SANGAM AGE

SANGAM POLITY
• Sanskrit work – confluence or association

• Sangam of poets – an association of poets

• A literary academy – established by – Pandya Kings

• Flourished at Madurai

• As many as three Sangams from mythological times

• Third Sangam – accepted as having existed – early

centuries of – Christian era
• Sangam poems – available are 2289 in number

• Some – three line poem – largest poem has more than 800
lines

• Volume of literature is – work of 473 poets and poetess

• Besides poetical works – famous book of grammar

Tolkappiyam – belong – this period

• Tolkappiyar – claimed to be one of the twelve disciple of

Sage Agastya – belonged – Second Sanganm
• Works are – Natrinai, Kurundohai, Aingurunooru, Pathupattu,
Paditrupattu, Paripadal, Kalithohai, Ahananuru and
Purananooru

• First mention – Sangam – found in the 8 th century work of

Iraiyanar Agapporul

• According to him 8,589 poets contributed

• Patronised by 197 Pandya kings and covering – period of

9990 years – might be exaggerated
• These Sangams – held in Madura

• Scientific analysis of the Sangam literature indicated that – it

was – work of four or five generations

• Time span taken might be from hundred twenty to hundred

fifty years

• Most of the historians believe – composed during the period

100 AD to 250 AD
 POLITICAL HISTORY

• Sangam literature describes – origin and growth of – three

important – Pandya, Chola and Chera

• The three crowned monarchs in Thamilaham and there were

many other independent chieftains – shared the government
of the country

• Kingship was hereditary – king was – despot

• King – supposed to live a moral life and – be patron of

religion, art and literature
• Concept of kingship – paternal – king – supposed –
look upon his subjects as – his children

• Used to hear – people’s grievances – his assembly,

known as Nallavai

• Performance of – routine work – depended on

Brahman advisors

• Maanaram – highest court – king’s assembly

• Main source of income

• 1/6 of produce as state share – cannot be said

with certainty

• Income from custom duties on external trade –

Octroi as internal trade – main source of Income

• War booty
• State of Sangam Age had professional army – included
infantry, cavalry, chariotteers

• Commanders – were called Enaadhi

• King’s palace had armed female guards

• King took active part in the battle along with his soldiers

• Stone icons – build of the soldiers who lost – lives on

the battle field
• Swards, bow-arrow, spears, armature (armour) and shield –
main weapons

• Pettachi – taking – cows away by force – common feature

of the Sangam Age

• Practised by Marwa tribes – lived in mountain slops

• It resulted – armed conflicts between cattle breeding

peoples of plain and the Marwa tribe

• Marwas – helped kings – time of War