SOCIETY,RELIGION
AND CULTURE
There were many developments in the culture and
society during the Chola Empire. The main center for cultural and social
gatherings was the temple. The temple was an institution in itself. The temple
courtyard functioned as a school where students were taught the ancient Vedas
and Holy Scriptures. The temples were built in the form of citadels where
people could feel safe during an attack or aggression.
Caste system was widely prevalent during the Chola
period. However, there was cooperation among various castes and sub-castes in
social and religious life.The society was divided into Brahmins and non-Brahmins,
but there is little mention of Kshatriyas and Vaishyas but the Shudras are
prominent.
A number of popular religious movements flourished
in the Tamil area. They questioned the authority of the Vedas and the theory of
re-birth. Shiva was worshipped as a symbol of fertility.
In the 11th century, Ramanuja disagreed with
Shankara’s theory that knowledge was the primary means of salvation. He
insisted on pure devotion, giving oneself up entirely to God. He also pleaded
for the throwing open of temples to Shudras but without much success.
Life revolved around the temple. As Brahmanism came
into contact with firmly entrenched beliefs in the power of fertility, the
Bhakti cult emerged.
Both Saivism
and Vaishnavism continued to flourish during the Chola period. A number of
temples were built with the patronage of Chola kings and queens. Both
agriculture and industry flourished. Reclamation of forest lands and the
construction and maintenance of irrigation tanks led to agricultural
prosperity. The weaving industry, particularly the silk-weaving at Kanchi
flourished. The metal works developed owing to great demand of images for
temples and utensils. Gold, silver and copper coins were issued in plenty at
various denominations.
Chola sculptures
EDUCATION
Education was also given importance. Besides the
temples as educational centres, several
educational institutions also flourished. Apart from the Vedas and Epics,
subjects like mathematics and medicine were taught in these institutions.
Language developed immensely and many languages like Tamil, Kannada and Telugu
were developed from Sanskrit.
The development of Tamil literature reached its
peak during the Chola period. The Ramayana composed by Kamban and the
Periyapuranam or Tiruttondarpuranam by Sekkilar are the two master-pieces of
this age.
Chola Temples were the
centre of daily life
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