Sangam Age Notes

Chapter 8: Sangam Age
❖ Sangam Age: Important chapter in South Indian history
❖ Muchchangam: Three Sangams (academies of Tamil poets) in

ancient Tamil Nadu
➢ Patronized by Pandya rulers
❖ First Sangam:
➢ Held at Then Madurai
➢ Attended by gods and legendary sages
➢ No surviving literary works
❖ Second Sangam:
➢ Held at Kapadapuram
➢ Only surviving work: Tolkappiyam
❖ Third Sangam:
➢ Held at Madurai
➢ Founded by Mudathirumaran
➢ Attended by many poets
➢ Produced voluminous literature, but few works survived
❖ Sangam Literature:
▪ Tolkappiyam: Earliest Tamil literature, on grammar
▪ Ettutogai (Eight Anthologies)
▪ Pattuppattu (Ten Idylls)
▪ Pathinenkilkanakku
▪ Two epics: Silappathigaram and Manimegalai
❖ Ettutogai: Eight works including Aingurunooru, Narrinai,

Aganaooru, etc.
❖ Pattuppattu: Ten works including Thirumurugarruppadai,

Porunararruppadai, etc.
❖ Aham (love) and Puram (valour): Two main categories of
Ettutogai and Pattuppattu
❖ Pathinenkilkanakku: Eighteen works on ethics and morals

➢ Most important: Tirukkural by Thiruvalluvar
❖ Other Sources:
▪ Greek authors: Megasthenes, Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy
▪ Asokan inscriptions
▪ Hathikumbha inscription of Kharavela
▪ Archaeological excavations: Arikkamedu, Poompuhar,
Kodumanal
❖ Significance: Sangam literature helps reconstruct the history of

the Sangam Age
Period of Sangam literature

❖ Chronology of Sangam Literature:
➢ Still disputed among scholars
➢ Key fact: Gajabhagu II of Sri Lanka and Cheran Senguttuvan
were contemporaries
➢ Confirmed by Silappathigaram, Dipavamsa, and Mahavamsa
➢ Roman coins from 1st century A.D. found in Tamil Nadu
➢ Estimated period: 3rd century B.C. to 3rd century A.D.
❖ Political History:
➢ Three main dynasties: Chera, Chola, and Pandya
❖ Cheras:
➢ Ruled parts of modern Kerala
➢ Capital: Vanji
➢ Seaports: Tondi and Musiri
➢ Symbol: Palmyra flower garland
➢ Notable rulers: Perum Sorru Udhiyan Cheralathan,
Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan, Cheran Senguttuvan
➢ Cheran Senguttuvan (2nd century A.D.):
• Brother of Elango Adigal (author of Silappathigaram)
• Conducted Himalayan expedition
• Introduced Pattini cult (worship of Kannagi)
❖ Cholas:
➢ Territory: Modern Tiruchi district to southern Andhra
Pradesh
➢ Capitals: Uraiyur, later Puhar
➢ Famous king: Karikala
• Won battles of Venni and Vahaipparandalai
• Became overlord of Tamil country
• Promoted trade and commerce
• Reclaimed forest lands for cultivation
• Built Kallanai across river Kaveri
❖ Pandyas:
➢ Territory: Present-day southern Tamil Nadu
➢ Capital: Madurai
➢ Early kings: Nediyon, Palyagasalai Mudukudumi
Peruvaludhi, Mudathirumaran
➢ Two Neduncheliyans:
▪ Aryappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan
▪ Talaiyalanganattu Cheruvenra Neduncheliyan
➢ Last famous king: Uggira Peruvaludhi
➢ Decline: Due to Kalabhra invasion
❖ Sources of Information:
➢ Pugalur inscription
➢ Padirruppattu
➢ Silappathigaram
➢ Pattinappalai
➢ Maduraikkanji
❖ Minor Chieftains:
➢ Played a significant role in the Sangam period
➢ Notable figures: Pari, Kari, Ori, Nalli, Pegan, Ay, Adiyaman
➢ Known as Kadai Yelu Vallalgal (Seven Great Patrons)
➢ Famous for philanthropy and patronage of Tamil poets
➢ Subordinate to major dynasties but powerful in their regions
❖ Sangam Polity:
➢ Government: Hereditary monarchy
➢ King advised by ministers, court-poets, and imperial court
(avai)
➢ Royal titles and emblems:
• Chera: Vanavaramban, Vanavan, Kuttuvan, Irumporai,
Villavar; Emblem: Bow
• Chola: Senni, Valavan, Killi; Emblem: Tiger
• Pandya: Thennavar, Minavar; Emblem: Carp
➢ Five councils assisting the king:
• Ministers (amaichar)
• Priests (anthanar)
• Military commanders (senapathi)
• Envoys (thuthar)
• Spies (orrar)
➢ Efficient military organization
➢ Sources of income: Land revenue, custom duty, war booty
➢ Well-maintained roads and highways
❖ Sangam Society:
➢ Five-fold division of lands (Tolkappiyam):
▪ Kurinji (hilly): Deity - Murugan; Occupation - hunting,
honey collection
▪ Mullai (pastoral): Deity - Mayon (Vishnu); Occupation -
cattle-rearing, dairy
▪ Marudam (agricultural): Deity - Indira; Occupation -
agriculture
▪ Neydal (coastal): Deity - Varunan; Occupation - fishing,
salt manufacturing
▪ Palai (desert): Deity - Korravai; Occupation - robbery
➢ Four main castes (Tolkappiyam):

▪ Arasar (ruling class)
▪ Anthanar (priests, significant role in polity and religion)
▪ Vanigar (traders)
▪ Vellalar (agriculturists)
➢ Other social groups:

• Tribal groups: Parathavar, Panar, Eyinar, Kadambar,
Maravar, Pulaiyar
• Primitive tribes: Thodas, Irulas, Nagas, Vedars
❖ Religion:
➢ Primary deity: Seyon or Murugan (hailed as Tamil God)
• Ancient origin
• Festivals mentioned in Sangam literature
• Honored with six abodes (Arupadai Veedu)
➢ Other gods worshipped:
• Mayon (Vishnu)
• Vendan (Indiran)
• Varunan
• Korravai
➢ Hero Stone (Nadu Kal) worship:
• Erected in memory of brave warriors
• Found in different parts of Tamil Nadu
• Ancient practice of worshipping the deceased
❖ Position of Women:
➢ Women poets flourished:
• Examples: Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, Kakkaipadiniyar
➢ Courage of women appreciated in poems
➢ Karpu (chaste life) considered highest virtue
➢ Love marriage common practice
➢ Women allowed to choose life partners
➢ Widows' life was miserable
➢ Sati practiced in higher strata of society
➢ Dancers patronized by kings and nobles
❖ Fine Arts:
➢ Popular arts: Poetry, music, and dancing
➢ Poets received liberal donations from kings, chieftains, and
nobles
➢ Royal courts featured singing bards:
• Panar and Viraliyar
• Experts in folk songs and folk dances
➢ Music and dancing highly developed
➢ Instruments mentioned:
• Various types of Yazhs (string instruments)
• Drums
➢ Dancers called Kanigaiyar
➢ Koothu: Most popular entertainment
❖ Economy of the Sangam Age:
❖ Agriculture:
➢ Chief occupation
➢ Main crops: Rice, ragi, sugarcane, cotton, pepper, ginger,
turmeric, cinnamon, fruits
➢ Jack fruit and pepper famous in Chera country
➢ Paddy prominent in Chola and Pandya regions
❖ Handicrafts:
➢ Popular crafts: Weaving, metal works, carpentry, ship
building, ornament making
➢ High demand for handicraft products
❖ Textiles:
➢ Advanced spinning and weaving of cotton and silk
➢ Fine quality clothes compared to "cloud of steam" or "slough
of a snake"
➢ Uraiyur cotton clothes highly demanded in western world
❖ Trade:
➢ Well-organized internal and foreign trade
➢ Internal trade mostly based on barter system
➢ External trade with Greek kingdoms, later Roman Empire
➢ Major port: Puhar (emporium of foreign trade)
➢ Other important ports: Tondi, Musiri, Korkai, Arikkamedu,
Marakkanam
❖ Evidence of trade:
➢ Sangam literature
➢ Greek and Roman accounts
➢ Archaeological findings (Roman coins)
➢ Periplus (valuable information on foreign trade)
❖ Exports:
➢ Cotton fabrics
➢ Spices (pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric)
➢ Ivory products
➢ Pearls and precious stones
❖ Imports:
➢ Gold
➢ Horses
➢ Sweet wine
❖ End of the Sangam Age:
❖ Decline:
➢ Began towards the end of the 3rd century A.D.
❖ Kalabhra invasion:
➢ Occupied Tamil country for about 2.5 centuries
➢ Limited information available about their rule
❖ Religious changes:
➢ Jainism and Buddhism became prominent
❖ End of Kalabhra rule:

➢ Pallavas in northern Tamil Nadu and Pandyas in southern
Tamil Nadu drove out the Kalabhras
➢ Establishment of Pallava and Pandya rule

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Chapter 8: Sangam Age

❖ Sangam Age: Important chapter in South Indian history

❖ Muchchangam: Three Sangams (academies of Tamil poets) in

❖ Ettutogai: Eight works including Aingurunooru, Narrinai,

❖ Pattuppattu: Ten works including Thirumurugarruppadai,

❖ Pathinenkilkanakku: Eighteen works on ethics and morals

❖ Significance: Sangam literature helps reconstruct the history of

Period of Sangam literature

➢ Four main castes (Tolkappiyam):

➢ Other social groups:

❖ Economy of the Sangam Age:

❖ End of the Sangam Age:

❖ End of Kalabhra rule:

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