The present study is an attempt to give a connected and coherent account of the culture of Tamils, particularly of the period of the later Colas of the Cola country based on Tamil inscriptions. Many new types of information have come to light from this study to understand the various nuances, shades and many finer aspects of the Tamil culture that were hitherto unknown.
The book contains eight chapters, viz., administration, law and justice, social conditions, economic conditions, education, warfare, religion and art and architecture. The information regarding administrative units like sabha and samiti, judicial technical concepts such as dharmasabhatta (judge), suddhapattika (judgement) and pancacaryas (five member enquiry community), etc. the social status of the womenfolk and their voluntary donations made for the purpose of worshipping as well as maintenance of the temple; chronic problem like water disputes, ownership of land, reclamation of land, impose and incidence of taxes; the importance of education and the subjects studied by the students; the endowments made to the preceptors known as Pulamaivrtti, Chandogavrtti, Bhattavrtti and the subjects the king who acted as generalissimo of the army and the commanders like Dandanayaka padaittalaivan (feudatories), who assisted to the king in conducting the armies; temples acted as colossal employers; and an general introduction in regard to the Cola art and architecture are meticulously analyzed and discussed under various above mentioned chapters. A detailed bibliography is added at the end beside well illustrated plates. These information will definitely enrich the scholars to know about the socio-cultural life of the Tamil society to a greater extent. |
