Cheras, Cholas & Pandyas All Notes

During Sangam age south India was ruled by 3 dynasties namely Cheras, Cholas & Pandyas

Cheras (Keralaputras)

• Capital → Vanji
• Seaports → Muziri & Tondi
• Emblem → Bow

▪ Roman Temple of Augustus (Later destroyed by Tipu)
▪ Greatest Ruler: Senguttuvan (Red/Good Chera)
▪ Trade: Pepper (Yavanpriya) + Jackfruit with Romans

Cholas (Cholamandam)

• Emblem → Tiger
• Chief crop → Paddy

▪ Greatest Ruler: Karikala → Founded Puhar (Kaveripatanam) → Capital on river Kaveri
▪ Seaport → Puhar (became center of commerce & trade)
▪ Uraipur: Chief Political Center Famous for Cotton trade

Pandyas

• Emblem → Carp
• Chief crop → Paddy

▪ Founded by a woman king
▪ Patronized Sangam assembly at capital Madurai
▪ Famous for its pearls trade

Imp. Features of 3 kingdoms

▪ Major Revenue Source: Agriculture + Trade (Custom duty) + Warbooty
▪ Main influence of Brahamans → (Sacrifices + Dakshina) Prominent
▪ Primary Deity → Seyon / Murugan / Known as Subramaniyam in medieval times along with other gods worshipped were Vishnu & Indra

• Ruling class→ Arasar
• Lowest class→ Kadaisiyar
• Military captains→ Enadi
• Rich Peasants→ Vellasem
• Agricultural labours→ Pariyars (who worked in animal skin)

▪ Artisans were organized in Shrenis acc. to work which had judicial power over them & can issue loans to workers.
▪ Chief exports were Cotton fabric, Pepper (Yavanpriya), Ivory, Cardamom, Pearl, Cinnamon & Precious stones & chief imports were Gold, Horses, sweet wines & Coins (Gold & Silver)
▪ In north, Mathura was famous for a special kind of cloth called “Shataka”