyam (Tamil Grammar).
• Third Sangam – in Madurai; presided by Nakkirar; work – Entire Corpus of Sangam Literature.
• The whole literature is divided into- Melkannakku or 18 Major Works- Narrative ; kilkannakku or 18 Minor Works- Didactic.
• Thirukural or Kural by Tiruvalluvar is called the “Fifth Veda” or “Bible” of the Tamil Land. It contain discussions of Dharma, Artha, Kama & Moksha.
• Silapaddikaram or the Jewelled Anklet is an epic dealing with the love stories of Kovalan & Madhavi & Kannagi.
• Manimekhalai is a sequel to it, written by Sattalai Sattanar dealing with the daughter of Kovalan & Madhavi & is considered the “Odyssus of Tamil Poetry”.
• Roman king built a temple of Augustus at Muziris.
• Murugan, also called Subraimanyam or Karthikeya was the most important God of Tamils.

Tolkappiyam refers to the five-fold divisions of land-

• Kurinji – Hilly tracts – deity Murugan.
• Mullai – Pastoral – deity Mayon (Vishnu).
• Marudam – Agricultural – deity Indra (Vendan).
• Neydal – Coastal – deity Varunan.
• Palai – Desert – deity Korravai.

Sangam Age- Important Terms:

• Amaichchar – Minister ;
• Orrars – Spies ;
• Variyam – Unit of revenue yielding territory ;
• Ayakkanakkar – Toll tax collection ;
• Anthanar – Priests ;
• Thuthar – Envoys ;
• Vanigars – Trade & Commerce ;
• Vellalas – Agriculturists.

Q:- Which river is praised in the fifth century Tamil epic silappadikaram – Cauvery.