Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s4.t1.18

c8.s4.t1.18

There are two technical terms in Tamil literature which connote great political significance. These are ‘ஐம்பெருங்குழு’ and ‘எண்பேராயம்.’ These terms occur jointly and severally in different places in different treatises.¹ The term ‘குழு’ which is another term for ‘ஆயம்’ occurs in *Tolkāppiyam* (*kilavi*, sūtra 57), and means simply an assembly. There are two interpretations for both the terms. One interpretation for the term ஐம்பெருங்குழு is that given above, and the other has already been noticed.² The two interpretations for எண்பேராயம், otherwise known as ‘எண்பெருந் துணைவர்’ are as follows: ‘(1) கரணத்தியலவர் (account officers), (2) கருமவிதிகள் (heads of the executive) (3) கனகச்சற்றம் (officers of the treasury), (4) கடைகாப்பாளர் (palace-guards), (5) நகரமாந்தர், (citizens of the capital), (6) படைத்தலைவர் (leaders of army divisions), (7) யானைவீரர், (elephant men), (8) இவுளிமறவர், (mounted warriors).³ The *Tamil Lexicon* renders கடைகாப்பாளர் on the authority of *Divākaram*, watchman at a gate.’⁴ In our opinion this term may be identified with the Sanskrit *Kṣattṛ* meaning ‘chamberlain’. The other interpretation though interesting is loose. It is “சாந்துபூக்கச் சாடைபாக்கிலை கஞ்சகநெய்ந்த விவரென்பராய்த்தார்.” These are those who adorned the king with a *tilaka* in his forehead, who decorated him with flowers, who presented to him undergarments and other clothings, who offered him betels and betel leaves, who attended to his upper dress and who offered him ghee. This interpretation bears no political interest except the fact that the commentator's outlook of the state was too narrow. From references to the texts where these occur, we are led to infer that the ஐம்பெருங்குழு were those people of royal entourage who followed the king in public tours, processions, festivals and so forth. The எண்பேராயம் refers to the machinery of government, and on special occasions their representatives also joined the *atmperum-kulu*.