SANGAM PERIOD TRIO OF SOUTH INDIAN

    SANGAM PERIOD TRIO OF  SOUTH INDIAN 

Introduction

                The Sangam Age can be traced back to the Iron Age.

People in the Iron Age were divided into chiefdoms. The Vendhars of the early historic period and the Velirs of the Sangam Age were chieftains descended from such Iron Age communities.

Asoka, the Mauryan monarch, conquered Kalinga (Odisha) as well as sections of Andhra and Karnataka.

                        = 1 The Muvendhars

               The Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas were the most powerful political forces during the Sangam Age. Muvendhar was their name (the three kings). During the Sangam period, the muvendhar ruled over the major towns and ports.

                         🖋️. The Cheras

              The Cheras, also known as the Keralaputras in Ashokan inscriptions, ruled over the present-day state of Kerala as well as the western sections of Tamil Nadu. The Cheras' capital was Vanci, and its port towns were Muciri and Thondi.

Some people associate Vanci with Karur in Tamil Nadu, while others associate it with Thiruvanchaikkalam in Kerala. The Chera monarchs and their domain are discussed by Pathirtruppathu. The Cheras were dressed in

        The blossoms of the palm tree were used to make garlands.

Three generations of Chera rulers are mentioned in the inscriptions at Pugalur in Karur. Chera kings' coins have been discovered in Karur.

                        

    Cheran Senguttuvan, the epic's protagonist, built a temple for Kannagi, according to the Silappathikaram. According to legend, Ilango, the composer of the Silappathikaram, was Cheran Senguttuvan's brother. The Cheras' symbol was the bow and arrow.

                      🖋️.  The Cholas

             The Cholas ruled over the Kaveri delta and parts of Tamil Nadu in the north. Uraiyur, their capital, and Uraiyur, their port townThe river Kaveri empties into the Bay of Bengal in Kaveripoompattinam or Pumpuhar. The poet Kadiyalur Uruthirankannanar wrote Pattinappaalai, a long poem about Kaveripoompattinam.

The trading activities of Kaveripoompattinam are described in Silappathikaram. Among the Chola rulers, Karikalan is credited with bringing forestlands under cultivation and establishing irrigation infrastructure by properly utilising water from the river Kaveri.

               

     In his period, the foundation was built for the vast harnessing of water for irrigation, which peaked in later Chola times (10th to 13th century). Karikalan fought the Pandyas, Cheras, and other tribes.

             chieftains. The Chola tiger was their insignia, and they minted square copper coins with tiger representations on the front and elephants and religious symbols on the reverse.

                         🖋️.  The Pandyas

                

            The Ashokan inscriptions mention the Pandyas, who dominated the southern section of Tamil Nadu. The capital of the Pandyas was Madurai.

Pandyan emperors are credited with subsidising Tamil Sangams (academies) and fostering the collection of poems, according to Tamil literary tradition.

The king Nedunchezhiyan is mentioned in the Mangulam Tamil-Brahmi inscription.

The dynasty's major rulers included Nediyon, Mudathirumaran, and Palayagasalai Mudukudumipperuvazhuthi. The fish was the Pandyan symbol.

           

                   =. 2  Velirs / Chieftains

              Apart from the Vendhars, there were Velirs and a slew of other chieftains who inhabited territory on the muvendhar's outskirts.

Pari, Kari, Ori, Nalli, Pegan, Ai, and Athiyaman were the seven velirs. The generosity of these velirs is well-documented in Sangam poetry. These chiefs had close ties to the poets of the day and were well-known for their generosity.

                  their generous nature These chieftains were allies of one of the muvendhars and assisted them in their fights against the other Vendhars.

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