The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)

The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)

Three Early Kingdoms

The Cheras

Geography & Capital

• The Chera country occupied the portion of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

• The capital of Cheras was Vanjji.

Ports & Roman Connection

• Its main ports were Muzris and Tondi.

• The Romans set up two regiments at Muzris (identical with Cranganore) in the Chera country. They also built a temple of Augustus at Muzris.

Rulers

• One of the earliest and better-known among Chera rulers was Udiyangeral. It is said that he fed both the armies of the Kurukshetra war and so earned the title Udiyangeral.

• The greatest of the Chera kings, however, was Senguttuvan or Red Chera. It is said that he invaded the North and even crossed the Ganges.

• He was also the founder of the famous Pattini cult related to the worship of the goddess of chastity, Kannagi.

The Cholas

Geography & Capitals

• The Chola kingdom, called Cholamandalam, was situated to the North-East of the Pandya kingdom between the Pennar and Vellar rivers.

• The Chola kingdom corresponded to the modern Tanjore and Tiruchirappalli districts.

• Its inland capital was Uraiyaur, a place famous for the cotton trade. One of the main sources of wealth for the Cholas was trade in cotton cloth.

• Puhar (identical with Kaveripattinam) was the main port of the Cholas and served as an alternative capital of the Cholas.

Rulers & Achievements

• The earliest known Chola king was Elara, who conquered Sri Lanka and ruled over it for nearly 50 years.

• Their greatest king was Karikala (man with charred leg), who founded Puhar (Kaveripattinam) and constructed 160 km of embankment along the Kaveri river with the help of 12,000 Sri Lankan slaves.

• They maintained an efficient navy.

• The Cholas were wiped out in the attack by Pallavas from the North.

The Pandyas

Mentions & Territory

• The Pandyas were first mentioned by Megasthanese, who said their kingdom was famous for pearls.

• The Pandya territory included modern districts of Tirunelveli, Ramand, and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. It had its capital at Madurai, situated on the banks of the Vaigai River.

Trade & Literature

• The Pandya king profited from trade with the Roman Empire and sent emissaries to the Roman emperor Augustus and the Trojan.

• The Pandyas find mention in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Rulers

• The earliest known Pandyan ruler was Mudukudumi.

• The greatest Pandya king, Nendujelia,n accused Kovalan of theft. As a result, the city of Madurai was laid under a curse by Kannagi (Kovalan's wife).

Sangam Administration

Kind & Court

• The king was the centre of administration. He was called Ko, Mannan, Vendan, Korravan, or Iraivan.

• Avai was the court of the crowned monarch.

Key Officials (Panchmahasabha)

1. Amaichchar (Ministers)

2. Purohitar (Priests)

3. Dutar (Envoys)

4. Senapatiyar (Commander)

5. Orar (Spies)

Administrative Units

• Mandalam / Nadu – Province

• Ur – Town

• Perur – Big village

• Sirur – Small village

• Pattinam – Coastal town

• Puhar – Harbour areas

• Cheri – Suburb of town

Revenue Administration

• Karai – Land Tax

• Irai – Tribute paid by feudatories and booty collected in war

• Ulgu – Custom duties

• Iravu – Extra demand or forced gift

• Variyam – A well-known unit of territory yielding tax

• Variyar – Tax collector

It is said that in Chola territory, watered by Kaveri, the space in which an elephant could lie down produced enough to feed seven persons. It implies the lands were very fertile with irrigation facilities.

Sangam Literature

The Sangam Assembly

• Sangam was an assembly of Tamil poets held under the royal patronage of Pandyan kings in Madurai.

• According to tradition, the assembly lasted for 9,990 years and was attended by 8,598 poets and 197 Pandyan kings.

The Three Sangams

First Sangam

• The first Sangam was attended by the Gods and legendary sages.

• All its works have perished.

Second Sangam

• Of the second Sangam, the only surviving work is Tolkappiyam, an early work on Tamil grammar written by Tolakapiyyar.

Third Sangam

• Of the third Sangam, most of the works survive. These are:

  • Ettutogai (i.e., 8 anthologies)

  • Pattupattu (i.e. 10 idylls)

  • Patinenkilakanakku (i.e., 18 didactical texts)

Classification

• Ettutogai and Pattupattu are called Melakanakku (18 major works) and are narrative in form.

• Patinenkanakku is called Kilakanakku (18 minor works) and is didactic in form.

Notable Works and Authors

Kural or Muppal

• Kural or Muppal, a part of Patinenkilakanakku and written by Tiruvalluvar, is called 'The Bible of Tamil Land'.

• It is a treatise on polity, ethics, and social norms.

The Epics

Silappadikaram (The Story of the Anklet)

• Written by Ilango Adigal

• It deals with the story of Kovalan and Madhavi of Kaveripattinam.

• It is called the 'Iliad of Tamil poetry'.

Manimekalai

• Written by Sittalai Sattanar

• It deals with the adventures of Manimekalai, the daughter born of Kovalan and Madhavi.

• It is a sequel to Silappadikaram and strongly tinged with Buddhism.

Sivaga Sindamani (Jivaka Chintamani)

• Written by Jain Tiruttakrdevas

• It is strongly tinged with Jainism.

Bharatam

• Written by Perudevanar

Final Thoughts

The Sangam Age marks a significant chapter in early South Indian history, showcasing the rich cultural, political, literary, and social developments of the Tamil region.

The three powerful kingdoms—Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas—played a vital role in shaping early Tamil civilization through their administration, trade, naval power, and literary patronage.

The Sangam assemblies, supported by the Pandya rulers, preserved a wealth of Tamil literature that gives us deep insights into the ethics, governance, economy, and daily life of the time. The five-fold land division (Pancha-Tinai) further reflects how the environment influenced occupation and settlement patterns.

Overall, the Sangam period represents a golden era of the Tamil language, regional identity, and indigenous knowledge systems, laying a strong foundation for the classical traditions of South India.