A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c12.47

c12.47

The people were organized for the most part in occupational groups living apart from one another but in fairly close proximity within each village or town, and their life was regulated by a pervasive sense of social solidarity. Differences in status and economic conditions were accepted by all as part of the established order, and there is little evidence of any tendency to protest or revolt against them. The poets describe with equally intimate touches the unlettered Maḷavar who thrive on robbery in the northern frontier of the Tamil land, the hunters (eyinar) with their huts full of bows and shields, the homes of shepherds where quantities of curds and ghee are produced for sale, and those of learned brahmins versed in the Vedas and performing their daily ritual duties including the entertainment of guests. Apparently brahmins ate meat and drank toddy without incurring reproach. One poem in the Puranānūru affirms that there are only four castes (kuḍi), viz., tuḍiyan, pāṇan, paraiyan and kaḍamban, and only one god worthy of being worshipped by having paddy strewn before him, namely the hero-stone recalling the fall of a brave warrior in battle. These castes and this worship were of very great antiquity, perhaps being survivals from pre-Aryan times. The practice of erecting hero-stones and of offering regular worship to them continued throughout the Śangam age and many centuries after. Foreigners (Yavanas) were numerous in the ports on the sea-coast like Toṇḍi, Muśiri and Puhār (Kāvēri-paṭṭinam) which they visited for trade. Although unable to speak Tamil they were employed as palace-guards in Madura and on police duty in the streets. Curiously wrought lamps and wine in bottles figure prominently among the articles of trade brought to India by the Yavanas.