socio religious life sangam age .pdf

Social Life:
Society Structure: The society was divided into distinct categories known as the Five-fold division (Pancha-varna) – Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), Shudras (laborers), and Atiyars (outcasts).
There was also a caste system with Brahmins at the top followed by nobles/warriors, traders, and peasants/workers. However, the caste system was more fluid than later periods.
Women enjoyed relatively high social status and freedom during this period. They received education and could choose their own husbands in ‘love marriages.’ However, only upper caste women enjoyed such liberties.
Economy: Agriculture played a significant role in the economy, and trade flourished. The coastal regions were actively involved in maritime trade, connecting with the Roman Empire and Southeast Asia.
Literary Assemblies (Sangams): These were gatherings of poets, scholars, and intellectuals. The most famous were the three Sangams, which contributed to the rich Tamil literature we have today.

1. Socialandreligiouslifeofthepeopleduringthe
Sangamage.
SocialandreligiouslifeofthepeopleduringtheSangamage.
SocialLife:
●SocietyStructure:Thesocietywasdividedintodistinctcategories
knownastheFive-folddivision(Pancha-varna)–Brahmins(priestsand
scholars),Kshatriyas(warriorsandrulers),Vaishyas(merchantsand
farmers),Shudras(laborers),andAtiyars(outcasts).
●TherewasalsoacastesystemwithBrahminsatthetopfollowedby
nobles/warriors,traders,andpeasants/workers.However,thecaste
systemwasmorefluidthanlaterperiods.
●Womenenjoyedrelativelyhighsocialstatusandfreedomduringthis
period.Theyreceivededucationandcouldchoosetheirownhusbands
in‘lovemarriages.’However,onlyuppercastewomenenjoyedsuch
liberties.
●Economy:Agricultureplayedasignificant roleintheeconomy,and
tradeflourished.Thecoastalregionswereactivelyinvolvedinmaritime
trade,connectingwiththeRomanEmpireandSoutheastAsia.

2. ●LiteraryAssemblies(Sangams):Theseweregatheringsofpoets,
scholars,andintellectuals.ThemostfamouswerethethreeSangams,
whichcontributedtotherichTamilliteraturewehavetoday.
ReligiousLife:
●Polytheism:Thepeoplefollowedapolytheisticreligion,worshipinga
multitudeofdeities.ThemajorgodsincludedMurugan(godofwarand
victory),Indra(godofrainandthunder),andVaruna(godofthesea).
●BhaktiMovement:TheSangamagewitnessedtheemergenceofthe
Bhaktimovement,adevotionaltrendinwhichindividualssoughta
personalconnectionwiththedivine.Thislaidthefoundationforlater
devotionalmovementsintheregion.
●TemplesandRituals:Templeswerecentersofreligiousandsocial
activities.Rituals,sacrifices, andfestivalswereintegraltoreligious
practices.Theworshipofnatureandancestorswasalsoprevalent.
●JainismandBuddhism:JainismandBuddhismgainedprominence
duringthisperiod.KingslikeChera,Chola,andPandyasupportedand
patronizedthesereligions.
●Tolerance:Thesocietydisplayedreligioustolerance.Differentreligious
communitiescoexistedpeacefully,contributingtoadiversecultural
andreligiouslandscape.

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