Social Structure and Privileges in the Pandya Kingdom
The social conditions in the Chola and Pandya periods saw the Brahmins holding a significant position, with rulers granting them land and privileges. The Vellalas were the farmers, known as sons of the soil, and had roles in the court and army. Cowherds were respected and religious, while the merchant community, known as Chetiar or Nagarathar, thrived in trade and had trade contacts in various directions.
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POSITION OF THE BRAHMINS social condition of the chola period continued exist in the pandya kingdom too. The pandyan ruler granted various privileges and concessions to the brahmins. They occupied an important place in the society. They settled in separate places.
They were know as caturvedimangalam and Agraharams. The Dalavoypuram and Velvikkudi copper plates mentioned the new colonies which were assigned to the brahmins. The ruler assigned lands to the bramahins mainly to promote them. The pandyan ruler Maravarman Kulasekharan I granted 138 village to Brahmins. It was called avaruvedacadurvedimangalam.
The pandyan ruler parantaka viranarayana also granted a brahmadana land to the brahmin consisting of to villages namely thirumangalam and somacikurichi. In 1267 A.D jatavarman sundarapandya 1st granted a cadurvelimangalaam to one hundred twenty one vedic brahmins. Again he have to hundred velis of land for cultivation. Like the rulers the queens also granted lands to the brahmins the lands donated by the pandyan queens were called avani mulududiayal cadurvedimangalam,kothandaraman cadurvedamangalam etc.
Thus the brahmin occupied an imporend position during the region of the pandyas.
Farmers were the vellalas. The inscription mentioned them as sons of the soil. They had their own organization. It was called chitrameliperinnattar. Cultivation of the soil was their main occupation. Besides cultivation, they hold higher positions in the court as well as in the army.
They earned the goodwill and sympathy of the pandyan rulers.
The cowherds of this period did not hold any high position in the state. They had respect among the people. They were religious and cultured. They even maintained the endowments of the temple. They worshipped lard Krishna and balarama. Ayer women perfomed fasting during the month of margali. During this month they never took milk and ghee. They used to take bath early in the morning.
The merchant community of this period was called chetiar or nagarathar. Their main profession was trade. They were involved in import and export. They had trade contacts in all directions. Hence,they were nanadesikar. They lived in groups in separate streets. These streets were called nanadesikar street or ainuruvar street. Sometimes they were settled in the whole of a village.
Records mentioned that they purchased the Rajsekarapuram village and settled there. There were various types of Nagarathars. They settled themselves in different parts of tamilnadu. Artisans like blacksmith, goldsmith, carpenter,coppersmith,sculptor also lived in the society.
The valankai and idankai divisions which exists in the Chola period also prevailed in the pandayan kingdom. The rupture between the two divisions continued as in the chola period (for detail see the Chola history)
