Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s2.15

c12.s2.15

The occupational groups afford an interesting study not only for the antiquarian but also for the politician. If economic democracy were to be realized as a factor, we must endeavour to revive and revivify the old but stable methods and institutions. That a number of occupational guilds existed in ancient South India is evident from Tamil literature and from numerous inscriptions.¹ A categorical list of these groups would not be out of place here: oilmen (*vāṇiyan*), washerman (*vaṇṇān*), barber (*ambaṭṭan*), potter (*kuśavan*), weavers, carpenters, copper-smiths, gold-smiths, cultivators (*uḷavan*). These find a distinct place in the social economy of the village. Further the inscriptions of Rājarāja Chola (A.D. 985 to 1013) throw more light on the existence of these groups: astrologer (*kaṇi*), accountant (*kāvidi*), temple musician (*mārāyan*), temple official to recite *tēvaram* (*piḍāran*), temple actor (*śakki*), dyer (*vaṇṇattān*), temple overseer (*vāriyan*), temple dancer (*veḷān*), barber (*ambaṭṭan*), bard (*pāṇan*), workmen (*paṇikkan*), toddy-drawers (*īzhavan*) or the modern *shāṇān* of the Tamil country. Most of these occupational groups are still found in Malabar though in the Tamil districts new names have been given for some of these occupations. Other occupational castes mentioned are *nāvidan*, *śekkan*, *śakkai*, *uvaichan*, (village school master), *vaḷḷuvan*, etc.