[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Administrative Institutions](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929) › c12.s2.17 # Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s2.17 Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s2.17 - **Language:** English ### [c12.s2.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c12.s2.17) Of these various professional groups the five represented by the five principal artisans, potters, weavers, carpenters and goldsmiths always enjoyed a high social position; for their services were always requisitioned by the higher castes for ceremonial or communal purposes. To the above-mentioned the \*Perumpāṇārruppaḍai\*, a Tamil work roughly of the third century A.D., adds fishermen (\*valaiyar\*), traders and merchants (\*vāṇikar\*), cultivating labourers (\*uḷavar\*). To these Māṅguḍi Kiḻār adds¹ four more occupational castes-\*tuḍiyan\* (a player on \*tuḍi\* (a variety of the drum); \*pāṇan\* or bard; \*paraiyan\* or drummer; \*kaḍamban\* or an agriculturist. These are identified with the aboriginal tribes of ancient Drāviḍa. The \*paraiyan\* caste seems to have been later on sub-divided into a number of occupational groups. The census report of 1891 mentions that there are in the schedules 348 sub-divisions of paraiyans pursuing different callings such as priests, field labourers, cattlebreeders, traders, weavers, teachers, archers, etc.² Thus the so-called depressed classes of to-day have had their important position in the village economy of ancient India. They had functions of importance and supplied the village with all its primary and secondary needs. - [Previous: c12.s2.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c12.s2.16) - [Next: c12.s2.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c12.s2.18) - [Up: c12.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c12.s2) ## Cites (1) - [Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai](https://indike.org/pramana/in.sangam.ten_idylls.perumpanarruppatai) — Kaṭiyalūr Uruttiraṅkaṇṇaṉār, Tamil --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c12.s2.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c12.s2.17) · Pramāṇa