The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c13.s3.t1.3

v2.c13.s3.t1.3

Besides the normal castes of the social order, tribes like Bōyas and Savaras are heard of in the inscriptions, and they doubtless took a lower place in the social scale. The Brāhmans took premier place and were generally respected for their learning and character; they were the recipients of gifts on ceremonial occasions. Frequently, however, they entered the service of the state as civil or military officers, and some of these attained great distinction in such callings. The warrior class of fighting men and their general activities have been noticed above. The *Kōmaṭis*, as the trading class of the Telugu country were called, were a flourishing community whose benefactions to temples and other religious and charitable foundations often figure in the inscriptions. It may be that their organization into a powerful guild (*nakara*) which had its headquarters in Penugoṇḍa (West Godavari) and branches in seventeen other centres had its beginnings in this period; a full description of the guild and its organization is to be found in the *Vaiśyapurāṇa* (canto 7), a work written probably in the sixteenth century. The *Telikas* (oil-mongers) are another guild nominally numbering 1,000 who secured certain social privileges from Rājarāja Choḍa-Ganga, the Choḷa viceroy of Vengi, in A.D. 1084.¹ For the bulk of the population the army furnished a career, and the successful adventurer or condottiere had, as noted already, every chance of setting himself up as a chieftain over some small territory either as a vassal of a more powerful leader, or on his own account.