Society and Land Relations in the Kaveri Delta During the Chola Period
By V. Palanichamy
Summary
The Chola period (850–1300 AD) in the Kaveri Delta was characterized by a robust agrarian economy centered on temple systems, which facilitated agricultural revenue, market development, and urban growth. The peasantry, comprising landowners, tenants, and laborers, formed the backbone of this economy, engaged in both subsistence and market-oriented agriculture. Social hierarchies, reflected in inscriptions like those from Tiruvaigavur and Korukkai, organized communities vertically by caste, with Paraiyas often involved in cultivation. The nadu served as the primary governance unit, managing land relations and integrating kinship, religious, and economic practices. Land was divided into Melvaram (state-controlled) and Kilvaram (cultivator-owned), with temple endowments supported by redirected state shares. Brahmadeya villages, dominated by Brahmins, were governed by sabhas overseeing irrigation and cultivation. Vellalas, the main cultivators, formed Perilamai-nadus around Brahmin settlements, while Valangai and Idangai castes exerted influence through martial and economic power. Land ownership signified prestige, with communal and individual ownership coexisting alongside periodical land redistribution. Wet (Nanjai), dry (Punjai), and garden (Padugai) lands were categorized, with irrigation enabling concentrated settlements. The dynamic interplay of agrarian production, land management, and social hierarchies underpinned the Chola state’s decentralized yet cohesive structure, balancing religious and secular authority in land governance.
Conclusion
This study of the Chola period's Kaveri Delta reveals a complex agrarian society where land relations, peasant dynamics, and social hierarchies were intricately linked to economic and administrative systems. The dual land division of *Melvaram* and *Kilvaram*, along with the role of temple economies, underscores the state's and religious institutions' centrality in land management and revenue generation. The *nadu* system, as the primary governance unit, facilitated interactions between peasants, artisans, and traders, fostering economic stability. Social stratification, evident in the hierarchical arrangement of castes and the *Valangai-Idangai* division, influenced land access and labor dynamics. The *Vellalas* and Brahmins dominated land ownership and administration, while marginalized groups like the *Paraiyas* provided labor under exploitative conditions. The study highlights the interplay of kinship, ritual practices, and economic interests in shaping land relations, emphasizing the Chola state's