Short notes on Sangam Age - Indian History

SANGAM AGE Short notes of Indian History

We have references to the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas in the inscriptions of Asoka and Kharavela and the Indica of Megasthenese. The Sangam was a college or assembly of Tamil poets held under royal patronage.

• In the Sangam age, the most common form of Government was hereditary monarchy. The village was the fundamental unit of administration.
• Tradition refers to three number of Sangam lasting for 9,900 years.
• Language of the Sangam literature was Tamil. The people of Sangam Age mainly worshipped Murugam.
• Tholkappiyam is a book on a Tamil Grammar.
• A third Tamil epic is Jivakachintamani written by Tirutakkadevar.
• Madurai was the Capital of the Panya.
• Uraiyur was the capital of Cholas known for cotton trade.
• Venji was the Capital of Cheras.
• The word Sangam means a college or Assembly. The three Sangams were held at Teen-Madurai, Kapatpuram and Madurai.
• Korkai was the main seaport of the Pandyas.
• Magasthenes described Pandya kingdom as ‘Pearl’ as it was ruled by women.
• Kaveripatnam was the main port of Cholas.
• Tolkappiyam, the early Tamil grammar text, written by Tolkappiyar, the disciple of Agastya deals with Tamil grammar of Aham(Love) and Puram(war).
• Tirukkural, the Bible of Tamil was compiled by Tiruvalluvar.
• Rudrasarman complied Agananuru, which consists of 400 love poems.
• Ilango Adigal wrote Silappadigaram which is an epic of the period. In this book the love story of Kovalon and Madhavi, a dancer has been depicted.
• Sattanar wrote Maniekhalai, which is also an epic and tells about the story of the daughter of Kovalah and Madhavi.
• The greatest ruler of Chera kingdom was Senguttuvan Cheran also known as ‘Red Chera’.
• The famous chera port Muziris was a great center of Indo-Roman trade.
• The most reputed Pandyan king was Nedunjhezhian.
• The largest single tax collected during the Sangam period was the land tax called Karai.
• The founder of later Cholas was Rajaraja-1. The most important ruler of this dynasty was Rajendra Chola.
• Rajendra Chola is also known as ‘Gangaikonda Chola’. He later named his capital as Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
• Raja Raja I built Brihadeswara temple at Tanjore.
• Cholas were well known for their naval supremacy and efficient village administration.