A History of Agriculture in India v1.c38.5

v1.c38.5

THE villages of South India were known under different names according to their character. Thus a rescript from king Uttama-Choladeva, of the early twelfth century is addressed to the inhabitants of the Brahmadeya villages, i.e. the villages granted to the Brahmanas; the Devadana villages, i.e. the villages attached to some gods or goddesses or temples; Pallichchhanda villages, i.e. the villages attached to Jaina religious foundation; Kani (or Gani) murruttu villages, i.e. the villages meant for the support of astrologers; and Vettapperru villages, probably villages connected in some way with the supply of labour, i.e. service-tenure villages. Again, a village tenanted by Brahmanas only, or rather the proprietary right of which belongs to the Brahmanas only, was known as an agrahara or mangalam, as distinguished from kudi (an ordinary village) or ur or Vellalan (i.e. Sudra) village. An ordinary village (kudi) when made over to a Brahmana as a gift underwent a change in name as well as in other respects.