{"id":107017,"date":"2024-05-09T18:28:09","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T12:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=udaan&#038;p=107017"},"modified":"2024-09-20T15:39:03","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T10:09:03","slug":"sangam-society-eco-zones-religious-ideologies","status":"publish","type":"udaan","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/sangam-society-eco-zones-religious-ideologies","title":{"rendered":"Sangam Society: Social Disparities, Eco-Zones and Religious Ideologies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/sangam-age-the-history-of-south-india\/\"><b>Sangam era<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Tamil society was characterized by distinct<\/span><b> social disparities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> economic practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>ecological zones<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>religious ideologies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Social inequality,<\/span><b> Brahmin influence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the emergence of <\/span><b>different societal classes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were prominent features. This period also saw the division of Tamilagam into <\/span><b>five eco-zones<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each with its unique cultural and environmental traits. <\/span><b>Buddhism, Jainism, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><b> the early stages of Brahminism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also shaped religious beliefs and practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>An Overview of Sangam Society<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>A. Sangam Society<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Social Disparities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There were sharp social<\/span><b> inequalities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the Sangam era.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The affluent dwelled in brick and mortar houses, while the poor lived in huts and simpler structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brahmin Influence: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dominance of Brahmins and ruling caste was visible but <\/span><b>clear-cut caste distinction was lacking<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the early Sangam period.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though, references of slaves are also found.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Emergence and Role of Brahmanas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brahmanas <\/span><b>first appeared during the Sangam era<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Tamil land. Many of them <\/span><b>worked as poets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An ideal king would never hurt them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Absence of Kshatriya and Vaisya Varnas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> Kshatriya <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Vaisya<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> do not appear as regular varna in sangam text. Though warrior class was not absent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enadi: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Captains of the army received the title of\u00a0 &#8220;<\/span><b>Enadi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; at a formal ceremony.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vallalas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Civil and military offices were held by <\/span><b>Vallalas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or rich peasants (under both Cholas and Pandyas).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Arasar: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ruling caste was referred to as <\/span><b>Arasar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and had marriage relations with <\/span><b>Vallalas (fourth Caste).<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vellalars, Uzhavars, Kadaisiyar, and Adimai: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large landowners were known as <\/span><b>vellalar,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ordinary ploughmen were known as <\/span><b>uzhavar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and landless labourers, including slaves, were known as <\/span><b>kadaisiyar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>adimai<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pulaiyans: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low-class artisans (<\/span><b>Pulaiyans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) were responsible for crafting charpayis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>B. Tamil Eco-Zones<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Thinai Classification: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><b>Thinai (landscape) concept<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Tamilagam was divided into<\/span><b> five<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> landscapes. Each region had its distinct characteristics \u2013 a presiding deity, people and cultural life according to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/environment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">environmental<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> conditions.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Kurinji<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Hilly region characterised by hunting and gathering activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Marutham: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Riverine tract, where agriculture was practised using ploughs and irrigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Mullai: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Forest region where pastoralism was combined with shifting cultivation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Neythal: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coastal land primarily used for fishing and salt production.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Palai: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Arid and parched land unsuitable for cultivation, leading people to engage in cattle lifting and robbery.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>C. Ideology and Religion<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Buddhism<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Emergence of Formal Religious Activities: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The earliest evidence of the appearance of formal religious activities appeared in the time of the Asoka when Buddhism reached south India and Sri Lanka.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asoka&#8217;s daughter is considered to have taken the Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chandragupta Maurya&#8217;s Presence: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legends suggest <\/span><b>Chandragupta Maurya&#8217;s presence in Karnataka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before Asoka.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Buddhism&#8217;s Influence: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buddhism left a notable mark in South India, especially in the Krishna and Godavari delta of Andhra Pradesh.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sites like <\/span><b>Amaravathi and Nagarjunakonda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provide archaeological evidence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Comparative Evidence: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But compared to Jainism, the evidence for Buddhism is restricted to a few sites in Tamil Nadu.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Jainism<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Jainism&#8217;s Strong Presence: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jainism had a stronger presence in Tamil Nadu, as evidenced by numerous <\/span><b>cave shelters <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rock Shelters and Offerings: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their influence on the common people is not known, but there is evidence of the <\/span><b>merchants and devotees supporting Jain monks <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by providing rock shelters and offerings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contributions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the post-Sangam era, Jains made significant contributions to Tamil literature.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Beginning of Brahmanism<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Early Supporters: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Satavahanas, Sangam kings, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Ikshvahus<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> supported <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/history-of-the-vedic-period\/\"><b>Vedic <\/b><\/a><b>sacrifices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as indicated in Sangam texts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brahmin Migration: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The evidence of<\/span><b> Brahmin migration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the performance of Vedic rituals exists in Sangam texts.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the <\/span><b>varnasrama ideology<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had not taken hold in Tamil Nadu.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vishnu Worship: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The worship of Vishnu is also mentioned.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Continuation of Megalithic Practices: Megalithic practice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of providing for the dead continued (people offered paddy).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Introduction of Cremation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cremation was introduced, but inhumation was not abandoned.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Worship of Local Deity Murugan: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local god <\/span><b>Murugan <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(also known as<\/span><b> Subramaniya<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) was worshipped by people.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 96.9135%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 161.785%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 36.8421%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><b>Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 124.943%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><b>Editorial Analysis<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 36.8421%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><b>Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 124.943%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><b>Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 36.8421%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><b>NCERT Notes<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 124.943%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><b>Free Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Sangam society<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was marked by <\/span><b>diversity <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><b> complexity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with social, economic, ecological, and religious dimensions interwoven into its fabric. The land of <\/span><b>Tamilagam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the influence of <\/span><b>Brahmanism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the emergence of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/buddhism-indias-soft-power-projection-tool\/\"><b>Buddhism<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><b> Jainism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reflect the dynamic nature of the era. This richness of societal elements laid the foundation for the <\/span><b>cultural heritage of the region<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape Tamil identity today.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 99.0541%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 48.7838%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/sangam-age-the-history-of-south-india\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SANGAM AGE \u2013 POLITICAL HISTORY OF SOUTH INDIA<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 50.2703%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/history-of-the-vedic-period\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VEDIC PERIOD: HISTORY NOTES FOR UPSC &#038; GOVT. EXAMS<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 48.7838%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/environment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ENVIRONMENT<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 50.2703%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/buddhism-indias-soft-power-projection-tool\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buddhism: India\u2019s Soft Power Projection Tool<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","udaan-chapter":[5453],"udaan-subject":[4945,5401],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan\/107017"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/udaan"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"udaan-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-chapter?post=107017"},{"taxonomy":"udaan-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-subject?post=107017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}