Component-I (A) – Personal details:

Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy

Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.

Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy

Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati . &
Dr. K. Muniratnam
Director i/c, Epigraphy, ASI, Mysore.

Prof. S.Rajavelu
Tamil University, Thanjavur.

Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy

Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.

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Component-I (B) – Description of module:

Subject Name Indian Culture

Paper Name Indian Epigraphy

Module Name/Title Uttaramerur Inscription of Parantaka Chola I

Module Id IC / IEP / 36

Knowledge of English
Pre requisites Basic Knowledge in South Indian History, Epigraphy,
South Indian Scripts and Languages, Knowledge of
politics

To know the South Indian History,

To know the Local self-Government of Ancient Tamil nadu

Objectives To Know the Procedure of Election system of Ancient

Tamil nadu
To understand the qualifications of the members of Local
body in Ancient time

Inscription / Cholas / Local Administration Sabha / Ur /

Keywords Brahmadeyam / Perunkuri Sabha / Variyams / Kuda-ollai /
pot-ticket system

E-text (Quadrant-I) :

1. Introduction

Democracy is a Greek word meaning “Rule of people” i.e.,

Democracy is a modern term which means the citizens exercise
their power directly or elect their representatives to form the
Government. The term "democracy" first appeared in ancient
Greek political and philosophical thought in the city-state
of Athens . The word comes from demos, "common people"
and kratos, strength

Cleisthenes - Courtesy
Wikipedia

Athenians established the first democracy in 508–507 BC., founded by Cleisthenes.

Cleisthenes is referred to as "the father of Athenian democracy. According to Political
scientist Larry Diamond, Democracy generally consists of four main elements. (a) A political
system for Choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections (b) The
active participation of the people, as citizens in politics and civic life (c) Protection of human
rights of all citizens and (d) A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to
all citizens. These are the important characteristic features of Democracy. Though
Democracy, the modern concept was practically came in to force in Finland in the year 1906.
Finland was the first government to form the democratic government at national level in the

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world. However the principles of democracy are significantly appeared in some of the
inscriptions in Tamil nadu especially it was followed in a village at Uttaramerur around 10th
century C.E. Two inscriptions from this village attest the local self-Government, Elective
bodies, Election system and qualifications of the candidates have been narrated in vivid
manner. This is the earliest evidence of a kind of rule of the people so far known in the
world.

2. Uttaramerur

Uttaramerur, is an insignificant village at present located in Uttaramerur Taluk of

Kanchipuram District in Tamil nadu. In the historical period of the Pallavas and the medieval
Cholas it played a vital role in Local village administration. The village Uttaramerur is
situated 26 Kms to the south east of Kanchipuram, the Headquarter of the District. The
antiquity of the village goes back to Iron Age. The megalithic tomb in the vicinity of the paddy
field located on the north western side of the village attest the village was once a flourishing
place of Early historic settlement around 5th century B.C.E. The village Uttaramerur has
many historical temples. Nearly 100 inscriptions have been copied from this village which
was engraved on the walls of the temples. The inscriptions throw more light on the socio-
political economic aspects of this village.

The name Uttaramerur or Uttaramallur is the

Uttaramerur . derivation of its location and its environment. The
word uttara meaning north; meru denotes a hill or
mountain. However there is no hill or mountain is
located in the vicinity of the village. The name
could be derived from the Pallava’s or Bana king’s
title. The Bana kings generally adorned their title
ending with meru. For example, Jayameru or
Prabhumeru, these names might have been
influenced by the Pallavas, and named the village
as Uttaramerur. The earliest inscription of this
village belongs to Pallava Nandivarman II. In the
inscriptions of Pallavas, the village is referred to
as Uttarameru Chaturvedimangalam, a settlement
occupied by the learned Brahmins who were well
versed in four Vedas. The name of the village
Uttaramerur - courtesy wikipedia suggested that the village was flourished during
the time of Pallavas around 6th -7th century C.E.
However as its megalithic association clearly suggest that the settlement in this place have
been started during the early historic period around 5th century B.C.E.

3. Temples of the village Uttaramerur

Though the village has innumerable temples of historical period, but seven major temples
played a major role in temple and village administrations as well as religious activities in the
past. They are 1.Vaikuntha Perumal 2. Sundaravarada
Perumal temple 3. Subrahmanya temple, 4. Kailsanatha
temple, 5.Kolambesvara temple. 6.Madari Amman temple 7.
Irattaittali –Isvara temple. Besides, the village housed with
many village deities.

Planned village according to vāstu

The village was formed with vāstu. Each and every street in
the village runs towards east- west orientation and crosses

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Sundaravaradaperumal temple-
Uttaramerur – Courtesy wikipedia
through north south direction. On the western side of the village large irrigational tank is
located. The channels runs from west to east ward direction and feeding water to the
agricultural fields in the village. From one of the inscriptions found engraved on the walls of
the Sundaravarada Perumal temple reveals the fact the village has formed with the
guidelines prescribed in the vāstu and Mānasāstra. All the cardinal points of the village
invariably occupied by Digpālas (Cardinal deities) and other village deities like
Durga,Saptamātrika etc. Other brahmanical temples occupied in the center of the village.
The village was formed with well planned. One of the inscriptions describes that the best
among those who know the science of architecture is he who has thoroughly learnt that
science and knows also the essential features of the decorative art. The same inscription
mentions the name of the architect Paramesvara and his ability in architectural science in
the Village Uttaramerur.

4. Inscriptions

Nearly hundred inscriptions have been reported from various temples at Uttaramerur. The
Sundaravaradaperumal temple and Vaikuntha Perumal temple were the main temples of the
village and located in the centre place of the village. On the western side of the village there
is a huge irrigational tank which is a major water source for the agricultural lands of the area.
The village was surrounded by paddy fields which are being irrigated by the above tank
through several channels. This irrigational tank was recorded in the inscriptions as
Vairamega Tataka (tank) in inscriptions.

The inscriptions of this place unfold the history of the village and the growth of temples as
well as the several irrigational reforms agricultural activities and village administration and
various forms of reforms. The early inscription of this place belonged to Nandivarman II
records the channel known as Paramesvaravathi. The assembly of Uttarameru-
chaturvedimangalam gave 4 putti of land as archanabhoga (temple pujas) to the temple of
Tiruppulivana Mahadeva, a neighbouring village. The land was entrusted to a Brahmin who
was well versed in Vedas and good conduct and make offerings and pujas thrice in the
temple. The inscriptions of the village Uttaramerur records the activities of the village
assembly known as Sabha and its members consisting of Brahmins. They were referred to
as Perunkuri perumakkal. ( The elders of the village assembly).

5. Election System and Village Assembly

The village was once enjoyed its autonomy that was reflected in two inscriptions of the
Vishnu temple namely Vaikuntha Perumal temple which is located on the centre of the
village at present very near to Bus stand. On a high platform of the Vaikuntaperumal temple
a small sanctum sanatorium with a front ardhamanda and open pillared mandapa is seen.
This temple was once played a major rule in South India’s Local administration. The platform
was once a people assembly hall to make significant resolutions related to village
administration.

Like Uttaramerur, many South

Indian villages had their own
autonomous body known as
sabha or ur to rule and fulfill the
village affairs. There are Places
like Manur (in Tirunelveli District),
Tiruninravur,(near Chennai)
Kaveripakkam(in vellore District)
Tribhuvanai, Bagur (in
Pondicherry division)
Palayasivaram (near Chengleput).

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Vaikunta Perumal temple- High plinth Platform –

Courtesy wiki pedia

The sabha is the local administrative body which consists of Brahmins and the village while
urar is the assembly of agricultural community of the village. It looks after the village
administration. Plenty of inscriptions of Pallava and Chola period in Tamil nadu speak about
the function of village assembly. However an Uttaramerur inscription is a unique one to focus
more light on the election system, the qualifications, disqualification of members and
functions of the local bodies of the village assembly around 1000 C.E.

6. Parantaka inscriptions

Parataka Chola was a Chola king who ruled from 907 to 955 C.E. In the 12th regnal year of
Parantaka Chola (919 C.E.) he issued an order which was engraved on the western side of
the pedestal of the temple Vaikunta perumal temple. It narrates the election system for local
self-government in detail manner.

The same king issued another inscription with some modification after made experimentation
of the regulations prescribed in the first inscriptions issued in the year 919 C.E. the Second
record was issued after two years of the early record i.e., 14th regnal year of the king
Parantaka (921 C.E.) . This inscription also found engraved on the western side of the same
wall.

12th year inscription (917 C.E) of Parantaka Chola

The inscription is written in Tamil language with the combination of Sankrit words. The script
is Tamil and Grantha for Sanskrit words. In the 12th regnal year of Parantaka Chola (919
C.E.) the elder people of the village assembled at the temple mandapa and made some
resolutions. They are. The inscription is written in Tamil language and characters with the
combination of Sanskrit words where ever necessary. The script is Tamil and Grantha for
Sanskrit words.

In the 12th regnal year of Parantaka Chola (919 C.E.) the elder people of the village
assembled at the temple mandapa and made some resolutions dealing Pot-ticket system of
selecting members for certain specified village committees. They made the following
resolutions.

The members of the Assembly of Uttarameru- Chaturvedimangalam formed the committees

of the village from the 12th regnal year of the king onwards. Once every year, the Annual
committee, the Garden committee and the Tank committee made following resolutions on
the basis of the royal order from the king in the presence of the king’s representative
Tattanur muvendavelan.

Accordingly there being thirty family–organizations (kudumpu) in the village. The members
belong to each of the thirty family organizations should assemble together and write down
the pot-tickets for choosing the members among them for the village committees. The
committee consists of thirty members and each committee had five members. They election
would be conducted for the purpose through pot-tickets(kuda olai) system.

Qualifications of members in the first inscription

The member, if he wants to contest in the election

of local Assembly – they should have following

1. Land and House Property- (wealth) Member

should have more than quarter veli of tax paying

Modern voting system- Courtesy- 5

wikipedia
land in the village on his own. He should have his own house in his own plot.

2. Age – within 60 years of age and above 30 years.

3. Education – The member if he wants to contest in the election he should have experts
in Vedas, Sastras and in executing business, he should have righteously earned his wealth.
He should have pure body.

4. Service qualification- He has not been discharging the duties as committee members
within three years just passed and are not the near relatives of such committee members as
have retired after doing committee functions.

Election procedure and Committee members

The pot-tickets should be collected by going from one street (cheri) to another street.
Tickets should be drawn by a boy who could not recognized forms and relatives of his own
so that there should be one person for each of the twelve cheris. The twelve persons thus
chosen should constitute the Annual Committee; twelve pot tickets should be chosen from
the pot for Garden committee; the remaining six members should be chosen in the same
method for the Tank committee. Thus the three committees consist of thirty members.

The above three classes of committees that have been formed by drawing thirty pot-tickets
should after doing the work of the committees for full three hundred and sixty days, retire.
The fresh committees to be formed after their retirement should also be similarly chosen by
writing pot-tickets and drawing them in the manner detailed in the palm-leaf containing the
regulation. The near relatives of those that have functioned in the Committees should not
have their names written for pot-tickets.

For another two committees namely

Panchavara committee and Gold
committee pot tickets should be written in
the 30 family organizations and one person
for each cheri should be chosen. Of these
twelve six members should be for the
Panchavara committee and the remaining
six should act in Gold Committee. For
committees other than the Annual
committee those who have functioned
once should not have their names written
again for pot-tickets.

Vaikuntaperumal temple- Election office-

courtesy;S.Rajavelu

End Portion of the first inscription

In the above manner from the 12th year of the king’s rule, till the moon and sun endure, the
committees should always be constituted by the pot-ticket system only. The village elders
obeyed the order of the king and made all the above resolutions in the village and this was
done in the presence of the king’s representative Tattanur Muvendavelan.

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Second inscription

The second inscription is issued by the same king in his 14 th regnal year of his rule (921
C.E.). This inscription is more or less provides same information on election system with
some modification in the qualifications and age limit of the candidates. The regulations
referred to in this inscription are not only applicable to the members of the assembly of
uttarameru-Chaturvedimangalam but also to the individual who is said to have been ordered
by the king to remain with the assembly. The village elders as usual received the royal order
of the king to contact election in the village. Certain Somasiperumal was acted as king’s
representative in this occasion. They constituted the regulation to set up committees
through pot- ticket system.

Inscription of Parantaka - 919 C.E., referring to the Election procedure, Courtesy. S.Rajavelu

Qualifications of members prescribed in the second inscription

The members if he wants to contest in the election of local Assembly -

1. Land and House Property- (wealth) Member should have more than quarter veli of
tax paying land in the village on his own. He should have his own house in his own
plot. Even if a candidate possessing one eighth of veli of land along with the
knowledge in one veda and one of the four bhasyas by expounding them to others is
eligible to contest in the election.

2. Age – Below 70 years of age and above 35 years.

Educational qualification – Those who were well versed in Mandra-brahmana and know it
as to teach it to others. The member if he wants to contest in the election he should have
experts in Vedas, Sastras and in executing business, he should have righteously earned his
wealth. Those, who were earned his wealth in a good and honest way and also pure in mind,
could contest in election.

Disqualification

Those who were served in any of the committees for the last three years and have not
submitted their accounts and all their relatives mentioned in the following classes.

The relatives of the defaulter; the sons of the younger and elder sister of defaulter’s mother
and all their relatives like sons, sons of the younger, elder brothers and sisters, children of
defaulter's mother, sons of defaulter's paternal aunt and maternal uncle, the uterine
brother of defaulter’s mother, The uterine brother of defaulter’s father. Defaulter’s father in
law, uterine brother of defaulter’s wife the husband of defaulter’s sisters and her children
were prohibited to contest election.

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Those, who have committed any one of the five great sins in their life time, fool hardy
person and Thief. One who have taken forbidden dishes of any kind (public property) and
pure by performing expiation; one who have committed sins and become pure by performing
expiatory ceremonies; one who is guilty of incest and has become pure by performing
expiatory ceremonies .All these thus specified should not contest in the election till their life
time.

Mode of Election

An earthen pot with cloth tightened on the mouth of the pot has been taken from street to
street to collect the pot tickets in the village. Those who are having the above qualifications
they have right to write their names and placed it.

Finally the Ballet box (Pot) which contains written palm leaves have been taken to the public

In front of the mandapa all the people of the village assembled

The eldest in the village, the temple priests of the village, young people in the village and
the representative of central Government who contested the election assembled and they
call a boy who cannot distinguish forms and procedure should be pick the palm leaf ticket
one by one. This was handed over to an eldest man, before receiving the palm leaf, the
eldest man has to show his both hands that he did not possessed any leaf with him. He read
out the name of the committee member which is already written in the palm leaf and
checked by another eldest personThis was again checked by younger people in the group.
In this way all the members of the village have been elected for the committeeTotally 30
members have been elected in this way. The elected members should work for three years.

They have to work for 365 days in one full year. Totally they were for three years.

Totally 30 members have been elected in this way. Among the thirty men thus chosen
through pot ticket system, those who had previously been in the Garden committee and on
the Tank committee, those who are advanced in learning and those who are advanced in
age shall be chosen for the Annual committee. Of the rest, of the rest, twelve persons should
be taken for the Garden committee and the remaining six should be placed in Tank
committee. In the same manner, two more committees have also been constituted and 12
members have been appointed through pot-ticket system each 6 members for Gold
committee and 6 members for Panchavarya committee.

Finance officer or Accountant of the village

One committee member who possesses honest earnings should write the village accounts
should act as Accountant or Arbitrator of the village committee. No accountant should be
appointed to the office again before he submits his accounts and his assets to the public
during his service in the office. Before contesting as an accountant in the village
administration, he should declare his accounts.

7. Summary

Uttaramerur inscriptions provide a first kind of information regarding the election system
qualifications of the candidate, mode of election and nature of work of the members of the
elected body in the world around 1000 years back. This is the earliest evidences of local
self-government through democratic form of Panchayat raj so far known in the history or
election system in the world. The election procedure, qualification and disqualification
prescribed are outstanding and remarkable one. Even the present democratic system is
failed to prescribe this kind of procedure and the qualification of candidates who contested in

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the election. The democratic kind of election system for the first time recorded in the
inscriptions of South India.