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Social and Cultural History of Tamil Nadu. From 9 th C. AD to 13 th C. AD. Society Under the Imperial Cholas. During the Chola period, society was in a flux, and was organized based on Varnasrama model .
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Social and Cultural History of Tamil Nadu From 9th C. AD to 13th C. AD
Society Under the Imperial Cholas • During the Chola period, society was in a flux, and was organized based on Varnasrama model. • KA.N. Sastri observes that the general atmosphere was one of social harmony and contentment with the existing order. • Another epigraph testifies that the Chola ruler granted the privileges of the blowing of two conches, the beating of drums and so on, at domestic occurrences, good or bad; the use of sandals when people went out of their homes and the plastering of the walls of their residences with lime plaster.
Cont… • We also notice proliferation of subcastes like • Kaikkola, • Chetti, • Kammalar, • and Rathakara besides the regular four Varnas. • Another feature to be noted is the further division of the subcaste into • Valangai or the right hand and • Idangai or left hand castes. • This division appears to be based on the social position of the subcastes in the society.
Cont… • The Chola kings were Saivites and constructed a number of Siva temples. • The Vaishnava faith was also prevalent during this period. • Because of the growth of temple-based Bhakti movement, the temple became the centre of all activities in each village. • K.A.N. Sastri observes that the temple became a landlord, an employer, a consumer of goods and services, a hospital, and a theatre, in short, a nucleus, which gathered round itself all that was the best in the art of civilized existence and regulated the people with the humanness born of the spirit of Dharma. • The medieval Indian temple had few parallels in human society.
Literary works • Owing to the growth of devotion based temple worship of icons of Siva and Vishnu, the saints propagated their faith in the vernacular language of Tamil. • Of this category, the most important one was that of Sekkiliar’s Periapuranam or Tim Hondapurana. This work is venerated as the sixth Veda. • The other important devotional literary works are Tiruvalaiyadal Puranam of Nandi and Ramanuja-Nurrandai of Amundanor. • Among secular literary works, the most important are Sivakasindamani of Tirukkadevar, Kamban’s Ramayana and Jayagondar’s Kalingattupparani. • Vikramachola Kulottuga II and Rajaraja II patronized Ottakuttan as a court poet.
Cont… • Ottakuttan wrote an Ula on each of his patrons. • He also appears to have written Parani recording of VikramaChola’sKalinga War and Pillaittamil on Kulottuga II. • Grammatical works like Virasoliyam of Budhamitraand Nannul by Pavanandiare very important works. • Sanskrit literature was also encouraged by the Chola rulers. • Vaishnava religious works were composed in Sanskrit.
Cont… • It was naturally marked by the widespread practice and patronage of literature. • The Prabandha form became dominant and the systematic treatment of Saiva ‘siddhanta’ in philosophical treatises began. • A quantum of Vaishnava devotional literature and commentaries on the canon also came into existence. • Interestingly, Jaina and Buddhist authors also flourished in this period.
Art and Architecture • The Chola kings built many temples throughout their kingdoms. The temples of early Cholas are found in large number in the Tanjore region and the former Pudukottai region. • These Chola temples reveal the gradual evolution of the Chola art and architecture. • The Chola kings earlier built brick temples. Later they built stone temples. • The first Chola ruler Vijayalaya Chola built temple at Narttamalai. This is a stone temple. It is one of the finest examples of the early Chola temple architecture.
Cont… • Balasubramaniya temple of Kannanur in Pudukottai region and Thirukkatalai temple were built during the period of Aditya-I. • Nageswarar temple at Kumbakonam is famous for sculptural work. King Parantaka I built Koranganatha temple at Srinivasanallur (Trichy District), Muvarkoil of Kodumbalur. • They are good examples of the later Chola architecture and sculpture.
Cont… • Besides all these temples of the Chola period, the greatest landmark in the history of south Indian architecture is Brhadeeswarar temple at Tanjore. • This is also called as big temple. • It has many architectural significance. • It was built by Rajaraja I. • This is one of the largest and tallest temples in Tamil nadu. • Rajendra Chola built a temple at Gangai Konda Cholapuram which is also equally famous. • King Rajendra Chola added credit to the Chola art and architecture. • King Kulothunga I built a temple for Sun God at Kumbakonam. This temple is first of its kind in the south Indian architecture. • Rajaraja II built Airavatheeswarar temple at Dharasuram.
Special features of Chola Architecture • The Cholas followed the Pallava style of architecture. • Sanctum of the Chola temples are both circular and square in size. • Inner side of the external walls and the sanctum were beautified. • On the upper side of the sanctum special vimanas are built. • Dome shaped sikhara and kalasa were also there on the top of Gopurams. • Chola temples are noted for the sculptures and ornamental works. • Gopurams of these temples were meaningful. • Many temples are having pillared mandapams namely arthamandapa, mahamandapa and nandi mandpa. • Sculptures and inscriptions are also fixed on the walls of these temples.
Sculpture • Stone and metal sculptures are found in plenty in Chola temples. They depict the socio religious ideas of the Chola period. • The Nataraja sculpture is world famous not only for its beauty but also for its spiritual meaning. • Vishnu idol is placed in Vaishnava temples. A spiritual calmness is depicted in sculptural representations of Alwars. • The Cholas made use of sculptures to decorate the walls, pillars and roofs. • The value of sculpture is very much felt on Chola works. The decorative sculptures are still there. Realism dominated sculpture of the Chola period. • Scenes from Ramayanam, Mahabharatam, Puranas and lives of the 63 Nayanmars are sculptured in narrative panels on the walls of temples.
Portraits • The Cholas excelled the Pallavasin the art of portrait making. • The best specimens of portraits are found on the walls of Koranganatha temple and Nageswarasamy temple. • The portraits of Cholamadevi and Kulothunga-III are there in Kalahasti temple. They are good examples of Chola art of portrait making.
Paintings • The art of paintings flourished, Figures were painted with realism. • The proficiency of the Chola painters are seen on their paintings. • Paintings in Big temple are good examples. • Scenes of Periyapuranam are beautifully depicted Kailasanathar temple at Kanchipuram, Vishnu temple at Malaiyadipatti contain fine specimen of the Chola paintings. • Rajaraja-I and Rajendra contributed more for the development of the art of painting during the Chola period.
Music • During the Chola period the art of music was developed. Twenty three panns were used in music. • The seven music alphabets sa. ri, ga, ma, pa, da, ni were used. • The hymns of Alwars and Nayanmars were sung in every temple. • Nambiandar nambi and Nathamuni contributed much for the development of music. Books were written on music. • Several musicians were appointed in Brahadeeswarar temple. • Drums, udukkai, veena, flute were famous music instruments and Sagadakkottigal formed a group of musicians. • Endowments were made to promote music. Musicians were honored by the kings. • Temples and mutts imparted training in vocal and instrumental music.
Dance • The Chola kings patronized the art of dance. • Bharatha natyam and kathakali were two types of dances performed during the Chola period. • Lord Siva was represented as the exponent of Karana dance. • Natarajar temple at Chidamparam and Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam have dancing poses of Lord Nataraja. • Rajaraja I appointed 400 dancing girls in the big temple at Tanjore. • There were two dance directors to coordinate these dancing girls. Dance dramas were also performed on stages at festival times. • Chola kings made endowments to promote the art of dancing.
Drama • The Cholas promoted the art of drama. • and dance were affiliated to drama. Many types of theatres and stages were there to perform dramas. • Rajarajeswara natakam and Rajarajavijayam were the dramas enacted during festival times. • Drama actors received honors from the Chola kings. • Koothu is one type of drama. Inscriptions refer about Ariyakoothu, Chakki koothu and Santhi koothu.
