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
Vikrama Chola’s Kalinga War and Pillaittamil on
Kulottuga II.
• Grammatical works like Virasoliyam of Budhamitra
and Nannul by Pavanandi are 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
under the Imperial Cholas
 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.
Narttamalai, Pudukottai dt.
 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.
Koranganathar Temple
 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.
Brhadeeswarar temple at Tanjore
Gangai Konda Cholapuram
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.
Natarajar
Bronze idols
Siva and Parvati
Sculpture in the Temple Gopuram
 Portraits
• The Cholas excelled the Pallavas in 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.
Rajaraja I and his Guru
Dancing girls
A dog
 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.
Chola Paintings
Tanjore
 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.
Music composing
 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.
A posture
 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.